Genius in the whole system: The useless young lady dominates the world

Lu Lingxi lowered her voice, a hint of curiosity and confusion in her eyes, and asked Zisang Gucheng beside her, "Master, what kind of organizations are the Spiritual Cultivation Hall and the Martial Cultivation Hall? Why have I never heard of their names in any books or legends?"

Upon hearing this, Zisang Gucheng smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with a profound light. "Aren't you surprised? Actually, it's not surprising. Weren't you curious before about whether there were other continents besides the Holy Spirit Continent?"

Lu Lingxi nodded quickly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Hmm, could there be a connection between the two?"

"exactly."

Zi Sang Gu Cheng slowly said, "The origins of the Spiritual Cultivation Hall and the Martial Cultivation Hall are impossible to verify, but it is certain that the two predecessors who founded them must have been very powerful figures. On other continents outside the Holy Spirit Continent, the Spiritual Cultivation Hall and the Martial Cultivation Hall have almost become symbols of faith, and countless martial and spiritual cultivators dream of joining them. However, the relationship between these two major forces is extremely delicate, both opposing and interdependent, making them unpredictable."

Lu Lingxi listened intently, and couldn't help but sigh, "They do sound incredibly powerful. But why are they rarely mentioned on the Holy Spirit Continent?"

Zi Sang Gu Cheng gently shook his head and explained, "The spiritual energy on the Holy Spirit Continent is thin, making it almost impossible to reach the entry threshold of the Spiritual Cultivation Hall or the Martial Cultivation Hall—the Spirit God Realm. Therefore, these two major forces do not directly recruit disciples on the Holy Spirit Continent, but rather act as guides. Once someone breaks through the barrier of the Spirit God or Martial God, they will send that person to a higher level of plane. Although they do not directly accept disciples on the Holy Spirit Continent, their status remains extremely noble, and they are deeply respected and supported by the people. This is why they are invited to come here as witnesses to certain important events."

At this point, Zisang Gucheng's eyes suddenly dimmed, and his tone carried a hint of helplessness and regret, "I can only stop at the Spirit Emperor realm now, with no hope of breaking through. As for the more secrets of the Spirit Cultivation Hall and the Martial Cultivation Hall, I'm afraid we can only wait until you break through to the Spirit God realm and explore them yourself."

Lu Lingxi stepped forward lightly, her gaze gentle yet firm. She gently patted Zisang Gucheng's shoulder, her voice carrying an undeniable strength: "Master, don't be discouraged, I'm here for you. Life is unpredictable, and perhaps I can help you break through your bottleneck and reach an unimaginable realm."

Her comfort was like the warm spring sun, instantly dispelling the last trace of gloom in Zisang Gucheng's heart.

Upon hearing this, Zi Sang Gu Cheng's lips unconsciously curled up, and his eyes sparkled with a smile. Although he knew in his heart that Lu Ling Xi Yao was mostly saying this to comfort him, the sincerity of her words warmed his heart in a way that was hard to describe.

Looking around, Lu Lingxi frowned slightly, a mixture of curiosity and wariness in her eyes. She asked, "Master, do you know where we are right now?"

Zisang Gucheng's expression instantly turned serious, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes, and he slowly spoke.

“When I was young, I also traveled to the Land of No Hope. I remember that at that time, there was a mysterious place in the Land of No Hope that was regarded as a forbidden place by the world. It was said to be a remnant of an ancient battlefield, surrounded by towering mountains and shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, making it difficult to see its true appearance.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Lingxi's expression changed slightly, and a hint of seriousness appeared between her brows. "So, we are currently in this unknown area?"

Zisang Gucheng nodded slightly, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Even so, after years of inquiries, I have finally obtained some clues about this place."

"This place is known as the 'Forgotten City,' a corner forgotten by the gods. In the early years, many explorers ventured here, but none returned alive. Since then, the Hopeless Kingdom has sealed it off, no longer allowing anyone to enter without permission. As for what secrets are hidden within the city, it remains a mystery to this day." Zisang Gucheng's words carried a sense of historical vicissitude and mystery.

Upon hearing this, Lu Lingxi's eyes grew even more somber, and her brows furrowed. "The Hopeless Kingdom actually chose such a perilous place as the venue for the Five Nations Tournament. What exactly is their purpose? Since this is an unknown area, the level of danger is self-evident."

Upon hearing this, Zisang Gucheng's expression also turned serious. "My disciple, we must be extra careful this time and not be careless in any way. The intentions of the Hopeless Kingdom are probably not limited to the rankings in the competition. In order to deal with possible changes, you must always be vigilant and never let your guard down."

Lu Lingxi nodded solemnly, her eyes shining with determination. No matter what the Hopeless Kingdom planned, she would do her best and would never let any conspiracy succeed.

On the other side, the noble general from the Hopeless Kingdom had given a rough account of the situation to everyone. The content was similar to Zisang Gucheng's description. However, he cleverly avoided mentioning the potential dangers of the place. But the four great kingdoms were not to be underestimated, nor were they so easily fooled.

The representative from Yaoguang Kingdom, though not shrill in voice, conveyed an undeniable seriousness and skepticism: "Isn't it somewhat inappropriate to choose this place as the competition venue?"

Gu Beifeng, the representative of Kaiyang Kingdom, smiled playfully, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. His words were full of mockery, yet they were like a sharp blade, pointing straight to the core of the problem.

"'The Forgotten City,' humph. Although the Hopeless Kingdom tries its best to suppress the news, I visited Hopeless in my youth and have heard of this place. Now, using it as a place for a contest, do you intend to use us as cannon fodder for your exploration?"

Faced with the questioning, the noble general of the hopeless country smiled awkwardly and tried to defuse the tense atmosphere with a passionate speech.

"Haha, you all worry too much. The champion and runner-up of the Five Nations Tournament must win the hearts and minds of everyone. Choosing this venue was a well-considered decision. Moreover, these young talents are all outstanding. Their wisdom and courage will surely help them overcome all difficulties and win the final glory!"

Although his explanation was fluent, it failed to completely quell the doubts in everyone's hearts. The representative of Yaoguang Kingdom spoke up again, his dissatisfaction evident in his words.

"Light words cannot conceal the weight of the facts; once an accident occurs, the losses will be incalculable."

These words struck a chord with the representatives from various countries. Their expressions were solemn, fully aware of the risks involved in this trip. The ten trainees they brought were all carefully selected elites, the hope for the future of their nations.

The cultivation of geniuses is extremely difficult. Each one is a national treasure, the crystallization of countless efforts and expectations. Losing them would be a heavy blow to any country.

"If you are afraid, you may withdraw and give up this contest."

Upon hearing this, the faces of the representatives from various countries darkened completely. This undoubtedly put them in a dilemma. Withdrawing? That was impossible. Now they had no choice but to bite the bullet and go on. The strategy of the hopeless country was both cunning and unscrupulous, but it left them with no other option.

The noble general of the Hopeless Kingdom slowly swept his gaze over everyone present, his voice low and powerful, "Does anyone wish to abstain?"

The representatives and contestants from the four countries had solemn expressions and furrowed brows. Their dissatisfaction and helplessness were intertwined. They knew that they had gathered here to obtain the qualification to enter the Lost City. Now that the opportunity was within reach, how could they give up so easily?

Upon seeing this, the noble general's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, as if he had already seen through everything.

"Since no one has abstained, it shall be assumed that you have no objection to this."

His tone carried a hint of imperceptible authority. After pausing for a moment to make sure no one objected, he slowly walked toward Feng Shengxie, Mo Xin, and Bai Ci, whispering to each other, seemingly exchanging something.

Then, Feng Shengxie stepped forward, his gaze piercing through the crowd and landing on the face of each contestant, his gentle voice ringing in everyone's ears.

"While the 'Forgotten City' is fraught with danger, it is also a touchstone for our growth. You must have absolute confidence in your own abilities; this is the driving force behind our progress. May all the contestants from the five countries perform at their best in this competition."

As Feng Shengxie finished speaking, the noble general of the Hopeless Kingdom waved his hand, and the servants quickly distributed the items.

Lu Lingxi took the talisman from her hand and saw that it was an exquisite teleportation talisman with flowing runes on it, emitting a faint light, as if it contained some kind of mysterious power.

The distribution of teleportation talismans caused a complex expression on everyone's face. For most, it was their last lifeline in this unknown territory.

Lu Lingxi chuckled, recalling the three talismans given to her by Zisang Ancient City. Although they were similar, they differed in the runes, perhaps because of the different teleportation locations.

The contestants carefully stored the teleportation talismans in their spatial storage devices, after all, these were life-saving items.

Feng Shengxie's voice rang out again, "Since the location of this competition is set in the 'City of Oblivion,' you have probably already guessed the rules of this tournament. It will last for one month. The first team to leave the City of Oblivion will be crowned champion, and the rankings will follow accordingly. If no team successfully escapes within the time limit, the winner will be determined by the number of team members who do not give up. The team with the most remaining members will be the first place."

Lu Lingxi Yao's lips curled into a playful smile, her eyes gleaming with cunning. She thought to herself: This rule is extremely ingenious. Once you step into the City of Oblivion, you don't need to go deep into the heart of the city. You just need to find the traces of other countries' contestants and find a way to make them submit and give up. Wouldn't the fruits of victory be within your grasp?

Everyone in the room was pondering the deeper meaning of the rules. The glances they exchanged were filled with both anticipation and trepidation, and an indescribable tension permeated the air.

Seeing this, Feng Shengxie chuckled and continued, "There are five paths ahead, each leading to the 'City of Oblivion.' Once you cross the boundary, the competition will begin immediately. Now, you are allowed a moment to think. If you have any intention to back down, you still have a chance to withdraw."

Zisang Gucheng gathered all the contestants together, his expression grave, and said earnestly, "Children, once you enter that area, your primary task is not to rush into exploration, but to act cautiously. If you encounter contestants from other countries, you must go all out to force them to abandon the competition. But before that, what's more important is that you learn to trust each other. Only by uniting can you overcome all difficulties and obstacles. Remember, protect your own safety, do not blindly fight, and if necessary, even if it means abandoning the competition, use a teleportation talisman to save your life!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded solemnly, except for Lu Lingxi Yao, who remained silent, secretly thinking to herself: The contestants from various countries probably also wanted to use this trick to force their opponents to give up and then win the final victory. The competition hasn't even started yet, but their killing intent is already evident.

As the discussions among the representatives of various countries gradually subsided, Feng Shengxie's voice rang out again, "Now that the countries have reached an agreement, I would like all the contestants to choose their own paths and begin their journey!"

As the words fell, the teams from various countries began to move. Some were deep in thought, while others were exchanging whispers. In the end, each of them chose a path different from the others and then stood at the entrance.

Lu Lingxi stood at the back of the Lingyue Kingdom's team. Her dark eyes scanned the surroundings and finally stopped on the boy named Han Mo. He was also a contestant.

Seemingly sensing the deeper meaning in Lu Lingxi's gaze, Han Mo's eyes instantly became sharp and arrogant. He met Lu Lingxi's gaze without any hesitation, a contemptuous smile curling at the corner of his mouth, as if he was full of disdain and confidence for the upcoming competition.

"Good luck to my brothers from Lingyue Kingdom!"

Having said that, he turned around gracefully and led the army of the Hopeless Kingdom into the entrance of the road they had chosen without hesitation.

At the same time, Bei Chen Haoyu glanced back at his teammates and said firmly, "Let's go!"

Subsequently, Bei Chen Haoyu led the Lingyue Kingdom's team and strode into the path they had chosen.

As the figures of the Lingyue Kingdom and Wuwang Kingdom teams gradually disappeared into the mist, the contestants from the other three kingdoms also embarked on their chosen paths without hesitation, heading towards that unknown place—the Forgotten City.

After all the contestants' figures disappeared into the mist, the noble general from the Kingdom of Hopeless smiled meaningfully, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, and slowly asked, "My lords, shall we return to await news, or continue to wait here?"

The surroundings were so quiet that even the sound of breathing seemed to be deliberately amplified, yet no one moved, no one chose to leave. In their eyes, there was both expectation and unease, and they all tacitly decided to hold their ground until the final result that would determine victory arrived.

Feng Shengxie, Mo Xin, and Bai Ci, as witnesses and arbitrators of this conference, will naturally remain here as well.

"Lord Moxin, Lord Baici, why don't we guess who will win the championship this time?" Feng Shengxie's voice carried a hint of humor, trying to ease the oppressive atmosphere.

However, Mosin simply shook his head slightly without giving any response.

In contrast, Bai Ci's expression was particularly solemn. His slightly pursed lips revealed a hint of worry, and he slowly said, "Who can predict the unknown? All we can do is wait and see."

Seeing that the two didn't want to talk more, and their smiles were a little awkward, Feng Shengxie wisely put away his joke and didn't ask any further questions. The three of them fell silent again.