This battle was limited in scope but profoundly shocking. Several participants possessed the academy's strongest combat power—such a fierce fight rarely erupted even among the major academies of the Dayu Empire.
An academy elite like Granny had no chance to intervene.
This battle made Lu Yin fully recognize his own strength—he had the power to suppress Willow, one of the academy's top fighters.
Watching Bailie and Willow lying on the ground, Zhang Dingtian raised his blade, ready to finish them off.
Lu Yin quickly stopped him. "These people could serve as bargaining chips in the future."
Zhang Dingtian looked puzzled. "Bargaining chips? Negotiations?"
Lu Yin nodded solemnly. "You should know the students came to Earth for the trial. Although the trial does not forbid death, those who dare participate usually have complicated backgrounds and wide-reaching connections. We can use their lives as leverage to negotiate with the high command of the Dayu Empire."
Bai Xue's eyes fixed coldly on Lu Yin. "Use their lives to exchange for Earth's freedom?"
Lu Yin nodded. "The so-called planetary evolution is supposed to improve humanity, but in reality, it's just a recruitment method for the Dayu Empire's army. Earth's evolved humans who aren't valued get sent to the battlefield—whether it's the Dayu Empire's warfronts, other empires' fronts, or the alien human battlefields—which are far more brutal than the trial. Even those strong enough to roam the stars might not survive there. These students could help Earth save a few more lives."
Zhang Dingtian fell silent and sheathed his long knife.
A flicker of sadness flashed in Bai Xue's cold gaze. They had once believed Earth was the only planet with intelligent life in the universe, but since discovering a corpse on Neptune, everything had changed. Earth was nothing but a primitive planet under the Dayu Empire's surveillance—capable of exploring space but just learning to walk, all under constant monitoring.
Now, Earth faced the most terrifying doomsday—not from mutants or zombies, but from the Dayu Empire. It was unclear how many would be sent to the battlefield after the trial ended. Even beings like the Seven Saints might only be considered slightly higher-ranking soldiers.
Granny looked at Lu Yin in surprise. She hadn't expected such a plan—more than playing with fire, it was daring to negotiate with the Dayu Empire's high command. Since the empire's founding, no native had dared make demands of them. It was suicidal but perhaps effective. Granny wasn't sure about others, but Willow's background was significant—his family had members in the Imperial Court's Thirteen Teams.
"Cough, cough, you're thinking too simply. The Dayu Empire's iron-fisted military rule is famous across the universe; they won't accept threats from natives," Bailie mocked.
Lu Yin glanced at him. "You don't need to worry about that. Just stay alive—you are all bargaining chips."
Bailie sneered disdainfully, convinced these natives didn't understand the Dayu Empire at all.
Bai Xue looked at Lu Yin with suspicion. Using students to threaten the Dayu Empire might work, but it would put him in the spotlight. The empire would never tolerate him. Did he have any backing? No one gives selfless devotion. Bai Xue remained quietly wary of Lu Yin.
Boom!
A sudden loud explosion came from the north. Zhang Dingtian looked toward the north, his expression changing. "The Technology Academy—this is bad," he said, rushing off in that direction.
At that moment, two figures flew toward the west in the sky.
Bailie stared upward, grinding his teeth. "Erde, Haidian."
Zhang Dingtian soared into the sky and saw two people flying westward, while another two followed closely behind them from a different direction.
His eyes turned icy cold as energy burst from his body, creating visible ripples that spread outward. Raising his long knife, the vibrating energy suddenly vanished. At that moment, his blade radiated an aura so fierce it made countless onlookers' scalps tingle, as if it could sever the very heavens and earth.
The clouds in the sky tore silently, and the world fell into solemn silence.
Lu Yin was shaken. A battle skill? No—it was the strongest slash.
In the west, Erde and the others looked back, their expressions changing. Zhang Dingtian had hidden his strength, and this slash was terrifying—though not a battle skill, it was very close.
"Don't hesitate, run!" Erde barked.
Not far away, Gules and Balaro were shocked. "This native is going against heaven—run!"
Zhang Dingtian's eyes flashed with cold light. His long knife slashed fiercely, unleashing a massive strike across the capital toward the west. The sky was sliced open, air warped, and the fierce aura caused illusions in everyone. It was as if the high sky had been cut apart.
Erde, Haidian, Gules, and Balaro turned around together, bracing to block the slash.
In just a moment, the slash was torn apart, dispersing into five energy waves that vanished into the sky.
Erde's face grew solemn, disbelief in his eyes.
Haidian's black robe was torn open, revealing a scaled upper body, with a streak of blood at the corner of his mouth glistening in the sunlight.
Gules gasped heavily, staring at Zhang Dingtian in astonishment.
Balaro was the worst off—spitting blood, his already green skin even greener, with cracks appearing on his body.
"Go!" Erde shouted again, charging westward.
Heidian glanced unwillingly at Zhang Dingtian and also flew westward.
Gulais and Balaluo said nothing, tightly following behind Ede and the others.
Zhang Dingtian stood tall in the high sky, exuding an imposing aura. With just one person and one sword, he silenced the surroundings, earning countless people's respect and cheers.
Granny was stunned. Among the natives, there was actually such a powerful person — a cross-border powerhouse. Absolutely a cross-border powerhouse. This monster, among the frontier students of the Greater Universe Empire, was perhaps one of the very few who could compare to him.
Lu Yin narrowed his eyes. Zhang Dingtian's strike stirred his heart deeply. He wondered how strong his own Heavenly Star Palm, which operated three stars, was and whether it could defeat Zhang Dingtian.
Bai Xue exhaled and showed a slight smile. Truly worthy of being the leader of the Seven Saints.
Bailie and Willow were shocked. This was what a cross-border powerhouse looked like. They had seriously underestimated Zhang Dingtian. Had they known he had such strength, neither of them would have acted in the capital.
Zhang Dingtian turned and flew northward, toward the Capital Science and Technology Institute, one of the most important places in Huaxia.
Lu Yin and Bai Xue hurried to follow.
Granny also grabbed Bailie and the others to follow.
The Science and Technology Institute was located north of the capital. The corpses brought back by Neptune were originally kept there, but for some unknown reason, they needed to be relocated. At the moment of transfer, the top management of Huaxia, including No. 1, were present. Only they had the authority to give orders. However, a massive explosion occurred, leading to the apocalypse.
It could be said that the Science and Technology Institute was the origin of everything.
Bailie and Willow only thought of searching Zhang Dingtian's residence and No. 1's office and did not consider the Science and Technology Institute at all. Only Ede had thought of it.
When the group arrived at the Science and Technology Institute, what they saw were piles of debris and many dead bodies.
Zhang Dingtian clenched his fists and ordered the army to seal off the surrounding area and search for survivors.
"Hua Sheng, even the director wants to see you," a soldier reported.
Zhang Dingtian was surprised, "The director is alive?" Then he let the soldier lead the way.
Several kilometers from the ruins of the Science and Technology Institute was a sunken area, the underground entrance to the institute, also sealed off by the army. An old man in a white lab coat leaned wearily against a rubble wall, drinking water. Beside him was a beautiful woman dressed in a black professional outfit.
"Huan Sha, how is the director?" Zhang Dingtian hurriedly asked upon arrival.
The woman named Huan Sha said, "He's fine, just a bit shaken."
"What kind of shaking? I only twisted my ankle, I wasn't shaken at all," the old man said unhappily.
Huan Sha smiled, "Yes, yes, you only twisted your ankle."
Zhang Dingtian looked at the old man, "Director, what happened?"
At the same time, Lu Yin and the others appeared.
Bai Xue gave Lu Yin a strange look. Just now, Lu Yin had searched Bailie and Willow's Condensed Space Rings thoroughly in front of her, taking whatever he could, which felt quite odd.
Lu Yin felt justified. He had contributed in the battle and was very poor; he couldn't afford to waste anything.
Combining Bailie and Willow's star energy crystals amounted to a full cubic unit, enough to roll the dice again. Thinking about this excited Lu Yin, curious about what result he would get. He was really looking forward to it.
Even the director told Zhang Dingtian to disperse the army. Zhang Dingtian waved his hand, and Huan Sha was also sent away, leaving only Bai Xue, Lu Yin, and Granny.
Lu Yin told Granny to leave. Granny was quite reluctant. After Ede left from here and rushed west, she had obviously discovered something and wanted to know as well.
Lu Yin gave her a fierce glare, and only then did Granny unwillingly leave.
Nearby, Bai Xue stared at Lu Yin, seemingly wanting him to leave.
Lu Yin completely ignored her and curiously looked at the director.
"Who is this?" the director asked, looking at Lu Yin.
Lu Yin said, "I represent Zhou Shan to listen."
Bai Xue was speechless.