Chapter 157: The Battle Begins, Who is the Strongest?

Chapter 157: The Battle Begins, Who is the Strongest?

February 17th.

On this morning, as Zhao Zheng emerged from the sunlight bath apparatus and opened his eyes, numerous prompts popped up in his left eye:

【Physique attribute reached 3000, the enhancement effect of your Steel Body has further increased...】

【Strength attribute reached 3000, the enhancement effect of your Super Strength has further increased...】

【Agility attribute reached 3000, successfully activated the hidden talent of the Kryptonian bloodline: Super Speed!】

【Super Speed: One of the innate talents of the Kryptonian bloodline. Once activated, it generates divine speed, significantly boosting velocity with a maximum limit of the speed of light.】

【Prompt: Super Speed can also enhance flight speed.】

Along with these prompts, his body underwent changes as well!

Zhao Zheng was overjoyed.

He immediately opened his attribute panel:

Race: Human.

Physique: 3000

Spirit: 881

Strength: 3000

Agility: 3000

Talent: Shock Fruit Ability, Kryptonian Bloodline [Steel Body⑤, Super Strength⑤, Super Speed⑤, Super Flight].

Skills: Fist Bone Impact, Armored Color Mastery (Supreme Mastery), Demigod Descent, Super Flight.

Spirit Energy Points: 45.

...

This was his current panel!

As Zhao Zheng stepped out of the sunlight bath apparatus and onto the ground, the powerful vitality and surging strength within his body made his spirit soar.

Initially, his goal for the Universal Spirit Realm was to rank within the top five.

Now, he was confident he could compete for the championship!

Because at this moment, Zhao Zheng felt incredibly powerful.

No matter how strong that "One-Punch Man" from Korea was, he believed he could defeat him...

Afterward, Zhao Zheng freshened up, went outside to find a secluded spot, and tested his speed.

The results were astonishing!

His movement speed was as swift as lightning, beyond calculation.

Especially his flight speed!

Zhao Zheng's flight speed was linked to his agility attribute.

For example, with his current agility attribute of 3000 points, his flight speed was 3 Mach.

In other words, three times the speed of sound!

But with the addition of Super Speed, his flight speed increased fivefold, reaching 15 Mach!

This flight speed surpassed all commercial aircraft and most missiles, rivaling Dongfeng Express!

The Great Superhuman Physique was indeed formidable!

Zhao Zheng now had almost no weaknesses.

...

Time passed quickly.

March 3rd finally arrived.

In the morning, around 8 o'clock.

Zhao Zheng left his dormitory and headed to the cafeteria for breakfast, only to find it unusually quiet.

There were only a handful of students having breakfast.

The cafeteria seemed to have received a notice and had prepared a limited number of breakfast portions.

Zhao Zheng understood the reason.

Today was the commencement of the Universal Spirit Realm!

The Universal Spirit Realm was open to everyone, and team formation had no restrictions on Spirit Realm tiers or strength.

So, it was no surprise that most students had found other teams and left the school.

Zhao Zheng took a breakfast portion and sat down to eat.

As he ate, he checked his phone.

Compared to the quiet cafeteria, the online world was bustling with activity.

Even though it was only around 8 o'clock, countless people were discussing the Universal Spirit Realm...

"Holy crap! We're about to enter the Universal Spirit Realm, I'm so nervous!"

"Why be nervous? I've even prepared my championship acceptance speech."

"Who's talking nonsense? Wake up, it's daytime, not a dream."

"Speaking of which, who do people think will win the championship in this Universal Spirit Realm?"

"Not sure about Group B, but for Group A, it's probably still that Korean guy with the nickname 'One-Punch Man.' It's so annoying! That guy will probably win the championship for two or three consecutive terms before leaving."

"And domestically, who are the top contenders?"

"The military has two teams, the Extraordinary Association has one, and the Zodiac Bureau... I guess that's about it."

"I wonder if Song Haitang can surpass herself this time?"

"Dream on. Unless she joins a strong team, with her current strength, it'll be difficult for her to even rank within the top 500."

"True, Song Haitang is still within the novice range. The Universal Spirit Realm might be a bit too early for her at this stage..."

...

Online discussions were rampant.

Everyone was speculating about the potential champion of the Universal Spirit Realm.

In some forums, Zhao Zheng even saw advertisements for betting websites, many of which had opened betting markets for this event.

The top contender for the championship was naturally that "Ma Dongwu" from South Korea!

"What are you looking at?

"So engrossed?"

At that moment, a voice sounded from across the table, interrupting Zhao Zheng's focus on his phone.

Zhao Zheng lifted his gaze from his phone to see Old Chu sitting opposite him, a tray of food in hand.

As Zhao Zheng put away his phone, he asked, "Old Chu, are you also working late today?"

Privately, Zhao Zheng had taken to addressing Chu Laoshi as "Old Chu," a more casual and friendly form of address.

Only in public settings would he use the more formal "Laoshi."

Old Chu didn't seem to mind this more egalitarian style of interaction.

"I heard that you found a Seventh Rank Powerhouse to join your team, and you were so excited last night that you couldn't sleep!" Old Chu chuckled.

"That's why I woke up a bit late today," he added.

Indeed, Old Chu was also a member of the Teacher Team at Zhenwu University.

Word had spread that with the addition of a Seventh Rank Powerhouse, the Teacher Team's roster had become highly sought after, at least within the university, with many vying for a spot.

Zhao Zheng wasn't privy to the details of what had transpired.

With a team of ten, the remaining six members had been selected by Ms. Shen.

"Old Chu, rest assured, this time we'll definitely soar with you," Zhao Zheng assured him.

Hearing this, Old Chu couldn't help but laugh.

"With Ms. Gu's abilities, leading us into the top fifty is indeed a possibility," he nodded in agreement.

Clearly, Old Chu had misunderstood.

Zhao Zheng didn't bother to clarify.

Instead, he asked, "By the way, who do you think has the best chance of winning the Universal Spirit Realm?"

Old Chu didn't hesitate to answer, "The hot favorite for the championship is undoubtedly Ma Dongwu from South Korea."

Zhao Zheng's brows furrowed slightly, and he couldn't help but ask, "What kind of strength does this Ma Dongwu possess? What is his talent ability?"

Old Chu replied, "His talent ability is the Eternal Race·Gilgamesh Bloodline, and his strength is astonishing! As for his capabilities, you can find videos of his past exploits online."

Zhao Zheng was taken aback by this information.

Even the Holy Land had the bloodline of the Eternal Race? He recalled the Eternal Race movie, where the character Gilgamesh had a minor role but displayed impressive strength and power.

In the Marvel universe, Gilgamesh's strength was said to rival that of the Hulk.

Additionally, Gilgamesh's physique was robust, boasting high defense and endurance.

No wonder Ma Dongwu from South Korea was nicknamed "One-Punch Man"!

Interestingly, the actor who portrayed Gilgamesh in the movie "The Eternals" was also from South Korea and had the same "One-Punch Man" nickname.

What a coincidence!

Zhao Zheng took out his phone and searched for videos of Ma Dongwu online...

The search results yielded numerous options, indicating Ma Dongwu's popularity.

The most popular video had over a million likes.

Zhao Zheng clicked on it, and in the video, he saw Ma Dongwu charging through a battlefield filled with monsters, punching away every obstacle in his path, even those several dozen meters tall...

His strength was truly remarkable, surpassing even the original Gilgamesh!

...

Zhao Zheng then inquired about other top contenders.

Old Chu eagerly shared a long list of domestic and international candidates.

At 10 AM, the group gathered in a lounge.

By the time Zhao Zheng arrived, almost all the teachers were present, except for Ms. Shen and Chu Laoshi.

The remaining four teachers were familiar faces to Zhao Zheng, but he couldn't recall their names.

Soon after, Song Haitang and her father, Song Leader, arrived.

Upon seeing Zhao Zheng, Song Leader gave a rare nod, acknowledging his presence.

Since witnessing Zhao Zheng's performance in the Fifth Spirit Realm, Song Leader's attitude towards him had improved.

However, in Song Leader's heart, Zhao Zheng still couldn't compare to Chen Ye.

Thinking of Chen Ye, Song Leader couldn't help but frown.

That boy had gone missing, and no one knew his whereabouts or how to contact him...

After some small talk, everyone took their seats.

"Zhao Zheng, when do you expect Ms. Gu to arrive?" Ms. Shen asked.

The teachers were already aware of the identity of the Seventh Rank Powerhouse Zhao Zheng had invited.

"I just contacted her, and she's on her way. She should be here in about twenty minutes," Zhao Zheng replied.

Hearing this, the teachers breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as they confirm their attendance and don't back out, that's all that matters.

Twenty minutes later, a luxurious electric business sedan arrived at Zhenwu University.

The person who stepped out of the car was none other than Gu Jie.

Gu Jie's real name is Gu Yuying, and at thirty-three years old, she is an incredibly talented individual to have reached the Seventh Rank standard at her age.

Gu Yuying's arrival was met with great enthusiasm from the crowd, who greeted her with much anticipation.

A Seventh Rank powerhouse like her deserved such a reception.

After some pleasantries, the group returned to the rest room and took their seats.

Gu Yuying surveyed the room with a sweeping glance, appearing calm on the surface but secretly disappointed with the team Zhao Zheng had assembled.

Not a single Sixth Rank Extraordinary Being among them!

Although she was here to repay a favor for her father's generation, she also cared deeply about the outcome of the Universal Spirit Realm...

As Gu Yuying observed those around her, Zhao Zheng also took the opportunity to study this "Gu Jie"! The last time they met in her hometown, he hadn't gotten a good look at her as she had to rush off to deal with monsters.

Now, sitting right in front of him, Zhao Zheng couldn't help but take a closer look.

Despite being in her thirties, Gu Jie maintained an impressive figure thanks to her Extraordinary Being status, with a slim waist, long legs, and a curvy physique.

Her skin had a healthy tan.

She wore her hair short and neat.

As for her facial features, a pair of large, custom-made mechanical glasses covered most of her face, making it difficult to get a clear view of her appearance.

However, from what he could see of her nose and mouth, she didn't seem unattractive.

"Gu Jie, thank you so much for coming," Zhao Zheng said.

Gu Yuying waved her hand and glanced at Song Haitang before speaking, "You and Song Haitang are the future, and the Association is keeping a close eye on you. I'm happy to be able to help you on your path to greatness."

This Gu Jie was not only powerful but also had a high emotional intelligence and knew how to speak to people.

Song Haitang smiled and replied, "Speaking of which, Gu Jie is also a Distinguished Advisor in our province's Extraordinary Association. I, as the leader, have never had the chance to pay my respects. It's my fault!"

"No, no," Gu Yuying said, "My advisor role is just a title. You're the leader, with countless responsibilities and a busy schedule. It's I who should be paying respects to you."

As the two exchanged pleasantries, a minute remained until the Universal Spirit Realm's commencement.

"We have one minute until the Universal Spirit Realm begins. Let's prepare," Ms. Shen reminded the group.

Everyone nodded and stood up, forming a line, holding hands.

Seeing Zhao Zheng holding Song Haitang's hand, Song Leader felt a twinge of displeasure, but he kept it to himself...

The minute passed quickly.

As the Spirit Realm opened, the ten people in the rest room vanished from their original spots.

...

The next moment, their figures appeared in a vast square.

The square was enormous, seemingly endless.

Nearby stood a colossal stadium, its size rivaling that of a large city.

The square was teeming with people, too numerous to count.

They were all Extraordinary Beings who had just been teleported there.

"Is this the Universal Spirit Realm? There are so many people!"

"And that building is... the stadium? It's huge!"

"It has to be this big to accommodate so many of us."

"I can't wait to see the battles between all these powerful fighters!"

"Yes, it's going to be a real spectacle!"

Countless voices buzzed around Zhao Zheng, but he paid them no mind.

He calmly made his way towards Song Haitang and pulled her into his embrace, protecting her from any potential dangers.

With so many people around, he couldn't be sure if attacking others was allowed. What if someone saw Song Haitang and decided to make a move?

Zhao Zheng was confident in his current strength, but he knew there were formidable powerhouses among them.

Song Haitang quickly noticed Zhao Zheng's protective gesture and, being the smart girl she was, understood that he was shielding her. A warm feeling filled her, and a smile graced her face.

At that moment, the rules of the Universal Spirit Realm appeared in the left eye of every Extraordinary Being.

The rules were extensive, but one particular rule stood out: aside from the arena, private attacks were prohibited...

Seeing this, Zhao Zheng finally relaxed and stopped acting like an overprotective mother hen.

"Huh? Ms. Shen?"

A voice from the side suddenly caught everyone's attention.

They turned to see a peculiar team.

(PS: Feeling under the weather, will discuss additional chapters later...)



(End of Chapter)

Chapter end