https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-71-Don-t-Miss-the-Launch-Event-Benefits/13686487/
Chapter 70: Hidden Spirit Root
Not long after, with the final contestant descending from the Arena, all judges had submitted their scores. Two more students from other high schools had withdrawn during the process, leaving a total of 33 competitors to be divided into eight Groups for the Elimination Matches.
Seven of the Groups consisted of four contestants each, who would face off in pairs after a lottery draw, eliminating opponents until only one remained. The eighth Group, however, had five participants—after the draw, one would receive a bye, and the remaining four would battle in two-on-two matchups until a single victor emerged.
Once all eight Groups had one survivor, the top eight would be set.
After the Evaluation Match concluded, a short break was given. Zhang Yu stretched lazily, then turned to Bai Zhenzhen. “Let’s go take a bathroom break,” he said.
But after searching the entire area, they couldn’t find a single restroom in sight.
Seeing Song Hailong passing by, Zhang Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Do you know where the toilets are?”
Song Hailong smirked arrogantly. “Bailong High School doesn’t have toilets.”
“Huh?” Zhang Yu blinked in disbelief. “You just… pee wherever?”
Song Hailong’s expression darkened. “All teachers and students at Bailong High School have undergone digestive system modification surgery. We don’t need such outdated, filthy, time-wasting facilities.”
Zhang Yu stared, speechless. “Then what do we do?”
Song Hailong shrugged coolly. “Try the first floor. There might be a restroom down there—reserved for the less fortunate.”
With some effort, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen finally found two makeshift restrooms outside the first-floor hallway. Each cost ten yuan.
After borrowing money from Qian Shen, they grumbled all the way to the bathroom and back.
When they returned to the arena, the eight Groups had already been finalized.
At the same time, eight massive Arenas rose into the air, each one ready to host an Elimination Match simultaneously.
Zhang Yu glanced at the group assignments and exhaled quietly in relief. “Good. Zhenzhen isn’t in my group.”
Then he studied her group’s lineup—and his expression tightened slightly. “But… her group has a strong one.”
A high-scoring contestant from Hongta High School stood out: a beastkin with a human-like body, but with a tiger’s head and thick, striped fur covering his frame—like a walking, humanoid tiger.
Earlier, under Zhang Yu’s Heavenly Eye Charm, the man’s head had displayed a cascade of identifications:
Protected Zone | Dragon-Tiger Demon Blood | Medicine Barrel | Steel Bone
Zhang Yu recalled Lei Jun’s translation: "From the Demon Offspring Protected Zone, a tiger demon with dragon blood, heavily medicated, and enhanced with skeletal modifications."
Zhang Yu thought to himself: "I remember he scored 266 in the Evaluation Match—second-highest in Hongta High School."
Based on what Zhang Yu had seen during the man’s performance, the beastkin, Hu Yuntao, was a true six-dimensional warrior—high strength, high agility, high attack, high defense, with no obvious weaknesses.
"He didn’t participate in the Mana Competition last time—probably weak in Martial Energy control."
"But being here now means his real combat skills are elite."
Zhang Yu’s gaze drifted to the sharp, glinting claws on Hu Yuntao’s hands. "Damn it. Why aren’t beastkin supposed to get their claws removed before competing? This is like bringing a weapon to the fight. Cheating!"
"This guy is exactly the kind Zhenzhen hates most."
With a hint of worry, Zhang Yu turned toward his own Group’s arena.
"Please don’t go bankrupt, Zhenzhen. I don’t have any more money to lend you."
…
Bai Zhenzhen arrived at her Group’s arena.
Three other contestants had already arrived—students from Bailong High School, Ziyun High School, and Hongta High School.
The most striking among them was the tiger-headed contestant from Hongta High School—his brutish appearance making him look more beast than human.
Then the lottery draw began. Bai Zhenzhen drew Hu Yuntao.
They would fight one-on-one. The winner would face the victor of the other two, ultimately determining who advanced from the Group.
Bai Zhenzhen placed a hand on her stomach, feeling the quiet power stirring within her, and slowly walked toward the Arena.
“I’ve waited so long… finally, I have a chance to use you.”
“Today… it’s my turn to soar. To dazzle everyone.”
Opposite her, Hu Yuntao sauntered onto the Arena with nonchalance, barely glancing at her, his eyes wandering as if she were nothing more than dust.
…
Hu Yuntao, like Xiong Bufan from the previous Mana Competition, hailed from the Demon Offspring Protected Zone’s Breeding Base.
But unlike others, Hu Yuntao never felt shame in his heritage. He didn’t see beastkin blood as inferior. On the contrary—deep in his bones was pride. Pride in his race. Pride in his bloodline.
Because Hu Yuntao carried dragon blood.
Within his veins ran the legacy of dragons—making him far more noble than ordinary humans.
In the Protected Zone, every month, ‘Father Lord,’ the school’s board chairman, personally fertilized pregnant females across all species, ensuring the birth of children infused with his divine dragon essence.
Each month, hundreds of beastkin were born—each carrying a trace of the Father Lord’s blood, making them extraordinary from the moment of conception.
From infancy, these children were fed potent medicines and subjected to relentless training.
In this world, the strong studied. The weak worked.
That was the lesson Hu Yuntao learned early on.
Those who couldn’t tolerate the drugs were sent to food factories.
Those who lacked intelligence became employees in ecological Protected Zones.
Later, those with no potential were assigned to textile mills, leather factories, clothing plants—laborers in the endless chain of production.
Only by surviving each trial, escaping each menial job, could one reach the paradise known as Hongta High School.
There, one could sign a contract with the Father Lord, becoming his acknowledged son—and earning the right to study, to attend university.
“I won’t work! I want to study!”
That was the cry of every beastkin in the Breeding Base.
And Hu Yuntao had proven himself through countless trials—breaking through every dead-end path, enduring every hardship—until he finally earned his place at Hongta High School.
Now, he would use the dragon blood bestowed by the Father Lord to crush every opponent in this tournament—making his father proud.
…
On the Arena, the referee counted down:
“Three! Two! One!”
Hu Yuntao shot forward like a storm, his claws slicing through the air with icy menace, trailing faint red mist and cold light—like blades drawn from hell.
The woman before him—small, frail, slow—was nothing to him. He was certain he could rip off her hands and tear open her throat in a single motion.
“That strike alone will cost you 600,000 yuan in medical bills.”
But then—without warning—a surge of dread exploded in his chest.
His body reacted instinctively. He froze mid-motion, then leapt back.
He stared at Bai Zhenzhen again.
And saw it: threads of Spirit Energy were flowing toward her, gathering at her fingertips—faint, shimmering like the edge of a blade.
Hu Yuntao narrowed his eyes.
“Combat Spirit Root?”
…
In the audience stands, Qian Shen watched the Arena with curiosity. “What kind of spirit root is that? I’ve never seen one like it. But the energy gathering is massive—probably a Celestial Spirit Root.”
Zhao Tianxing added, “No wonder Zhenzhen didn’t have money for food. She must’ve spent everything on renting that Combat Spirit Root. She really wants to win.”
Zhao Tianxing calculated the cost—travel, time, the match itself—and estimated the rental fee easily ran into several tens of thousands. He shook his head in awe. “Participating in this Martial Arts Competition really is expensive.”
…
On the Arena, Bai Zhenzhen felt the Spirit Energy surging through her body—vast, powerful, and intoxicating.
She thought: “They all think I rented this Combat Spirit Root just for the competition, right?”
But she knew better.
She’d rather spend money on medicine or cultivation manuals than rent a spirit root.
After all, she already had her own.
For years, she’d lived like someone holding her breath—like she was constantly repressing the urge to pee.
And for nine long years, she’d held it in.
“Zhenzhen, control yourself. Don’t absorb Spirit Energy. Don’t let anyone find out you have a spirit root.”
That was the first thing she heard every morning.
“Zhenzhen, hold on. Don’t trigger the energy. Don’t let anyone know.”
At night, she’d be woken up again and again, forced to suppress her spirit root, to silence it.
“I know it’s hard, but only when you master it—only when no one suspects—can we go back to Songyang.”
It was like not being able to breathe. Like not being able to drink water. Like having a full bladder but no way to relieve it.
Don’t let them find out. Don’t let them find out. Don’t let them find out!
She had held it in. Held it in. Held it in…
Until one day, she felt it—her spirit root had vanished.
That day was the happiest of her life.
Nine years of hiding. Nine years of silence. The burden was finally gone.
She no longer had to hold back.
But then… she realized the spirit root hadn’t disappeared.
It had hidden.
And not just the root—something deeper.
Each time she suppressed her spirit energy, the root pulled her deeper into concealment.
She became a ghost.
No one could see her. No one could sense her.
To the world, she was invisible.
And to her… everyone else had become ghosts.
That night, she was truly alone in the world.
Until she found a way to be seen again.
…
Hu Yuntao, watching the Spirit Energy swirling around Bai Zhenzhen, refused to give her more time. With a thunderous roar, he charged again.
But in an instant—she vanished.
Hu Yuntao’s eyes widened. He scanned the entire Arena.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Nothing.
“A stealth-type Combat Spirit Root?”
He retreated to the corner, scanning the whole field—but not a trace of her.
Could she be…?
Then—suddenly—a wave of pure danger flooded his body.
Before he could react, Bai Zhenzhen reappeared right in front of him—her fingertip already aimed at his dantian.
Too fast. Too sudden.
But Hu Yuntao was quick. In a flash, his claw shot out, slicing toward her finger like lightning.
“Hmph. Weak strength. Slow speed. Even if you surprise me, how can you beat me?”
But then—just as he expected—her finger twisted, retracting with flawless precision.
Hu Yuntao lunged forward to press the attack—only to feel a sharp pain in his foot.
He stumbled, tripped—falling hard.
It was all too perfect. As if he’d thrown himself into the trap.
Thud.
He landed outside the Arena, sprawled on the ground, utterly humiliated.
He roared, struggling to rise. “I won’t accept this! I haven’t even used my full power!”
Watching the furious beastkin being dragged out by the referee by the back of his neck, Bai Zhenzhen calmly flicked her fingertip.
“Idiot. I didn’t even use my full strength.”
The match was over.
Bai Zhenzhen had won.
(End of Chapter)
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