Chapter 893 - 888: Lord Gangxin, Pick Me!

Chapter 893: Chapter 888: Lord Gangxin, Pick Me!

"By the way, I heard that the Lost Continent’s main resource is the Demon Crystal. What’s the Demon Crystal, and what’s its use in this world?" Wu Mingyue was quite interested in this.

Bai Pu glanced at the maid who was helping him clean, and responded in the team channel:

"Based on the information I got from the maid, the Demon Crystal is a pure energy source with a wide range of uses... Many of the Empire’s magic crystal technology items, such as ’Magical Mechanized Soldiers’ and ’Magic Crystal Cannon,’ require Demon Crystals to power them."

After pausing for a moment, Bai Pu continued, "Actually, I think the ’Demon Crystal’ of the Dark Tide World might have a convertible relation with the ’Spirit Crystal’ of the Evolver World. Perhaps the Demon Crystal is actually the Spirit Crystal."

Wu Mingyue agreed with this: "The Ascension Mainline indicates that the reward for obtaining a privateering certificate is 50% of this world’s Spirit Crystal acquisition, so the Spirit Crystal mentioned here is definitely not a typo by the Spirit Realm Will."

Their discussion left Wu Qingyun with little room to interject, but when Spirit Crystals were mentioned, Wu Qingyun seized the chance to speak, exclaiming excitedly:

"According to the score conversion rule, 1 Lower Grade Spirit Crystal can be converted to 1 point in the final settlement. It’s a pity that Awakened are prohibited from trading Demon Crystals and Spirit Crystals. Otherwise, the Spirit Crystals we obtain later could be given to Xiao Bai... Oh! Aunt, why are you hitting me!"

Wu Mingyue said irritably, "This is clearly to ensure fairness. There are only three of us, but there are more than ten Major Generals from the Red Race! If they all traded Spirit Crystals to Chi Lijia, inflating the final score by hundreds or thousands, wouldn’t that be highly unfair?"

Bai Pu said, "Actually, from the score settlement rule for Spirit Crystals, it seems the Spirit Realm Will encourages Awakened to group together... When Chi Lijia’s team explores the Demon Crystal Vein, the Demon Crystal mined by the team must be prioritized for her to pick up, giving them a final score advantage."

After exchanging information as usual, the three ended the communication.

...

Red Blood Arena, at sunset.

Competition is brutal.

Although several powerful Major General Gaia had accumulated 10 victories before sunset and earned the status of gladiators, there were still a batch of Major Generals whose strength or luck was insufficient, failing to achieve the goal of 10 wins.

The losers sat dumbfounded in place, experiencing the harshness of the Ascension Plane.

The Awakened who passed the trial happily entered the "Branding Room" to receive the Red Blood Brand in a visible location on their bodies.

They immediately activated the first-stage tasks of the Ascension Mainline.

Watching the winners proudly display the Red Blood Brand, a slave mark meant to represent shame, and then bathe, change clothes, and enter more comfortable gladiator slave dormitories to enjoy dinner, the failed Awakened merely felt it was noisy.

The joys and sorrows of people are indeed different.

Many of the losers were unwilling to accept defeat, pondering ways to escape the Red Blood Arena and use the remaining two days of free stay to try their luck elsewhere.

The cost of doing so was bound to be high, as it meant relinquishing their "legal" status in the Empire and becoming runaway slaves.

In a Tier One Plane World, Awakened Major Generals relied on their formidable strength to disdain camp leaders and challenge established rules.

But in the Ascension Plane, the strength of Major Generals was not deemed strong, generally resting between Ordinary Natives and Elite Natives! They simply did not have the capital to challenge the rules.

At this moment, the bald-headed instructor Thrace walked out.

"You cowards, weaklings, failed maggots!"

Spit flying, Thrace chided, "You don’t have the qualifications to become gladiators, so just accept your fate! From today on, you need to learn how to identify Demon Crystals, how to mine rocks, and become a qualified laborer! Once you’re in the Lost Continent, the only thing you can do is to trade Demon Crystals for food! If you don’t want to starve to death!"

Two laborers brought over a glowing red furnace, and Thrace picked up the branding iron.

"Now, line up here, you scum! Lord Thrace will brand you as laborers!"

The failed Awakened Major Generals looked at each other.

Their expressions were not awkward but rather filled with ecstatic delight!

Because they all received the first-stage Ascension Mainline!

...

The gladiator dormitory features double rooms.

As a perk for being first, Bai Pu could freely choose a "roommate."

A gladiator’s roommate is no ordinary companion; they can serve as "partners" to fight side by side in the arena. Having a strong partner helps one go further in the arena.

While Bai Pu was choosing a roommate, "Melt Arm" Bart suddenly sent a telepathic message: "Lord Gangxin, choose me! I’m familiar with Rein, Leia; we have a team..."

Bai Pu nodded at him, but then ignored "Melt Arm" Bart, the elite leader of a Major General team, and chose a native —

"Iron Spine" Balrog.

The leader of the Bloodsail Pirates, whom Bai Pu almost killed in an instant, surrendered immediately.

Iron Spine Balrog was flattered, ran over to Bai Pu, nodding and bowing with a smile: "Lord Dior, it’s my great privilege that you chose me! In the arena, I will be your most solid shield, your sharpest curved saber..."

Bai Pu arrogantly gave a cold "Hmm," and said casually, "As long as you don’t betray me, I promise you won’t die at the hands of others in the arena."

Actually, Iron Spine Balrog’s combat power wasn’t weak; had Bai Pu not broken conventions by opening with a powerful move that crushed Balrog with superior stats, there was absolutely no chance of an instant kill.

To be fair, among the newly minted native gladiators present, Iron Spine Balrog’s strength was the greatest.

Even a leadership Major General team couldn’t surpass Balrog’s stats. They probably only held an advantage in Mystical Arts cultivation; who knows what the outcome would be in a real fight.

Given no obvious differences, Bai Pu still preferred to pick a native as his partner.

Though Melt Arm Bart wasn’t chosen by Bai Pu, he wasn’t discouraged or infuriated. Instead, he flashed a harmless smile at Bai Pu.

That evening, Major General Bart came to see Bai Pu.

"I understand why you chose Balrog, a native pirate. If this guy can be subdued, he’s a decent right-hand."

Major General Bart started with an explanation of the "misunderstanding" for Bai Pu and then talked to Bai Pu about his connection with the Furnace Blade squad.

Their relationship grew closer rapidly.

"Where have Rein and the others been matched?" Bai Pu asked.

Major General Bart shook his head: "This is a Tier Two Plane, and most Tier One items can’t be used... including communication items. I was planning to pull Rein into my team, but he refused, so I haven’t heard from him."