Chapter 0457: Ambitions of an Enlightened Sage

Whilst the students of the Astral Sage College pondered over their strategies for the hall-level competition, the others were not idle. Everyone was hunched over, crafting master plans for the exciting battle ahead.

Meanwhile, in another isolated space a fair distance away stood a tower marked with the signboard of the Enlightened Sage College.

Each college teleported in at a different time due to the varying distances. On the other hand, the Enlightened Sage College, having been the champion of the previous competition, possessed the Dragon Bone Holy Grail and had thus arrived here without much delay.

Five people were sitting at a round table at the top of the tower, watching the zones below.

"We have already crafted a plan for each school. You four are the jewels of the Enlightened Sage College, and your performances will determine if the Dragon Bone Holy Grail can continue to remain with us."

The one who had spoken was a man dressed in grand robes of white that matched his snow-white hair. Despite this, his face was youthful—the glowing skin of a child with dark, bright eyes that shone with intelligence.

He was the leader of the Enlightened Sage College delegation, the vice principal, Guo Jiufeng.

"Jing Taixu, you're definitely one of the most favored contenders in the One Star Hall, but you shouldn't get careless. The other schools haven't been sleeping for the last few years—they must have cultivated their own talents to take the Dragon Bone Holy Grail. Still, a quasi ninth-grade wind resonance like yours is still an enormous advantage. You might end up taking the title."

The handsome youth in green was known as the Spear of Enlightened Sage, and he did not just have the firepower, but also the lanky build to match his name. The corner of his lip twitched up a fraction, more focused on a wisp of green energy that weaved in and out of his fingers playfully.

"Don't worry, Vice Principal. I understand." Jing Taixu nodded. "The Sacred Summit Sage College's Sun Dasheng and the Heavenly Inferno Sage College's Lu Ming will not be easy to deal with. It will take all I have to deal with them. And we don't know if there are any dark horses from other schools either. There's too little information. I'll play this cautiously."

Guo Jiufeng nodded, satisfied. He was quite sanguine about letting Jing Taixu do his thing. The kid had yet to lose since he had entered the school. Other schools might be strong, but Jing Taixu would never take anyone lightly.

"Yuan Banshan, the Two Star Hall needs to be even more careful. Our school was the last champion, and all eyes will be on us as target number one. Break up all ganks early, stay low-profile."

Guo Jiufeng now turned his eyes to a burly youth who was leaning forward on the table. His well-muscled forearms were bulging with veins.

This was Yuan Banshan, the carry of the Two Star Hall class. Although he was not as talented as Jing Taixu, he was still an elite in his year across all schools.

He had an upper eighth-grade alp resonance, a variation of an earth resonance.

"According to our information, Ao Bai from the North Sea Sage College probably leads the pack. He's ahead of you—his fiend palace is probably close to forming. If you meet him, be careful."

Yuan Banshan's eyes widened slightly. He was already at the liminal point between the peak of the Resonant Master Stage and the General Stage. It was where the first Fiend Palace Tier was still forming, and those at his level were known as False Generals.

But according to Guo Jiufeng, Ao Bai was already breaking out of their bottle-neck? Almost a true Earth Fiend?

That was indeed ahead of him.

"I'll be careful," Yuan Banshan rumbled.

Guo Jiufeng nodded. He was a little disappointed with the haul this year in the Two Star Hall. Out of their four halls, this was the weak spot. How far they got was going to be up to luck.

He then turned his attention to the next student. He was a lot more ordinary-looking compared to Jing Taixu in terms of facial features, but he had a head of light-blue hair.

His long hair was neatly braided so it fell behind him, and when he smiled, his eyes narrowed into slits. "Lan Lan, I don't think I need to say too much. Your batch is the one that has been nurtured the longest—you entered school right when we won the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, which means that you’ve enjoyed our boosted cultivation resources for your full four years. And you deserve every resource we’ve spent on you. I hope you can take the title in the Four Star Hall and bring us a golden resonant tree brooch." Lan Lan nodded slightly.

"We have prepared for the Holy Grail Meet for many years. As the last champion, we not only got the Dragon Bone Holy Grail, but also other rewards from the Academic Federation. It has strengthened our lineup and foundations greatly. It gives us a significant advantage.

"That is why the school has great hopes for all of you. The One and Four Star Halls are the most likely wins... The Two Star Hall lacks a little firepower, so we hope to make the surprise push in the Three Star Hall." Guo Jiufeng now turned to the last person, a youth clad in grayish silver. This was Lu Jinci, their Three Star Hall representative who was already in the Fiend Finisher Tier.

Lu Jinci shook his head, irritated. "Come on, Vice Principal. You know that the Three Star Hall competition is the most difficult one, right? Jiang Qing'e from the Astral Sage College has a ninth-grade light resonance, for heaven's sake. It'll be like running headfirst into a mountain!"

Guo Jiufeng smiled. "It's exactly because Jiang Qing'e is overwhelmingly strong that there is a chance."

"What do you mean?" Lu Jinci asked, astonished.

Lan Lan's eyelids flickered. "Hmm... get the other students to gank Jiang Qing'e?"

Guo Jiufeng laughed softly. "Indeed. She is so strong that no school alone has an answer to her. Which means that joining forces is the only answer. It will be on everyone's minds. Simple, is it not? All it needs is a little... engineering."

"If we win by joining forces," Lu Jinci said hesitantly, "is that not a little... unfair?"

"It looks like the years of peace have made your brain mush," Guo Jiufeng said harshly. "Have you forgotten that your years of peaceful cultivation were built on the lives of other students? You stand on a mountain of graves, and another mountain will come after it. And you speak of fairness?"

Lu Jinci subsided quickly. "I understand. I will follow the school's instructions in all things."

Guo Jiufeng nodded. "Jiang Qing'e is a real talent not just in the East Divine Continent, but throughout the Academic Federation, I reckon. The Astral Sage College is really lucky to have such a beast. But we also have a plan to take her down..."

Dipping his finger gleefully in a teacup, he wrote two words on the table.

The four students bent over.

"Swan Hunt."

Those two words looked innocuous enough, but somehow sinister.