Picking Up Attributes From Today c1-406

by Panda Reunion, 团圆小熊猫

  “He first entered the Dragon God Tower at 11 years old. In the short span of 14 years, until he turned 25, he had gone into the tower a total of 42 times. The highest he’s ever gone was the 78th level, while the longest he’s ever stayed for was a duration of 8 months.

  “It’s said that Timon Barton started cultivating at the age of 9, became an eighth-grade expert at 11, and broke through to Saint Domain at 14. Because he’s so amazingly talented and peerless in history, he is known as the Child of The Dragon God. He’s also the one with the highest hopes of ascending to the 100th level of the Dragon God Tower!”

  “Saint Domain at 14 years old?”

  All the contestants couldn’t help but gasp. Then, they looked at Meng Lei and remarked, “Isn’t he even more of a mutant than Lord Meng Lei, then?”

  They were already very astounded by how Meng Lei had become a Saint Domain at 16 years old. Little did they know that there was a ferocious guy out there that was even crazier than him. Indeed, however strong one was, there would always be someone stronger still.

  “Since Timon Barton has already gone up to the 78th level when he was 25 years old, then why didn’t he continue going further up?” Meng Lei asked.

  “Because he has fallen!”

  Joel explained with a wry smile, “The reason for his death is unknown, but the official statement from the empire authorities is that he has indeed already fallen. As for the truth of the matter, it’s something we won’t know.”

  “He has fallen?” Meng Lei was startled by the answer. At once, he felt immense regret about it. “To think a genius like that has actually fallen!”

  “Yes, what a shame, indeed.”

  Joel said regretfully, “Starting his cultivation at 9 years old, entering the Saint Domain realm at 14, and passing at 25—even though Timon Barton only had a short cultivation career of 16 years, the record he has created is unprecedented in history and never again seen after, shining brightly upon history and being passed down even today.

  “As such, Timon Barton is also known as the number one genius in all of Dragon God Empire’s history!”

  “He well deserves the title of the number one genius in the Dragon God Empire!” Meng Lei nodded slowly.

  Ol’ Amos sighed and also remarked, “How unexpected that such an amazing talent had actually emerged from the Dragon God Empire after my passing! What a shame... Sigh!”

  “It’s certainly a huge shame...”

  “Is everyone here?”

  At this point, the six academy presidents came down from the upper floors. The contestants nodded and replied, “Yes, everyone’s here! Not a single person missing!”

  “Great. Since everyone has arrived, then let’s set off.”

  Then, all of them boarded the magic carriage and made their way to the Dragon God Academy.

  On the way there, President Fred suddenly asked Meng Lei, “I heard the lot of you talking about Timon Barton just now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Timon Barton is indeed the most astounding genius in the Dragon God Empire’s history. In addition, he’s also from the Fire Dragon Kingdom. It’s just a shame that... The heavens are jealous of great talent!”

  President Fred was terribly emotional as he remarked, “If he were still alive, he’d probably have already surpassed Saint Domain, or even the half-deity realm, to break through and become a deity a long time ago!”

  “He was from the Fire Dragon Kingdom?”

  Chapter 143: Assembly of The Strongest, Hailing From The Countryside

  Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  The fact that Dragon God Academy was named after the Dragon God was enough to show its lofty position in the Dragon God Empire.

  And in truth, not only was Dragon God Academy the top Warrior academy in the Dragon God Empire, but it was also the best magic academy in the empire—and the title well-deserved, too.

  Even in the entire Heaven’s Vault Continent, Dragon God Academy was the highest learning institution that ranked among the best. Its rich heritage and strength weren’t something that Fire Dragon Magic Academy or other academies could compare to.

  “So, this is Dragon God Academy?”

  A magic carriage came to a stop outside the Dragon God Academy gates, and then Meng Lei and the rest alighted from it. Looks of astoundment couldn’t help but surface in their eyes as they gazed at the grand and majestic gates in front of them.

  The so-called 'school gates” were actually formed by a pair of 1,000-feet-tall Golden Colossal Dragon statues that surrounded and protected the area. The two statues faced each other with their claws clasped around each other’s, and their wings spread in mid-flight.

  Their dragon scales appeared vivid and true to life, and their claws ferocious and mighty-looking. Their heads were raised with their horns pointed toward the sky and their fierce-looking jaws open in mid-roar.

  Savage!

  Awe-inspiring!

  Domineering!

  Powerful!

  “President Fred, all of you are finally here.”

  Sporting an enthusiastic and cheerful smile, a middle-aged lady dressed in a violet magic robe walked briskly toward them in welcome.

  “Dorothy, it’s been a while.”

  President Fred broke into a smile at once and went toward her cheerfully at the sight of her.

  It was only after they had exchanged their greetings with each other that President Fred finally gestured at the middle-aged lady and made the introductions. “Allow me to introduce you to each other—this is Dorothy Caesar, a fire-elemental and wind-elemental Saint Domain Great Magician and the vice-president of Dragon God Academy.

  “She is also my disciple, as well as an outstanding alumnus of Fire Dragon Magic Academy. Among the Fire Dragon Magic Academy graduates, she’s one of the few with the best career progression!”

  “Greetings, Lady Dorothy!”

  Awed, the contestants hurriedly paid their respects.

  “Hehe! Hello, everyone!”

  A smiling Dorothy returned the greeting. As her gaze flicked past the contestants one by one, a gratified smile appeared on her visage. “President Fred, it looks like the contestants are pretty great this time. There are quite a few good saplings among them!”

  “Hahaha, of course!”

  Fred burst into hearty laughter as he stroked his beard. “We’re out for revenge this time, after all. We’ll have to consider ourselves as having failed in our mission if we don’t rank within the top three this time!”

  “Haha! To think you actually have the guts to boast so shamelessly here!”

  As a thundering laugh reached them, a burly, muscular elderly man with black horns on his head and leading a group of people strode over with his head held high.

  He had a hawkish visage and a sinister expression all over his features.

  “I was wondering who it could be. So it’s you, Fred!”

  The burly elderly man walked over to President Fred. Then, a contemptuous look came over his visage at once. “Is there even anyone that doesn’t know how the Fire Dragon Kingdom always comes in last place every year? Out for revenge? Are you kidding me?”

  President Fred’s countenance darkened at once. “Angus, don’t be a pot calling the kettle black. Your Black Dragon Academy isn’t any stronger!”

  “At least it’s a little stronger than the Fire Dragon Magic Academy.” The burly elderly man gave him a smug smile as he went on. “Fred, I’m not afraid to tell you that a genius has emerged from the Black Dragon Academy this year. Hopefully, your men won’t run into him during the exchange competition. Otherwise, they’ll be crushed so badly that they’ll end up in tears!”

  “Hmph! We’ll see about that!”

  President Fred snorted in response. A confident smile appeared at the corners of his lips as he scoffed inwardly. “Do you think you’re the only academy that has produced a genius?”

  In his opinion, no matter how impressive the Black Dragon Academy’s genius
was, there was no way they could possibly compare to Meng Lei. After all, Meng Lei was already a Saint Domain. This was enough grounds for him to perform brilliantly in the exchange competition. There were far and few that were stronger than him.

  “Be stubborn all you want, Fred!”

  Angus—the burly elderly man—shook his head with a light laugh. Then, with a group of people in tow, he entered the Dragon God Academy. President Fred gazed at him from the back and retorted inwardly, “Wait and see!”

  The Fighting Dragon Academy president also spat furiously. “That old black dragon is still so loathsome!”

  “Everyone in the Black Dragon Kingdom is a lunatic with a dark, sinister personality.” President Fred shook his head. “Let’s go. We should head in, too.”

  “People from the Black Dragon Kingdom...”

  “Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Spirit +139!”

  “Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Magic Power +872!”

  “Ding! Assimilation successful. You have obtained the spell...”

  Meng Lei walked about in the ancient, time-worn forested island, listening to the system notifications constantly sounding in his ears and admiring the scenery in Dragon God Academy leisurely.

  Unlike their big, tall, and majestic school gates, the Dragon God Academy interior seemed exceptionally quiet, with marks and vicissitudes of life left behind in every corner of the place.

  Sycamore trees thick enough for a person’s arms to circle around each were lined up neatly!

  Moss covered the old, aged flagstones!

  Students in the midst of meditation could be seen everywhere in the forest!

  Rich, heavy, and ancient—the place fully exhibited a historical vibe!

  “As expected of a 40,000-year-old institution,” marveled Meng Lei.

  He followed the academy presidents and the others to a big and tall teaching faculty building. Upon their arrival, he discovered that several other kingdoms’ contestants were already gathered there.

  These contestants from various kingdoms were divided into quite a few camps. All of them secretly sized up one another, yet also minded their own business at the same time, maintaining a sufficient sense of distance from one another.

  “The contestants from the Tempest Kingdom, Thunder Dragon Kingdom, Black Dragon Kingdom, and Earth Dragon Kingdom have already arrived. Including us, the Fire Dragon Kingdom, that makes five kingdoms from the empire.

  “We’re supposed to assemble and report today while the competition officially starts tomorrow. Therefore, all contestants have to be present. I’m sure the contestants from the other ten kingdoms will be arriving soon, too.

  “Stay here and wait for further instructions, everyone. We’ll be back in a moment.”

  After the six academy presidents left them instructions, they entered the teaching faculty building together with Vice-President Dorothy, leaving Meng Lei and the other 51 contestants to wait there quietly.

  During the next hour and a little more, the contestants and teachers-in-charge from the other ten kingdoms and dukedoms arrived one after another.

  For a while, the area in front of the teaching faculty building was full of people.

  15 kingdoms!

  48 dukedoms!

  Close to 2,000 contestants—and all of them ninth-grade experts!!

  Just a line-up like this was enough to apply great pressure on many contestants. Meng Lei couldn’t be sure about those from other kingdoms, but what he did know was that quite a fair number of Fire Dragon Kingdom contestants were beginning to turn nervous.

  It wasn’t over yet, though.

  Another ten minutes or so later, an almost 3,000-strong team came approaching. They formed a large, black mass, as though a group of Triad members had been mobilized and caused a huge buzz to go through the crowd.

  “They are...”

  Everyone raised their heads and looked over.

  At the sight of them, several people’s countenances changed.

  “They are Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants!”

  “What? Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants?”

  “T-they’re so strong!”

  Meng Lei also raised his head and looked over.

  A small portion of the exchange competition contestants came from the 15 kingdoms and 48 dukedoms, while a large majority of them were from the Dragon God Imperial City itself.

  This group of contestants was also known as Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants—in other words, contestants from academies directly affiliated to the Dragon God Empire.

  Evidently, those 3,000 people in front of them... were exactly those very contestants.

  Dressed in uniforms of varying styles, those 3,000 contestants obviously hailed from different academies. However, the way they looked at Meng Lei and the other contestants from the 15 kingdoms and 48 dukedoms was the same—full of contempt and disdain!

  As Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants, they held an extreme sense of superiority toward others and totally looked down on contestants from the kingdoms and dukedoms.

  In their opinions, contestants from the kingdoms and dukedoms were no different from people from the countryside. How could they possibly be qualified enough to compete with them on the same platform?

  “So, they are the contestants from the 15 kingdoms and 48 dukedoms? They don’t look like much!”

  “As expected of people from the countryside. They are but just a motley crew!”

  “When have they ever taken the exchange competition seriously instead of just going through the motions...”

  Chapter 144: Second In History, Augustine

  Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  Among those that could advance in their respective kingdom and dukedom’s qualifying rounds to make their way here, which one of them wasn’t proud and lofty?

  How would they possibly be able to tolerate such provocation that was almost no different from humiliation?

  “Aren’t they just Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants? What’s the big deal about them? Come forward and fight one-on-one with me if you’re that strong!”

  Unable to stop himself, a contestant from the Black Dragon Kingdom stepped forward and glared furiously at the Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants.

  “Exactly! A barking dog never bites. If you’re that capable, then let us take a gander at your skills! What does shooting your mouth off even count as?”

  “Have the great Empire-Affiliated Academies groomed only a bunch of braggarts that only know how to talk big?”

  The contestants from the other kingdoms and dukedoms also spoke up one after another—the Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants had completely riled up all of them.

  “Oho!”

  The Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants were greatly amused by the sight of the mounting public indignation among the contestants from the kingdoms and dukedoms. As if they’d just witnessed a bunch of infuriated country bumpkin dogs barking madly, they burst into uproarious laughter.

  One of them snorted in derision and sneered. “Country bumpkins, I wish I could rip your foul mouths apart and show you what we city-dwellers are capable of, but unfortunately...”

  He pointed at the ground right underneath his feet and continued. “Do you have any idea where you currently are? This is Dragon God Academy, the most sublime, most excellent, and noblest education institution in the empire! It’s not a place that your little colleges in the countryside can compare to, much less somewhere that you can act atrociously at will.

  “Dragon God Academy prohibits private fights.

  “Country bumpkins, you don’t need to be in such a hurry even if you’re looking for a thrashing. You’ll be so sorry when the exchange competition comes around tomorrow!”

  “Hmph! Why bother waiting till tomorrow? I’ll show you a thing or two right away today. Which one of you wants to fight one-on-one with me?!”

  The Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants’ cockiness and
contempt had thoroughly infuriated the contestants from the kingdoms and dukedoms. All of them stepped forward one by one, the aura around them fired up and the fight in them rushing straight to the skies.

  “Do you think we’re scared of you, country bumpkins?”

  Not intimidated in the least, the Empire-Affiliated Academy Contestants released their auras as well. At once, the atmosphere turned into one where they were ready to jump at each other’s throats.

  “What are you doing? What are all of you doing?”

  It was at this moment when a group of teachers-in-charge walked out of the teaching faculty building. As they did, a terrifying wave of vast, widespread aura also went crushing toward the contestants.

  Boom!

  All the contestants felt as though someone had just delivered them a crushing blow. Everyone turned as pale as a sheet, and alarm and fear surfaced in their eyes.

  Even Meng Lei was filled with fearful apprehension, despite being a Saint Domain—because all the teachers-in-charge that had just arrived were Saint Domains.

  All of them, Saint Domains!

  There were as many as several hundred Saint Domains!

  Just how fearsome of a force was that?

  “What are all of you trying to do, being so presumptuous here?”

  One of Dragon God Academy’s vice-presidents rebuked them coldly, “Do you know what this place is? What a bunch of scoundrels!

  “The exchange competition only commences tomorrow. No matter how great your fury is, all of you’d better suck it up until tomorrow comes!”

  All the contestants hung their heads at once, none of them daring to meet his eyes.

  “Hmph! It’s the same kind of behavior from them every year. In the end, more than half of them croak even before the end of the exchange competition.”

  The same vice-president snorted coldly. It was only then that his countenance mellowed a little, and he announced, “After much discussion among various parties, the exchange competition’s schedule has been finalized. We’ve decided to adopt the same round-by-round elimination system like what we’ve done in the past.

  “Everyone is to assemble at the Dragon God Cathedral at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. All those that do not arrive by 8 a.m. will be regarded as having voluntarily forfeited the competition! Is this understood?”