Teams of palace guards wearing golden armor were stationed every three to five steps, sealing off all the routes leading in and out of Douglas Magic Academy.
In the sky were even several handsome, magnificent-looking Dragon-Falcon Knights suspended in the air and circling around as they sealed off the air space above Douglas Magic Academy.
Douglas Magic Academy could be said to be completely surrounded on all sides at the moment—not even a fly could get past the guards!
Fatty Hart landed one kilometer away from the academy. Then, he pointed at the palace guards in front and said, “Douglas Magic Academy has been cordoned off, so I can only send you this far, old bro.”
“Thanks!”
After expressing his thanks, Meng Lei asked, “Are you going to watch the battle in the academy today, Fatty?”
At his question, Fatty Hart’s face fell at once, and he replied, “I would like to, but the spectator fee goes as high as 100,000 gold coins. I can’t fork out that much money!”
It was already the seventh day of the qualifying round today. Even though the number of contestants was falling day by day, not only did the people’s enthusiasm not wane but on the contrary, it was even rising further and further.
As a result, the spectator fee also rose higher and higher day by day.
,000 gold coins, 8,000 gold coins, 16,000 gold coins...
By today, it had finally broken the 100,000 gold coins mark!
To be honest, 100,000 gold coins weren’t actually a lot. However, Fatty Hart had already spent all his savings on the luxurious vehicle, so how could he possibly still be able to fork out the huge sum of 100,000 gold coins?
“Let’s go. On account of you sending me back and forth to the academy every day, I’ll cover the 100,000 gold coins spectator fee.”
“Really!?”
“If you’re not going, then forget it!”
“I’ll go! Of course I’ll go! I love you, old bro!”
Chapter 129: 100 Saint Domains, Laws of Nature Fragments
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The arena was teeming with people moving to and fro. Strangely enough, in spite of that, it seemed very quiet inside the arena.
There was no hubbub, no noise, no cheering or screaming, or anyone shouting themselves hoarse...
In a move uncharacteristic of their usual behavior, the spectators sat upright and still. Even when they exchanged an occasional word with one another, they whispered among themselves and kept their discussions down.
The 100,000 spectator fee had kept a large number of lesser nobles and petit-bourgeois from entering the arena. Thus, the ones that could enter and watch the matches were basically all well-educated middle- to higher-class nobles.
Of course, what really made all the spectators in the arena that quiet was ultimately still the Fire Dragon King’s presence gracing the venue, as well as the royalty and officials’ arrivals.
Not only had the Fire Dragon King—King Flit the 66th—arrived together with Queen Diana in person, but all the princes and princesses had also come to the arena.
Aside from them, some of the senates from the senior statesmen’s assembly, other royalty members, chancellors, and other civil and military influential officials had also personally come to watch the matches.
It was no exaggeration to say that even any random person among the VIPs here to watch the matches today held an impressive identity and was someone that played a critical role in the kingdom.
With them around, who would dare to cause a commotion?
As a result, the usually lively and boisterous arena seemed rather stifling. Once in a while, the spectators would glance at the VIP private rooms with fear, awe, and reverence in their eyes.
In particular, the 103 contestants in the contestant seats wore even more excited expressions on their faces and had looks of anticipation and pumped-up spirits in their eyes.
After spending so many years painstakingly cultivating in silence, they were finally going to show their strength in front of the king and all the court officials today.
Who wouldn’t be worked up over it?
And who wouldn’t be all pumped up over it?
Even Meng Lei couldn’t help but direct his gaze at the private rooms above him, hints of unusual emotion flashing across the depths of his eyes.
Of course, what he was really astonished by weren’t just their statuses, but also their strength.
According to Ol’ Amos, there were actually almost 100 Saint Domains in the entire arena. Meng Lei almost wet himself in shock.
That was 100 Saint Domains, after all!
Who wouldn’t be astounded by the presence of that many Saint Domains?
“In just a short 20,000 years, Fire Dragon Kingdom has already come this far. As expected, time is indeed the most powerful cheating device!”
Ol’ Amos’ somewhat surprised sigh of emotion and admiration rang out in Meng Lei’s mind, to which Meng Lei also nodded quietly in agreement. Saint Domain experts enjoyed a long, endless lifespan, and on top of that, they were also very hardy.
As long as there were no massive upheavals like the Abyss Demons’ invasion, more and more Saint Domain experts were bound to appear.
Therefore, the current Fire Dragon Kingdom was even more powerful than what it was 20,000 years ago—there was no doubt about that.
But of course, what Meng Lei was astounded by the most wasn’t the arrival of the 100 Saint Domains, but the gifts they had given him!
“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +3,576!”
“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Spirit +2,918!”
“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. You have obtained the First-Class Spell, Prairie-Blazing Heavenly Fire!”
“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Wealth +129,632!”
“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. You have obtained the Ninth-Grade Spell, Multi-Layer Tempest!”
“Ding...”
Cold, emotionless system notifications constantly rang out in Meng Lei’s head, utterly delighting him.
In less than ten minutes, he had already picked up 39 eighth-grade spells, 9 ninth-grade spells, and 5 first-class spells!
As for light balls of other low-grade and mid-grade spells, Physical Body Constitution, Spirit, Wealth, and other attributes, they numbered so many that he couldn’t even keep count anymore.
In just a short while, Meng Lei had earned an overflowing amount of rewards—one could totally say that a windfall and a pleasant surprise had befallen him!
As a result, Meng Lei was in a wonderful mood, and he looked pleased as a punch. His expression ended up appearing completely out of place next to the other, pumped up, and nervous contestants.
“Dear all!”
At that moment, an elderly man dressed in a black magic robe went up the fighting ring. In a clear, bright voice, he announced cheerfully, “Welcome to the last day of the qualifying round, everyone! I am your host for today, Norman Obote!”
The host’s voice was clear and resonant as he went on. “First of all, let us welcome His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen with a passionate round of applause!”
Clap, clap, clap!
Thunderous applause rang throughout the arena.
“Next, the King will grace us with a few words!”
Clap, clap, clap!
The centermost private room’s door slowly opened, and a middle-aged man dressed in a fiery-red dragon robe walked out. He stepped on thin air and walked in the sky, taking step by step toward the area above the arena.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Everyone�
�s gazes in the arena fell simultaneously onto the man, their eyes carrying looks of reverence, respect, and worship.
His physique was full of power and grandeur and was lofty and majestic!
His eyes were sharp, awe-inspiring, and imposing!
His head of long, fiery-red hair flowed freely and uncontrolled, and he gave off an aura so powerful that it made one’s heart tremble. He was as though the blazing sun in the sky, so blinding that it made one’s eyes hurt, afraid to raise their heads to look at him.
The number one expert in the kingdom—Flit the 66th!
A powerful, pure-blooded Saint Domain Fire Dragon and the current Fire Dragon King with a reign of 637 years and counting!
“So that’s the Fire Dragon King!”
Meng Lei’s eyes focused on him, an impossibly huge sense of pressure coming over him. He had a certain feeling—if the Fire Dragon King wished to, he could definitely kill him with just a smack of his palm. The gap between the two of them was akin to the gulf between heaven and earth!
“I’m still too weak!” Meng Lei sighed inwardly. “The most I can do is just bully the experts below the Saint Domain realm. When up against a Saint Domain, I have no chances of victory at all.”
At this exact moment, a light ball that shone with a fiery-red glow dropped from the Fire Dragon King. Then, the system’s voice notification aptly rang out.
“Ding! Dropped item detected. Will you pick it up?”
“Yes, pick it up!”
“Ding! Assimilation successful. You have obtained a Fire-Elemental Laws of Nature Fragment!”
Wait a minute! A fire-elemental Laws of Nature fragment?
Meng Lei’s eyes widened dramatically, and he almost jumped off his seat.
A fire-elemental Laws of Nature fragment?
Oh my god!
I’ve actually picked up something like that? Hurry! Assimilate it!
Meng Lei let out a shout in his mind.
Boom!
An incomparably vast and boundless wave of information suddenly gushed into his mind. Just like a breached dam, they ran amok in the depths of his mind.
An endless amount of comprehension of the Fire Element surged into his mind like a tidal wave. Meng Lei felt as though the only thing that remained in front of him at the moment was a sea of fire.
Other than fire, there was still only fire!
The amazing thing was that these flames completely formed from Fire Elements were no longer just shaped purely with Fire Elements. Rather, all of them were connected to one another via innumerable red threads.
Dense, concentrated red threads covered every inch of the flames, shrouding the entire sea of fire in them and connecting every granule of Fire Elements.
The red threads were in complete control of the Fire Elements’ dancing and burning. If the dancing Fire Elements were puppets, then these threads would be the strings controlling the puppets.
Meng Lei had a feeling that with just a light tug on any of the threads from him, he would be able to induce a dramatic spike in the flames’ might.
Of course, he could also extinguish the flames anytime he wanted.
“Fire-elemental... Laws of nature?” Meng Lei murmured to himself as he instinctively reached out and plucked out one of the threads.
Whoosh!
The flames instantly went out, and the sea of fire vanished.
Meng Lei shook his head a couple of times, his senses abruptly coming back to him. It was only then that he discovered that the Fire Dragon King—Flit the 66th—had long since ended his speech and returned to the private room.
Instead, there were currently two contestants fighting it out in the fighting ring.
“I wonder how much time had gone by just now?” Meng Lei murmured under his breath.
He clearly remembered that the events just now had spanned only a split second, yet it seemed like a long while had actually gone by...
“Huh? Why is there a change in the stats interface?”
Chapter 130: Ice Momentum, Turning Into A Fire Lotus In A Second
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Host: Meng Lei
Race: Human (Contains Fire Dragon bloodline, Fire Demon bloodline, and Golden Gods-Slaying Ant bloodline)
Wealth: 25,976,435,428 gold coins
Physical Body Constitution: Ninth-Grade Warrior (769,877,006/1,000,000,000)
Spirit: Ninth-Grade Magician (1,388,760/1,000,000,000)
Magic Power: Ninth-Grade Magician (1,145,467/1,000,000,000)
Laws of Nature: Fire-Elemental (0.1%)
Spells: Some increase
Battle Skills: Some increase
Battle Aura Techniques: Some increase
There’s an additional Laws of Nature comprehension field now?
What does the 0.1% at the back mean? Is it a comprehension meter?
A shrewd glint flashed across the depths of Meng Lei’s eyes as he gazed at the additional field in the stats interface.
It’s probably related to the Laws of Nature fragment that I picked up just now. I wonder if I can use my Wealth to redeem points for it?
It would be awesome if I can!
Alright, I’ll give it a go?
Meng Lei silently ordered, “System! Redeem one billion gold coins and add them to my Laws of Nature attribute!”
Whoosh!
His Wealth value instantly decreased by one billion gold coins. True enough, the Laws of Nature field also underwent a change, going from 0.1% to 0.2%!
It went up by only 0.1% with one billion gold coins!?
Meng Lei couldn’t help but suck in a breath of chilly air. One must know that that was one billion gold coins! Yet it had only raised his comprehension of Laws of Nature by 0.1%?
This redemption rate was simply too low. At this rate, wouldn’t he need one trillion gold coins to reach a 100% comprehension rate for the fire-elemental Laws of Nature, then?
One trillion...
Meng Lei fell silent. By right, the ability to buy credits for his comprehension of the laws of nature was something positive. However, the price was simply too great!
Raising it by 1% required 10 billion gold coins. In other words, raising it to 100% would require one trillion gold coins!
I have such a hard life!
Where am I going to get that kind of money?
Immersed in his thoughts, Meng Lei secretly gave himself a wry smile of resignation. However, he didn’t notice that there was a group of people in the private room where the King was currently looking at him.
The red-haired Flit the 66th asked with a smile, “So that’s the little fellow named Meng Lei, Fred?”
President Fred nodded lightly and replied with a smile, “Yes, Your Majesty. That’s indeed Meng Lei.”
“He’s so young!”
As Flit the 66th gazed upon Meng Lei, he remarked, “Who would have thought that a young boy like him would actually be a Ninth-Grade Great Magician?”
“Indeed! A 16-year-old Ninth-Grade Great Magician is certainly an unprecedented occurrence in the history of our Fire Dragon Kingdom!”
The graceful and regal Queen Diana, who was also sizing up Meng Lei, remarked, “President Fred, the academy has certainly produced an impressive genius!”
“Thank you for the compliments, Your Majesties. The only reason why Meng Lei possesses such a level of cultivation now is that he had incidentally come across a few chance encounters. It’s all just luck! Luck!”
Even though President Fred felt triumphant inwardly, he kept his words very humble. At the same time, however, he didn’t forget to glance at the other old men in the private room, smugness showing obviously in his eyes.
“He’s certainly quite talented, but he’s ultimately still too young.”
A big, muscular black-haired elderly man said sourly, “Whether or not he can achieve great things in the future will still depend on his future diligence and development. His performance at this current point in time cannot determine hi
s future.”
“Exactly! There is no shortage of geniuses that make a showy display of their abilities the moment they debut. People like that emerge in great numbers. However, ultimately, only a handful of them can attain the Saint Domain realm. That little fellow is still too young. You can’t tell much about him just yet.”
“He’s certainly rather talented, but if he’s hoping to achieve great things in the exchange competition, then his current level of strength ultimately still falls a little short...”
All the other old men in the private room spoke up one after another, trivializing the subject and showing disdain on their countenances. In spite of that, they couldn’t hide the sour grapes in their speech, nevertheless.
As a Ninth-Grade Great Magician at 16 years of age, Meng Lei well-deserved the title of being the first in history!
This was something that no one could deny. Thus, the only thing they could slam was Meng Lei’s age.
At such a young age, the future was full of countless uncertainties. Who could really predict that accurately just how far he could go?
“Sour grapes much?”
President Fred shook his head and laughed lightly. Then, he replied, “No matter what, the current Meng Lei has undeniably reached a point ahead of others. He has abundant time to break through to Saint Domain!”
All the other academy presidents snorted in response, though they didn’t rebut him anymore.
“I heard that Fighting Dragon Academy has also produced an impressive genius. I wonder who it is?”
Flit the 66th knew full well about the ongoings among the academy presidents. However, he didn’t lay them bare. Instead, with a smile on his visage, his gaze flicked over to the big, muscular black-haired elderly man, and he chose to change the subject.
At once, a smile appeared on the muscular elderly man’s countenance, and he replied, “Your Majesty, that young fellow’s name is Francis Matthew, and he’s a sixth-year student in my academy. He’s 28 years old this year and possesses ninth-grade pinnacle-level combat strength!”
Upon saying that, the muscular elderly man then looked at the contestants’ seating area. The smile on his face widened, and he said, “Your Majesty, do take a look. It just so happens to be Francis’ turn to go into the ring now. He’s that silver-haired young man over there.”
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