Chapter 27: The Tournament of Geniuses

Chu Shaojiang, the nephew of the principal of No. 1 High School. His profession: assassin. His innate talent: S-rank. Because Principal Chu was dissatisfied with Song Qi, the newly-emerged super S-rank talent, Chu Shaojiang was eager to curry favor with his uncle. Thus, he always went out of his way to oppose Song Qi.

The last time Song Qi entered a dungeon for the first time, Chu Shaojiang had already threatened Wang Zihao. Unexpectedly, they ran into each other again here at the Jingming Pavilion restaurant.

“Hey, hey, did you guys come to the wrong place? This is Jingming Pavilion, a high-end restaurant where even a glass of water costs a hundred and fifty credits,” Chu Shaojiang scoffed, holding his wine glass between his middle and ring fingers as he swaggered over.

“Can you even afford to eat here?” He shook the glass before them, pride and mockery written all over his face.

“See this wine?” he continued. “It’s called Emerald Purity, brewed in the First District by at least four master vintners, each above level sixty. As for the price… not too expensive, just five thousand credits a glass. So? Want a taste?”

“Tch, Emerald Purity? I wouldn’t even use it to rinse my mouth,” sneered Gongsun Wuyue.

At her words, Chu Shaojiang’s expression darkened, but his eyes soon lit up when he saw her face, a lascivious grin curling his lips. “So you even brought a pretty girl with you. No wonder you’re pretending to be rich to come here.”

Wang Zihao frowned. “Chu Shaojiang, haven’t you had enough?”

“If Principal Chu finds out that his S-rank nephew is idling away at a lavish restaurant instead of grinding dungeons, what do you think he’ll say?”

Principal Chu—the famous, overprotective yet strict leader of No. 1 High. The more talented his juniors, the more harshly he governed them. Extravagant behavior like Chu Shaojiang’s was strictly forbidden—sometimes even punished by the family’s own rules.

By all rights, hearing this should have scared Chu Shaojiang pale, or at least shut his arrogant mouth. Yet, he seemed completely unfazed, even a little contemptuous. His lackeys hurried to add their voices.

“This is a celebration banquet, sanctioned by Principal Chu himself!” one piped up.

“That’s right! Young Master Chu has qualified for the Human Prodigy Selection Tournament. Next month, he’ll head to the First District to compete!” another chimed in.

“And that’s not all. Principal Chu has personally applied for a special Dungeon Pass for him—one that lasts a whole month!”

“With it, Chu Shaojiang can reach level twenty within a month and vie for first place in the tournament!”

Song Qi was taken aback. “A Dungeon Pass with a one-month duration?”

He knew about Dungeon Passes. When a professional had used up all their daily dungeon entries, a Dungeon Pass granted one extra run. Each pass was single-use, as far as he knew.

But a monthly unlimited-use version? Use it once, and you could enter any dungeon as often as you liked for a whole month?

Song Qi felt dazed. If he had that… he counted on his fingers—he’d reach level twenty in three days flat!

Indeed, the privileges of the elite always exceeded the wildest imagination of those at the bottom.

And as for the Human Prodigy Selection Tournament… what was that? Song Qi had never heard of it.

“I haven’t either,” Wang Zihao admitted, equally confused.

Chu Shaojiang puffed up with pride. “It’s an elite competition, initiated by the lords of each district and the highest authorities of the human race. Only the true prodigies of humanity are eligible!”

Gongsun Wuyue recalled some details and explained, “He’s right. The main purpose of the selection is to single out genuine prodigies. Those with high-level talent but poor combat ability will see their resources cut. Those with strong combat ability will be given greater importance. The tournament is held once a year.”

“The champion can choose—at will—a piece of legendary equipment, a skill, or even a rare artifact!”

“Anything of legendary grade?!” Song Qi and Wang Zihao, both unacquainted with the upper echelons, were already shocked.

But to Gongsun Wuyue, the prize was only so-so. She shook her head. “In truth, the prize is just a sweetener. The real reward is catching the eye of the human elite. Their favor brings opportunities far beyond what any legendary item can offer.”

She turned to Song Qi in puzzlement. “As a super S-rank talent, you should have been notified already. Didn’t Principal Shen mention it?”

Song Qi shook his head in confusion.

“Must have slipped his mind,” Gongsun Wuyue consoled him.

“Hah! More like you’ve been abandoned,” Chu Shaojiang couldn’t help but laugh. “What good is a summoner, even with a super S-rank talent? No wonder they left you out. After all, talent alone isn’t the only measure of genius. Only bottom-feeders like you think talent is everything.”

His lackey jeered along, “Young Master Chu has reached level five today! He’s learned a transcendent skill, passed the prodigy selection, and become the Chu family’s top prospect. Tomorrow, the family will send experts to help him clear the ‘Corpse Tide’ dungeon. With the Dungeon Pass, he’ll hit level twenty within a month and represent the Seventh District! As for you lot, you’ll probably still be grinding ‘Slime Calamity.’”

Wang Zihao and Gongsun Wuyue exchanged a glance, then looked at Chu Shaojiang’s group as if watching clowns.

Song Qi, only relying on talent? Song Qi about to be abandoned? Still stuck grinding the easiest dungeon?

He was a prodigy who’d reached level eleven within two days, soloed the ‘Corpse Tide’ dungeon the day after his first class change, and cleared the ‘Crimson Blood Nest’ the very next day. And such a genius would be abandoned? What a joke!

Gongsun Wuyue sneered at Chu Shaojiang’s words. Though she disdained flaunting her family’s name, as the pampered daughter of the Gongsun clan, she’d met countless prodigies and scions. But only Song Qi had earned her genuine admiration—and even a desire for friendship. His talent and brilliance were truly astonishing.

Frankly, if a genius like Song Qi could be neglected, then the human elite must be rotten to the core.

Exasperated, Gongsun Wuyue said, “What a bunch of idiots. Let’s go to our private room.”

At this, Chu Shaojiang and his group burst out laughing again. “Miss, Jingming Pavilion isn’t like other restaurants. You need VIP status for a private room. And that’s not something money alone can buy. I doubt your two friends—”

But halfway through his jeering, Chu Shaojiang’s words caught in his throat. Because they saw the server behind Song Qi’s group, without hesitation, leading the three of them straight to a private room on the fourth floor…