CHAPTER 434: CHAPTER 434: QIN WANFENG’S WORRIES

"Yes, I understand, Minister Song," Gu Chen said, lowering his head.

However, his tone clearly indicated surface submission while his heart remained resistant.

Seeing this, Song Chao’an’s brows furrowed.

But there was nothing more he could say.

After all, Gu Chen was a Sixth Grade Spirit Master; no matter where he was placed, his status was extremely high.

Song Chao’an could only stand from the perspective of the Longxia Federation, offering Gu Chen some reminders and constraints, but that was all.

He couldn’t be too severe.

Otherwise, if he pushed too hard and caused Gu Chen to react adversely, it would be troublesome.

He could only give Chu Mo and Xiao Zhan a look, hoping they would cooperate more in the competition, especially Xiao Zhan, whom he hoped would give in a bit more to Gu Chen.

Gu Chen’s personality was really too self-centered.

Xiao Zhan naturally promised to do so.

When everyone had left to prepare, Song Chao’an watched their departing figures with a helpless shake of his head, "Gu Chen is too arrogant; I don’t know if it will affect the competition."

"No big issue. I foresaw such a situation when I made the decision," Qin Wanfeng said.

"Then you trust Xiao Zhan that much? Why?" Song Chao’an asked in return.

"Intuition," Qin Wanfeng said.

He didn’t know why he trusted Xiao Zhan, but he just did.

Perhaps it was because Xiao Zhan always completed missions with a 100% success rate, or perhaps it was the unique charm that Xiao Zhan possessed, which reassured people the moment he appeared.

"By the way, don’t you find it strange that such a huge Secret Realm benefit has suddenly appeared?" Qin Wanfeng suddenly changed the subject.

Hearing this, Song Chao’an fell silent.

He pondered for a moment, then turned to Qin Wanfeng, "What do you think?"

Instead of answering directly, Qin Wanfeng said, "When the aberrations just began, no one thought it would be a disaster. At first, people were curious, then excited... until later, they realized it was a catastrophe."

Song Chao’an understood the meaning of Qin Wanfeng’s words.

He meant that when the aberrations first started, the terrifying Demon Beasts did not appear immediately.

The first thing that emerged was a Secret Realm with unique species resources, which like the present one, was safe and filled with countless precious resources.

But people were still cautious.

However, as time went on, caution faded, replaced by greed.

The Demon Beasts hadn’t started appearing yet.

Wars broke out among humans first.

When war was at its peak, the Demon Beasts suddenly appeared, catching humans off guard and nearly leading to their annihilation.

Therefore, the reappearance of such a super-benefit Secret Realm made Qin Wanfeng think of the situation when the aberration occurred more than a hundred years ago.

"Aren’t you thinking too seriously?" Song Chao’an said uncertainly.

He just thought it strange that such a big Secret Realm had appeared suddenly but hadn’t considered the more distant implications.

"Perhaps," Qin Wanfeng sighed.

He had a bad feeling.

Song Chao’an patted his shoulder, "Don’t think too much, Earth has entered a new era, even if it’s the terrible situation during the aberration, we have the capability to deal with it."

"Think about the past, when we had nothing and still made it through."

"That’s true," Qin Wanfeng felt somewhat relieved.

...

Soon, the time came to the next day.

The competition officially began.

When Xiao Zhan, Ye Youlong, and the other six arrived at the gathering place, people from various Federations had mostly assembled.

The reason why Xiao Zhan and his group always showed up last was simple.

The Super Federation had to maintain its pride; others could wait for us, but it’s impossible for us to wait for others.

Xiao Zhan’s gaze swept over the people present.

It was much like the first time he participated in the Secret Realm competition.

Still, those familiar Federations, but not the familiar faces.

Oh.

There were also one or two familiar faces.

Such as Mr. Smith.

Hehe.

When Xiao Zhan and the others appeared at the gathering place, many eyes fell on them.

Xiao Zhan, accustomed to these overt gazes, remained calm and composed.

On the other hand, Gu Chen seemed to enjoy this kind of attention.

Puffing out his chest and lifting his head, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a look of confidence, but the disdain in his eyes when looking at others revealed his inner sense of superiority.

"What’s going on, why has the Longxia Federation’s Golden Iron Triangle turned into a duo? Did someone break the other leg?" some whispered in the crowd.

They knew the Golden Iron Triangle was the facade of the Longxia Federation.

Very powerful.

They had won many victories and glories for the Longxia Federation.

They naturally assumed that the Longxia Federation would send the Golden Iron Triangle again this time, but seeing Xiao Zhan and Ye Youlong with unfamiliar faces made them suddenly puzzled.

"Look, those two are so young, with tender skin, probably in their twenties, definitely not over thirty! Not even twenty-eight!"

"Why would the Longxia Federation send such young people? Are they out of people?"

"How could the Longxia Federation run out of people? They are the most populous. From what I see, these two youngsters must be here to gold-plate their backgrounds through connections."

"Exactly, exactly, you’re right. I’ve been to the Longxia Federation. Their interpersonal relationships are incredibly complex, dizzyingly so. If you’re not careful, you might end up with some bigwig’s offspring coming down to gain experience."

"It might not be the case, perhaps they are the Longxia Federation’s secret weapons since this competition is not like the previous ones; it doesn’t require overt strength."

Some held differing opinions.

But regardless of their views, one thing was clear—that Xiao Zhan’s and his companion’s appearances were considered too strange.

"Wherever there’s an anomaly, demons lurk, an old saying of the people of Longxia; we should be careful," Watanabe Gorou, a contestant from the Baka Federation, advised his two teammates.

They were very angry.

Because their Baka Federation often cooperated with the Kimchi Federation.

But for some reason, a while ago, the Kimchi Federation suddenly leaned towards the Longxia Federation.

The partnership broke off abruptly, without warning.

This caused their Baka Federation to stand alone.

They wanted to seek cooperation with other Federations, but those asked for too much, and some Federations didn’t even want to cooperate with them.

With no choice, they had to endure this solitary pain.

Hence, they harboured deep hatred for the Longxia Federation.