Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Ji Xinghai had eaten many things, but he had never eaten a blade. More importantly, his teeth weren't suited for such an action. However, he had already discovered that what he was 'eating' was actually the energy within them. If this blade were to willingly offer itself, it wouldn't have to endure the agony of being shattered.

The demon blade was sharp and brittle. Ji Xinghai was prepared to shatter it with his axe.

The demon blade, which had been at his mercy all along, trembled in fear. It had attempted to invade this human's inner world, only to find a chaotic wasteland that even demons dared not touch. Any tendril that ventured into it was swiftly annihilated.

Thus, it remained quiet throughout the journey, hoping that its captor would deem it useless and discard it. It never expected that there was something far worse waiting for it.

Eating blades? Just where did this devil come from?

"Sir, a forced melon is never sweet," the demon blade said haltingly, its voice tinged with a regional accent.

"No, a forced melon is crisp and sweet," Ji Xinghai replied, already gripping his axe. He wasn't going to give this blade any other options. Once on the battlefield, one either became an enemy or a friend; there was no middle ground.

"I am willing to serve you, sir." The demon blade immediately knelt, unwilling to be shattered.

Its body hummed as it condensed a dark purple candy ball for Ji Xinghai to consume. The silver blade dimmed significantly afterward. He sheathed it and set it aside.

He continued eating his skewers without much emotional fluctuation. Meanwhile, the weapon enthusiasts watching through the screen were delighted, wishing the daily summoning quota would refresh immediately so they could summon the blade to satisfy their craving.

"Even weapons?" The foreigners were truly immersed in a vat of vinegar this evening, feeling sour inside and out. If demon blades were possible, why not dual guns? Could the people of JiuZhou still be provoked in the future?

"A blade can be 'eaten'?"

The Command Unit was left speechless. This was an unprecedented path. They had assumed that occasionally adding ingredients and edible herbs was the limit of this ability, but now they realized that the talent's claim of 'eating anything' was truly 'anything'.

"We need to rethink our assumptions," said an elderly man, looking gravely at the minister. "Summoning ingredients or summoning weapons—these are two entirely different concepts."

Under the threat of anomalous beings, JiuZhou had opened up some 'firearm slots'.

These guns and their accompanying bullets were specially designed, with limited lethality against humans but effective against anomalous beings. Even then, obtaining a gun required strict examinations, and monthly rechecks after registration to ensure no issues arose.

If Ji Xinghai truly unlocked the ability to summon weapons, and everyone could do so...

"I think you're overthinking it!" The deputy minister held up the newly refreshed supplementary volume of the *Gluttonous Feast Scripture*. "Look, it's not a demon blade."

Demon Blade Essence, a dark series candy ball derived from a demon blade. No one knew what it tasted like until it was consumed. After eating it, one would gain a thirty-minute experience card for becoming a master of the Miao blade.

Note: Legend has it that every time a demon blade candy ball is consumed, a demon blade is coerced. This is true.

"This isn't scientific!" The Hungry Academy had produced many items, seeds surpassing their time, unimaginable magical tools, but a thirty-minute master experience ticket?

"Stop joking, Old Zhang. Does science even exist in our world anymore?"

"Perhaps these candy balls contain a special substance that temporarily unleashes the body's potential, turning one into a master of the blade."

"Hurry, send it to the research institute."

Others also noticed the blade silhouette and the dark purple candy ball appearing in the supplementary volume.

"F*ck, f*ck, f*ck, a thirty-minute Miao blade master experience card! I won't say another word. Thank you, dear motherland, thank you, Brother Hai. I'm going to order a Miao blade right now."

"Is this real? Such fantasy-like items are appearing?"

"Am I the only one curious about what's in the main volume? Are they also spirit candy balls like ours?"

Amidst the discussions, five identical comments suddenly swept across the screen.

"Thank you! Thank you, Ji Xinghai! I'm an overseas JiuZhou citizen, and just now someone tried to harm my child. Thank you for your supplementary volume protecting her! All domestic and overseas JiuZhou compatriots, remember to keep a blade. As long as it's a blade, it will work. Preferably a longer one that can be held with both hands. Although it might not be as good as a Miao blade, as long as it's a blade, it can be used!"

"What does that mean? What does 'as long as it's a blade' mean?"

"Literally, I tried it with a kitchen cleaver at home, and it worked just as well. Of course, it's still not as good as holding a Miao blade. When I held the Miao blade with both hands, I felt like I could take on ten opponents."

"F*ck. The legendary weapon proficiency skill card! Dear motherland JiuZhou, are you open to immigration?"

When this news broke, the live stream exploded with excitement.

For ordinary people, this was far more thrilling than simply giving them a blade, because while blades could be purchased, blade masters... Well, cough, let's just say that getting a good night's sleep sounded better.

But!

Now they had the chance to become masters of the blade?

And this was just the beginning. Now it was blade spirit candy balls, but what if there were gun candy balls later? A thirty-minute master experience ticket could save lives in critical moments.

No need for 999, no need for 666, just a JiuZhou residency. You deserve to have it.

When the JiuZhou Immigration Office's network was once again overwhelmed, Ji Xinghai had finished all his skewers, drank water, and casually read through the refreshed main volume of the *Gluttonous Feast Scripture*.

Night had deepened, and he draped the fur over himself, holding his gun as he closed his eyes.

Before fully succumbing to sleep, the events of the past few days flashed before him—the treasure chest, the ingredients, the people he had encountered...

His memories finally settled on that forest, the masked figure exuding an enticing scent, and the human who harbored murderous intent toward him.

There was only one thing left unresolved.

Ji Xinghai finally drifted off to sleep, awakening only the next morning. The audience had been waiting in the live stream with red eyes—it was almost time to determine the final top ten!

Without any accidents, JiuZhou would emerge as the biggest winner of the first exam!

"Don't go out now, big shot. Although the probability is low, there are occasional lunatics who hunt high-scoring participants at the last moment."

"The closer to the end, the more cautious one must be."

"Yes, better safe than sorry. Brother Hai should stay in the cave and wait for the exam to end peacefully."

In the real world, official representatives from various countries have donned virtual helmets to enter a digital conference room.

Due to the existence of the Hungry Academy, nations have been developing at a frenzied pace, and the virtual world is one such product. However, it's still unstable and currently serves as a luxury known only to the elite, occasionally utilized in major international summits like this one.

The international conference room is elliptical, with a hollow center, followed by three concentric circles. Only 24 people sit in the first circle, representing the top-tier nations recognized for their formidable strength.

The representative of jiuZhou sits on the left side of the first circle, drawing covert glances from many other delegates.

Except for the D country representative, who keeps looking at his father.

A few days ago, they thought jiuZhou was about to lose, despite its vast resources; twelve freak natural disasters would surely take a toll. But no one could have predicted that they would randomly select a trump card—a student so young he looks underage, yet his skills make them envious.

Now, the jiuZhou representative sits here as a de facto champion nation delegate.

Fate is indeed a fickle thing.

"Sung, your student is truly remarkable. He really was chosen at random?" The E country representative greets him warmly.

Their country's officially dispatched student also performed admirably, though not in the lead, they're likely among the top five. She's the long-braided female warrior who waited at the Tulou breach.

"We didn't expect him to be selected either. Ji has just come of age, and his potential is just beginning to bloom," the jiuZhou representative says with a smile.

Regarding Ji Xinghai, whose origins are unknown, there were many voices within their ranks. But once a decision is made, there's only one voice, one stance.

This is the official position: they will protect all of Ji Xinghai's secrets.

It seems to reveal something, yet reveals nothing at all.

Other representatives perk up their ears, speculating that jiuZhou's student, Ji Xinghai, might actually have been a reserve for an official dispatch, unexpectedly chosen by the Hungry Academy for the game.

Could this guess be true?

"Oh, your students have always been outstanding. I look forward to our joint exercises this year between our two countries," the E country representative continues.

Due to a common enemy, jiuZhou and E country have grown closer in recent years, even conducting joint exercises. Not military drills, but training and exchanges for official dispatch reserves. Smaller neighboring countries have been applying to join, eager to tap into the resources of the great powers.

As representatives from around the world exchange pleasantries and test each other's intentions in the conference room, time in the examination hall reaches 5:50.

Viewers stare intently at the screens, each second passing slowly. With ten minutes until the exam concludes, everyone holds their breath, hoping for no unforeseen incidents.

Ji Xinghai keeps his eyes fixed on his mission watch, but this doesn't stop him from lighting a fire, roasting the sweet potato he didn't finish yesterday, and then eating it.

"I'm almost dying of nervousness, but Brother Hai remains so calm."

"What else would you expect from Brother Hai?"

"Ziqing Zhang's performance this time seems impressive too. I saw in overseas forums that he's predicted to be a high scorer. It's annoying."

"Don't mention that unlucky name."

Ji Xinghai takes a sip of water as the clock ticks to 5:59. Suddenly, everything goes dark, then bright again. He finds himself alone in a white, square room. But in the next moment, another person appears, a man in his thirties with brown hair, a glowing number '2' hovering above his head.

Then comes the third, fourth, fifth, sixth... hmm?

Ji Xinghai narrows his eyes, his lips curling slightly.

"Am I in third place?" Louis, the third to appear, suppresses his excitement, wanting to see what the top two are like, especially the first.

Whoever set fire and caused explosions in the enemy base—how did they manage it?

But before Louis can get a good look, a black shadow flashes past, followed by a whoosh sound. He focuses and sees a tall, thin man standing with his back to him, a glowing miniature crown atop his head.

In one hand, he holds a black scabbard, and in the other, an exceptionally long sword, a drop of blood slowly rolling off the tip.

The person who had been in sixth place stands behind the man, body upright, head on the ground, eyes wide open in disbelief at the turn of events.

The glowing number '6' above the severed head flickers once, like a candle extinguished by the wind, then disappears.

The body and head vanish.

Everyone numbered after six shifts forward, and then, a bewildered newcomer appears, a '10' floating above his head.

Tick.

Tock.

Exam Hall Time: 06:00.

The exam ends.