Chapter 172

Chapter 172

"Is it... the entire civilization?"

The representatives from various countries in the virtual meeting room stuttered, finding it hard to believe their ears. The grand prize separated 'your civilization' and 'your country.' Did this mean that 'civilization' referred not to a nation but the entire planet?

Was it really true? Were they just imagining things due to their intense desire?

The JiuZhou representative, under everyone's gaze, felt a bit dizzy inside but remained composed on the outside. "Speculating here won't help. We'll know the situation once the data from the ground-based detection comes in. However, judging from the grand prize, this reward is quite substantial. Besides the Hungry Academy's involvement, the joint examination of the twelve academies is another reason. After all, it's a joint exam; one academy can't be the only one offering rewards."

"The JiuZhou representative is right," the others agreed, though somewhat distracted, eager to know the results of the detection.

The reward settlement phase had ended, and logically, it should have been time for individual score settlements. At that moment, Ji Xinghai suddenly asked, "Does this scenario have a prototype?"

They were taken aback, thinking there would be no response. Unexpectedly, after a few seconds, a voice came through: "Yes."

"Is my reward related to this scenario?"

"Yes. Static... crackle... static..."

After the sound of interference, the top ten participants were directly teleported to their personal settlement spaces. The people in the virtual meeting room stared at the now black screen of the live stream, lost in thought.

Ji Xinghai's questions seemed ordinary but were actually crucial and profound.

A joint examination question involving twelve academies having a prototype could not be about a minor conflict between two small nations on some planet. It might well be an interstellar civilization invading another.

Thinking about it, the shape of the ship the squid creatures rode was indeed peculiar, more like a spaceship.

So this scenario was likely an invasion and occupation by the wandering squid creature civilization against a human civilization. The outcome remains unknown. Considering it became a test prototype, the outcome probably wasn't good.

The best possible outcome would be mutual destruction.

"Ji asking if the reward is related to the scenario is essentially asking if the 'seed box' is connected to the civilization with the seed in the scenario."

Not directly asking if the reward is related to a fallen or extinct civilization might have been to avoid certain keywords. Unfortunately, the other party reacted quickly.

"Their reluctance to reveal details suggests that the 'seed box' might truly be a significant legacy of another civilization or developed based on another civilization." They leaned towards the former, as these academies didn't seem patient enough to conduct research. Taking what already exists is more convenient, and any acquired civilization would eventually be assimilated.

Thinking about it, if their civilization fails to advance, would it become part of the reward pool?

The representatives in the virtual meeting room fell silent.

Transferred to the individual score marketplace, Ji Xinghai pondered the same question. There was nothing particularly attractive in the marketplace this time, so he didn't bother buying anything.

He rotated the golden ring on his finger, which neither disappeared nor could be removed.

Though he had no habit of wearing accessories, considering the title and utility of this ring, he decided it was fine to adapt.

Previously, he suspected that the game's varied rewards came from different civilizations. Now, it was confirmed.

These academies couldn't possibly be losing money to do good deeds. Therefore, consuming failed civilizations and converting them into experience points for advancing other civilizations was a normal operation.

However, this raised a question: Would the academies deliberately cause civilizations to fail to gain more rewards?

Ji Xinghai carefully considered the Hungry Academy's actions. When they identified potential candidates who could pass the academy battles, their excitement was genuine.

It seemed that for the academies, the benefits of a successful civilization outweighed those of a failed one.

From this perspective, the academies, as screening institutions, still fundamentally existed to advance civilizations, making them relatively trustworthy.

The external world reached a similar conclusion, as they had received feedback that global energy fluctuations had increased by 20%, and the number of mutated flora and fauna had risen.

Due to the short timeframe, it was too early to determine how much the mutation rate had increased or the nature of the positive mutations. However, the global scope of the rewards was no longer in doubt.

People from other countries experienced firsthand the benefits of being led by a powerful figure.

In the past half month, the outside world hadn't merely waited for the students inside the scenario to fight. They studied magic, improved magical potion formulas, and combined technology to mass-produce various drugs.

Scientists worked tirelessly in their labs, developing treatments and beauty products.

Among these was a drug to cure mental contamination caused by abnormalities. Thus, ingredients from the supplementary volume of the *Tao Tie Food Canon* were no longer the only option. Even if the supplementary volume vanished in a few months, those driven mad by mental contamination could still receive a cure.

However, the materials for these drugs came from mutated flora and fauna, which were equally rare and precious.

This was just one minor use of mutated flora and fauna without harming them. Positive mutations endowed them with a degree of intelligence. In the magical world, there was a pact allowing humans and mutated flora and fauna to grow together. Compared to becoming donors for medicinal purposes, they might be better suited as companions.

Each person's ideal pact partner was often the object of their magical projection. For Ji Xinghai, chosen by the life tree, the best pact would be with a mutated tree, especially one perfectly compatible with him.

Therefore, when JiuZhou obtained seeds of mutated trees, they sent some to Ji Xinghai in the Hungry Academy, to see if he was interested.

Phantom beasts had become the hottest topic, with novelists now writing stories about 'phantom beasts,' 'summoned beasts,' and 'fairies.'

Those chosen by magical creatures spent every day searching the official website for mutated flora and fauna, repeatedly asking, "Do you have any? Money is no issue."

Currently, the common people of JiuZhou had the highest chance of obtaining their own mutated companions.

With the magical heritage here, the most mutated flora and fauna here, and the best environment here, they stood the best chance.

Thus, calls to Ji Xinghai had evolved from praise to frenzied praise. Rumor had it that even though he was still inside the scenario, he had become an honorary citizen of ninety percent of the countries.

Of course, thanks to JiuZhou's efforts, he remained a JiuZhou citizen, enjoying the highest citizen status in other countries. In several constitutional monarchies and absolute monarchies, he had already been granted honorary titles with financial benefits.

Ji Xinghai scratched his cheek with his index finger, briefly considering changing his face upon return.

But this body was given to him by his parents, and changing it at will wouldn't be appropriate.

"Has Xing recently made a friend?" Wei Lan asked directly.

The outside world had long noticed that Ji Xinghai seemed to have some connection with the overseer in the instance dungeon. When he mentioned this abnormal entity, his tone was different from when he talked about other abnormalities.

Initially, they wanted to probe indirectly, but as a mother, Wei Lan knew her son's character well and saw no point in beating around the bush. She decided to ask directly.

Sure enough, Ji Xinghai didn't overthink it. After a moment of reflection, he realized that if there was anyone he interacted with closely, it was probably just that one person. However, this person was his reserve food source; becoming friends meant he couldn't eat them anymore.

"Why do you ask?"

"Xing is very concerned about that person," Wei Lan said with a smile.

Having good social relationships is one of the foundations for a healthy personality and a happy life. Since making such an unconventional friend, Ji Xinghai's state had improved significantly. Although his mental health score hadn't changed, some things couldn't be measured by data.

As a parent, she fully supported Ji Xinghai having friends, even if they were abnormal, as long as he was happy.

"It's not human. Aren't you scared?" Ji Xinghai tried to argue, not wanting his reserve food source to become a friend he couldn't eat.

"What's there to be afraid of?" Wei Lan thought her child was worried about their friend being shunned or feared, so she responded as an understanding parent, "Bring them home to play sometime."

"..." Do I really have to bring them home?

Ji Xinghai wasn't sure how he ended the call. He felt like it was similar to bumping into someone from another class on the way home and getting into a spat, only to have his mom pass by, assume they were friends, and happily invite the other person over to play.

He extended his hand, where black thorns were faintly visible on his wrist, but a gold ring adorned his index finger. This symbolized his current relationship with the overseer—both friend and foe, but ultimately destined to return to the menu.

However, he had to bring the person home...

When the overseer arrived carrying a jar of braised pork in wine and fresh drunken crabs, Ji Xinghai wore a subtle expression. He looked at him suspiciously.

Ji Xinghai glanced at the food container in his hand, then tossed something into the overseer's arms.

"Medicine?"

"In recognition of our cooperation." Ji Xinghai said, thinking that if the overseer didn't see his injuries, he wouldn't notice them.

"Where did you get it?" The overseer was curious since he wasn't human, and ordinary medicine couldn't heal his wounds.

"You should thank the generous contributions (of their bodies) from the school staff."

"..." It seemed clear why the school had been unusually quiet the past few days—all the noisy ones had been turned into medicine.

They sat on the grass behind the library, facing the small lake and green willows. One ate braised pork with rice, while the other applied medicine to himself. Though they were doing their own things, the atmosphere was harmonious.

Ji Xinghai turned his head and saw the overseer applying medicine while sitting on the grass. He had taken off his shirt, revealing well-defined muscles, with a warm glow spreading across his broad shoulders and undulating along his chest, tracing the contours of his abdomen before disappearing into his waistband.

Yet, on this sculptural body, there was a deep wound running from the collarbone to the abdomen, with dark purple energy swirling around it, preventing healing.

But as soon as the seemingly ordinary brown ointment was applied, the dark purple energy dissipated, and the wound rapidly healed under his superhuman regenerative ability, leaving no scar.

Seeing this, Ji Xinghai felt satisfied. Indeed, his medicine was invincible.

The amount of medicine was perfect, neither too much nor too little. Did Ji Xinghai judge the quantity based on the excess dark energy he sensed?

The overseer silently put away the jar and waited for Ji Xinghai to finish eating his meal of braised pork and white rice.

The two-layered food container held drunken crabs, which Ji Xinghai ate first, followed by braised pork with rice. At the bottom were side dishes like braised eggs, palate cleansers, and snacks, but Ji Xinghai focused on the braised pork, pouring the thick sauce over his rice and mixing it, turning the rice red and glossy.

Watching him eat without looking up, the overseer suddenly unlocked a new dish in his mind—sweet and sour mandarin fish.

Those who enjoy sweet braised pork often also like sweet and sour mandarin fish.

However, he couldn't come over tomorrow.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll be away for a while," the overseer said, quickly putting his clothes back on, resuming his stern demeanor.

Ji Xinghai's eyes flickered. "Is it training with the instructor?"

The overseer wasn't surprised by Ji Xinghai's sharpness and nodded.

Ji Xinghai had intended to mention the misunderstanding that they were friends, but the words stuck in his throat. Such a delicious reserve food source—it was hard to let go.

He decided to keep quiet. If the overseer voluntarily offered to replenish his energy, adding extra meals, he couldn't complain.

The next day, the overseer indeed didn't show up. With nothing else to do, Ji Xinghai went fishing by the lake behind the library.

The fish in the lake loved him. He would sit there all day with a bucket full of fish food, scattering it everywhere. By the end of the day, he'd used up two pounds of fish food but still left with an empty bucket.

Ji Xinghai emptied bucket after bucket of fish food until finally, August arrived.