Chapter 73: Astral Combat Academy (1/2)
“You know about the Astral Combat Academy?” Lu Yin looked at Lulu.
“Heard some seniors talking about it, want to know more?” she smiled craftily, her gaze shifting as he nodded, “I can tell you, but you have to promise me something. Help me get something if you enter Astral-10… Hey, don’t leave, it’s not anything extraordinary or something! I just need you to fight someone; you should know that information about Astral Combat Academy is restricted. Even that General Sigmund might not know; no one will tell you except me!”
Xia Luo interrupted gently, “The Astral Combat Academy is an umbrella term for ten institutions, the first eight in the Innerverse. Astral-9 is in the Endless Weave of the Outerverse, while Astral-10 is going to appear here in the Frostwave Weave. Every academy is said to have supreme battle techniques inherited from ages past and is overseen by unequaled powerhouses. The academies also determine the top 100 youths across the universe, and then there’s the true attraction of the legendary Three Realms and Six Daos.”
Lulu clenched her jaw in fury, but everyone else focused on Xia Luo, “Three Realms and Six Daos?”
“Legend goes that there are nine trial zones passed on from ancient times, hiding supreme battle techniques. Longevity, strong blood vessels, unstoppable strength… rumors say you can acquire all kinds of things there, but there is one thing we know for sure,” Xia Luo’s smile faded, “Almost half of the Ten Arbiters of the Universe Youth Council have walked through the Three Realms and Six Daos.”
Lu Yin’s expression changed as well; the Ten Arbiters had taken the Universe Youth Council from an obscure organization to the behemoth it was today. These ten devilish geniuses were the greatest prodigies of their generation; while he didn’t know just how strong they were, a single one had destroyed a major organization that defied the Council’s ruling. That power had been far stronger than the Great Yu Empire.
The Universe Youth Council was originally responsible for the Outerverse competitions and rewarding or disciplining the younger generations, but ever since the Ten Arbiters came into power, its influence had broadened greatly. Not only did they rule over the young, but they now had judicial authority and supervised the various academies. They had the authority to investigate, pass, and enforce laws on education, military, and prisons, empowering the younger generations greatly. The Universe Youth Council was thus also called the Ten Arbiters’ Council. Mira was a prime example of the terrifying prowess of this organization. Lu Yin had tried to get more information about the Ten Arbiters, but there was very little he could glean about them. Those from the Outerverse simply couldn’t learn about them.
“Do you know who the Ten Arbiters are?” Lu Yin looked at Lulu. When she and Xia Luo looked back silently, he asked, “Don’t know?”
Lulu shrugged with a negative. When Lu Yin turned to Xia Luo, the youth shook his head as well, “Don’t ask me, no one here is qualified for such information. Even the Emperor might not know; those ten are way too high, and no media dares to even contact them.”
Disappointed, Lu Yin thought back to news broadcasts he’d seen before. The only images shown for rulings from the Ten Arbiters were ten silhouettes; he really wasn’t qualified to find out. The only person on the Perseverance who knew was Mira, but asking her would only garner ill-will. It would show lofty ambition with little perspective.
After the ship warped once more, a notice was transmitted throughout the ship that they were about to arrive at the Zenyu Star, the capital of the Great Yu Empire. Lu Yin looked out his window to see a mass of vehicles passing by. They were soon in sight of the massive celestial body, three rings of land circling around it constantly. It looked vast and magnificent, terrifying star energy ripples passing by on occasion. The spaceships around stretched into an unknown distance.
There weren’t many students left on the Perseverance at this point, only children of influential families like Raas and Huo Xiaoling. Watching the capital approach, an excited Raas activated his gadget, “Senior, please, you have to avenge me.”
“That is the Zishan King; if we mess him up, we risk offending the entire Zishan faction.”
“Bah, the Zishan faction withered away long ago, and many have cast their lots in with my father. There are only a handful of people left that support him; His Imperial Majesty only gave him the position because of a past promise. He really thinks that title will last forever; the Crown Prince and Second Prince will always be worried if he doesn’t die.”
“Have you forgotten about the Thirteenth Captain?”
Raas was startled, but then he smiled, “That woman is just holding up the Zishan name. She might even thank us when he’s dead.”