On the roof, the few of them sat around the bonfire.
As they drank warm wine amidst the cold wind, they talked about what had happened in the mayor's manor today.
After hearing Feng Yuncheng tell her about their experience in the mayor's manor tonight, Naris asked them, "Then what are your plans? Are you guys prepared to join the Central Continent or go straight to Cang Lang City to participate in the challenge?"
Her question made everyone fall silent.
In the end, Sheng Xiao was the first to break the silence.
He said, "To qualify for the intercontinental finals by participating in the Challenger League is indeed the easiest way. But if what Jun Qing said is true and that this year, the major universities will send their strongest elite academies because of Ye Qingyang's appearance, then it will be very difficult for us to qualify."
"Joining the Central Continent and entering the top 100 of the Central Continent Selection Competition is the safest way. But at the same time, after joining the Central Continent, our movements will be restricted."
Sheng Xiao looked at the fish on the grill.
The fish had already been roasted until both sides were brown and it smelled delicious.
Only the weakest Holy Spirit Continent could be cooked and roasted at will by anyone.
"…We came to the Cang Lang Continent through the hard efforts of our powerful seniors. On our shoulders, we carry the future of the entire Holy Spirit Continent. If we can't get into the top academies and obtain the best resources, then it will be impossible for us to become powerhouses." Sheng Xiao pointed at the fish and said, "If we can't become stronger, then the Holy Spirit Continent will be at the mercy of others, like this fish on the grill. We…"
Sheng Xiao suddenly clenched his fists. Then, he lowered his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "We have no right to be willful."
Donor looked at Sheng Xiao in disbelief.
Noticing that Sheng Xiao was clenching his fists so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, he realized how helpless and pained Sheng Xiao was when he said that.
Donor turned his head away, and his heart ached.
The Sheng Xiao Donor knew had been the young master of Yufu City since he was born. There was a stubborn and proud soul under his aloof appearance. He wouldn't admit defeat to anyone or anything easily. In Sheng Xiao's dictionary, there was no such thing as giving up, letting go, or being unqualified.
But such a proud person actually said that he had no right to be willful.
Sheng Xiao had matured.
This proud man had finally learned to bow down to reality.
However, Donor hoped that Sheng Xiao would always be the annoying Young Master Sheng of Yufu City, the esteemed number one genius of the Holy Spirit Continent.
Even Beatrice looked at Sheng Xiao sadly and her beautiful eyes welled up with tears. "Sheng Xiao… you…"
Beatrice wanted to say something, but in the end, she didn't.
She grabbed the warm wine and drank it.
Yu Huang shook her head and said with laughter, "Brother Xiao is right. We have no right to be too willful."
"Let's… join the Central Continent."
When Yin Rong and the others heard this, they raised their heads and revealed slightly red eyes.
"…Alright, let's join the Central Continent!"
Naris looked at them sadly.
At this moment, the seven of them suddenly seemed so lofty.
All of them seemed to be shining.
Naris suddenly understood why Anna was willing to save the Holy Spirit Continent after suffering so much unfair treatment.
It was because her friends were too loveable.
* *
The next morning, when the guard captain of the mayor's manor opened the heavy door of the mayor's manor in admiration, he was stunned when he saw Sheng Xiao and the others standing side by side outside the door. Then, he shouted towards the backyard excitedly, "Mayor, Sheng Xiao and the others are here!"
Jun Qing stopped eating breakfast and hurriedly went to the main hall.
Seeing the seven young people standing in the middle of the main hall, Jun Qing knew what their choice was.
He felt gratified and happy.
However, when his gaze landed on the seven young faces, his heart ached.
Jun Qing knew very well that Sheng Xiao and the others were willing to join the Central Continent not because he was charming or because the Central Continent was technologically advanced and prosperous.
They only wanted to become strong as soon as possible and return to save their hometown.
They were once known as prodigies, but now, they compromised for their hometown's sake.
At that time, their average age was only 30.
They were just a group of young people the same age as his grandsons. His grandsons were squandering his assets and fooling around all day long, but this group of young people was already at a level that even Jun Qing had to look up to.
"Sir." Sheng Xiao explained their intentions, "After careful consideration, we have decided to join the Central Continent."
Hearing this, Jun Qing was overjoyed. "I promise you guys that the Central Continent's government will not mistreat you guys. Time will prove that your choice today is the right choice!"
Sheng Xiao said calmly, "Let time prove it."
Jun Qing was overjoyed. He personally accompanied them to the administrative building and settled their registration as quickly as possible. After this day, the empty column on Yu Huang and the others' identity cards was finally filled—
Continent: Central Continent.
* *
They only returned to the tavern on Five Lakes Street in the evening.
It was closing time.
There was a folding ladder in front of the tavern. On the ground, there was a broken sign with the words "Ice Rock Hotel." Di Wu stood on the ladder as he tried to hang the newly customized signboard.
The cold wind blew past, blowing against his wide-legged pants, revealing the cold prosthetic limbs under his pants. It was a terrifying sight.
"Uncle Di, let us do it." Sheng Xiao flew up and snatched the tablet from Di Wu's hand. Then, he hung it on the door of the tavern.
Di Wu raised his eyebrows and said, "Thanks."
When he walked down the ladder, he saw that Yu Huang and the others looked a little dejected and sad. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "When are you guys planning to leave?"
Parting was a very strange emotion.
There was no need for them to say it clearly. The reluctance in their eyes were telling enough.
Yu Huang said, "Tomorrow."
It was two days earlier than Di Wu had expected.
Di Wu sat down on the stairs in front of the tavern, but this revealed his prosthetic leg again. However, he didn't care at all. He took out a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket and smoked a joint.
"Where are you guys going?" Di Wu asked.
Feng Yuncheng replied, "To participate in the Central Continent Selection Competition."
"Central Continent Selection Competition?" Di Wu looked at them in surprise as he said, "So, you're all joining the Central Continent?"
No one said anything.
Di Wu shook his head and said, "You guys don't seem like the kind of people who would casually join the Central Continent. I thought you would carefully investigate the various continents first before making a decision." He really didn't expect Yu Huang and the others to join the Central Continent so rashly.
Sheng Xiao smiled calmly. "There's nothing wrong with joining the Central Continent. As long as we enter the top 100 of the screening test, we can participate in the intercontinental finals."
Sheng Xiao had bowed down in the face of harsh reality.
Di Wu muttered, "When did you, Sheng Xiao, become like this?"
When he heard this, Sheng Xiao narrowed his sharp eyes and stared at Di Wu's beardy face.
Di Wu sounded like he knew what kind of person he was very well.
Sheng Xiao's gaze became unfathomable and he asked with a smile, "Uncle Di, how long have you known me? How do you know what I was like in the past?"