Chapter 300: The Real Means
“Are you worried about the things on the Internet?” Su Bai looked at the lit computer screen and asked.
“Yes, most of the public sides with Gao Sheng. Even if we explain our side, the people won’t hear us,” replied Han Wei, feeling extremely guilty.
Su Bai went to take a look. The video uploaded by Gao Sheng had surpassed thirty million views in just one afternoon and had risen to the top of the hot search.
The video featuring Yulong Gymnasium’s explanation only had less than ten million views, and the comments were also directing public opinion. It was impossible to compete.
Many comments were saying things like, ‘Why does Yulong Gymnasium have to explain themselves if they don’t have a guilty conscience,’ ‘This is the world now! We can’t afford to offend the rich,’ and ‘I’ve seen everything now! The young dragon has grown horns; his heart has been completely blackened.’
Any comments with rational analyses and serious thoughts would immediately be drowned out by the harsh and castigating ones.
Of these comments, most were paid internet trolls, but there were many who also hated the gym or were jealous. They had failed to enter the gym and could only curse it as they wished online.
Another reason was that Gao Sheng had always been active on the Internet and had already amassed millions of fans. He had always portrayed himself as a righteous, just, and helpful person.
This was why it was so impactful, or else with Su Bai’s prestige, no one would care if an ordinary person was speaking ill of him.
That was also why they said that it was premeditated in order to ruin his reputation.
“It doesn’t matter. Their attention will be drawn away by other things in a few days.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})“What we have to do is improve our strength. If we are strong enough, they won’t dare to say a word of nonsense,” Su Bai waved his hand and said.
He was just as shocked by the number of people who paid attention to this matter. If he really made a move, it would only make things worse. Otherwise, he would have taught that guy a lesson already.
“We understand.”
The three nodded but the sadness on their faces remained.
Improving strength could indeed solve their current problem, but it was just too difficult to do so.
Before the emperor grade, pets and summoners could improve quickly, but after reaching the emperor grade, it became very difficult.
Generally at this time, pets had entered the stage of maturity from the growth period. Although they could evolve to their ultimate body, it was impossible for their development to be as fast as when they were still in the growth period, for there were too many things required.
The same was true for the Pet Tamers. After the contract book reached the amethyst level, more spiritual power and treasures were needed. The treasures were fine, but the speed of accumulating spiritual power was very slow.
Even if there were various ways to accelerate accumulation, they all took a long time.
Except for geniuses, the average summoners might need to accumulate for five to six years or even eight to nine years so that they could upgrade the level of their contract books.
Of course, the lifespan of Pet Tamers was very long, and it was generally not a problem for them to live two to three hundred years.
Those with emperor pets or even stronger ones could naturally live longer. Title-level Pet Tamers could live for four to five hundred years, and heavenly kings could live for seven to eight hundred years, even a thousand years if they were fortunate.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})The lifespan of legendary-level Pet Tamers with immortal pets could have qualitative leaps.
Therefore, based on the lifespan of Pet Tamers, this process of improvement was actually not considered slow. However, to ordinary people, it was very slow to accumulate enough mental power in seven or eight years.
Although the three were all talented individuals, it would take them at least five or six years to become heavenly king Pet Tamers.
On the other hand, they all felt that it would take Su Bai at least two or three years before he could become a heavenly-king-level Pet Tamer.
In this case, they felt that public opinion was still very important. The most important thing was that they all wanted the God Dragon Division to win with Su Bai successfully occupying the curator seat; thus, they were all trying to deal with this issue at hand.
“This time, the Mist of Evolution gives us a good opportunity, so seize it well. Don’t look at the b*llsh*t on the Internet for the time being. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be off to Heavenly Abyss to explore it as well as clean up the monsters there.” Su Bai turned and left to turn in for the day.
Early the next morning. He had breakfast and was just about to find Chen Ruoxue when the three came looking for him again.
“Senior Brother, something big happened.”
Their voices sounded before they even arrived.
“What’s the matter again?” He glanced at them.
Ouyang Du said with a serious expression. “Gao Sheng is dead. The entire hunting team who clashed with us yesterday all died in one of the gathering places in the Sea Abyss.
“Their corpses lay scattered, and there are many traces of dragons’ attacks on the scene. Now, the netizens are flying into a rage and are accusing us of murdering them to silence them.”
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})“They’re dead?” His expression changed, thinking that the ones behind the scenes were really cruel and really would do anything just to destroy his reputation.
This obviously could not be done by someone on their side. He did not give an order, and none of his people dared to act privately.
“Senior brother, that’s not the only thing. After the news of Gao Sheng’s death broke out, someone revealed that you had been in and out of the Scarlet Wilderness.
“That person also said that you’re already a member of the Twelve Dragon Slayers, and you also found a list of unknown origins.”
He Yu’s face was also full of worry.
Su Bai being a member of the Twelve Dragon Slayers was getting heated because many people were speculating about how an ordinary person like him could have risen too fast.
Hence, they believed that he had forces helping him from behind, and coupled with the situation in Cannes, people were willing to believe that his support came from the Twelve Dragon Slayers. He might even be a core member of that organization.
Many people made random inferences based on imaginary things as if they had seen everything clearly.
This was the most dangerous thing. If Su Bai could not explain himself, it would likely cause an investigation by the gymnasium and an investigation by the Alliance. Regardless of the result, it would inevitably affect his cleaning of monsters in the abyss.
Before they finished speaking, Zi Wuji walked over with some people.
“Junior Brother Su, this incident you’re involved in is really blowing up. Hey, why are you so impulsive? Murdering people in cold blood isn’t the style of our gymnasium.”
He put the blame on him as soon as he appeared.
The man looked at him with a smile, which was as calm as the spring wind. “Also, you’d better explain how you obtained your Ancestor Blood Dragon. What about the list they mentioned online? I guess that the Alliance investigators will be here soon, won’t they?”
“Do you think that you’re someone important? I used to think that, although you’re a little eager for quick success and quick gains, you won’t actually be such a despicable and dirty villain! I never thought that you’d go overboard!
“As a fellow competitor, I’ve never wanted to do anything to your allies, but do you think I don’t dare to do so or do you think I need evidence?”
Su Bai glared at the new arrival with a pair of black eyes. His eyes were as sharp as a knife, and the killing intent in them was overwhelming.
After speaking, he looked at the people next to Zi Wuji. “He can harm the people around me and even kill innocent passersby just for the sake of obtaining the curator position. Tomorrow, he might use you as bargaining chips to gain even more benefits. Are you still laughing? Use your head!”
Zi Wuji’s expression changed and he suddenly looked furious. “Su Bai, I’m warning: Don’t slander me or do you have any evidence that I did those things? Don’t blame me for disregarding our relationship as a senior and a junior if you speak rashly like this!”
“Haha!” Su Bai sneered. “I’ll say it clearly here today: If there’s another person next to me who suffers an inexplicable accident, I guarantee that two people around you will have the same accident.”
Zi Wuji sneered again, bubbling with fury. “You… Everyone, you heard him clearly! Clearly, he’s this kind of person who opens his mouth without evidence!”
However, only a few people around him echoed his sentiment. The disciples of the gym, especially the God Dragon Division, showed traces of disgust.
Sometimes, there was no need for evidence. Just thinking of who would benefit greatly from this disaster could already determine the culprit.
If there was no benefit, who would be so bored as to blow things up?
This was when all the elders of the gymnasium came over with a Pet Alliance investigator.
“Hello, I’m Duan Munan, an officer of the Alliance. I’m here today to investigate the cause of Gao Sheng’s death.” The investigator looked at Su Bai and then at Zi Wuji.
Of course, he did not come to find out whether Su Bai had any relationship with the Twelve Dragon Slayers or not. Such online rumors without the bases were not within his scope. The most important thing was that the Pet Alliance had not issued an order to investigate this matter.
“There’s nothing to say about this. We only found out that they’re dead this morning.” Su Bai shrugged.
“I know. It’s just a routine; I’ll let the pets speak the truth, so please cooperate.”
The skill similar to Veritaserum was very effective, but it was not without loopholes.
“No problem at all.” Su Bai nodded.
He and the others who had been in contact with Gao Sheng submitted their records.
Without an exception, no anomaly was found.
“Thank you for your cooperation; I’ll notify you if there are things to add later.” Duan Munan nodded and left straight after this.
At this time, an elder of the God Dragon Division stood up, looked at the people around, and said solemnly, “When Su Bai entered our gym, he accepted the most powerful investigation in the aisle. His identity is unquestionable. I advise everyone not to believe the baseless rumors on the Internet easily.”
“Also, the competition for the curator of the gymnasium has always been fair and honest. If some suspicious points become known to the masters in the void, even if the person becomes curators, he’ll still be driven away. I only hope that that particular person knows what’s best for him.”
The speaker was Zhang Dong, a professor who managed the training of disciples in the God Dragon Division. He looked to be around fifty or sixty years old.
“The netizens are not to be blamed for the spread of such rumors; the appearance of Su Bai’s Ancestor Blood Dragon is indeed suspicious, and his other pets are also extremely rare. This is indeed something that should be thoroughly investigated, and according to the investigation, ever since his return from the Abyss Star Territory, when he released his contract book, he’s always deliberately masked it so that people couldn’t see its true appearance. No one knows if anything is hidden in it…”
The speaker was the vice dean of the Giant Dragon Division who was a middle-aged man.
His words indeed resonated with many people. Su Bai was obviously a commoner, but his pets were very strong and formidable.
Even some young masters could not compare with him, which was very strange and abnormal.
This has always been a mystery that the outside world was enthusiastically exploring.
Su Bai could not help but laugh when he heard this. “You always speak so well. Why is my Ancestor Blood Dragon suspicious? Must I have a problem just because my pets are very rare? What logic is this?”
He was quite surprised. These people even noticed such details. They were really eyeing him all day long.
“Junior Brother Su, Uncle Xu is right. Your Ancestor Blood Dragon appeared so suddenly; if there’s no problem with you, why do you keep hiding your contract book?” Zi Wuji also voiced, having already suspected him.
The other disciples also glanced over in agreement. Yes, why hide it if there was no problem with his contract book?
“If you have the ability, you can take out your contract book for everyone to see. There’s surely something not right with it. If not, why would you keep refusing to show it to others? If you explain the origin of your Ancestor Blood Dragon, I, Xu Wentao, will apologize to you in public!”
The vice dean of the Giant Dragon Division sneered repeatedly and aggressively.
Facing his interrogation, Su Bai chuckled.
“It baffles me how unfair you are as an elder, and it is truly an eye-opener for me to be persecuted with such forceful logic.
“What do you mean by showing everyone if there’s nothing wrong with it? Since you think that I am suspicious, why don’t you show evidence?
“I’ll tell you clearly: You’d better pray that I don’t become the curator. Because when I do, you won’t be able to keep your position as the vice dean.”
“You… Everyone, be my witness, he has no respect for his seniors. Before he can even become the curator, he’s already directly threatening his elder.”
Xu Wentao was left speechless and immediately tried to point out how Su Bai had disrespected him, an elder.
“Haha! You’re really good at blaming others. Fine, didn’t you say that Su Bai is suspicious? It just so happens that the curator is coming over today; he should be arriving soon.
“Do you dare to take your position as the vice dean as a bet? If Su Bai is confirmed to have no problem today, quit your position as the vice dean and act as a guard of the gym for ten years, instead! Do you dare to bet? If not, then don’t utter f*cking b*llsh*t!”
Professor Zhang Dong of the God Dragon Gymnasium could not stand it anymore and directly cursed the other openly.
“Zhang Dong, you…”
Zhang Dong’s words directly made Xu Wentao’s face contort in fury. He was all talk, but if his interests must be laid down as a bet, he, of course, was very hesitant. What if this was a trap designed by Su Bai?
“What? Shut up if you don’t have the courage! You’re so f*cking embarrassing.” Professor Zhang Dong did not hold back.
Su Bai breathed in relief first and then relentlessly said, “If you have no evidence, don’t talk nonsense. Don’t use that kind of flawed logic to threaten me. It’s useless.”
The faces of Zi Wuji, Xu Wentao, and some others became ugly. Su Bai did not play cards according to the norm at all. They had already pushed him to the corner, but he still refused to expose his contract book.
This made several people feel more and more suspicious of his contract book.
At this time, Curator Zi Tianhe and two directors descended from above on their dragons.
“What happened?” The curator looked at the two groups facing each other.
“It’s like this…” Zi Wuji took the lead in repeating the earlier incident. With so many people watching, he did not dare to exaggerate.
“Director, Su Bai completely disregards his elders and behaves suspiciously. There’s absolutely something wrong with him. I dare to use my position to guarantee that! If he’s clean, I’ll guard the gate of our gym for ten years!” Xu Wentao said in determination at this time.
While he spoke, he glanced sideways at the young man with a sneer. Why? Did he think that he would not dare?
He was just testing his reaction earlier. Boy, you’re too naïve!
Xu Wentao sneered inwardly. Especially when he saw Su Bai frowning, he felt that he had made the right bet.
Even if the young man had no connection with the Twelve Dragon Slayers, he had definitely swallowed other people’s contract books, which was why he did not dare to show his own.
Curator Zi Tianhe glanced at Su Bai and asked slowly, “As one of the chief disciples of the gymnasium, you have the obligation to protect your honor and maintain a clean image. What’s with the online rumors? What’s wrong with your contract book? Why don’t you dare to show it?
As for your Ancestor Blood Dragon, if there’s nothing wrong with it, why do you keep refusing to reveal its origin?”
“Exactly, Junior Brother Su Bai can show his contract book. If there’s no problem, we will compensate you for any damage caused,” said Zi Wuji with a smile, his eyes filling with pride.
Having kept track of Su Bai’s strange reactions for quite some time, he felt that this fellow competitor had truly swallowed others’ contract books.
As long as this was exposed, no matter what the reason was, Su Bai would lose. This included his qualifications to participate in the selection for a new curator.
This was his real purpose for coming here.
