The students appeared thoughtful, while Zhong Peng frowned deeply. The old principal, however, continued his speech.
"During the competition, there is one crucial rule you must adhere to."
"You are not allowed to let the creatures you cultivate know of your existence as their Creator. If they become aware, you will immediately be disqualified!"
"What?" The students were instantly shocked.
"If the creatures aren't aware of their Creator, you won't be able to command them directly," someone exclaimed.
"That makes it incredibly difficult to develop quickly. What are we supposed to do?"
The old principal chuckled softly and explained, "You can let your creatures act as your proxies."
"However, there's one final rule for this competition: You may only select one race from your creations to introduce to the corrupted world, and doing so won't earn you any points."
"I believe this competition, with these rules, is the fairest way to proceed."
"After all, Zhong Peng, with your innate divine field as a Godborn, even if you defeat Bai Ze, people would say you relied on your heritage and didn't win fairly, wouldn't they?"
As the principal finished his words, Zhong Peng, who had been frowning, finally relaxed.
Then, a smirk appeared on his face.
"Hah, old principal, are you trying to trick me into working for free?"
"You want me to cultivate creatures, yet ensure they don't know I exist as their Creator. That means they won't revere me as their deity, leaving them for you to harvest instead. Isn't that what this is all about?"
Zhong Peng now understood the principal's ploy.
Not allowing his creatures to acknowledge him, and restricting him to using only one species for guidance, would prevent those creatures from developing faith in him. That would make it easier for the principal to take advantage of the cultivated results later.
If a student from another school lost to him, it would harm that school's reputation.
But with this new competition format, the situation changed entirely.
Even if he lost, Tianzhou Academy would still benefit because he would have essentially cultivated an entire planet of creatures for them for free.
"However, since you've already laid things out like this, I've got nothing to refuse."
"I accept!" Zhong Peng agreed without hesitation.
"I'll use this so-called fair and just method to defeat the so-called top student."
"And I'll show that coward hiding in the shadows what it means to be a true Godborn, not someone who simply got lucky!"
Zhong Peng stood tall and confident, his expression showing no fear.
He was brimming with confidence in his abilities whether it was his talent, his decision-making, or his strength.
After all, as a Godborn, he was destined to stand above others and ascend to the divine throne!
"Very well, Bai Ze, what about you?"
The principal turned, his expression kind and gentle.
"I have no objections. Since he wants to compete, we'll do it this way," Bai Ze replied calmly.
With both participants agreeing, the principal wasted no time.
"In that case, follow me."
Turning, the principal led the two young men toward another direction.
Behind them, the students exchanged glances.
After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into a frenzy.
"Let's go watch the competition!"
"Yeah, a brand-new competition format I've never seen anything like it!"
The group surged forward, eagerly following the principal's lead.
Meanwhile, the news about this "Talent Ability Competition" quickly spread across all grade levels.
Many senior students caught wind of it as well.
"Did you hear?"
"That Godborn from the Imperial City came to Tianzhou Academy and challenged our freshman top student."
"The principal stepped in and introduced a brand-new competition format."
"A new format? We have to go check it out! Let's move!"
...
In no time, the two competitors followed the principal to the innermost part of the first floor of the teaching building.
When the large doors opened, the scene that unfolded left everyone in awe.
The room was exceptionally spacious, approximately 20 meters tall, comparable to the school's gymnasium.
At the center of the room stood a fully glass-constructed, transparent cube. Inside were two chairs and two murky, black crystal orbs.
"Tsk, so you were prepared for this all along," Zhong Peng muttered with a twitch of his lips.
"This is the competition room I've specially prepared for you two," the principal explained.
"Enter this crystal room, place your hands on the crystal orbs, and you'll immediately be able to view the corrupted planets assigned to you for transformation."
The old principal gestured toward the glass door in front of them.
Without further ado, both participants stepped forward and entered the crystal room.
At the doorway, the crowd of students surged inside, their eyes filled with curiosity and wonder.
"What a massive room! I've never been here before."
"Forget the room look at that glass cube in the center!"
"Bai Ze and that guy are both inside now."
Amid the crowd, Bai Ze took the chair on the right side.
In front of him, the crystal orb radiated a profound sense of death and emitted dark ripples that made one shiver.
Ding!
The system's voice suddenly echoed in Bai Ze's mind.
"System detected a corrupted and decayed world nearby!"
"This world has been granted temporary proxy rights. The host may claim it at any time!"
Bai Ze slowly reached out and grasped the crystal orb, closing his eyes.
Instantly, a deep darkness unfolded before his eyes.
"Ding! Signal received. Planet claimed successfully!"
"Host has temporarily gained proxy rights over this planet."
Planet Information: A corrupted and decayed world. Formerly a Level-3 planet, with a land diameter of 1,000 kilometers. Energy has been eroded, and no significant energy fluctuations remain."
Reading the system's description, Bai Ze nodded lightly.
"A Level-3 world with a land diameter three times larger than my own."
"That means, before its corruption, it must have had either a monarch-class creature or at least over a dozen commander-class creatures."
As he pondered this, Bai Ze felt a chill.
The alien species were indeed terrifying capable of destroying even a Level-3 planet.
The Lich he had fought earlier had only been defeated because its home planet was withered and its power significantly reduced.
Had it been at full strength, Bai Ze might not have even known how he died.
Looking down at the planet, Bai Ze saw a barren wasteland.
Everywhere was either piles of desolate debris or twisted, grotesque creatures with unclear features that seemed to have undergone horrific biological experiments.
Bai Ze frowned, estimating that those creatures were likely native species subjected to brutal experimentation.
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