Chapter 171: Barbarossa Says, “These Magic Cores Are Mine”

“Sacas, hide here while I go over.”

Then, Meng Lei turned into a stream of light and flew into the battleground.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Several ice blades launched forcefully toward the Crocohawk Albatrosses in the sky. Ice blades were just low-grade spells, but in Meng Lei’s hands, they held astonishing might.

Splurt! Splurt!

Amid soft, continual sounds, the ice blades impaled the Crocohawk Albatrosses’ heads one by one with utmost accuracy, reaping their lives.

On top of that, Meng Lei was also rather sly and crafty—he went exclusively for the stronger Crocohawk Albatrosses like the eighth-grade and ninth-grade ones; he was above hunting the weaker ones.

“Ding! 1 Crocohawk Albatross killed. 9,000,000 gold coins gained!”

“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Physical Body Constitution +1,987!”

“Ding! 1 Crocohawk Albatross killed. 6,790,000 gold coins gained!”

“Ding! Assimilation successful. Host’s Magic Power +498!”

“Ding...”

As Meng Lei listened to the system’s cold and emotionless voice notifications, he felt as if he was listening to celestial music. While humming The Most Dazzling Folk Style[1], he also released ice blades to the beat.

“The boundless horizon is my love!

“At the foot of the stretching mountains the flowers bloom!

“What kind of rhythm is the most...”

His movements were leisurely and carefree as if taking a stroll in the park.

It was just a shame that the battle was simply too chaotic, so even a ferocious tiger like Meng Lei had become completely inconspicuous among the dogs. He didn’t catch anyone’s attention at all.

Boom, boom, boom!

The massacre continued without even a moment’s pause, and large numbers of Crocohawk Albatrosses perished at their hands. At last, their actions finally enraged the Crocohawk Albatross King.

Screeeech!

A sharp and crisp, loud and resounding cry that could almost shatter someone’s eardrums suddenly rang out. Then, a massive Crocohawk Albatross with a golden crown on its head and a wingspan of over 100-meters-wide shot out of a cave.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Countless wind blades shot down everywhere!

“The Crocohawk Albatross King!”

“It’s the Crocohawk Albatross King! Be careful, everyone!”

“The Crocohawk Albatross is a Saint Domain Magical Beast! Let’s work together to slay that beast! We can discuss how to split the spoils thereafter! What say everyone to that?”

“Alright!”

“That’s the only choice we have! We mustn’t be negligent and careless when up against a Saint Domain Magical Beast!”

“Attack!”

Apart from a minority of lone rangers like Meng Lei, all the other 50 to 60 contestants were obviously split into quite a few teams. After a bit of discussion, all of them made their decisions.

Then, they charged toward the Crocohawk Albatross King together.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The Dragon People Warriors flapped their wings and soared into the sky, while the Magicians chanted magic incantations and cast high-grade spells.

Boom, boom, boom!

Overwhelming attacks engulfed the Crocohawk Albatross King!

At the same time, a dazzling golden light also flew toward it with the other attacks. Hidden among the rest of the attacks, it cut across the Crocohawk Albatross King’s head!

“Ding! 1 Crocohawk Albatross King killed. 11,000,000 gold coins gained!”

Squawk!

The Crocohawk Albatross King froze in mid-air. Its wings that were capable of blotting out the whole sky also became weak and powerless at this moment. Then, its head went limp, and it crashed toward the ground with a deafening boom before its movements ceased completely in the end.

(⊙o⊙)

“What’s going on?”

“It died just like that?”

“Were our attacks so sharp and powerful that we could even straight up kill a Saint Domain Magical Beast?”

The contestants looked absolutely stupefied. However, their reactions were in no way slow—all of them flew toward the Crocohawk Albatross King at lightning-fast speed!

“The magic core is mine! Don’t any of you dare fight me for it!”

“No, it’s mine!”

All the contestants’ eyes had turned red from agitation.

However, a sudden turn of events occurred at this point.

Whoosh!

The sharp whiz of something shooting through the air rang out. By the time a golden ray of light flashed past the contestants, someone had already appeared in front of the Crocohawk Albatross King.

A head of dazzling golden-blond hair!

A suit of golden armor!

A pair of golden horns on the forehead!

A huge golden sword underneath his feet!

He was suave and handsome, domineering, and outstanding!

He gave off an incredibly noble and elegant air, every action of his exhibiting a gentleman’s grace!

A coexistence of dominance and elegance, he was someone who had both looks and power!

“Barbarossa!”

“It’s Prince Barbarossa!”

All the contestants froze on the spot, none of them daring to take another step forward.

Without any hint of emotion on his countenance, Barbarossa’s golden eyes swept across the place as he uttered lightly, “This Saint Domain magic core is mine!”

Then, without paying any heed to the others anymore, he turned and flew toward the Crocohawk Albatross King.

“This...”

All the contestants looked at one another. Despite being incredibly frustrated, none of them dared to step forward to stop Barbarossa.

Prince Barbarossa’s terrifying strength aside, his identity alone was already enough to stop them from acting rashly.

Not only did he possess terrifying strength that placed him at 148th place in the Genius Ranking, but he also had a powerful identity—someone destined for the throne!

Who would go against him just for a mere Saint Domain magic core?

Forget it, forget it!

I can’t afford to offend him! Nope, not at all!

Countless miles away, while all of this was happening, everything that had taken place had also coincidentally entered the sight of the emperor and the others.

It actually wasn’t quite appropriate to say that it was “coincidental”, though.

The chaotic battle at the cliff had simply been too intense. It had attracted Frederick the 32nd’s attention a long time ago, so he had specially gotten someone to switch the display to the area.

Barbarossa showing up was purely coincidental and not some kind of special attention on him.

However, at the sight of Prince Barbarossa’s actions, ingratiating compliments rang out one after another, and there was no pause to the praises lauding his actions.

“He killed the Saint Domain Crocohawk Albatross King with just a swing of his sword!”

“He easily scared off 50 to 60 contestants with just a simple word or two!”

“Is that the might of Prince Barbarossa?”

“As expected of Prince Barbarossa!”

“The empire is so blessed to have him...”

Upon his subjects’ praises and compliments, Frederick the 32nd only gave a noncommittal smile. Then, he got ready to get someone to switch the display to other contestants.

However, something unexpected occurred at that point.

“Where did you come from? How dare you steal my magic core?”

A bright and placid voice suddenly rang out. At the silent cliff, it sounded especially crisp and clear.

(⊙o⊙)

All the contestants froze at once and looked at the owner of the voice in disbelief.

Prince Barbarossa, who had just flown over to the Crocohawk Albatross King and was about to gouge out its magic core, also paused slightly.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

50 to 60 pairs of eyes simultaneously landed on Meng Lei. The gazes of tens of thousands of people at the Dragon God Cathedral also fell onto him.

“Who’s that?”

“Who’s he?”

“Where did that little brat come from?”

“Is he out of his mind?”

“Even someone the likes of him dares to stand in Prince Barbarossa’s way?”

“What a fool...”

As the contestants stared at Meng Lei, all of them were rendered speechless. They had been wondering what kind of hotshot it could be, but little did they expect that it was just an egotistical, ignorant little brat.

At the same time, silence also reigned in the Dragon God Cathedral.

With surprise written all over their faces, the emperor, princes, princesses, Saint Domain experts, and high-ranking officials and nobles—all of them were watching the young teenager on the magic screen.

“That boy...”

President Fred and the Fighting Dragon Academy president could only chuckle wryly. “I just knew that this would happen, except I didn’t expect it to be so soon...”

“That kid is too hot-headed. Doesn’t he know that he’s up against Prince Barbarossa this time?! Even if we disregard his status, just his strength alone is already...”

The Fighting Dragon Academy president shook his head lightly, his countenance grave.

President Fred nodded silently in response, feeling somewhat nervous.

“This magic core is mine. Do you have a problem with that?”

An aloof Barbarossa cast a glance at Meng Lei.

“Is it yours just because you say so? Who do you think you are?”

Meng Lei burst into laughter at once. “If I say that the spatial ring you’re wearing and that golden sword underneath your feet are mine, would you give them to me?”

“Die!!”

Barbarossa’s eyes narrowed slightly...

[1] A popular Chinese square dance song by folk song duo Phoenix Legend