My starting summon is a small skeleton-Chapter 146 - 145 Olive Branch

As soon as Little Skeleton’s phone came out, Lu Wu felt like he almost wanted to pre-order the championship.

Well, okay, that might be a bit of an exaggeration.

He was still quite far from being a champion; if it came down to fighting against those top teams, Lu Wu really didn’t have much confidence in winning.

If Little Skeleton could go up another One Star, if the needles prepared for the goblin healed well, and if Dudu’s Bonds Skill were activated, then Lu Wu would truly be locking in the championship in advance.

But regardless, Lu Wu felt that, at the very least, getting into the top eight should be perfectly secured.

After all, in his prelims, besides conceding against those three teams, he had fought in almost all the other matches and won them all.

Although there were still three days left and 9 matches unplayed, grabbing those 9 points would be a piece of cake for Lu Wu.

So, unless something unexpected happened, Lu Wu’s team should be able to enter Group A in the top four with a score of 39 points and thus make it into the top eight.

Yes, the competition among the strong is just so plain and simple.

However, what should have been a straightforward competition suddenly turned tumultuous on May 17th.

This wasn’t because Lu Wu had encountered some super Dark Horse Team and been defeated that day, but because Team 001 had actually lost.

When Lu Wu got this news, he had just finished a match and was in the process of plundering his opponent’s resources.

Right in the middle of his plundering, Lin Jianying suddenly came over to tell him this news.

"What’s going on here?"

Lu Wu was somewhat stunned: "How did 001 lose?

Did they face 002, or did they come across the Dark Horse Team 003?"

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Lu Wu racked his brains. As far as he could see, Team 001 could only have possibly lost to these two teams.

Lin Jianying shook head: "Neither, 001 lost to Team 018!"

"018?"

Lu Wu recalled the information about that team: "Seems like they’re one of the seeded teams, their power is alright, but beating 001 seems impossible, right?"

"The two teams didn’t even fight; 001 conceded right off the bat as soon as they got on stage!"

As soon as Lin Jianying said this, Lu Wu’s eyes narrowed immediately.

They conceded without even fighting? Lu Wu sensed the scent of conspiracy and immediately asked the critical question: "What’s the current record of Team 018?"

Lin Jianying obviously did his homework and immediately replied to Lu Wu: "Including this battle with Team 001, they now have a 34-match winning streak!

There are eight more matches left for them, including ones against Team 002, 003, and us."

"So, if in the upcoming 8 matches, even if they lose all three tough fights, they can still end up with 39 points?"

"Yes, and if they can win one of those three matches, then their final score could reach 40 points!"

If that was really the case, then the top four spot Lu Wu’s team had nearly secured would probably not be so secure.

This made Lu Wu very upset.

He was preparing for the finals, yet he hadn’t expected such complications to arise during the prelims.

"Look into what’s going on between Teams 001 and 018!"

Lu Wu now seriously suspected that they were being targeted!

Someone wanted to control the points and push them out of the top eight.

Lu Wu’s suspicions were correct.

Almost at the same time that Lu Wu got the news of Team 001’s defeat, Zhuang Yan, the captain of Team 001 who had just lost a match, found Team 002.

Zhuang Yan got straight to the point as soon as he came over.

"Captain Fang, I have something I’d like to discuss with you.

I was hoping that in your upcoming match against Team 018, you could let them win."

Team 002’s captain, Fang Bai, looked at him coldly: "And if I say no?"

Zhuang Yan grinned: "That’s your prerogative; I have no right to interfere. I’m just making a suggestion.

However, it looks like we also haven’t fought yet."

"Are you threatening me?" Fang Bai’s brows raised, and the chill on his face deepened.

"It’s not a threat. I know that Captain Fang doesn’t fear a battle with us, and you might not even take us seriously.

But you surely wouldn’t want to fight us prematurely and risk exposing some of your hidden cards, right?

The other two teams have been keeping a close eye on you guys. An early confrontation wouldn’t benefit either of us."

"If you could give up this point, we would likewise reciprocate and give a point back to you. It’s just a show of hands, and there’s no harm in it for you, right?"

After saying this, Zhuang Yan didn’t wait for Fang Bai’s response and just turned to leave.

After leaving Team 002’s side, Zhuang Yan went to the Dark Horse Team 003 and repeated the same message.

It was clear that Team 001 was trying to forcibly control the points and squeeze Team 042 out of the top four.

It was a rather despicable act, but in the high school league, it wasn’t considered illegal.

After all, Team 001 didn’t offer any benefits to Teams 002 and 003; it was merely a threat.

Without any exchange of benefits, such behavior could only be categorized as a tactical maneuver in the competition, not a violation, and so no penalties could be given to Team 001.

Meanwhile, while Team 001 was manipulating the points behind the scenes, Lu Wu’s side also roughly figured out what was going on.

Of course, Lin Jianying didn’t find this out; he wasn’t that efficient.

It was Zhang Wentao who personally called to lay out the situation.

Allegedly, the point control between Teams 001 and 018 was because both teams had signed guaranteed admission contracts with Jiangbei University.

And, reportedly, Jiangbei University had some unresolved issues with Jiangnan University.

Two universities had been fighting over educational resources for many years, constantly tripping each other up.

In other words, Lu Wu was the one caught in the crossfire in this situation.

Jiangbei University, upon seeing that someone endorsed by Jiangnan was making such a splash in the provincial competition, decided to intervene and aimed to push Lu Wu out of the top eight.

Upon hearing this news, Lu Wu almost spit out a mouthful of blood.

"Damn, I didn’t expect to encounter such a thing before even starting school!

Old Zhang and the others are too spineless, allowing others to bully them to this degree."

However, as Lu Wu was cursing, someone knocked on the door of his rest room.

"Is someone there?"

Dudu thought it was a player who had come out of admiration, so he went and opened the door.

As the door opened, a middle-aged man wearing a suit and nearsighted glasses, emanating an aura of bookishness, walked in.

"Who are you?"

Dudu, seeing a strange middle-aged man, was a bit confused.

"Let me introduce myself. I am the director of the admissions office of Jiangbei University, my surname is Jiang, Jiang Beifeng!"

While speaking, the man reached out to shake hands with Dudu.

But just as he stretched out his hand, Lu Wu jumped over and grabbed it before Dudu could.

Thinking of shaking hands with his wife? Impossible.

However, Lu Wu’s move, although fast, made him forget that his hand had turned into a pig trotter yesterday, so his face darkened as he shook hands.

But in front of an outsider, he was too embarrassed to cry out in pain and forced himself to shake briefly before withdrawing his hand.

Yet the man noticed it and immediately expressed concern, "Lu’s hand seems to be burned, I have some special burn ointment here, would you like to try it?"

"No need! May I ask what brings you here?

If there’s nothing important, we need to prepare for the next match."

This was a hint for the visitor to leave.

Obviously, Lu Wu was not fond of this man who came in and tried to shake his wife’s hand.

Especially after Jiangbei University’s recent underhanded tactics, Lu Wu’s almost certain spot in the top eight was now in jeopardy.

He had a very poor impression of Jiang Beifeng, thinking that such a person must be no good—certainly the typical example of a hypocrite.

"Lu may have some misunderstandings about me. I’m here today to extend an invitation from Jiangbei University to Lu Wu.

We hope that Lu Wu will consider joining Jiangbei University..."

"I’ve already signed an endorsement contract with Jiangnan University!"

Before Jiang Beifeng could finish his sentence, Lu Wu had a good idea of what he was about to say, so he rejected the offer without hesitation.

Jiang Beifeng, of course, was not so easily dismissed.

He adjusted his glasses and said, "I understand, but if I may speak frankly, Jiangnan University is not suitable for Lu Wu.

In recent years, Jiangnan University’s academic ranking has been on a steep decline, now falling well beyond the thirtieth place.

The dropping rankings have significantly reduced Jiangnan University’s resource allocation, and they are on the verge of bankruptcy.

This is evident through the welfare package they offered you.

As far as I know, Lu has signed up for the ’A’ Level Welfare Growth Plan with Jiangnan University, right?

Such so-called ’A’ level welfare is hardly a benefit for a talent like Lu—it would be more suitable to call it an insult.

All things considered, it amounts to around 3,000 points, which is something Lu could earn in a week of competition, hardly qualifying as welfare."

I must say, Jiang Beifeng was quite persuasive, swiftly belittling Jiangnan University and subtly trying to create an adversarial atmosphere between Lu Wu and Jiangnan University.

And that was only the first pitch. The second one followed quickly.

"If Lu Wu decides to join Jiangbei University, what you can get will be far more.

I can assure you on behalf of Jiangbei University that within our institution, you would be granted the privileges of an associate professor rank.

You would have free access to all of Jiangbei University’s internal documents and all research findings related to cultivation.

In addition, Jiangbei University will build a research lab custom-tailored for you with the highest standards.

Each month, you’ll also receive a minimum of 10,000 points for research funds.

On top of that, you can access any and all Secret Realm resources controlled by Jiangbei University at your leisure!"

These promises nearly knocked Lu Wu senseless.

He finally understood why teams 001 and 018, though hailing from Jiangnan Province, had been poached by Jiangbei University.

It wasn’t that they lacked backbone; it was the sheer abundance offered by the other side.

Lu Wu had to admit that, with such terms presented before him, his initial distaste for Jiangbei University and Jiang Beifeng was nearly swayed.

Just then, Jiang Beifeng delivered his final blow.

"There’s something else you might need to know.

As I said earlier, Jiangnan University is on the brink of bankruptcy.

If their ranking doesn’t improve this year, their allocation of resources will decline further, exacerbating their situation. At most, they can hold out until next year before likely going bankrupt.

In that event, as Jiangbei University is the primary creditor of Jiangnan University, we will initiate liquidation proceedings, and, without any surprises, Jiangnan University will become part of Jiangbei University.

That is to say, even if you choose Jiangnan University now, you will eventually become a member of Jiangbei University.

But by then, you will miss out on the benefits I’ve just promised, and you may not even make it into the top eight!"

With this final pitch, Lu Wu’s eyes narrowed sharply!