Chapter 80: Chapter 70: Sky Escape Eagle and Dimensional Rift (Part 2)

As dusk approached, Ai Xiaolian also came out of Building 1. Seeing Zhou Chubin and Xue Huaiyu waiting inside, she shook her head slightly, indicating that Li Qian had not given a clear answer. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Neither Zhou Chubin nor Xue Huaiyu found this surprising. The only reason they had stayed behind was to get this confirmation.

Now that they had their confirmation, they could leave with peace of mind.

Not long after, the three admissions teachers, including Niu Fenjin, left the Cultivation Base.

Chu Xiran did not leave immediately. She chose to stay behind. After everyone else had gone, she said with a grave expression, "Li Qian, choosing a Beast Taming University is a decision that requires great care. If you haven’t made up your mind, you don’t have to give an answer right away. In any case, there’s still some time before graduation."

After a pause, she continued, "But what’s most important is that you understand the deeper logic behind choosing a Beast Taming University."

Chu Xiran’s solemn words instantly piqued Li Qian’s curiosity.

’What does she mean, "the deeper logic behind choosing a Beast Taming University"?’

With this in mind, he didn’t hesitate to ask aloud, "What logic?"

Chu Xiran didn’t answer directly. Instead, she posed a series of questions. "Do you know why the Eight Great are called the Eight Great? Why are there only eight, and not nine, or ten? And what’s the difference between them and ordinary Beast Taming Universities?"

This string of seemingly roundabout questions from Chu Xiran certainly drew Li Qian in.

He was momentarily stumped.

’Why are the Eight Great called the Eight Great?’

’Why not nine, or ten?’

’What’s the difference between the Eight Great and ordinary Beast Taming Universities?’

’These questions seemed simple, even a bit stupid, but upon closer inspection, he realized he didn’t even know where to begin answering them...’

Li Qian thought for a moment, then honestly shook his head, admitting he didn’t understand.

Chu Xiran didn’t keep him in suspense. "The Eight Great are called the Eight Great not just because they are the eight Beast Taming Universities with the most comprehensive strength in the entire Dongxia Federation..."

After a pause, she continued, "Or, to put it another way, it is precisely because they are the Eight Great that they possess a comprehensive strength far exceeding that of ordinary Beast Taming Universities."

Chu Xiran’s words made Li Qian’s head spin again.

’It felt like she was just talking in circles.’

’However, based on what he knew of her, Teacher Chu Xiran wouldn’t say such things without a reason.’

"The main reason I’m telling you to choose carefully is... once you decide which Beast Taming University to attend, it means... your future development path is more or less set in stone."

Chu Xiran had just said something that left Li Qian completely baffled.

’He knew that choosing a Beast Taming University was extremely important.’

’But it couldn’t possibly lock him into a specific life path, could it?’

’Just because he chose to attend Shazhou Beast Taming University, would that mean he could never return to Jiangnan Province to build his career?’

’That sounded completely absurd!’

That was what Li Qian thought.

But to his surprise, the reality was just that absurd.

Meeting Li Qian’s confused gaze, Chu Xiran’s lips parted slightly. "The reason this happens is mainly because of... the Dimensional Rifts!"

"Actually, it’s not that your path is completely set in stone, but changing your development path becomes extremely difficult."

"Dimensional Rifts?" Li Qian barely heard Chu Xiran’s subsequent clarification, his attention completely captured by that one key phrase.

’How did Dimensional Rifts get dragged into this?’

’What do they have to do with it?’

Glancing out the window, Chu Xiran began to explain, her pace unhurried. "Within the borders of our Dongxia Federation, there are a total of eight perennially open Dimensional Rifts..."

"Eight..."

Hearing that number, Li Qian quickly made a connection.

He mulled it over but didn’t ask a question, choosing to remain a quiet listener.

Drawing her gaze back from the window, Chu Xiran continued, "That’s right. Just as you’ve guessed... the Dimensional Rifts and the Eight Great are inextricably linked."

"The reason that Xue Huaiyu’s Shazhou Beast Taming University was the last to be established is, fundamentally, because the eighth Dimensional Rift was also the last to appear."

"The appearance of one followed the other."

"Could it be..." Hearing this, Li Qian had already pieced together a great deal of information. And because of that, he found the implications incredible, even unbelievable.

’He had long since heard of Dimensional Rifts.’

’But this was the first time he had ever heard of a connection between the Dimensional Rifts and the Eight Great.’

"How are the Eight Great able to cultivate batch after batch of outstanding Beast Masters? How have they produced so many Emperors, Holy Spirits, and even Legends..."

"Scale, archives, faculty... these are only part of the reason, and not even the main part. The most crucial factor is... resources. A constant, unending supply of resources..."

"This is the most fundamental difference between the Eight Great and ordinary Beast Taming Universities!"

Chu Xiran’s voice remained calm, as if she were discussing something that had nothing to do with her. "And where do these resources come from?"

"The Ancestral Star is merely an ordinary Beast Taming Planet, formed when it was later contaminated by mysterious Energy that leaked from the Dimensional Rifts."

"The resources it contains are finite. Compared to the Dimensional Rifts and the Outer Heaven Battlefield, they are but a drop in the ocean."

"By now, I’m sure you understand. That’s right. Each of the Eight Great stands guard over a Dimensional Rift!"

"Or, to be more precise, they are the de facto managers of the eight fixed, open Dimensional Rifts within the Dongxia Federation."