Even Wang Hu was paying attention to the matter while in the Tiger King's Cave, let alone the other alliances.

All of them were openly and secretly hard at work because of this.

Further explanation wasn't needed for the secret investigations. As for open investigations, several official inquiries were made to China.

It wasn't just about Zhu Hongming and Liu Jixiu. They also asked about how China's combat power had improved by so much in such a short time.

On the surface, it naturally wasn't appropriate for them to ask about it so straightforwardly. However, everything that they said or implied was all asking about the same thing.

China would never give them the answer so easily, of course. Both parties maintained an amicable front while going back and forth.

Fortunately, with China's current level of combat power and status, even though the other alliances dared to ask about it; they undoubtedly wouldn't dare to coerce China into answering. This gave China the chance to go back and forth with the other party.

Both parties showed great rapport and didn't allow these state-level affairs to affect the people.

Therefore, the people of China—as well as the people of the other seven alliances—were mostly excited about the incident.

This unquestionably showed that humanity's level of combat power had greatly improved.

It gave them a sense of security.

The battle held epochal meaning.

All sorts of information spread and circulated among the eight human alliances. This was especially the case in the China Alliance.

In a small city in central China…

A tall girl with a joyful and excited look on her delicate and pretty face was currently weaving through a small alley with light and quick footsteps.

A short while later, she arrived at the back of an old, rundown building.

In an awfully practiced manner, she shifted a large rock aside and retrieved a cell phone from within. Then, she switched it on and started to browse through the news on it.

It went without saying that what she was looking at was none other than news about the war with the Hu County alternate world.

Her joyous expression became even stronger than before. Apart from that, there was also some subtle astonishment.

A few minutes later, an elegant but somewhat lazy voice that also sounded a little cool and aloof rang out. "There's nothing about your Tiger King in there, yet you're still so happy?"

The voice that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere rang out right beside the girl. However, it was as though the girl had already known about their presence a long time ago. Not in the least surprised, she continued to browse through the news while she smiled happily and said, "Of course, I'm happy that we, China, have emerged victorious this time."

"Hah." The voice chuckled indifferently. They sounded rather scornful and dubious, yet it was also as if they were completely disinterested in the topic altogether. The unique voice, which was as tantalizing and alluring as a kitten's gentle scratching, rang out unhurriedly.

"This young little girl here is certainly becoming better and better at lying."

A bright smile formed on the girl's countenance right away. She tilted her head to the side a little, making her seem even more adorable and filled with sunshine. She said, "I'm not lying to you, Big Sister Mei Ji. I really am very happy. You have no idea how vile and detestable those Huis are."

The voice didn't respond.

The girl continued to browse the news for another few minutes before she finally put the cell phone away. After packing up all the things there, the smile on her face widened a little again, and she said, "Big Sister Mei Ji, I'm also here because I have a piece of good news to tell you about."

"Hmm?"

A cool and distant voice rang out, indicating for her to continue speaking.

"I've passed the assessment, so I'm now eligible for special enrollment into the Capital College of Martial Arts, as well as every other martial arts college." The girl's face brimmed with excitement and anticipation.

The voice was silent for a moment before it asked dispassionately, "You've reached peak-level True Qi Realm?"

"Yep." The girl nodded hard.

The True Qi Realm, the True Essence Realm, and the Spiritual Energy Realm—these were China's ways of referring to the first three cultivation realms.

She was only fifteen years old this year, yet she had already reached peak-level True Qi Realm. Moreover, she had come from an ordinary household. From this, one could tell how talented she must be.

In her first year of high school, she had already passed the assessment that China had specially set up for geniuses, thereby granting her enrollment eligibility into all the martial arts colleges in China.

In other words, the girl could now have her pick of any martial arts college.

"Congratulations. You can leave your home now."

The voice said calmly and simply after another few seconds of silence.

The girl's smile froze for a brief moment. Then, as though she hadn't heard the voice at all, she thanked Mei Ji sincerely. "It's all thanks to you, Big Sister Mei Ji. Had it not been for your guidance, I would never have been able to reach this stage so quickly."

"I don't need your gratitude. All I did was teaching you a few things about your techniques, that's all," replied the voice.

The girl shook her head. There was determination in her eyes. A pair of scales naturally existed in her heart, and she knew whether she ought to be thankful or not.

However, after interacting with her for a few years, the girl also knew her very well.

Her Big Sister Mei Ji had her own sense of pride amid her cool and aloof personality. It was indeed true that she didn't need the girl's verbal gratitude.

She would just bring Big Sister Mei Ji some good food after she made enough money next time.

After the thought occurred to her, her bright upturned eyes blinked, and she said somewhat hopefully, "Big Sister Mei Ji, I'm thinking of going to the Northern College of Martial Arts. Will you go, too?"

Ever since her family had moved here, Big Sister Mei Ji had been her one and only friend.

In addition, Big Sister Mei Ji's non-Earthling identity was also another reason why she had thought of asking the voice to leave with her.

The other party didn't give her a direct answer. Instead, her voice became rather teasing and intrigued. "The Northern College of Martial Arts? The one that's ranked fifth? Instead of going to the one ranked first, you're going to the one ranked fifth.

"Looks like you're thinking of going to a place that's a little nearer to the Tiger King."

The girl pressed her lips together. However, as though she had already become accustomed to it, she wasn't embarrassed about it at all. She nodded naturally and replied seriously, "Yep."

As she spoke, she also revealed a pitiful expression. "Big Sister, can you come with me? I may not come back here ever again in the future."

Mei Ji, who had turned herself invisible, wasn't surprised by the girl's last line. Thoughts ran through her mind, though she didn't answer the girl.

The girl didn't urge her for an answer either. Instead, she looked at Mei Ji quietly, her face full of hope and pleading.

"We'll talk about it again when you're about to leave." At last, Mei Ji's calm and serene voice rang out.

The girl wasn't disappointed either. She nodded and bade her farewell before she left with a spring in her steps. Before she left, she even said with a smile, "Big Sister Mei Ji, I'll definitely bring you something nice to eat next time."

The corners of Mei Ji's thin lips quirked upward slightly, revealing a hint of soul-stirring beauty.

It was just that no one saw it.

Very soon, her smile vanished.

A hint of hesitation surfaced in her clear and charming eyes.

Given Little Yu's talent, her level of combat power will definitely improve by leaps and bounds after she enrolls in one of China's martial arts colleges. She'll definitely attract more and more attraction.

If I continue to stay by her side, my presence will likely eventually be exposed.

There's also the Tiger King and the Tiger Queen.

Once she gains enough combat power, that little girl will definitely go and look for them.

As she thought about it, she recalled again how she had fled so pathetically back then, and she vaguely felt some pain in her right chest again.

Indignation stirred in her.

The Tiger Queen!

Hmph.

Elsewhere, upon returning home, the girl's cheerfulness vanished without a trace. Instead, it felt as if she was stepping on eggshells.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home." She called out softly. Then, she started to clean the house in a practiced manner.

The man and woman watching the show on the television paid no attention to the girl. Instead, they merely continued to watch the television show while holding a little boy in their arms.

Suddenly, the program entered a commercial break. A commercial promoting the recent war with the Hu County alternate world started airing.

The man's expression immediately changed and turned into a mix of anger and shame the moment the commercial started airing. Then, it turned into pure anger, and he cast a glance full of loathing at the girl who was cleaning the house.

He shouted coldly, "Hurry up and cook. Are you stupid?"

"Okay." The girl immediately replied the moment she heard him. She finished the chores she was currently doing. Then, she went into the kitchen and started to cook.

…

Amidst the eight alliances' excitement and fervor, however, the various alternate worlds were invading further and further into Earth.

Within this short period, more than twenty Grade A or Grade S alternate worlds that boasted Third Realm—or even Fourth Realm—existences had already thoroughly stepped onto Earth.

They started to quickly occupy territories while also investigating this particular world's situation.

True to the humans' expectations, conflicts also started to slowly form among these alternate worlds.

All kinds of wars descended upon Earth.

At this point, the human alliances put into action a plan that China had suggested—befriending some alternate worlds and jointly resisting some evil alternate worlds.

All the alliances agreed to the plan. However, they made very slow progress.

While they could befriend some alternate worlds that were far away, in the case of alternate worlds nearby, they could only befriend some very weak ones at the best.

All the slightly stronger ones didn't befriend them.

In the Tiger King's Cave…

Wang Hu also caught wind of the plan.

Needless to say, this was a good plan… and even a viable one.

After all, there were so many alternate worlds on Earth, among which were strong ones as well as weak ones. However, there were more weak ones than strong ones.

Earth wasn't the only world that strong alternate worlds would invade; they also targeted other small and weak alternate worlds.

Roping in other small and weak alternate worlds to jointly resist big and powerful alternate worlds was a fantastic, as well as essential, strategy.

However…

Wang Hu secretly shook his head and said dispassionately to Silly Girl, "Unfortunately, it's fated that this plan won't yield great effects."

Di Baijun looked at Wang Hu. The slight puzzlement in her eyes indicated that she hadn't quite figured it out yet.

Toward Silly Girl, Wang Hu was naturally more than willing to be a teacher. He said with great certainty, "Apart from China, what have the other alliances been relying on to get this far?

"Where did they get their cultivation techniques from?

"Where do their Spirit Stones and many other resources come from?

"All of them came from plundering other alternate worlds. If they wish to quickly become stronger, then they'll need to plunder everything from the alternate worlds.

"Yet, they have to befriend some alternate worlds now. They'll definitely want to plunder the ones near their countries.

"We're also in the same situation. We would also choose to invade and plunder.

"As for faraway alternate worlds, the alliances can indeed befriend them, so that they can help the alliances to fight against powerful alternate worlds' invasions.

"Such an effect certainly exists, but how effective can it be? It'll definitely be far less effective than what China expects."

Di Baijun nodded to indicate that she had understood.

This was very easy to understand. Had they not invaded and plundered the Lichi world, the Tiger King's Cave's level of combat power—as well as theirs—wouldn't have reached what it currently was.

They would never agree to give up invading and choose to befriend them instead.

Wang Hu would have invaded the Lichi world even if they hadn't invaded Earth, let alone when they had invaded Earth first.

This was what reality was like.

The same went for the alliances.

How awesome was plundering other worlds? Not only was the befriending process slow, but it was also troublesome.

Not to mention that China had even become so strong and now far surpassed them. Under such mounting pressure, it was even less likely for them to choose means such as befriending the alternate worlds.

They would use every possible means at their disposal to catch up.

After a moment's thought, a slightly puzzled Di Baijun asked, "In that case, what about China? They…"

"China…" Wang Hu said dispassionately. Then, he sounded somewhat strange as he said, "They have cheats, so they had already decided on a national policy right from the start, even though they also need resources from the alternate worlds.

"However, there are quite a number of alternate worlds that took the initiative to invade China. On top of that, all of them are within China's capabilities to deal with.

"They've definitely plundered quite a few alternate worlds, so they won't need to attack the ones that didn't take the initiative to invade them. That is why they were confident enough to suggest this plan.

"We don't need to bother with them. Who knows how it'll turn out in their hands in the end anyway?

"Maybe they'll really be able to rope in some forces.

"Or maybe they'll become the same as the other alliances before long, succumbing to the allure of huge profits and choosing to invade instead, thereby abolishing that basic state policy.

"We just need to do our own jobs, and that will do. Their plan won't reach us anyway."

Di Baijun expressed agreement with what he said. They didn't intend to concern themselves with China or the humans' plan. If they came across suitable alternate worlds, they would naturally invade them, thereby strengthening themselves.

This was nature's law.

The weak were prey for the strong.

Another few days went by.

In the same small city in central China…

In that house that was neither that big nor that small…

A cold reprimanding voice rang out. "What do you think you're doing, Zhou Yu? Why didn't you inform me that you've passed the special enrollment test? What are you thinking of doing, huh?

"You've gotten pretty gutsy, haven't you?"

A middle-aged man glared coldly at the girl who had just entered the house after school was over. Hints of loathing were evident in his eyes.

As though she had just thought of something, the girl's expression turned rather awful. Ideas ran through her mind at high speed one after another. Somewhat uneasy, she lowered her head and avoided looking at her father.

Upon seeing that the girl didn't refute him, the loathing in the middle-aged man's eyes became even more intense. However, it also seemed like he had already become accustomed to it. He walked forward and gave her a huge scolding. "I'll say this, Zhou Yu. Just try hiding such things from me again if you have the guts. See if I don't break your legs."

As though she didn't hear him, there was no change in the expression on the girl's face, which she had kept lowered. There was only silence.

After some more dissatisfied scolding, the middle-aged man said coldly, "Get ready and prepare to go to the Western College of Martial Arts in the latter half of the year."

The girl lifted her head right away. She clenched her fists and asked serenely, "Did the Western College of Martial Arts approach you?"

At the sight of the girl's reaction, the middle-aged man immediately became even more enraged. He pushed her and pointed at her while scolding her. "What kind of attitude is that? What are you trying to do? Have I been too considerate toward you?"

The girl clenched her fists even more tightly. In fact, she balled them up so tightly that they were even somewhat shaking.

However, she still lowered her head in the end and kept quiet.

The middle-aged man snorted and said coldly, "Enroll in the work-study program and support yourself when you arrive at the martial arts college. You'd better send the cultivation resources that the school provides you with back home when you receive them. Do you hear me?"

After a few seconds of silence, the girl answered, "Okay."

The middle-aged man gave her another few disdainful looks before he turned and walked away. As he did so, he also shouted, "Hurry up and cook."

The girl, who remained silent, quietly put aside her school bag and walked into the kitchen.

A few hours later…

In the dark of the night, the girl soundlessly walked out of the house to somewhere in a practiced manner in the dark.

However, it was as if there was some kind of mysterious rapport between the dark and quiet night and the girl.

It was still the same small alley and the same area behind the abandoned building.

"To think you've actually come at this time…"

Mei Ji's unique voice rang out aloofly, within which a hint of barely-detectable coldness was mixed in between.

It was as if she had understood something, which angered her.