I am the Clone of a Death Row Inmate-Chapter 81: Self-Recommendation

This was Su Ze’s first time experiencing such a thrilling flight. The wind whipped across his face, feeling like two large hands slapping him over and over.

Fortunately, a thin layer of airflow protected him, or his face would have swollen up.

Neither Gu Chengguang nor Zhang Tai said a word the entire way, so Su Ze naturally didn’t dare to speak either.

With nothing better to do, he took out a ginseng rootlet. It was from the Child Ginseng, of which he had already eaten a third.

Su Ze popped it in his mouth, bit off half, and stored the last small piece away. He chewed a few times and swallowed the rootlet.

Though he couldn’t dance in mid-air, he could still use the power of the natural medicine to speed up his digestion of the extract.

Su Ze wasn’t one to waste a single moment. Every second was spent on the path of evolution.

His actions, of course, did not escape Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai. The two exchanged a glance, and Zhang Tai couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle. ’This kid is really something else,’ he thought, ’munching on a rootlet worth millions like it’s a carrot.’

Su Ze’s face had gone numb from the wind. He had no idea how long they’d been flying before they finally reached their destination.

The moment he landed, he couldn’t help but sigh emotionally. "Seventeen years! I’ve finally returned to the motherland I’ve yearned for day and night. Ah, it’s so hard to be away from one’s homeland!"

The corner of Zhang Tai’s mouth twitched. ’How can this kid be so shameless?’ he thought.

’So you’ve been homesick for as many years as you’ve been alive?’

’Homeland? You’ve never even been here!’

Su Ze surveyed his surroundings and found himself in a quiet, elegant courtyard.

Zhang Tai said, "This is where Mr. Gu usually rests. You’ll stay here for now. I’ll arrange a room for you shortly."

"So this is Uncle Gu’s home. No wonder it feels so familiar, like I’ve come home."

"You brat, show some respect." Zhang Tai glared at him. "Mr. Gu is old enough to be your grandfather."

"It’s quite all right." Gu Chengguang smiled. It had been many years since a young person had dared to be so unguarded in his presence.

He gestured toward the tea table in the courtyard. "Both of you, sit and have some tea with me."

Zhang Tai hurried forward to boil water and prepare the tea. Su Ze only sat after Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai had taken their seats.

Before long, fragrant tea was poured into their cups. Su Ze took a sip and felt a delightful aroma fill his mouth. It even seemed to hasten his digestion of the extract.

Su Ze knew this was good stuff, undoubtedly picked from a Spirit Tea Tree. He didn’t stand on ceremony; after finishing his cup, he poured himself another.

Seeing that Gu Chengguang seemed to have something on his mind, Zhang Tai asked, "Mr. Gu, are you considering the Battle of Adjudication five days from now?"

Gu Chengguang nodded and sighed. "In the last century, just over territorial disputes, our Dongli Kingdom has fought twenty Battles of Adjudication with Luofan Country. We’ve only won six. The outlook for the battle in five days is not optimistic."

Zhang Tai said with a sense of helplessness, "Luofan Country is vast and populous. They surpass us in both resources and the sheer number of talented individuals. On top of that, they have the support of the Evolution Divine Teachings. Winning will indeed be very difficult for us."

Gu Chengguang rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Since the Holy Emissary has spoken, we have no choice but to accept this Battle of Adjudication. Right now, I’m trying to decide which level of battle to propose to give us the greatest chance of winning."

Zhang Tai thought for a moment before suggesting, "We should choose the Cocoon Stage. General Li Fa’s youngest son, Li Yongguan, is exceptionally powerful. He’s known as the strongest in the Cocoon Stage in our Dongli Kingdom, and he once fought above his rank to single-handedly defeat a Tier 3, Class-C beast."

"Also, while Miss Gu Yue’er hasn’t yet absorbed the third Cocoon Stage extract, she has already shown the makings of a peerless talent. Her strength cannot be underestimated either."

"With the two of them competing, our chances of winning are still quite high."

Gu Chengguang shook his head and sighed. "Li Fa’s boy and Yue’er are both rare talents, but Luofan Country is not without its own geniuses. Still, if there are no better options, I suppose that must be our choice."

Su Ze, who had been listening on the sidelines, finally asked, "Mr. Gu, Mr. Zhang, how exactly is this Battle of Adjudication contested?"

Zhang Tai answered, "First, both sides determine the evolution level for the competitors. This time, Luofan Country has given that right to us. If we choose the Cocoon Stage, then both nations must send three Cocoon Stage competitors."

"Next is the match format. Based on past experience, there are generally two types: a series of one-on-one matches, or a three-on-three team battle."

Su Ze understood. The one-on-one format was like the *King of Fighters* games he’d played in his past life: each side would have a team of three, fighting in sequence. The loser’s side would send in their next fighter, and this would continue until one team had all three members defeated.

After a moment of thought, Su Ze spoke up. "Mr. Gu, choose the Pupa Stage. I can fight."

This wasn’t an idea born from a moment of impulse. He’d been mulling it over ever since he’d heard Zhang Tai’s introduction to the Battle of Adjudication in front of Luofan Academy. That was why he’d made a point to ask about the rules.

Even before absorbing the Mutated Giant Crocodile Extract, Su Ze had considered himself a powerhouse within the Pupa Stage. After absorbing it, mastering the incredibly powerful skill "Furious Waves," and shoring up his various weaknesses, Su Ze was confident his strength was at the absolute peak of his stage.

Of course, the stakes of this match were enormous—it concerned Liou Wenxin’s fate—so Su Ze wouldn’t be complacent.

With five days to go, he planned to spare no expense to purchase the absolute best natural medicines. He would strive to completely digest the Mutated Giant Crocodile Extract within these five days!

After that, he would absorb the next extract!

If he could absorb another S-grade extract and gain another powerful skill, Su Ze was certain victory would be guaranteed.

He refused to believe that anyone in the Pupa Stage could possibly be his opponent at that point.

In truth, if the Dongli Kingdom had been confident about winning this Battle of Adjudication, he wouldn’t have put himself forward. But from what he’d just heard from Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai, they didn’t have much confidence at all.

Therefore, Su Ze decided it was better to take matters into his own hands.

He couldn’t bear to watch Liou Wenxin and Mrs. Yun be imprisoned for life by the Luofan Country.

Gu Chengguang and Zhang Tai both fixed their gazes on Su Ze’s face. In his expression, they saw confidence and the determination to achieve victory.

"How many Tier 2 extracts have you absorbed during your Pupa Stage?" Zhang Tai asked.

"Two," Su Ze answered honestly.

Zhang Tai shook his head. He said no more, but his disapproval was obvious.

Su Ze lifted his chin. "You can give me a chance. Let me try. It won’t be too late to turn me down then."

Zhang Tai hesitated for a moment, then said to Gu Chengguang, "When Dr. Liou called earlier, she mentioned that Su Ze is the most talented person she’s ever met."

Gu Chengguang’s interest was piqued. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "And how would you like to be tested?"

Su Ze grinned, his face a mask of brazen arrogance. "The Pupa Stage evolvers of the Dongli Kingdom—arrange for anyone you like. If someone can manage to defeat me... then they must be a peerless genius!"