Digimon: I really didn't want to be the Digimon Emperor!

Cheng Yuan didn't linger in Huadu for long. After browsing online news all night, he embarked on a long-distance motorcycle journey to Shanghai early the next morning.

The huge motorcycle roared as it prepared to depart, and Cheng Yuan found a seat by the window.

Dilumon was clearly exhausted yesterday. He occupied a seat all by himself, curled up, his little head bobbing up and down, and a tiny sleeping bubble even appeared on the tip of his nose. He was fast asleep.

Cheng Yuan then took out his phone and started planning his trip to Shanghai.

At this moment, a young man dressed in a sharp suit with his hair neatly combed sat down in the empty seat next to him and nodded politely to Cheng Yuan.

Cheng Yuan assumed he was just an ordinary tourist going to Shanghai, so he nodded in return and didn't think much of it.

He casually posted a message on his WeChat Moments: "The trip to Huadu is over, the trip to Shanghai begins!" along with a picture of the scenery outside the window of his motorcycle.

To his surprise, this post on his WeChat Moments saved him a lot of trouble.

News about Guan Yan has surfaced on WeChat Moments...

Guan Yan's message popped up almost instantly: "You're in Shanghai?" followed by a surprised emoji.

Cheng Yuan: "Coming?"

Guan Yan: "(Annoyed) Don't you know I'm a graduate student at Shanghai University?"

Cheng Yuan was stunned, genuinely unaware: "A graduate student from Shanghai University? Your previous partner, Mengmengshou, was only in his growth stage..."

In his memory, someone who could graduate from a university in Shanghai with a bachelor's degree would have to be at least in their prime, right?

Guan Yan: "(Annoyed) I'm a graduate student in archaeology! It's academic research! Not a beast tamer combat major, okay! We even went through life and death together in the underworld, and you don't even know that! You're not a good friend at all!"

Cheng Yuan was a little embarrassed: You didn't say that either...

Guan Yan: "Qilin disappeared after dropping us off at the outpost. You also left in a hurry later. I was busy dealing with my mentor's belongings and follow-up matters, so I didn't have time to talk to you about these things in detail!"

Cheng Yuan thought to himself that her memories were also obscured by a mysterious power similar to that of the Ancient Music Beast, severing the identity of the Qilin from Cheng Yuan himself. So it became that the Qilin saved the two of them from the Yellow Springs.

Cheng Yuan: "Oh, I see. So you're a graduate student at Shanghai University?" He confirmed again.

Guan Yan: "Ahem, yes! (puffs out chest.jpg)"

Guan Yan continued, "How many days are you staying? Which hotel did you book?"

Cheng Yuan: "I haven't ordered it yet. I'll check when it arrives."

Guan Yan: "Then don't make a reservation! Just come to our school! I'm still dealing with the follow-up of my tutoring project, so I'll be staying in the school dormitory for the summer vacation. You can stay here with me."

Cheng Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Being able to get a sneak peek inside Shanghai University beforehand would certainly be a good thing, but... "The girls' dormitory? That might not be very convenient, would it?"

Guan Yan: "What are you thinking! The graduate student dormitory is a private suite! I have my own room, and there's a living room where you can sleep on the sofa! It's cheaper and more convenient than staying in a hotel, right?"

Cheng Yuan: "..."

Guan Yan: "What? Shy? How many times have we slept back-to-back on the ground in the underworld? And you're only shy now?"

“Okay!” Cheng Yuan scratched his head. In the Land of the Dead, whether it was the desert, the ruins passage, or the dead volcano, the wind was biting and the temperature was low. Everything had to be kept simple. In order to prevent her from continuing to make a fuss, he replied immediately.

Guan Yan: "Okay, then you go to the nearest digital center first, complete the animal trainer registration in Shanghai, and then take a taxi directly to my school. I'll register as a cousin visiting and go get my access card."

Cheng Yuan: "See you tonight."

Cheng Yuan put down his phone, feeling happy, as this would save him several thousand yuan.

At that moment, he noticed that the young man in a suit and leather shoes next to him was staring intently at him.

When the young man saw Cheng Yuan looking over, he gave him a standard smile and said, "Hello, classmate. Excuse me for bothering you. May I ask... are you Cheng Yuan? A beast tamer who just took the college entrance exam in Pengcheng this year?"

As he spoke, he quickly scrolled through some web pages on his phone, which contained photos and news headlines of Cheng Yuan's battle at the entrance of Huadu School, as well as some reports on the previous Pengcheng mock exam.

A flicker of wariness crossed Cheng Yuan's mind, but his expression remained impassive: "It's me. May I ask who you are?"

The young man put away his phone and extended his hand: "Let me introduce myself, I'm Taro Matsuda. I'm from Japan, and I'm currently an international student at Shanghai Beast Tamer University, pursuing a graduate degree."

Cheng Yuan shook his hand lightly, his wariness growing even stronger. A person from the Four Islands?

Matsuda Taro said with a smile, "Is Cheng Yuan going to visit Shanghai University? I saw your amazing performance on my WeChat Moments in Huadu. It's truly amazing! With your abilities, you can easily get into either Huadu University or Shanghai University."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming more candid: "However, as someone who has been through this, I think someone as talented as you, Cheng Yuan, might have... better options."

Cheng Yuan raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What better option?"

Matsuda Taro lowered his voice and said, "To be honest, although I study at Magic University, I personally feel that these top universities in the Eastern Kingdom still lag behind some international universities in the Western Eagle Country or our four island nations in many aspects, such as the resources and platforms they can provide, their international influence, and the future development prospects of their students."

His words began to subtly imply comparison: "Look, our four island nations have a beautiful environment and a stable society. We only have one dark area to guard, so the pressure is much less than that of the Eastern Great Kingdom."

The Eastern Kingdom has six Dark Zones. I heard that the war on the front lines is intense, and a large number of professional beast tamers are killed every year. It's too dangerous to pay with human lives.

Moreover, they are restricted by Hawk Nation in core technologies such as digital chips, and the cost of training Digimon is high and fraught with difficulties..."

He continued, "On the contrary, the situation in the four island nations is stable, with a more secure development environment. The Sakura Animal Trainer University in the country has a very high international ranking, and its faculty and research environment are first-class."

I sincerely suggest that you consider applying to these prestigious international universities and go abroad as an international student. When you return after completing your studies, your status and perspective will be completely different.

Even if you stay and develop your career there, you can get much better treatment and resources than in the Great Eastern Country! A genius as outstanding as you shouldn't limit your vision to the country!

Chapter 169 Undercurrents

Cheng Yuan sneered inwardly after hearing this, but chuckled twice on his face before replying very seriously: "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Matsuda. However, I have no interest in studying abroad or attending any international school. I think Tokyo University is very good, and the schools in the country are also very suitable for me."

The Four Islands Nation faces the Eastern Great Nation across the sea. It consists of four large islands and a small island. It industrialized digital technology earlier and has long received technical support from the Eagle Nation, especially in the field of mechanical Digimon.

But Cheng Yuan had no liking for him at all.

Seeing that Cheng Yuan refused so decisively, Matsuda Taro wanted to persuade him again: "Cheng Yuan, please reconsider. This is a rare opportunity..."

Cheng Yuan's face darkened, and he interrupted him directly, his tone turning icy: "Mr. Matsuda, your current behavior is highly suspicious to me, and may even involve stealing state personnel secrets and espionage. If you continue to harass me, I will immediately contact the train police to report the incident."

Matsuda Taro's smile froze instantly, turning him into an embarrassed man as he hurriedly waved his hands, "Misunderstanding! It's a complete misunderstanding! I was just exchanging personal opinions and suggestions out of goodwill, absolutely no other meaning! Since Cheng Yuan is aiming for Tokyo University, then I won't bother you any longer, I won't bother you any longer..."

After saying that, he stood up awkwardly, hurriedly walked to the other end of the carriage, found an empty seat, and sat down, not daring to look at Cheng Yuan again.

Cheng Yuan snorted coldly, closed his eyes and pretended to doze off, but his vigilance was heightened. The appearance of this student from the four island nations was too coincidental, and his purpose seemed too obvious.

Just as Cheng Yuan closed his eyes to rest, Matsuda Taro, sitting some distance away, quietly took out his phone and sent an encrypted message:

"The target student is not interested in studying abroad, so the suggested 'better development' plan is invalid. We are applying to activate the backup plan."

Soon, a reply arrived: "Approved. It is imperative to ascertain the exact relationship between him and the special evolutionary artifact in his possession. Headquarters has determined that the Eastern Kingdom has made a major breakthrough in the application technology of ancient digital civilization, and this young man and the artifact he possesses are key clues. If necessary, extraordinary measures may be taken to obtain information."

Matsuda Taro put away his phone, his gaze sweeping over Cheng Yuan again in a subtle way, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

The motorcycle sped smoothly along the track, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the lush greenery of Huadu to a more open plain and scattered industrial areas.

Cheng Yuan closed his eyes to rest, but his mind was not at ease. The Japanese man Matsuda Taro next to him was like a thorn, casting a shadow over his originally relaxed trip to Shanghai.

"The Four Islands Nation...spies?" Cheng Yuan sneered inwardly.

The opponent's target was so clear, directly aimed at the armored egg and himself, it seems that the armored evolution egg technology has attracted the attention of some foreign forces.

However, they have not yet been able to connect with the newly formed Qilin Group.

Was it because the live stream in Huadu caused such a stir? Or did someone within the association leak the information?

He gently stroked the arc laser machine in his hand.

Xu Xin's reminder is correct; it's time to know when to stop. The tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind; excessive exposure isn't always a good thing until you have sufficient self-protection capabilities.

Fortunately, the main blame and mysterious aura were all covered by the "Qilin" persona.

On the surface, he was just a high-achieving high-talented college entrance exam candidate with a slightly lower fate.

"However, if you want to mess with me, you'd better see if you have the teeth to back it up." A shrewd glint flashed in Cheng Yuan's eyes. Having experienced the life-and-death trials of the Yellow Springs region, he was no longer an ordinary urban high school student.

Whether it's the power of the system, Gatomon, or Darkmon, or the gradually growing Kirin Group, these are all sources of his confidence.

"Gurgle..." The Gatomon in the next seat rolled over, its little paws unconsciously scratching its nose, continuing its deep sleep, completely unaware that its partner was pondering matters concerning international yin values.

Cheng Yuan smiled, feeling slightly relieved. He turned on the Arc Machine again to check the location information and some precautions for the Shanghai Beast Tamer University that Guan Yan had sent him.

Shanghai Xunda is located in Pudong New Area of ​​Shanghai, next to the entrance of the famous "Forest of Beasts" digital space.

Unlike the "natural symbiosis" style of Huadu, the style of Shanghai is more inclined towards "technology-driven".

It is said that its campus is filled with various training facilities, simulated battle platforms, and high-tech digital beast analysis centers. The academic atmosphere is more radical and martial, and the beast trainers it produces are known for their strong combat power and tough style.

"The Forest of Beasts...a paradise for beast-type Digimon." Cheng Yuan recalled Xu Xin's introduction.

I wonder what the students from Shanghai University of Technology will be like? Will they start by shouting for war?

In comparison, apart from Lin Shi, the students in Huadu are generally... civilized? And there are... lots of beautiful girls!

Even the bookish Mei Ning is a natural beauty.

He shook his head, trying to dispel those thoughts.

With Guan Yan as an "insider" in Shanghai, getting into the inner circle of Shanghai University should be much smoother.

He was very interested in the library and database of the University of Shanghai, especially the records on ancient history and the evolution of Perfect Digimon. Perhaps he could find some clues about Angel, Fallen Angel, or Holy Dragon Digimon, which would be a good reference for Tailmon's future evolution path.

Furthermore, as one of the economic centers of the East, Shanghai also has a very developed industry and exchange related to Digimon.

He still has several million dollars in cash on hand, which he might take the opportunity to purchase some enhancement items or rare data fragments suitable for Gatomon.

While system-based skill point allocation is straightforward, some external aids can also achieve good results.

"Beep—" The arc laser machine beeped, indicating a new message from an unknown number.

[Hello Cheng Yuan, this is Zhao Gang, the Minister of Discipline and Conduct of the Student Union of Shanghai Beast Tamer University. I followed your exchange activities at Huadu University, where you demonstrated amazing abilities. Shanghai Beast Tamer University welcomes all aspiring beast tamers to come and exchange skills. I have learned of your intention to visit from Guan Yan. Please feel free to contact me if you need any assistance or guidance. Also, please remember to abide by the school rules and regulations. —Zhao Gang]

Cheng Yuan was slightly taken aback. Guan Yan acted so quickly? Or was the news from Shanghai University of Technology so well-informed that the student council members came knocking on his door just as he was about to get on the bus?

Moreover, the tone... businesslike, carrying a welcome yet also a subtle warning, is in line with the iron-blooded and martial style of Shanghai.

He replied, "Thank you, Minister Zhao. I will register and pay my respects upon arrival, as required."

No sooner had I sent the reply than Guan Yan's message popped up again: "Hehe, saw that? I just mentioned to one of our juniors in the Discipline Department that you were coming, and he immediately offered to contact you. Zhao Gang is very strict, but he really admires capable people. He must know about the commotion you caused in Huadu this time. Don't worry, with me here, he won't dare to make things difficult for you! (￣▽￣*)"

Cheng Yuan chuckled. It seemed Guan Yan had quite a few connections with the disciplinary officials in Shanghai. With the Minister of Discipline's advance notice, it should save them a lot of trouble.

He put away the arc laser and turned his gaze back to the window.

In the distance, the iconic skyscrapers of Shanghai, resembling a steel jungle, can already be vaguely seen, reflecting a cold, hard light under the sun. In stark contrast to the dreamy and gentle atmosphere of Guangzhou, Shanghai exudes a more aggressive vibe, full of the impact and competitiveness of modern technology.

“Shanghai…the City of Beasts…” Cheng Yuan murmured to himself, his eyes filled with anticipation. “I hope this place can bring me some different surprises.”

Meanwhile, Matsuda Taro, sitting at the far end of the carriage, was looking out the window with a cold smile on his lips, his fingers rapidly tapping on his phone screen, as if he were making arrangements for something.

Chapter 170 The Road to Success

Motorbeast slowly pulled up at Shanghai East Railway Station, and Cheng Yuan carried the still sleepy-eyed Gatomon off the train.

What hits you is an even stronger modern urban atmosphere, and... seemingly more concentrated digital energy fluctuations.

Skyscrapers stand side by side, and holographic billboards flash in mid-air, showcasing the latest Dinobots and various data energy boosters.

On the streets, pedestrians with all kinds of Digimon hurry by. In addition to the common Rookie stage, the sight of Champion stage Digimon is far more common than in Pengcheng and Huadu.

You can see mechanical, beast, and even a few rare elemental Digimon.

In terms of overall style, Shanghai is more like a super-enhanced version of Pengcheng, full of technology, efficiency and competitiveness, but it does not integrate the digital space ecosystem directly with urban architecture like Huadu does.

The "integration" here is more reflected in the way technology harnesses and applies the power of digital technology.

"It looks like... just a more developed Pengcheng with more beast tamers," Cheng Yuan commented initially, feeling a little unimpressed, after all, he had just come from the dreamlike Flower City.

Following the procedure, he first took a taxi to the digital center in Shanghai to register as a remote animal trainer.

The process was similar to that in Huadu, but the staff seemed more efficient and their expressions were more businesslike, and the registration was completed quickly.

Then, he took a taxi again to his destination—Shanghai Beast Tamer University.

When the taxi came to a stop and Cheng Yuan got out and looked up, even though he was mentally prepared, he was still shocked by the gate of Shanghai University.

That wasn't a "door" in the traditional sense at all; it was more like the entrance to a magnificent steel fortress!

Over 100 meters wide, it is entirely made of cold alloy and reinforced concrete, with sharp lines and distinct edges, exuding a sense of power.

The huge school name – “Shanghai Beast Tamer University” – is directly cast and inlaid on the lintel, each character strong and powerful, reflecting a cold metallic luster in the sunlight.

Two huge, imposing stone lion sculptures stand on either side of the entrance, perfectly embodying a martial spirit.

Students and Digimon of various sizes constantly come and go, creating a busy yet vibrant atmosphere.

"Cheng Yuan! Over here!" A familiar voice called out.

Cheng Yuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw Guan Yan standing on one side of the school gate, smiling and waving at him.