The earth-shattering great battle in the sky had finally come to an end. At this moment, the vast Spiritual Light Platform had already been completely destroyed. The two deep and gigantic pits occupied nearly half of the stone platform, while malevolent cracks extended from them, causing the jet-black deep pit to appear a little colder.
The surroundings of the stone stage were filled with a sea of people as far as the eye could see. However, the sea of people was currently in a state of silence. It was likely that they were still reminiscing about the earth-shattering clash from before.
Gazes after gazes looked towards the figure of the youth in the sky, their eyes filled with reverence. If the previous Mu Chen had always been treated as a new student, then the battle this time had truly caused him to become an influential figure at the apex of Hokuang Reiwon.
On the Heavenly Ranking, he was sufficient to be ranked in the top three.
This kind of achievement caused quite a few people to sigh in admiration. It must be known that Mu Chen had only been in Hokuang Reiwon for half a year at most. However, his growth in this half a year was shocking.
Such talent could be said to be monstrous.
"Mu Chen won!" Unconcealable joy surged on Su Ling 'er's beautiful face. She grabbed Su Xuan's white wrist as she excitedly said.
To the side, Li Qing and Guo Xiong also laughed. Their gazes were somewhat complicated as they looked at the youth in the sky. This fellow had only returned for two months, yet his strength had already risen to such a level.
Su Xuan also warmly smiled, her beautiful eyes a little peculiar as she looked at Mu Chen. Even she did not expect that Mu Chen would actually be able to defeat He Yao. After all, regardless of how talented Mu Chen was, He Yao was still an influential figure at the apex.
"Looks like I'll have to give up my third place on the Heavenly Ranking." Su Xuan softly chuckled, without any reluctance.
She did not particularly care about this. If it wasn't for He Yao's bullying, she might not have bothered to fight with him.
Nearby, Wang Tong and the rest also breathed a sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
Soon after, they smacked their lips as they looked at the figure in the sky, their expressions slightly changing. When they knew that Mu Chen and Luo Li had killed the Spirit King, they had also gasped in admiration.
But it wasn't as strong as the impact he was experiencing right now.
After all, He Yao was one of the most influential figures in Hokuang Reiwon. In the entire academy, perhaps only Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong could suppress him.
But now, a third person had appeared, and he was a new student.
The shock brought about by this feeling had far surpassed that of killing a Spirit King, although He Yao's strength was not necessarily stronger than a Spirit King's!
"If Mu Chen defeats He Yao, then that means he will obtain the third position," said An Ran from the side.
He suddenly said quietly.
The expressions of Wang Tong and the rest turned solemn.
With a hint of fear in his eyes, he looked at the majestic mountain shrouded in clouds and mist.
At the top of the mountain was the final guardian of this Hunting War.
They were the three great generals of the Punishment Hall.
Even Shen Cangsheng, who was an overlord on the Heaven List, had to be especially wary of such a powerful existence. If he could not pass through the Three Great Generals, he would definitely die.
Then all of their hard work in the hunting grounds during this period of time would be for naught.
Luo Li's clear pupils faintly narrowed at this moment.
She was very clear that the three positions were the strongest amongst all the students, and represented a kind of glory. However, at the same time, it also represented an enormous pressure.
The Hunting War was the hope and effort of all the students. They endured the lonely and bitter training, all for the sake of shocking the world with a single brilliant feat in the Hunting War. Finally, they would obtain the Divine Light, and obtain the coveted Divine Light Empowerment.
However, the three great guardians before them had become a huge mountain in front of all the students. They were unable to surmount it, and could only place their hopes on Shen Cangsheng, Li Xuantong, as well as Mu Chen, who had just obtained the third position.
At the same time, along with this kind of expectation came pressure. Seemingly all of the students participating in the Hunting War had placed this kind of pressure on the bodies of the three great guardians. If the three of them were able to defeat the three great guardians in the end, their prestige amongst all the students in Hokuang Reiwon would reach the peak, and they would truly feel respect and gratitude from the bottom of their hearts.
This was the glory that victors should enjoy. However, what would happen if they lost?
When that kind of expectation turned into disappointment, what kind of blow would it be to them?
Luo Li's jade-like hands gently clenched, her expression somewhat grave as she looked at Mu Chen's figure. The third position was not easy to occupy.
As Luo Li's expression fluctuated, in the sky, Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong descended, stopping beside Mu Chen. The two of them sized up the latter with a strange gaze, before smiling and saying, "Congratulations on defeating He Yao. However, I have to tell you that the third position has now fallen onto your head. I believe that you should know what this represents, and that it's not an easy task."
Mu Chen hesitated slightly, before gently nodding his head. He naturally understood how enormous the pressure of the third position was. Once he was defeated, it would cause too many people to be disappointed, and would also cause a year's worth of hard work to go down the drain.
Below, Luo Li had also shot over in a flash, appearing beside Mu Chen. Her beautiful eyes glanced at Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong, but did not say anything.
On the contrary, Li Xuantong's gaze was complicated as he stared at Luo Li, before looking towards Mu Chen and saying, "I think that you might not understand the exact situation. Of the three great generals, Shen Cangsheng and I have already tested each other. The two of us are able to obstruct the other two. The result should be a draw."
Mu Chen's eyes narrowed. A draw. That meant that all three matches would be a draw?
"According to the rules, us students are able to gain a slight advantage. In other words, as long as we are able to draw all three matches, it will be our victory."
Shen Cangsheng smiled, a smile that was a little helpless. "In other words, Li Xuantong and I will guarantee two draws. Similarly, they will also guarantee two draws. If that's the case, the key to victory will be the third match."
A solemn expression surged onto Mu Chen's handsome and pale face, while Luo Li's eyebrows faintly knitted together.
"In the third match, if you are able to guarantee a draw, we will win. However, if you lose, all of us will lose as well. The hunt this time will end here, and everyone will return empty-handed." Li Xuantong said in an indifferent tone.
Mu Chen's expression slightly changed. If that was the case, it meant that the pressure originally borne by the three of them would be completely transferred to him. Once he lost, he would have to bear all of their hopes. Perhaps no one would criticize him, but that kind of silent disappointment was already enough to destroy a person's confidence.
That kind of ending seemed to be even more miserable than losing to He Yao.
No one would say anything if he lost to He Yao. After all, it was his own matter. However, once he lost in the final checkpoint, it would be equivalent to losing everyone's expectations and hard work.
This burden, was a little too heavy.
Looking at the silent Mu Chen, Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong stopped talking, and only quietly looked at him. The silent and tense atmosphere spread out, before finally affecting the entire region.
Countless people below looked at the few figures converging in the sky, and faintly seemed to understand what they were talking about. Immediately, the expressions of many people turned solemn, as their gazes carried some expectation as they looked at the few figures in the sky, which bore all of their hopes.
Whether or not the bitter training of this year would bear fruit would depend on the choice and performance of the few people in the sky, who represented their strongest strength.
The beautiful faces of Su Ling 'er, Su Xuan and the rest also turned solemn. This position was a little too heavy, and for it to fall on the body of a youth who was still a new student, it was slightly too cruel.
Li Xuantong looked at Mu Chen for a while, before faintly shifting his gaze away and saying, "If you feel that you're unable to bear this position, you can give up. I believe that no one will have the qualifications to say anything about it. After all, you're still a new student, and there's no need for you to bear such pressure."
Shen Cangsheng smiled, the wind blowing at his disheveled hair, before patting Mu Chen's shoulder. The disdain on his face did not diminish in the slightest, "Don't feel too much pressure. Li Xuantong is right, I've almost forgotten that you're still a new student. If you feel that you're not confident, giving up is instead the best choice. At most, I'll put in a little more effort, and go all out against senior Lin Zheng. I don't need to be afraid of him."
Under the stifling silence of the entire region, Luo Li extended her delicate and jade-like little hand, and gently held onto Mu Chen's hand. Looking at the tightly furrowed eyebrows of Mu Chen, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Even if everyone is disappointed, in my eyes, you'll always be the most dazzling.
Mu Chen also looked at Luo Li's exquisite porcelain-like face, before slowly closing his eyes. His grip on Luo Li's small hand gradually tightened, and in the next instant, he abruptly opened his eyes.
His black pupils had once again become sharp and bright, the hesitation within having already been completely erased.
Raising his head, his sharp gaze looked towards the mountain peak that was wreathed in clouds and mist. A smile surfaced on his handsome face, as he softly said in a warm voice, "Although I know how much pressure I'll have to bear, giving up is not my style. Moreover, if I don't even have the courage to bear this kind of pressure, how will I pursue the path of becoming an unrivalled expert in the future?"
He turned his head to look at the beautiful young lady with long silver hair and black clothes that were as black as ink. He had promised her that he would appear in front of her as an unrivalled expert. He wanted to stand in front of her, and completely shatter the pressure that came from all directions.
If he did not even have the courage to bear this kind of pressure at this moment, how would he be able to continue on his path towards becoming an unrivalled expert?
Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong were slightly surprised as they looked at the youth that had suddenly become full of vigor. They were also somewhat astonished, before they could not help but smile. This Mu Chen was indeed more reliable than He Yao.
With a smile, Mu Chen's gaze converged on the mountain peak. Faintly, he seemed to be able to see three figures akin to devil gods. The pressure coming from them was akin to Mount Tai pressing down on him. However, the smile on his face grew increasingly wider.
"Seniors, leave the third position to me, no matter who wins or loses."
Mu Chen's black pupils gradually brightened.
"I'll give it my all!"
(I've just returned from Hu Zhou, and it's only today.)