The entire place turned silent.
Around the execution platform, countless students had their mouths agape as they watched the scene unfold before them. The gigantic demonic pillar silently stood there, emitting an ominous aura that blotted the skies. Frightening fluctuations radiated from it. At the bottom of the demonic pillar, the three puppets were suppressed to the point that they couldn't move, no longer displaying the ferocious might they had before.
The battle had clearly ended unexpectedly quickly.
Originally, everyone had expected an intense battle. However, who could have imagined that Mu Chen would directly summon a demonic pillar and suppress the three puppets.
Everyone stared blankly at the crumbling ground beneath the demonic pillar. Those were three puppets that were comparable to Heavenly Completion Stage Late Phase!
They were actually dealt with in such a manner!
"Isn't this a little too formidable?" Everyone was speechless as they looked towards the top of the demonic pillar. There, a slender youth stood proudly atop the demonic pillar. His aura caused splendor to flicker in the eyes of quite a few young girls.
"Big brother Mu is so ferocious!"
Many members of the Goddess Luo Association couldn't help but exclaim out as their faces were filled with excitement. Suppressing the three puppets in an instant was simply too breathtaking.
Luo Li's beautiful eyes were also focused on the figure as a faint smile surfaced from the corners of her mouth.
In another direction, Su Ling 'er's face couldn't help turning a little red as she looked at the youth quietly standing atop the gigantic demonic pillar amidst the countless cheers. This scene was clearly an extremely strong impact to a young girl who had just experienced her first awakening of love.
"What?
Are you moved? "Su Xuan teased from the side.
Su Ling 'er's face turned slightly red as she glanced at Luo Li and faintly pouted. Facing an opponent of this level, she really didn't have much confidence.
"However, that fellow's truly formidable. Back then, when he went on his first mission with us, even Bai Xuan was able to force him into a perilous situation. But now, three Heavenly Completion Stage Late Phase combat puppets were easily suppressed by him." Su Xuan couldn't help speaking out as she sighed in admiration at Mu Chen's rapid progress.
"The current Mu Chen probably already possesses the ability to contend for the top of the Heavenly Ranking."
Su Ling 'er whispered, "But why didn't he do that? If he did, he would have become the most famous person in our Hokuang Reiwon.
Su Xuan smiled warmly and said, "Because he doesn't care about the so-called first place on the Heavenly Ranking. Furthermore, he might not want to snatch Shen Cangsheng's position. Between men, there will always be some mutual understanding, especially between outstanding men like them."
Su Ling 'er nodded her head and didn't say anything else.
A little further away, Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong were a little quieter compared to the exclamations around them. They blankly stared at the figure on the demonic pillar in the distance with complicated expressions on their faces for a time.
"Looks like I've really been surpassed this time." Shen Cangsheng finally let out a long sigh, shrugged his shoulders, and smiled.
Li Xuantong gently nodded his head. That's because all of them knew that if they were to face against those three combat dolls, they would definitely suffer a crushing defeat. It was simply impossible for them to achieve such an astonishing result like Mu Chen had. This former Freshman had already truly surpassed them.
Perhaps, this former overlord of the Heavenly Ranking would have to change places.
He had competed with Shen Cangsheng for a long time in Hokuang Reiwon. But today, a freshman had surpassed both of them.
Although they had already expected this, they still felt a little complicated when they felt it. After all, they were also prideful people.
"However, I won't give up just like that."
Shen Cangsheng smiled faintly as he looked at the slender figure in the distance. His gaze became more and more resolute. Giving up so easily wasn't Shen Cangsheng's style.
Li Xuantong also gave a faint smile as he crossed his slender fingers. Similarly, not a single trace of dispiritedness was present in his eyes.
On the execution platform, Dean Tai Cang and the rest gradually regained their senses, while weird expressions appeared on their faces. No one had expected that the final test would be passed by Mu Chen in such a stunning manner.
Staring at Mu Chen's figure, Dean Tai Cang finally smiled and said, "Congratulations on passing through the final test. I promise you that this time, you'll represent our Hokuang Reiwon to participate in the" Divine Spiritual Mountain ", and compete against the genuine peak geniuses of the younger generation of the Northern Heavens Continent."
"Wow!"
As Dean Tai Cang's words rang out, earth-shattering cheers instantly erupted across the sky, with the faces of countless students filled with excitement. After so many years, their Hokuang Reiwon had finally participated in the grand event that represented the peak of the younger generation of the Northern Heavens Continent!
"Big Brother Mu, do your best! Get rid of those so-called geniuses and let them know that our Hokuang Reiwon wasn't willing to play with them in the past. However, once we want to play, we'll be able to defeat them!"
"Mu Chen, all the Senior Sisters support you!"
"You have to fight for the glory of our Hokuang Reiwon!"
Voices continued to ring out from all directions. Clearly, all of the students were excited.
Looking towards those excited students, a helpless smile appeared on Dean Tai Cang's face. In the next instant, his expression faintly changed, as he noticed a few people that were slightly silent within the crowd of students. They were Shen Cangsheng, Li Xuantong, He Yao and the other peak students of the Northern Heavens Academy. They were once influential figures within the academy. However, as of now, they seemed to be gradually being surpassed by, and even overshadowed by, Mu Chen's radiance.
Other than Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong, who were still fine, there seemed to be people with slightly dim expressions on their faces. Clearly, they had received some blows.
With a gentle wave of his hand, the cheers that blotted the skies started to slowly weaken. Placing his hands behind his back, he slowly said, "Fellow students, I wonder if you guys know about the current situation of Hokuang Reiwon?"
Many of the students were stunned by Dean Tai Cang's sudden question, which caused their eyes to be filled with blankness.
"In the past few Great Spiritual Academy Tournaments, not only did our Hokuang Reiwon rank at the bottom of the Five Great Academies, even some of the peak Spiritual Academies had surpassed us. In this year's Great Spiritual Academy Tournament, if our Hokuang Reiwon continues to perform in such a manner, there's a high possibility that we might be stripped of our title as one of the Five Great Academies."
Hearing Dean Tai Cang's deep voice, countless students were shocked, before they felt a deep sense of shame. Just when they were feeling complacent about their status as one of the Five Great Academies, they had forgotten about the dangerous situation that Hokuang Reiwon was in.
"Speaking of this, it's not that our students aren't talented. It's just that our Hokuang Reiwon did not adopt the extreme methods of the other Spiritual Academies. In Hokuang Reiwon, every student has the same cultivation conditions. Here, regardless of their background, they only have one identity, which is a student of Hokuang Reiwon. Our Hokuang Reiwon will not give them any preferential treatment because of their identity. Therefore, it's impossible for us to rope in a pinnacle genius and give them huge benefits, allowing them to stand above the other students. Therefore, sometimes, our results will naturally fall behind."
With his hands behind his back, Dean Tai Cang's figure appeared exceptionally imposing in the eyes of countless students. His deep and vigorous voice resounded in everyone's ears.
"I know that Hokuang Reiwon will not be your final destination. You will leave this place in the end for greater places to struggle, to temper yourselves, to fight. However, I hope that every student of Hokuang Reiwon will still be proud of being a student of Hokuang Reiwon, even after you leave. As long as you don't forget that you were once a member of Hokuang Reiwon, no matter what you experience in the future, as long as you come to Hokuang Reiwon, this place will be your final shelter. The entire Hokuang Reiwon will be your backing!"
The entire Hokuang Reiwon was in silence. All of the students, teachers, and elders flew into the air. Looking at the imposing figure in the distance, their hearts surged with emotions. He was the pillar of the entire Hokuang Reiwon.
Some of the students, especially the emotional girls, had their eyes slightly red. At this moment, a portion of the pride of being a member of Hokuang Reiwon rose in their hearts. This had nothing to do with the halo, but the warmth that the imposing figure in this Spiritual Academy gave them.
Mu Chen was also startled as he looked at Dean Tai Cang. Slightly pursing his lips, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile. He rejoiced at the fact that he had chosen to enter Hokuang Reiwon to train. A Dean that dared to say that the entire academy would be his backing wasn't someone that he could casually meet.
Looking at those youths and girls, Dean Tai Cang's expression showed a rare gentleness as he slowly said, "Naturally, I hope that everyone can remember what Hokuang Reiwon has handed to you. It's not power, but regardless of what we face, we must not admit defeat so easily. Even if we might no longer be one of the five Great Spiritual Academies after this Great Spiritual Academy Tournament, we will still not admit defeat!"
At this moment, the bodies of He Yao, Xu Huang, Zhao Qingshan and the other elite students of the Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy started to faintly tremble. Splendour seemed to erupt once again from their originally dim eyes, while their gazes started to slowly turn sharp.
Pa! Pa!
Ear-shattering applause rang out like thunder, with the faces of countless students filled with emotions. This was the first time that they had seen the usually stern and unsmiling Dean actually say such encouraging words.
Within the sea of people, faint smiles appeared on Shen Cangsheng and Li Xuantong's faces. In the next instant, the former slowly walked out from the thunderous applause that blotted the skies, causing countless gazes to immediately converge onto him.
"Dean!"
Looking towards Dean Tai Cang, Shen Cangsheng gave a smile and said, "Naturally, we won't admit defeat so easily. However, at the same time, I hope that Dean can believe in us. We like Hokuang Reiwon, so we're willing to fight for it. However, we also need help."
"For example?" asked Dean Tai Cang in astonishment.
"For example, reopening the Door of the Northern Heavens.
Straightening his back, Shen Cangsheng's originally tall and straight figure grew even straighter, appearing akin to a long spear piercing through the heavens.
…