novelraw Chapter 348: Mo Yuan
Chapter 348: Mo Yuan
"Fall back quickly!"
"Activate maximum protection!"
Several sharp shouts came from the high platform.
Several powerful auras erupted simultaneously, working together to layer multiple barriers, blocking the devastating energy shockwave and preventing large-scale casualties among the spectators.
The raging storm slowly dissipated.
The sight before them made everyone gasp in shock.
The entire finals arena... had vanished!
In its place was a pitch-black, bottomless crater.
On one side of the crater.
Meng Qianyu stood there, or rather, he was barely standing.The phantom of his Water-Severing Blade around him had completely dissipated, his battle robes had turned to ashes, and his body was charred black, covered in cracks.
The light in his eyes rapidly dimmed. He opened his mouth but couldn't utter any sound.
"Pfft..."
A gentle breeze blew past, and his body turned to dust, completely annihilated.
On the other side of the crater.
The dark red flames slowly receded.
Su Zhan's figure reappeared.
He was kneeling on one knee, his massive fleshy wings drooping powerlessly on the scorched earth, tattered and damaged.
The scales covering his body were extensively shattered, with countless wounds deep enough to reveal bone.
His face was somewhat pale, his aura noticeably more chaotic compared to his peak state, and the terrifying Pressure surrounding him had also weakened considerably.
But, that was all.
On his exposed wounds, flesh and blood were visibly squirming slightly. Those smaller wounds were slowly healing, and the seeping blood was gradually decreasing.
An exuberant vitality was continuously welling up from deep within his body, repairing the injuries.
Everyone who witnessed this scene was once again overwhelmed by immense shock.
They had originally thought this would be a mutually destructive outcome, but they never expected that although Chen Qing was injured, he was far from losing his combat capability, and moreover... he likely still had the strength to fight!
Su Zhan slowly raised his hand, wiping away a trace of blood that had seeped from the corner of his mouth.
He had won.
The cost was much greater than he had anticipated.
Su Zhan lifted his head, his gaze passing over the crater, looking towards the direction of the City Lord's Residence.
The referee's figure appeared at the edge of the crater. After a long silence, he solemnly announced:
"Finals, winner, Chen Qing! The champion of the under-25 division of this Black City Grand Competition is Chen Qing!"
As his voice fell, there were no cheers.
Everyone was deeply shaken by this scene.
Two City Lord's Residence guards in black uniforms appeared at the edge of the arena that had turned into a scorched crater.
One of them stepped forward, giving a slight nod towards Su Zhan: "Sir Chen Qing, congratulations on winning the championship. The City Lord requests your presence. Please follow us to the City Lord's Residence."
Su Zhan was not surprised by this.
This was precisely his ultimate goal in participating in the Grand Competition.
He slowly straightened his body. The energy and blood within him were still somewhat turbulent, and his wounds throbbed with sharp pain, but under his powerful self-healing ability, these were within controllable limits.
He nodded expressionlessly, took a step, and followed the two guards.
Wherever he passed, the crowd parted, automatically clearing a wide path.
Countless gazes focused on him, complex and difficult to decipher.
To be able to, with a Special-risk body, rebel against and completely slay a genius who had broken through to the Abyss Realm mid-battle—such a battle achievement was enough to be recorded in Black City's history books, worthy of being called legendary.
"The City Lord is personally receiving him... this kid has soared to the heavens in a single step!"
"With his strength and this ruthless ferocity, plus the City Lord's appreciation, he is sure to have a place among Black City's top powerhouses in the future."
"Probably not just Black City... I'm afraid various forces across Daxia will soon know the name Chen Qing."
"Truly... a future of limitless potential!"
There was also deep wariness and fear.
Especially the people from the Ghost Fiend Sect and the Giant Sun Gang. Watching Su Zhan's departing back, their eyes were sinister and gloomy.
They had lost their young geniuses and face. The grudge was already formed, and now that the other party had gained the City Lord's audience, any further attempts to move against him would see the difficulty and cost increase exponentially.
Long Shouzhuo stood on the high platform, watching Su Zhan follow the guards away, a smile appearing on his face.
He had bet correctly!
Not only had Chen Qing won, but he had won so spectacularly, displaying such terrifying potential.
The return on this investment would be beyond imagination.
He seemed to already see the bright future where the Dragon Rise Society, riding this favorable wind, would ascend to an even higher level of power.
Su Zhan paid no heed to his surroundings.
He followed steadily behind the guards, passed through the arena, and walked out the main gate.
Three pitch-black SUVs were parked at the entrance.
The door of the middle vehicle slid open.
A middle-aged man in a sharply tailored black suit stepped out of the car.
And made a gesture of invitation.
Su Zhan immediately strode towards the middle vehicle.
The man in black opened the car door for him.
Su Zhan bent down and sat in the back seat.
The motorcade immediately started and drove away from the arena.
Su Zhan leaned back against the comfortable leather seat, slowly closing his eyes.
The Black City City Lord...
Finally about to meet.
Whether he could obtain permission to cultivate in Black City and break free from this cage of safety depended on the upcoming meeting.
The motorcade passed through Black City's bustling districts, proceeding unimpeded all the way, heading straight for the heavily guarded domain of the City Lord's Residence at the city center.
City Lord's Residence.
The black-clad guard led Su Zhan through a corridor paved with soft carpet, stopping before a heavy solid wood door.
After reporting in a low voice via his earpiece, the guard slid the door open sideways.
"Mr. Chen, please. The City Lord is waiting for you inside."
Su Zhan stepped inside.
It was an office with an expansive view.
An entire wall was a huge floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking most of Black City's scenery.
The interior decoration was modern minimalist style.
Several sets of comfortable sofas were casually arranged, with a wine cabinet on one side.
In the center of the office, with his back to the door.
Stood a man wearing a Tang suit.
His posture was upright and imposing. Just by standing there, he gave off an unshakable, mountain-like feeling.
He slowly turned around.
He appeared to be around forty years old, with distinct facial features and deep eyes.
Black City City Lord, Mo Yuan.
Su Zhan walked forward a few steps, stopping about three meters away from the other, and gave a slight bow: "City Lord Mo, greetings."
Mo Yuan looked Su Zhan over, nodded, and pointed to the sofa nearby: "Sit."
Su Zhan complied, sitting on the sofa, his back straight.
Mo Yuan walked over and sat opposite him. He picked up a metal pot from the tea table, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Su Zhan before speaking: "Chen Qing, you fought well in this Grand Competition.
Special-risk level under twenty-five, and I heard you're only twenty-one? Tsk tsk tsk... This talent, you are the strongest I've seen.
Rich in practical combat experience, decisive in temperament... Even in the history of the Five Great Academies, you'd rank among the top."
Su Zhan responded calmly: "City Lord Mo flatters me. Moreover, I'll be twenty-two in just over a month. This was merely luck. Meng Qianyu broke through mid-battle, and I also won with great difficulty."
He neither claimed credit nor was excessively modest, merely stating the facts.
A slight curve appeared at the corner of Mo Yuan's mouth as he abruptly changed the subject, no longer beating around the bush:
"Let's skip the pleasantries, Chen Qing. I admire your capabilities.
The trouble from the Aberrant Purge Division, and the possible entanglement from the Transcendence Society—as long as you are in Black City, these are not problems. I can provide you with absolute protection.
What I mean is, to formally invite you to join the City Lord's Residence and work for me.
As long as you agree, I can help you wipe the slate clean regarding everything before.
In Black City, you will possess authority and resource allocation second only to mine. How about it?"
This was an invitation of immense weight.
It meant Su Zhan could not only escape his current predicament of being hunted but could also leap to become one of the true core figures of power in this lawless capital.
Possessing an unprecedented development platform and security guarantee.
After finishing, Mo Yuan fell silent, quietly watching Su Zhan, waiting for his reply.