novelraw Chapter 394: Stepping Down!
Chapter 394: Stepping Down!
Su Zhan's mouth twitched slightly, ready to accept Bai Pojun's duel challenge right then and there.
"Absolutely not!"
A high-ranking Military Department official declared with ironclad firmness: "Rules are rules! The Grand Competition schedule is an established institution of Daxia, not something to be treated as a child's game!
There is absolutely no precedent allowing a non-participant to challenge the Top Ten mid-competition!
If we set this precedent today, what will become of the Grand Competition's authority in the future?!"
"Correct!"
The elderly Council member immediately chimed in: "Su Zhan, no matter how silver-tongued you are, rules cannot be trampled upon.
Your situation is special and requires subsequent investigation, but it is absolutely impossible to make an exception for you alone, allowing a so-called challenge to take place here!"
Their attitudes were resolute.
Because they knew full well that once a fight started, whether it was a duel or a group battle, the outcome would be utterly predictable.It would become a one-sided performance by Su Zhan, crushing the ten prodigies.
This would only allow Su Zhan to further build his "momentum," plunging their subsequent handling of the situation into extreme passivity.
The deans of the Five Great Academies fell into silence.
Having probed Su Zhan's true cultivation realm, they understood in their hearts the inevitable conclusion of such a battle.
Out of a desire to protect their academy's reputation and their disciples' state of mind, they could not voice support for this guaranteed loss.
Yet, as powerful individuals themselves, they also could not, in good conscience, echo the higher-ups' rhetoric of "rules above all," leaving them with no choice but silence.
On the entire Judges' Platform.
Only Ye Hongyu, facing the displeased gazes of several high-ranking officials, stood up firmly.
"I believe rules are rigid, but people are flexible!"
Ye Hongyu's phoenix-like eyes held authority, her voice clear and resonant: "Su Zhan is a direct disciple of my Vermilion Bird Academy, with an SSS-grade Life Soul—his talent is beyond doubt!
Since he possesses the strength and the courage to issue a challenge, why can't he be given a chance to prove himself?
Could it be that the stage of our great Daxia cannot accommodate a true genius!?"
But she was a lone voice, unable to turn the tide.
The higher-ups were dead set on preventing it.
The elderly Council member looked at Ye Hongyu:
"Dean Ye! Please be mindful of your position and your words! Rules are the cornerstone maintaining Daxia's order, how can they be discarded for the sake of one individual?
If we make an exception for Su Zhan today, will any Tom, Dick, or Harry be able to jump out and challenge the Top Ten tomorrow?
Where would the Grand Competition's authority be then?
How would fairness be guaranteed?"
Another Military Department high official was even more blunt:
"Dean Ye, your concern for your student is understandable, but you cannot let personal feelings override public duty.
Su Zhan's situation is special; his identity and past experiences all require rigorous investigation.
Until everything is clarified, he remains a deceased individual with no qualification to compete.
This is a matter of principle, with no room for negotiation!"
These successive arguments, layered and progressive, thoroughly rebutted Ye Hongyu's support.
They pressed down on her, leaving her momentarily unable to refute.
The higher-ups' determination was evident.
Su Zhan laughed, a mocking smile that finally settled on Bai Pojun, whose face was the ugliest:
"Heh... See that? It's not that I'm not giving you all a chance. It's your deans, the big shots behind you... they're afraid. They're afraid you'll lose.
They don't dare let you fight me because deep down they know... you are simply no match for me.
So, they can only use the fig leaf of 'rules' to keep you all safely tucked behind them. Truly... pathetic and pitiful."
"You're talking nonsense!"
Bai Pojun's eyes turned bloodshot, his entire body trembling with rage.
The other prodigies were equally furious, their hair practically standing on end.
A burning sense of insult raged in their hearts.
Even their gazes towards their own deans and the higher-ups began to carry a trace of doubt.
The audience buzzed with discussion.
They felt Su Zhan's words, though harsh, seemed... to have a point?
Otherwise, why were they so dead set against the fight?
Bai Pojun was the first to turn towards the Judges' Platform, clasping his fists forcefully:
"Dean, esteemed sirs, I beg you to permit me this battle. If I cannot personally crush this arrogant fool, I, Bai Pojun... will voluntarily withdraw from the Top Ten."
Xue Wuhen's body erupted with a surge of frigid energy, his voice resolute:
"Dean, this insult must be washed away with ice and blood. I request permission to fight! I am willing to sign a military pledge—if I lose this battle, I will willingly accept any and all punishment!"
Shui Wuxin took a step forward, addressing the Azure Dragon Academy dean clearly:
"Dean, if we turtle up and hide out of fear of potential risk, what face do I have left to pursue strength? Dean, please grant permission to fight! Allow this student to defend her dignity!"
Chu Zhou took a deep breath: "Teacher, esteemed seniors, rules are indeed important, but the sharp spirit of an Awakened individual and the backbone of an academy are equally indispensable.
Though Su Zhan's words are fierce, his intent to challenge is clear.
If we avoid battle out of fear of a possible loss, I fear we may lose our courageous, advancing hearts and become a laughingstock to the world.
Student Chu Zhou humbly requests a battle!
Regardless of victory or defeat, I am willing to bear all consequences alone!"
The other SSS-grade prodigies, along with the two dark horse contestants, also stepped forward one after another, petitioning their respective deans and higher-ups for permission to fight:
"Dean, please grant permission to fight!"
"This student is willing to sign a life-or-death pledge!"
"This battle concerns personal honor and disgrace, and even more, the academy's reputation. There is no retreat!"
"If we don't even have the courage to accept a challenge, what right do we have to stand among this Top Ten?"
Ten young, firm voices converged, echoing throughout the entire colosseum.
In their eyes, the higher-ups' obstruction and the deans' silence had already become an unacceptable form of distrust.
The spectator stands erupted completely.
Tens of thousands of people chanted in unison:
"Approve it! Approve it! Approve it!"
"Let them fight! Why won't you let them fight!"
"Can't you handle losing?!"
"The Top Ten themselves are asking to fight, why block them?!"
"Foul play! There must be foul play!"
"What are the higher-ups afraid of?"
"The Top Ten are even willing to sign military pledges, what more do you want?"
"Hilarious, turns out the real clowns are the higher-ups themselves."
"This is the so-called genius? Won't even allow them to accept a challenge?"
"So the vaunted Top Ten don't even have the qualification to accept a challenge?"
"If you don't approve it today, don't bother holding this Grand Competition ever again!"
The pressure surged towards the Judges' Platform.
The faces of several high-ranking officials turned ashen; they had never expected the situation to develop to this point.
One of the Military Department officials slammed the table and stood up:
"Silence! All of you, silence! What do any of you know, making such a ruckus here! Rules are rules! Without rules, there is no order! If we break precedent today, how will the Grand Competition be run in the future?!"
His strong, hardline statement immediately triggered an even stronger backlash.
From the spectator stands, someone suddenly started leading a chant:
"Step down! Step down! Step down!"
Soon, the entire arena resonated with the unified chant.
"Hahahaha, they're panicking! They're panicking!"
"This batch of higher-ups is no good!"
"So Daxia's rules are meant to stifle genius?"
On the Judges' Platform, the deans exchanged complicated glances.
The Azure Dragon Academy dean sighed, lowering his voice to speak to the Council elder beside him: "Elder Li, it's hard to go against public anger... If this continues, I fear chaos might erupt..."