novelraw Chapter 397: Forming a Good Connection
Chapter 397: Forming a Good Connection
On the judges' platform.
Several senior officials stared down at the countless phone lights flashing below.
Their expressions could no longer be described as merely displeased, they were downright furious and desperate.
Elder Li from the Council, who led them, knew they couldn't delay any longer; they had to cut the Gordian knot quickly.
He exchanged a glance with the other four.
Five terrifying spiritual energies from mid-to-late Ocean Realm exploded forth without restraint, like five towering beams of light, their combined pressure bearing down on Mo Yuan and Su Zhan.
"Mo Yuan, this is Daxia's internal affair! Do not rely on strength to interfere! Leave immediately with Su Zhan, or don't blame us for ignoring past favors and taking you down as well!"
Elder Li's tone was grim as he made a final show of force.
Facing this united pressure,
Mo Yuan did not even let the hem of his clothes flutter. He casually waved his sleeve, and the combined pressure that would have suffocated ordinary Ocean Realm masters dispersed like a spring breeze across a hillside, evaporating without a trace.He raised his eyes, and a visible, palpable disdain crept into his deep gaze.
"Take me down?"
Mo Yuan's mouth curled with mockery. "You five? Against the two of us? To beat you five, I don't even need to use my full strength. Li Yuan, two hundred years later, do you still not understand how much you weigh?"
Blatant contempt.
A merciless slap to their faces.
Elder Li's face flushed the color of raw liver, his chest heaved violently, his fingers trembling as he pointed at Mo Yuan, but he couldn't utter a single word.
The other four seniors were shocked and angry as well, but more than anything, they felt powerless.
They knew what Mo Yuan said... was true.
With Mo Yuan's unfathomable strength, if he really acted, even the five of them together might not escape defeat.
When the gap in power reaches a certain point, numbers lose their meaning.
Mo Yuan stopped looking at their spectacularly flushed faces and instead turned his gaze to the prodigies on the Glory High Platform and the silent deans behind them.
"Since these kids want to fight each other, why do you elders insist on being the villains, trying to snuff out this youthful clash?"
Mo Yuan's gaze swept over the four academy deans and others, then fixed on Li Siyuan and the other officials. He spoke each word like a proclamation:
"I, Mo Yuan, in the name of the Lord of Black City, vouch for Su Zhan. I guarantee his identity is legitimate, I guarantee the fairness of this battle, and I guarantee that I alone will bear all consequences after the match!
Now tell me…
Is my identity, my guarantee, sufficient for this qualification?"
The ten prodigies gripped their fists tightly.
Mo Yuan's strength stunned them, but it also sparked the arrogance in their bones.
The unofficial live streams from the crowd erupted into a frenzy.
"Mo Yuan the boss is awesome!"
"Now that's how a true strong one acts, love it..."
"The five seniors couldn't fart back, so funny!"
"Guarantee! City Lord Mo Yuan personally guarantees it! Let's see what those old geezers say now!"
"The ten finalists' looks just changed, their fighting intent is maxed!"
"Fight! We must fight! If you don't, you're not a Daxian!"
Public opinion.
The contestants' wishes.
Combined with the absolute power of this godlike figure, they formed an irresistible tide!
Elder Li and the other seniors turned ashen, their lips trembling.
Under Mo Yuan's stare, and with every civilian live stream pointed at them, they finally... miserably retracted all their spiritual energy.
Like beaten roosters, they fell silent.
They acquiesced.
Under Mo Yuan's absolute power and personal guarantee, they had no choice but to permit this challenge.
The obstacle was crushed in the most domineering way.
On the judges' platform,
the five deans who had been silent knew they had to step forward.
Partly to salvage the last scrap of face for their academies and the seniors, and partly to give this unavoidable fight a coat of rule-based legitimacy.
The dean of Kirin Academy rose slowly. "What City Lord Mo Yuan says is not without reason. Rules are rigid, people are living beings.
The founding of Daxia relied not only on strict laws but on broad-mindedness and cherishing talent.
Su Zhan has returned; his natural talent and strength are evident to all. If we bar him because of past procedures, that would be our failing."
The dean of Azure Dragon Academy stood, his authoritative gaze sweeping the arena, his voice like thunder:
"My Azure Dragon disciples have never feared or shied from battle!
If Jing Shen and the others have the resolve and courage to contend with a strong opponent, how can I, as their dean, hold them back?
This match, publicly, can showcase the edge of Daxia's younger generation.
Privately, it is a superb opportunity for them to temper themselves.
Azure Dragon Academy supports this battle!"
Ye Hongyu rose, her voice clear and resonant: "Su Zhan is a child who walked out from Vermilion Bird Academy! His glory is Vermilion Bird Academy's glory.
His challenge is the continuation of our academy's unbowed spirit.
Win or lose, daring to swing a sword at the strongest is heroism.
Vermilion Bird Academy fully supports Su Zhan and will participate in this battle!"
The other two deans spoke in turn.
Their words were decorous, their intentions lofty.
The dean of Kirin Academy faced the direction of the live broadcast teams and calmly instructed: "Since public will is like this and opportunity presents itself, restart the broadcast.
Let the people of Daxia jointly witness this... rare grand event."
Soon, the official broadcast signal was restored.
High-definition footage streamed to every corner of Daxia again.
The host immediately received the order and announced with excitement:
"Dear viewers, after urgent consultation among senior officials and the five academy deans, and in light of Su Zhan's special circumstances and exceptional talent, along with the ten finalists' strong desire, the organizing committee has specially approved that contestant Su Zhan will be granted the qualification to challenge the top ten.
This unprecedented challenge match is about to begin!"
Unofficial live streams continued.
But the return of the official signal stamped this storm with legitimacy.
The five deans... or rather the four other than Ye Hongyu, had their considerations for acting this way.
First, Mo Yuan's strength was unfathomable, widely acknowledged among Daxia's top three.
If he grew displeased over this matter and clashed violently with the authorities, the resulting turmoil and losses would be unbearable for Daxia.
To anger such a guardian-level presence over one Su Zhan would be extremely unwise.
Maintaining relations with Mo Yuan and preserving unity among Daxia's top-tier forces was far more important than a single Grand Competition rule.
Supporting Mo Yuan now was the necessary choice to safeguard the greater picture.
Second, Su Zhan is human. He possesses a pure SSS-grade human awakened life soul and the Time Abyss Pupil.
So long as a human stands on that arena and wins, the glory remains with humanity.
Whether he will outshine his peers or make Vermilion Bird Academy's reputation skyrocket—these are acceptable internal competitions when weighed against the "overall interests of humanity."
A twenty-five-year-old Ocean Realm human genius symbolizes unprecedented hope for humanity's future against the Mist.
Rather than suppress him, it was better to go with the tide and form a favorable connection.