Chen Mobai's righteous stance made the Student Council members like Hua Zijing feel a sense of shame.
Even Bian Yiqing, the seasoned master of the Sound Path, couldn't help but take notice.
The genuine sense of honor and devotion to the Refining Department that Chen Mobai exhibited made even his teacher feel somewhat ashamed.
Behind Bian Yiqing, Meng Huang'er's gaze towards Chen Mobai was tinged with resentment, but upon hearing his words, she couldn't help but think that perhaps the pressure of upholding the academy's glory was too great, forcing him to forsake their love.
"Look, Ling Daoshi has been defeated."
At that moment, the square erupted into commotion.
Chen Mobai and the others immediately looked up at the large screen, where the central square representing Mending the Sky Academy's top student, Ling Daoshi, showed him taking a sword to the chest, his expression pained as he slowly dissipated.
The duels within Minor Red Heaven, since they were projections, meant there was no need to worry about injury or death, allowing the use of the most powerful and ruthless spells.
Of course, this was limited to spells alone.
External magical instruments couldn't be brought into the illusory world of Minor Red Heaven.
"It seems there are still talents in other academies of Immortal Gate. I thought I'd have to step up before I could deal a defeat to the top students of the three major academies."
Chen Mobai's words, spoken without concealing his voice, immediately drew the attention of students from other academies in the square.
They all wanted to know who could be so arrogant as to utter such words.
But when they saw the young man in the red and black robe of the Refining Department surrounded by the Student Council, they couldn't help but gasp.
"The last of the four major academies' top students has finally appeared."
"Is it Zuo Qiushi?"
"Zuo Qiushi is history. After his graduation, the new top student of the Refining Department is a newcomer who has only been enrolled for five years."
"That's terrible. With Minor Red Heaven opening in our Red City Cave Heaven, without Zuo Qiushi, aren't we at the mercy of the other three academies' top students?"
"You don't understand. Although Zuo Qiushi has graduated, he entered Minor Red Heaven yesterday. Without the aid of a magical instrument, he's merely average in the late Foundation Establishment stage."
"That's even worse, no excuses left."
Hearing the bystanders' comments, Hua Zijing's forehead veins throbbed with anger.
If it weren't for the fact that she represented the Refining Department, she would have retorted on the spot.
Didn't they see that the top student of Mending the Sky Academy just lost?
It's normal for the former president Zuo to lose.
"Who is this person?"
At that moment, Chen Mobai pointed with interest at the person who had defeated Ling Daoshi. The man had a calm demeanor, sharp eyes beneath his unibrow, and a confidence like never before.
Indeed, defeating the top student of Mending the Sky Academy in full view of everyone was an unparalleled honor for anyone.
And this honor brought the victor confidence beyond anything else.
"Sima Xingyu, the top student of Pure Yang Academy seven years ago."
The one who answered him was Ming-Yu.
"Do you know him?"
Chen Mobai was surprised.
"Seven years ago, when I had just joined the Student Council, I attended the exchange meeting with the president at the time. Sima Xingyu was already shining brightly then, only slightly less so than the top students of the four major academies."
After hearing Ming-Yu's words, Chen Mobai nodded slightly.
The screen displayed Sima Xingyu's cultivation level: the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment.
This person was also a foundation of the Pure Yang Scripture and a sword cultivator, likely practicing the "Yuan Yang Sword Scripture," which was said to be second only to the Immortal Gate sword techniques.
Ling Daoshi had only just broken through to the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment this year. As the top student of Mending the Sky Academy, he was already a prodigy.
But facing Sima Xingyu, who was higher in cultivation and practiced a more domineering technique, his defeat was understandable.
"Taishi Shu has also been defeated."
At that moment, the top student of the Kunpeng Refining Department, a girl with an ordinary face and elegant demeanor, frowned in disbelief as she saw her right arm severed at the elbow.
Opposite her stood a man with a red beard, buzz cut, and no eyebrows.
He stood arrogantly in mid-air, his right hand delivering a sword strike that completely shattered Taishi Shu's magnetic field, splitting her in two.
Her defeat was even more thorough than Ling Daoshi's.
After defeating Taishi Shu, the red-bearded, buzz-cut man laughed heartily, full of pride.
"And who might this fierce general be?"
Chen Mobai asked with interest again.
"Although I haven't met him, I've heard legends about him as a child. If I remember correctly, this person should be Xiahou Weihuan, the top student of Pure Yang Academy twenty years ago, known as the 'Red Beard Absolute Sword.'"
"Xiahou Weihuan… quite a good name."
Chen Mobai muttered, admiringly watching Xiahou Weihuan, who now occupied the center of the screen.
The top left corner showed his cultivation level: the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment.
But from what Chen Mobai saw, the sword strike that defeated Taishi Shu made him feel that this man might have already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Although being the top student of an academy and reaching the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment during one's school years was already an incredible achievement, facing the older students of Pure Yang Academy who were bullying the younger ones, they could only accept defeat.
After all, the combination of Pure Yang Scripture and Yuan Yang Sword Scripture was already top-tier even among the four major academies.
"So now, only the top student of the Sentence Mang Refining Department remains."
Chen Mobai said, looking at the only remaining top student of the academy on the large screen, who had captured everyone's attention.
His opponent was also from Pure Yang Academy, but the Sentence Mang student, who excelled in endurance due to his robust blood and spiritual power, managed to hold his ground even against a higher realm opponent, resulting in a stalemate.
And so, the standoff continued.
But even so, the top students of the three major academies had lost face in front of Pure Yang Academy, losing their previously invincible momentum.
In an instant, all the viewers from the thirty-six cave heavens and seventy-two blessed lands of Immortal Gate were abuzz with discussion.
At that moment, Xiahou Weihuan, in the center of the big screen, made a statement that made everyone from the Refining Department blush with embarrassment.
The statement was: "The true lineage of Red City is in Pure Yang!"
Chen Mobai, who had been admiring him, suddenly changed his opinion.
"Good name, but bad character."
After expressing his disdain, Chen Mobai asked Bian Yiqing how to enter Minor Red Heaven.
"I have twenty spots given by Gongye Zhixu, and I've already registered you as the top student."
Bian Yiqing said, asking Chen Mobai to take out his student ID to help him activate it.
"Now that Minor Red Heaven has just opened, it's still in the beta phase. Everyone's projection is real-name verified. Once you enter, you'll carry the identity of the top student of the Refining Department, just like the other three, and you'll be the target of all."
After activation, Bian Yiqing looked worried.
The top students of the three major academies were unbeatable just the day before, but now they had suffered two defeats and one draw, and that was only because Minor Red Heaven had just opened to the academies.
If it were to open fully to the entire Immortal Gate, including the thirty-six cave heavens and seventy-two blessed lands, not to mention the universities, there would be countless late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators hidden in various institutions and enterprises.
To prove themselves and gain fame, the first opponents they would challenge would definitely be the top students of the four major academies.
"Don't worry, late-stage Foundation Establishment won't reach me."
Chen Mobai was nonchalant.
After hearing his words, Bian Yiqing was first stunned, then realized the matching mechanism of Minor Red Heaven and his expression cleared.
But soon, he felt a twinge of embarrassment again.
Among the four major academies, only their Refining Department's top student was not in the late stage of Foundation Establishment. It would be embarrassing if word got out.
If only Zuo Qiushi hadn't graduated…
As this thought crossed his mind, Bian Yiqing remembered Zuo Qiushi's mediocre performance in Minor Red Heaven without a magical instrument and felt that Chen Mobai being the top student wasn't so bad after all.
At least Chen Mobai could sweep through the early and middle stages of Foundation Establishment.
As long as he didn't face late-stage opponents and didn't lose, there would always be an excuse.
While Bian Yiqing was thinking this, Chen Mobai had already completed his projection.
He stood in the square of Red City Cave Heaven, but it felt like his mind was split in two, as if another self had entered a dream. Although he couldn't feel his limbs, he could use any spell or technique he had learned.
After his projection entered, the central square of the big screen, which had gone dark after Ling Daoshi's defeat, suddenly displayed Chen Mobai in the red and black robe of the Refining Department.
The top left corner showed his identity and basic information.
【Refining Department certified current top student!】
【Foundation Establishment first layer!】
This was like a lighthouse in the dark night, a star in the night sky, instantly attracting all the early and middle-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who had projected into Minor Red Heaven but couldn't match with the other three academy top students due to their cultivation level.
In just an instant, Hua Zijing saw the match count in the top right corner, which had been at 0, skyrocket to 100+ just like the other three academy top students.
"Has the Refining Department run out of people? Why send someone who has just established their foundation?"
"The fifth-tier spiritual vein has been requisitioned by Immortal Gate. It seems likely that Pure Yang Academy will overtake us, and we'll fall from the top four."
"I wonder who the first lucky one will be?"
The square was abuzz with discussion, and Meng Huang'er's feelings were complicated. She was angry that outsiders underestimated Chen Mobai and hoped he would suffer a crushing defeat, letting this scumbag who toyed with her young heart fall hard.
At that moment, the Sentence Mang Refining Department's top student, relying on his robust vitality and abundant spiritual power, finally wore down his opponent from Pure Yang Academy, becoming the only top student with a perfect record.
After this duel, the top student didn't click match again but chose to exit Minor Red Heaven.
Today's opponents were clearly well-prepared, unlike yesterday's easy victories.
He needed to carefully consider tactics and strategies to maintain his undefeated reputation.
Thus, in Minor Red Heaven, only one academy's top student remained.
Chen Mobai.
In the dormitory of Liuguang Academy, Shi Wanyu, who was watching the highlights of Minor Red Heaven with her roommates, blushed slightly when she saw Chen Mobai. He has actually become the top student of the Refining Department.
Soon, under the watchful eyes of all the cultivators of Immortal Gate, Chen Mobai clicked the match button in the top right corner.
A flash of firelight flickered, and the first lucky one appeared before everyone.
Chen Mobai looked at his opponent and couldn't help but show a look of surprise.
It was someone he had met before.
"It's me! Hahaha, the heavens have eyes. I never thought I'd have this opportunity to give you, the top student of the Refining Department, the most painful defeat in front of the billions of Immortal Gate."
The match was a buzz-cut youth in a black tank top and pants, his muscular arms and shoulders covered in tattoos, making him look incredibly strong and dangerous.
"Congratulations, lucky one. What was your name again, Bra?"
"It's Wen Xiong!"
The buzz-cut youth was none other than Wen Xiong, who had been slapped in the face by Chen Mobai with the Refining Department's admission letter on the train. He had actually established his foundation.
However, considering he was a student of Pure Yang Academy, his talent was undoubtedly outstanding. It was understandable that he could establish his foundation in five years.
"Alright, I'll remember that. After all, you're the first to fall to me in Minor Red Heaven, and your name will be remembered in history alongside my legend."
Chen Mobai said, raising his right hand.
He could have used Divine Command Slash to silently crush Wen Xiong's consciousness, but that would lack the dramatic effect.
What was he here for?
To become famous throughout the world and restore the glory of the Refining Department!
Every duel had to be won cleanly and impressively, making all spectators gasp in awe.
Let everyone know that Chen Mobai, the top student of the Refining Department, was invincible among the early and middle stages of Foundation Establishment!
"Keep talking tough. I'll make you disappear into ashes under the Burning Heaven Technique!"
But Wen Xiong was even more confident in himself, whether it was a collective thought in Pure Yang Academy to replace the Refining Department or just personal disdain for Chen Mobai, wanting to defeat him publicly and wash away the shame that had almost become a heart demon.
"Die! Burning Heaven…"
Wen Xiong's words were contemptuous, but his actions were serious. He used his strongest Burning Heaven Spirit Fire right from the start.
Then, he only saw a brilliant deep purple sword light.
The sword light swept past, and his projection in Minor Red Heaven turned to ash.
He couldn't even take one strike!
How was that possible?
Wen Xiong, standing on the other side of the square, widened his eyes in disbelief.
Shi Wanyu of Liuguang Academy clenched her delicate white fists in excitement at the sight.
At that moment, Chen Mobai had already clicked match again.
The second opponent came in.
The first impression is always memorable.
Chen Mobai didn't even bother to ask this opponent's name.
As the newcomer began to speak, he was greeted by a brilliant deep purple sword light.
Another strike!
Seeing the second opponent turn to ash, all of Immortal Gate was stunned.
"Those who can withstand one strike from me may leave their names."
Proofreader & Editor:Peter Pan