Perhaps it was because the shock they received was simply too great;
Below the arena, the giant venue holding tens of thousands of people actually fell back into a suffocating silence, just like before the opening.
Everyone's gaze was dullly focused on the same point.
That second-year student who had defeated the sixth-year head with a single punch and was now calmly withdrawing his fist while standing in the center of the arena—Liu Yuan.
And... that Ma Rulong, who had been sent flying by a single blow and was lying in the ruins outside the arena, completely defeated.
The entire audience was stunned for a long time, not saying a word.
Everyone's brain had fallen into a blank storm because of that scene that transcended common sense.
Time seemed to have been pressed on the pause button once again.
A long time later.
Until the referee on the high platform barely managed to recover from that immense shock. He looked at Liu Yuan on the stage, then at Ma Rulong who no longer had the strength to fight below the stage. Taking a deep breath, he used all his strength to raise his trembling arm and announced loudly:
"The final champion of this All-Continent High-Rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament, Sun Moon Royal Academy Internal Selection, is—"
"Second year, Liu Yuan!"
This voice instantly tore through all the tranquility in the venue!
Boom—!!!
Emotions suppressed for a long time, combined with the massive confusion that simply could not be understood by logic, exploded completely at this moment like a volcanic eruption!
Deafening discussions filled with endless horror and disbelief converged into a sound wave several times more terrifying than any before, nearly lifting the roof off the entire Central Square!
"He won?! He really won! That Liu Yuan... he actually defeated Senior Ma Rulong!"
"No! This is just too bizarre!" A senior student's face flushed red as he couldn't help but speak up: "Just now! Didn't Senior Ma Rulong's 'Eagle Eye' keep a lock on Liu Yuan the whole time? Why did it suddenly fail?!"
"And that shield! Liu Yuan's attacks were clearly all blocked before, so why did that last punch shatter the Rank 5 'Barrier Shield'? This doesn't make sense at all!"
"Could it be that dance? After he finished that strange dance, his strength... it's like he completely became another person!"
Everyone found it extremely difficult to understand.
One second, Ma Rulong was completely suppressing Liu Yuan by relying on high-tech spirit tools.
The next second, Liu Yuan just performed a inexplicable dance and instantly completed a shocking reversal from being suppressed to a one-punch kill!
In between, what exactly happened?
...
And in the spectator stands.
Ke Ke and Ju Zi were both staring blankly with their mouths slightly open at the spirit tool screen broadcasting a close-up of Liu Yuan. Their beautiful eyes were filled with identical shock and bewilderment.
A moment later, Ke Ke lightly nudged Meng Hongchen beside her with her elbow and asked stutteringly, "Meng... did... did you understand? What... what exactly is going on?"
Ju Zi also cast a gaze for help.
However, even the proud Meng Hongchen, who considered herself a Genius, shook her head with a bitter smile at this moment. Those bright eyes were also full of confusion: "I... I don't understand either."
Beside them, Xiao Hongchen was staring fixedly at Liu Yuan's figure on the screen, his brow furrowed as he murmured thoughtfully:
"Could the problem... be that dance just now?"
"Otherwise, there's no way to explain why he would do something that looks so meaningless in the middle of a battle."
...
Mingde Hall, top floor office.
In front of the spirit tool screen, there was a long silence.
Even Xu Yunhan and Kong Deming, two beings standing at the pinnacle of the continent, were deeply shaken by Liu Yuan's sudden, miracle-like performance.
After a long while, Xu Yunhan slowly exhaled. He turned his head to look at Kong Deming, who also had a solemn expression, and asked in a low voice:
"Elder Kong, have you seen where the issue lies?"
Kong Deming's scrutinizing eyes stared fixedly at the battle recording continuously replaying on the screen, especially the part where Liu Yuan danced. He watched it three full times before slowly shaking his head.
"I cannot see through it."
"But what is certain is that the issue must lie with that strange dance. It should be a... Spirit Ability we have never seen before that can instantly and significantly boost one's own abilities!"
Hearing Kong Deming's analysis, Xu Yunhan slowly leaned back into his chair. He looked at the youth on the screen who still had a calm expression. In those deep imperial eyes, that sense of 'amazement' had been completely replaced by an emotion called 'conquest'.
Yes, conquest.
This youth's performance had completely conquered him.
The next moment, he slowly turned his head, his eyes burning as he looked at Jing Hongchen, who had been trembling slightly with wild joy since just now. In an unprecedented tone filled with endless praise, he said solemnly:
"Dean Jing, this time, you have done exceptionally well!"
"I dare say that investing in Liu Yuan is the most correct thing you have done since taking office as Dean!"
This evaluation was so high that even Jing Hongchen was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.
And Xu Yunhan's words were not over yet.
He stood up, walked in front of Jing Hongchen, and said in a low voice, using a tone almost like issuing a supreme command:
"From today onwards, the academy must spare no expense and do everything in our power to satisfy all of Liu Yuan's Cultivate needs! Whether it is resources, mentors, or intelligence, as long as he asks, we must give him the best!"
"We must... nurture him well!"
"This child's future is limitless!"
After finishing, Xu Yunhan and Kong Deming did not stay any longer. Carrying that shock which had yet to subside, they turned and left the office.
They needed to immediately re-evaluate the strategic deployment for this year's tournament.
...
With the conclusion of the finals, this grand Sun Moon Royal Academy Internal Selection officially came to a close.
The final match results spread throughout the entire academy in a way that no one could have predicted.
And Liu Yuan, as the center of the storm, was surrounded by a crowd of people as soon as he stepped off the arena.
The siblings Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were the first to rush to the front impatiently.
Xiao Hongchen grabbed Liu Yuan's shoulder. On that usually cynical face, there was now uncontrollable excitement and curiosity. He immediately questioned Liu Yuan:
"Brother Liu Yuan! Tell us honestly, what exactly happened just now?"
"Why did your strength and speed suddenly receive such a massive boost again?"
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