Chapter 204: Ultimate Showdown! Genius Divine Battle!
The densely packed examinees and Abyssal Demon Dragons in the arena were instantly cleared out by more than half.
Many examinees didn't even have time to scream before they were burned to ashes by the flames, turning into Jiang Yuan's points.
Over a hundred formidable Abyssal Demon Dragons also had their bodies shattered under the bombardment of the fireball, their Demonic Qi dissipating, leaving only charred remains floating above the magma.
Jiang Yuan's points suddenly increased by another three hundred points, reaching a numerical value of 888.
Until the flames of the fireball gradually dissipated, there were not many people still surviving on the battlefield, numbering just over a dozen when counted carefully.
This wasn't because the damage of Jiang Yuan's Fireball Spell was failing, but rather that he did it intentionally.
As early as when he condensed the fireball, Jiang Yuan had deliberately controlled the range and power of the flames, precisely avoiding two places.
One of those places was the three people of Zhao Biaobehind him.
Zhao Biao, Luo Hang, and Jiao Yuefeng closely hid behind Jiang Yuan, their bodies enveloped by a faint layer of flame shield deliberately released by Jiang Yuan. The flame shockwaves and scorching heat waves could not touch them by even a fraction.
The three of them stood in place, looking at the tragic scene before them, their faces filled with the relief of surviving a catastrophe and a trace of shock.
Since Jiang Yuan said he would protect them to advance, it was naturally impossible for him to wipe them out together.
Furthermore, with his current points, he didn't lack these few points from his brothers at all.
Therefore, the three of Zhao Biao were undoubtedly the safest and luckiest people in the entire audience.
They neither suffered damage from the Fireball Spell nor were attacked by other examinees.
After all, the other examinees were barely able to take care of themselves and simply had no mind to deal with three seemingly unremarkable Elite-grade Professionexaminees.
Another place intentionally avoided by Jiang Yuan was the team where Lin Muxue was located.
When the fireball exploded, an invisible barrier automatically formed around Lin Muxue and Su Yutong, completely isolating the flames and shockwaves. The two of them stood in place, safe and sound.
As for Si Muyuan, Chen Ze, and Li Hao in the team...
Although they also tried to hide at the edge of the barrier, they were affected by a trace of the residual flame wave intentionally leaked by Jiang Yuan. Their clothes were burned pitch black, their auras became chaotic, and their faces were filled with fear and panic.
The remaining survivors were all top Legendary-gradegeniuses with exceptionally strong self-preservation abilities. Aside from Lin Chenyu, Zhao Manjun, and Qin Haotian, there were also a few powerfully skilled Legendary-grade examinees.
The reason they could survive under Jiang Yuan's giant Fireball Spell was either because they unleashed trump-card defensive skills or held defensive supreme treasures in their hands, barely resisting the impact of the flames.
But even so, they were all in tattered clothes with chaotic auras, suffering considerable injuries.
The battle had not ended. The surviving Legendary-gradegeniuses looked at each other, a flash of determination and apprehension crossing their eyes.
They all knew that Jiang Yuan's strength was far too terrifying. If they didn't join forces to eliminate Jiang Yuan, once Jiang Yuan attacked again, all of them would surely die.
Rather than sitting here and waiting for death, it was better to join forces for a fight. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, they had to try to eliminate Jiang Yuan.
Without any superfluous words, Lin Chenyu, Zhao Manjun, and Qin Haotian exerted strength first, rushing toward Jiang Yuan. The remaining few Legendary-grade geniuses also closely followed, successively unleashing their trump-card skills and launching a crazy siege against Jiang Yuan.
Lin Chenyu's Heaven-Rending Devil Blade slashed out several black blade lights, directly piercing at the vital points all over Jiang Yuan's body.
Zhao Manjun condensed a giant icicle, smashing it toward Jiang Yuan while releasing ice blades, attempting to restrict Jiang Yuan's footsteps.
As for Qin Haotian, he held a thunder longspear, the lightning around his body surging violently. A thick thunder dragon surged out toward Jiang Yuan, every move fatal and executed with tacit coordination.
In response to this, Jiang Yuan's face did not show the slightest panic, and his expression remained calm. His fingertips once again condensed a scarlet-gold flame, and within just a few breaths, he condensed several small fireballs, smashing them toward the rushing Legendary-grade geniuses.
"You've come at the right time!"
Jiang Yuan's voice was icy and firm, without a shred of pity.
Several giant fireballs exploded with a boom, and the scarlet-gold flames swept over. Lin Chenyu and the others tried their utmost to unleash defensive skills, but they simply could not resist the power of the fireballs!
Lin Chenyu's black battle aura was burned to nothingness by the flames, his Heaven-Rending Blade was scorched pitch black by the flames, and his body was struck by the flames, letting out a miserable scream.
Zhao Manjun's ice-type shield instantly shattered, the crystal spirit sword slipped from her hand, her entire body was burned by the flames, and her aura became weak to the extreme.
Qin Haotian's thunder battle armor was melted by the flames, the power of thunder instantly became chaotic, and his entire person was sent flying by the flame shockwave, heavily slamming onto the volcanic rock and unable to get up ever again.
In a short moment, several top Legendary-grade geniuses were eliminated one by one by Jiang Yuan's Fireball Spell, turning into his points.
At the moment when the giant Fireball Spell exploded, Jiang Yuan's fingertips moved slightly, and several meteorite-like blazing flame lights quietly rushed toward another part of the battlefield.
That place was impressively the location where Lin Muxueand the others were. However, the target of the flames was not Lin Muxue and Su Yutong, but rather the three people: Si Muyuan, Chen Ze, and Li Hao.
Although Jiang Yuan didn't take Si Muyuan seriously and felt that he was just a clown jumping about, for such a person who had once provoked him and coveted Lin Muxue, Jiang Yuan didn't mind sending them a "big gift" to completely settle this grievance.
Several blazing flame lights instantly hit the three of Si Muyuan. The three of them had already been affected by the residual flame waves and had chaotic auras; they simply could not resist this sudden attack, and were instantly swallowed by the flames, letting out miserable screams.
Within a split second, they turned to ashes, and their points were also pocketed by Jiang Yuan.
At this point, the battle was basically over.
On the entire island of the Purgatory Blazing Dragon Valley, only a handful of people remained.
Jiang Yuan stood tall in the center of the island, the scarlet-gold flame light around his body gradually receding. His expression was calm, as if the tragic slaughter just now had nothing to do with him.
The three people behind him—Zhao Biao, Luo Hang, and Jiao Yuefeng—were still shaken, yet they could hardly conceal the excitement and relief in their hearts.
On the other side of the island, Lin Muxue and Su Yutongstood side by side, their expressions varied.
Su Yutong's face was pale, her hands tightly clenched together, her face full of lingering fear, and her fingertips still trembling slightly.
The moment the fireball exploded just now, she thought she was surely dead. It wasn't until that invisible barrier appeared that she managed to remain safe and sound. However, watching her three teammates instantly swallowed by the flames beside her, she still had lingering fear, her voice carrying a trace of tremor.
"S-So terrifying... Just now I even thought that I was going to die too."
Fortunately, Jiang Yuan's true target was not her; otherwise, she would have had no possibility of surviving at all.
As for Lin Muxue, her expression didn't change much, her clear and beautiful face remaining as calm as ever, as if all of this was within her expectations.
She slightly raised her gaze, her eyes falling on Jiang Yuan. There was not a shred of fear in her beautiful eyes, only an unresolvable tenderness and trust.
She never believed that her boyfriend, Jiang Yuan, would truly harm her. Even in this cruel melee, Jiang Yuan would definitely do his utmost to protect her comprehensively.
Jiang Yuan slowly turned around, his gaze passing over the three of Zhao Biao and landing on Lin Muxue. The ice-coldness in the depths of his eyes instantly faded, replaced by thick tenderness and cherishing.
He opened his stride and walked toward Lin Muxue. The volcanic rock under his feet was still scorching hot, yet it didn't affect his pace in the slightest. Every step that fell carried firmness and deep affection.
"Lin Muxue, I've startled you."
Walking up to Lin Muxue, Jiang Yuan gently extended his hand, brushing away a trace of sparks stained in her hair, his tone so gentle that water could practically drip from it.
"I've never been afraid."
Lin Muxue shook her head slightly, raised her hand, and gently grasped Jiang Yuan's hand. His palm carried a faint warmth, banishing the surrounding scorching heat and also banishing all the unease in her heart.
"I know you will definitely protect me. No matter when it is, you will never hurt me."
Lin Muxue's voice was soft, yet it carried absolute firmness.
"Of course."
"It's just that in the next few rounds, if we aren't assigned to the same combat zone, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you comprehensively!"
"But from now on, I will definitely protect you well!"
Jiang Yuan's heart warmed, and he tightened his grip on her hand, his eyes filled with deep affection.
He knew that although Lin Muxue was a top Epic ClassClass Holder, her own strength was not weak.
Yet in this melee gathered with experts and fraught with crises, there was still considerable danger. If not for him deliberately avoiding it, Lin Muxue would probably have been affected as well.
"I don't blame you. After all, this is an assessment!"
"Furthermore, being able to endure through the third round and enter the fourth-round melee, I am already extremely satisfied!"
"I know you also have your own goals and your own persistence."
Lin Muxue gently shook her head, a gentle smile curling up at the corners of her lips, and her beautiful eyes flashing with a firm radiance. "I don't want to become your burden. I want to become stronger together with you and grow together. In the future, I want to protect you as well, instead of always being protected by you."
Jiang Yuan looked at her clear and beautiful face, listening to her gentle yet firm words, and a strong wave of emotion surged in his heart.
"Alright, let's become stronger together and grow together."
"From now on, we will fight side by side. Whether it's the Federal Unified Examination or the wind and rain of the future, I will never let you face it alone."
"I will become stronger—strong enough to protect your peace for a lifetime, and strong enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you and look down upon all things in this world."
Jiang Yuan gently pulled her into his embrace, releasing a faint flame shield around his body to protect her in his arms, his tone solemn and firm.
"Mm, let's go together, walk side by side, become better versions of ourselves together, and march toward an even higher Peak together."
Lin Muxue leaned against Jiang Yuan's embrace, feeling his warm embrace and firm heartbeat. A happy smile appeared on her face, and she nodded gently, her voice soft yet firm.
Su Yutong, who was standing to the side, watched the two people embracing each other. The fright on her face gradually dissipated, replaced by a trace of envy. She gently turned around, not disturbing this warm scene.
The three of Zhao Biao also turned around one after another, revealing gratified smiles on their faces. They felt happy for Jiang Yuan and even more determined in their resolution to follow Jiang Yuan and work hard to become stronger.
Above the island, the magma was still rolling, and the Demonic Qi was still permeating.
But at this moment, the previous cruelty and bloodshed were gone, replaced by a trace of warmth and firmness.
Jiang Yuan and Lin Muxue stood embracing each other, their gazes firm, both holding the same promise in their hearts.
Become stronger together, grow together, walk side by side, and head towards the future together.
And this grand melee of the third round also completely drew to a close at this very moment.
...
In the Federal Council Chamber, a huge holographic projection floated above the dome, clearly presenting every single detail of the third round of the Purgatory Blazing Dragon Valley—
Jiang Yuan holding Lin Muxue in his arms, the appearance of Zhao Biao and the other two surviving a catastrophe, as well as the charred remains all over the ground and the rolling magma, were all reflected in the eyes of every high-ranking Federal official present.
The council chamber was silent and devoid of sound, save for the faint dragon roars and the sound of skill aftermath transmitted by the holographic projection. Yet the atmosphere was not dull at all; instead, it permeated with an undisguisable restlessness and an undercurrent of heated discussion.
"Bringing a group of mediocre Class Holders to advance into the fourth round, while instead eliminating a batch of Legendary-grade students with extraordinary Aptitude, I'm afraid this is rather inappropriate!"
Inside the council chamber, a sour voice suddenly rang out.
Hearing this, the crowd slightly frowned, their postures and expressions varying.
Sitting squarely at the primary seat, the Federal Speakerwas dressed in a dark robe embroidered with the Federal emblem, his face majestic. His gaze locked tightly onto Jiang Yuan's figure in the projection, and his fingertips tapped gently on the tabletop, breaking the silence.
"Everyone, you all saw Jiang Yuan's actions just now."
His voice was not loud, yet it carried unquestionable authority, "Within the rules, forming alliances and helping each other is permitted in the first place. By using absolute strength to protect his brothers and lover, not only did he not violate the rules, but instead, it allowed me to see the rarest trait in him."
"What the Federal Speaker says is entirely correct."
"In the previous two rounds, Jiang Yuan was decisive in killing, almost slaughtering all candidates in the same combat zone. To be honest, I have always been worried!"
"With such formidable combat power, if his Mental statewere twisted and he had no bonds, he would definitely become a hidden danger to the Federation in the future."
"But just now, he deliberately controlled the power of the Fireball Spell, avoiding Zhao Biao and the other two as well as Lin Muxue, and even conveniently cleared away Si Muyuan and the other two who had provoked him. He clearly distinguished between gratitude and grudges, and showed deep loyalty and righteousness. This is the strong person our Federation needs."
At the head of the left side, the Deputy Minister of the Federal Military Department wore a military uniform and exuded a stern military aura. Hearing this, he immediately spoke, his tone carrying obvious approval.
To put it nicely, Jiang Yuan's behavior made him a person of deep loyalty and righteousness.
This was an advantage.
In fact, it was also a weakness.
Equivalent to saying, Jiang Yuan had extra soft spots like his brothers and women.
"The Minister of Military Affairs is right."
The Minister of the Federal Education Headquarters on the side took over the conversation, his eyes full of burning fervor, "Our Five Great Academies recruit top Geniuses every year, but we have never seen such a heaven-defyingexistence."
"Look at the points panel. Jiang Yuan's current points are close to nine hundred points, equivalent to obtaining three hundred points per round, far surpassing other candidates!"
He raised his hand to signal everyone to look at the points ranking in the corner of the holographic projection, his tone growing more and more excited, "With his current points advantage, as long as he is not accidentally eliminated, the number one spot in the entire Federation is already within his grasp. Even for those Geniuses with Mythic-grade Profession, their points are at most just over three hundred, falling far short of him."
"What is even rarer is that he is only eighteen years old, and after only one month since his Awakening, he can possess such terrifying combat power with infinite potential."
The Minister of the Federal Scientific Research Department pushed up his glasses, his tone carrying inquiry and anticipation, "We have been unable to probe the bottom line of his profession so far. We only know that he can simultaneously control the two elemental powers of fire and thunder, and also has formidable defense and spiritual counterattack capabilities. If such a talent can be incorporated into the Scientific Research Department and cooperate with our resource support, perhaps he can break through the shackles of existing professions and explore a higher-order power System."
Jiang Yuan, a mere Elite-grade Professional, could erupt with stronger combat effectiveness than Mythical Rank Professionals.
If this ability could be researched, widely used, and passed down as a Inheritance...
In the near future, professions would no longer be divided into high and low classes. Even everyone could become a Dragon, and everyone would have the Aptitude to become a deity!
By then, the Federation would become the strongest force in the world, not to mention other Human Race forces, even the abyss would not be feared at all.
The pattern of the world would eventually change.
Of course, perhaps the only sacrifice and price to be paid would be Jiang Yuan alone!
"The Scientific Research Department shouldn't even think about it."
"Such combat power, if devoted to military affairs, will definitely become the sharpest dagger of the Federation, resisting the invasion of abyss monsters and guarding the territory of the Federation."
"I promise that as long as he is willing to join the Federal Military Department, he will be directly awarded the rankof Major General, equipped with the top-tier equipment and an exclusive combat team, and all cultivationresources will be supplied infinitely!"
The Minister of the Military Affairs Department immediately retorted, his tone carrying a firmness that allowed no retreat.
A Federal Major General, that was definitely a mid-to-high level position.
You must know that Jiang Yuan is only eighteen years old now. By continuously building his seniority in the military, it is possible for him to become a general, marshal, or even the supreme commander of the Federation in the future!
"The Military Affairs Department is too impetuous."
"Young people, after all, still need to focus on cultivationand growth."
"Our Five Great Academies possess the top mentor team, the most complete cultivation System, and Secret Realmresources with a history of thousands of years. As long as Jiang Yuan is willing to enroll, no matter which academy he chooses, we can give him the highest specification of treatment, allowing him to concentrate on cultivationwithout any interference and achieve a breakthrough in his Cultivation Realm."
The Minister of the Federal Education Headquarters chuckled, his tone full of confidence.
The conference hall instantly fell into debate. The high-level officials of various departments successively threw out their recruitment conditions, their tones full of eagerness and sincerity.
Everyone was clear that once a Genius like Jiang Yuangrew up, he would definitely become an existence that influenced the pattern of the Federation. Whether incorporated into the military, academies, or the scientific research department, he could bring a qualitative leap to their respective fields.
"Everyone, there is no need to argue. Jiang Yuan's primary task right now is to complete the Unified Examination."
"What we need to do currently is to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the assessment, and not interfere with any of his actions. At the same time, we must closely monitor his performance, especially in the final round of competition!"
"This is from the top one hundred Geniuses of the entire Federation, as well as several Mythical Rank Professionals, and perhaps even Prodigies with hidden professions. Whether Jiang Yuan can persist to the end remains an unknown."
The Federal Speaker raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. His gaze fell back onto the holographic projection, his tone solemn.
He paused and added, "As for the recruitment, after the Unified Examination ends, we will come forward together and offer the most sincere conditions."
"But one point must be clear!"
"No matter which path Jiang Yuan chooses, we must win him over with all our might. We must never let him escape the control of the Federation, nor let him be coveted by other forces."
"As long as he has bonds and pursuits, we can firmly tie him to the Federation's chariot, making him the protector of the Federation rather than a hidden danger."
Everyone nodded one after another, casting their gazes back to the holographic projection, their eyes filled with both anticipation and a hint of worry.
Although Jiang Yuan was strong, there was still the fourth phase and the ultimate competition of the final round, which could be described as hidden dragons and crouching tigers.
No matter how strong a single person was, it was difficult to withstand the joint siege of nearly a hundred top Geniuses.
What's more, there was the existence of God-level Class Holders. This ultimate duel was destined to be soul-stirring.
At the same time, the prompt sound for the end of the third round of assessment sounded. Jiang Yuan, Lin Muxue, Zhao Biao, Luo Hang, Jiao Yuefeng, and Su Yutongsuccessfully advanced to the fourth round.
A soft white light enveloped the six people at the same time, but the moment the white light dissipated, several people were separated.
The Federal Unified Examination final competition adopted a multi-combat-zone parallel mode, with multiple hundred-person combat zones. All advancing candidates would be randomly assigned. Only candidates participating as a team, regardless of the random assignment result, would be automatically placed into the same combat zone to ensure team integrity.
Jiang Yuan appeared alone in a Shadow Forest, and Lin Muxue and the others were not by his side, obviously having been assigned to another hundred-person combat zone.
The exclusive battlefield of the fourth round was a vast, boundless Shadow Forest that never saw the sun all year round.
Here it was pitch-black as ink, and towering ancient trees blocked the sky and sun. Thick branches intertwined with each other, weaving into a huge dome that completely isolated all sunlight. Only sporadic faint green ghost fires floated up from the pile of fallen leaves, barely illuminating the path underfoot, exuding a strange and chilly aura.
The ground in the forest was covered with thick rotting leaves. Stepping on it was soft and muddy, making a sizzling sound. The air was filled with rich shadow energy, the stench of rotting leaves, and a hint of an elusive bloody smell, making people uneasy.
What was even more daunting was that the environment of this Shadow Forest was extremely complex, with deep bushes, hidden gullies, and entwined vines visible everywhere. Not only was vision obstructed, but it was also extremely easy to hide traps and enemies.
When fighting, one not only had to cope with frontal attacks, but also constantly guard against sneak attacks from the dark, with many places needing attention.
But for candidates who excelled in assassin professions or controlled shadow-type abilities, this was an excellent battlefield.
The complex environment of the Shadow Forest could provide them with perfect cover, making it convenient for them to conceal their tracks and launch surprise attacks, offering great operational space.
In addition, there was also an exclusive abyss-demonic monster in the Shadow Forest named Shadow Demonic Snake. Their entire bodies were pitch-black as ink, their scales smooth and shiny, reflecting a strange dark light under the illumination of the faint green ghost fires. Their figures were slender and long, up to more than ten meters at the longest, and their bodies were extremely flexible, able to shuttle freely between bushes and vines, and even entwine on tree trunks, perfectly concealing their own tracks.
Their eyes were turbid dark red without any pupils, exuding a cold murderous intent. The bifurcated tongues in their mouths constantly flicked in and out, able to keenly capture the surrounding energy fluctuations and auras.
Every Shadow Demonic Snake possessed the strength of the Second-Transition Peak and lived in groups. They excelled at covert sneak attacks, and could spit viscous shadow venom from their mouths. Wherever the venom landed, even hard rocks would be corroded into black holes. At the same time, they could also control shadow energy, integrating themselves into the shadows to launch surprise attacks and biting opponents with sharp poisonous fangs.
The special features of the Shadow Demonic Snakes were, first, their large numbers, and second, they were impossible to guard against.
For the candidates on the battlefield, the Shadow Demonic Snakes were also a very huge threat.
However.
Unlike the previous few rounds, the strength of the candidates who could advance to the fourth round had already undergone a qualitative leap. The number of Epic Class Class Holders plummeted, leaving very few, and the vast majority were Geniuses with Legendary-gradeprofessions.
Formidable coercion emanated from all around them, their eyes were sharp, and their expressions were alert. Obviously, they had all prepared for battle, and none of them were easy to deal with.
Jiang Yuan circulated his magic power, releasing a faint red-gold flame around his body to disperse the shadow energy lingering around. At the same time, his gaze swept across the audience, carefully probing the movements around him.
To his slight regret, in this battle's hundred-person combat zone, no Mythical Rank Professionals appeared.
After all, Mythical Rank Professionals were one-in-a-hundred-million existences, extremely rare in number, and it was impossible to encounter them in every round.
But Jiang Yuan knew clearly in his heart that this also meant that in the upcoming fifth-round ultimate duel, he would most likely encounter all the Mythical Rank Professionals of this Federal Unified Examination.
The ultimate battle would undoubtedly be even more cruel.
Just as Jiang Yuan was pondering, a familiar figure came into view, causing a trace of surprise to flash across the depths of his eyes.
I saw that on a thick branch not far away, a slender and upright young girl's figure stood.
She was dressed in a neat dark purple martial outfit, outlining her fine figure to perfection. Her long hair was tied up high, revealing her smooth forehead and cold, aloof eyebrows and eyes. In her hand, she tightly held a glowing purple spirit wood bow, and between her eyebrows and eyes carried a trace of imperceptible coldness and hostility.
It was unexpectedly Ding Luoling, the Legendary-gradearcher who had a conflict with Jiang Yuan earlier on the mechanical train heading towards the Federal Unified Examination finals.
Back on the mechanical train, the two had a dispute due to a small friction. In the end, because Ding Luoling's rankwas slightly inferior, she was suppressed by Jiang Yuan. She had been holding back a breath in her heart ever since, wanting to find an opportunity for revenge.
Unexpectedly, the two actually met in the combat zone of the fourth round. For Ding Luoling, this was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for revenge.
Ding Luoling's Legendary-grade profession was named [ Nether Ash Shadow Archer ], which was a perfect combination of archery and shadow-type abilities.
Not only did she possess ultimate archery precision, but she could also control shadow energy and conceal her own tracks. The arrows contained formidable shadow power, which could not only deal huge amounts of damage, but also come with paralysis and corrosion effects, making her a veritable long-range assassin.
And the special environment of the Shadow Forest was simply like adding wings to a tiger for Ding Luoling.
The purple spirit wood bow in her hand was a Legendary-grade weapon, capable of amplifying shadow energy and archery power. The arrows she shot were faster and more powerful, and could also penetrate a certain amount of defense.
Just as the prompt sound for the fourth round's large-scale melee sounded, Ding Luoling took the lead in launching an attack without the slightest hesitation.
With a flicker of her figure, she was instantly enveloped in dense shadow energy, her form blurring as she concealed herself within the shadows of a tree trunk, almost blending seamlessly with her surroundings and rendering her nearly imperceptible.
Immediately afterward, the purple spirit wood bow in her hand was slowly drawn back, and an arrow radiating a deep purple hue and wreathed in dense shadow energy instantly materialized, its shaft coiled with faint black mist that exuded a heart-palpitating pressure.
This was her innate skill, [Shadow Heart-Devouring Arrow], which contained the ultimate power of shadows; once it struck, the shadow energy would invade the opponent's body, corroding their meridians and devouring their mana, making it difficult even for a Legendary-gradeClass Holder to endure.
"Jiang Yuan, I lost to you in the level competition on the train last time, but this time, I will definitely take back everything that belongs to me!"
Ding Luoling's voice came from the shadows, sounding cold yet tinged with a hint of excitement.
Before her words faded, she released the bowstring, and the Shadow Heart-Devouring Arrow pierced through the air with a sharp whistling sound like a streak of black lightning, thrusting straight toward Jiang Yuan's glabella at extreme speed; the air along its path was distorted by the shadow energy, making its trajectory nearly impossible to track.
Jiang Yuan's expression turned solemn, not daring to be careless in the slightest. Although Ding Luoling was merely a Legendary-grade Class Holder, her [Nether Ash Shadow Archer] class excelled at sneak attacks, and her arrow attacks possessed formidable power.
He instinctively circulated the power of thunder, instantly condensing a thick thunder shield around his body where purple-gold lightning danced across its surface, radiating formidable defensive power.
Bang!
The arrow struck the thunder shield fiercely, producing a deafening crash as the sharp shadow energy instantly erupted. Colliding with the power of thunder, it sent forth dazzling sparks, causing the energy in the air to churn violently while the surrounding decayed leaves were swept up by the shockwave, dancing wildly across the sky.
Although the thunder shield trembled violently under the attack, in reality, its shield value hardly decreased at all.
Even though the Thunder Shield Technique cast by Jiang Yuan had an amplification multiplier of only ten thousand times rather than the maximum millions of times,
it was more than enough to block Ding Luoling's attacks.
After all, even though Ding Luoling was a powerful Legendary-grade Class Holder and her Nether Ash Shadow Archer class perfectly suited the environment of the Shadow Forest,
let us not forget that Ding Luoling was not Jiang Yuan and lacked the blessing of the System.
No matter how strong she was, she was ultimately just a Tier 2 Class Holder.
No matter how great her strength, it was ultimately limited.
In the previous three rounds, Jiang Yuan had encountered quite a few geniuses with extremely aggressive tendencies like Ding Luoling, but without exception, they had all been killed by him.
"Your defense is actually this strong!?"
Ding Luoling's voice carried a hint of surprise, yet she did not retreat in the slightest. Her figure darted quickly through the shadows, constantly shifting positions as she repeatedly drew the purple spirit wood bow in her hand, continuously firing off arrows of Shadow Heart-Devouring.
At the same time, she cast another skill, [Shadow Arrow Rain], unleashing countless small shadow arrows that poured forth densely from the shadows, raining down upon Jiang Yuan from all directions and sealing off every single one of his evasion routes.
Jiang Yuan's gaze was icy cold as the scarlet-gold flames and purple-gold thunder surged simultaneously around him. While maintaining the thunder shield to fend off the dense barrage of arrows, he swiftly locked onto Ding Luoling's position.
Although she was hidden within the shadows, the fluctuations of shadow energy emanating from her body could ultimately not be completely masked.
"Since you insist on courting death, don't blame me for being unpolite."
"Let me send you a ticket to leave first!"
As his voice fell, Jiang Yuan ceased his passive defense. Scarlet-gold flames gathered at his fingertips, and the fiery energy surged rapidly, instantly condensing into a giant fireball.
Immediately afterward, a second, a third...
Within just a few breaths, ten giant fireballs, each hundreds of meters in diameter, had condensed into existence. Every single fireball was wreathed in violent flame patterns, boasting an amplification multiplier of ten thousand times and radiating a heaven-destroying and earth-shattering pressure that illuminated the entire Shadow Forest as bright as day.
The temperature in the air soared instantly, causing the decayed leaves to sizzle as they burned, while the shadow energy was suppressed by the flames and gradually dissipated.
"This is impossible!!"
"How could you possibly release so many Fireball Spells of such terrifying power at the same time!!!"
Ding Luoling's voice carried incredulous panic. She could no longer maintain her concealment, her figure bursting out from the shadows as she tried to flee the flame-enveloped area.
Let alone her, even the other candidates present all wore expressions of profound shock and terror.
No one could have imagined that although Jiang Yuan was likewise a Tier 2 Class Holder just like them, the skills he unleashed were so terrifying!
As the ten giant fireballs formed a tightening encirclement, they completely engulfed Ding Luoling, the other candidates present, and the exclusive monsters of the Shadow Forest.
Jiang Yuan flicked his fingertips slightly, and the ten giant fireballs crashed down simultaneously with a deafening roar. The scarlet-gold flames instantly swept across the entire combat zone; wherever the flames passed, the shadow energy was completely incinerated, the Shadow Demonic Serpents let out sharp, ear-piercing screeches, their tough scales rapidly melting under the high-temperature flames as their twisting, struggling bodies were instantly swallowed by the fire and reduced to ashes.
The other Legendary-grade candidates present, no matter how they deployed their defensive skills, could not withstand the might of ten Fireball Spells amplified by ten thousand times, and were burned to cinders one after another amidst desperate screams.
After all, they might be able to withstand one, two, or even three giant fireballs.
But the Fireball Spells unleashed by Jiang Yuan numbered a full ten!
Furthermore, ten giant fireballs were not even Jiang Yuan's limit.
At this moment, Ding Luoling was enveloped in flames, the shadow energy around her body instantly dissipating as her body was scorched black and horribly deformed.
"I never expected to lose again!"
"And to lose so miserably!"
She looked at Jiang Yuan, her eyes filled with reluctance and despair.
At that moment, she finally realized that the gap in strength between herself and Jiang Yuan was simply worlds apart.
In the end, she too was swallowed by the endless flames and thoroughly eliminated.
Unlike the previous few rounds, Jiang Yuan had unleashed a full ten ten-thousand-fold amplified giant fireballs this time before completely wiping out all the candidates and Shadow Demonic Wolves present.
From this, it was not hard to see that the strength of the candidates in the fourth round was far superior to the previous rounds. Even Legendary-grade Class Holders possessed impressive defense and combat capability, making it vastly more difficult to clear the combat zone in a single sweep.
During the battle, upon seeing this, many candidates joined forces to besiege Jiang Yuan, unleashing countless skills that poured toward him—shadow-type sneak attacks, elemental-type frontal assaults, and physical-type melee charges.
Although Jiang Yuan was strong, it was difficult for him to remain entirely unscathed. Several times, skills struck his thunder shield, causing it to vibrate violently and even develop tiny cracks. Jiang Yuan felt a trace of the impact force as well, but fortunately, protected by the Thunder Shield Technique, he did not suffer any real harm.
After all, facing the joint siege of hundreds of epic and Legendary-grade geniuses, even a Mythic-grade Profession holder could not remain completely unscathed.
The battle came to an end once more.
And Jiang Yuan's points instantly surged to 1,688 points.
Among them, the greatest contribution came from the Shadow Demonic Serpents in the Shadow Forest, whose numbers were evidently far greater than the abyss-corrupted monsters of the first three rounds.
Even if the candidates had not run into Jiang Yuan in this round, I am afraid many of them would still have been killed by the ambush attacks of the Shadow Demonic Serpents.
"Still completely without difficulty!"
Jiang Yuan pondered inwardly.
He stood quietly in place, waiting for the ultimate grand melee of the final round.
Until the fourth-round assessments in the other combat zones concluded one after another, and the list of qualifiers was officially finalized.
Jiang Yuan's points reached as high as 1,688, far outstripping everyone else. The highest score among the other candidates was only four or five hundred points—not even half of Jiang Yuan's—a disparity so stark it was despair-inducing.
As the System prompt rang out once more, Jiang Yuan's figure was enveloped in a beam of white light, instantly teleporting him away from the Shadow Forest.
This time, the Federal Unified Examination finals had finally reached its final round!
In the fifth-round ultimate duel, all the advancing top geniuses would gather together to contend for the glory of being the Federal number one.
When Jiang Yuan opened his eyes once more, he found himself already placed within the exclusive battlefield of the fifth-round ultimate duel!
A shattered ancient temple.
This temple was extremely unusual; rather than a complete structure, it was a shattered ruin left behind after the erosion of time and the baptism of war, exuding vicissitudes and majesty everywhere.
The temple's foundation was paved with Divine Stone as black as ink, its surface covered in cracked patterns. Faint golden divine patterns still lingered within the fissures; though dimmed, they still radiated a faint yet sacred pressure, as if silently recounting the glory of the ancient era.
Standing all around were hundreds of fractured divine pillars, each pillar towering dozens of zhang high and carved with intricate, mysterious patterns—some depicting divine birds soaring with wings spread, some majestic Divine Beasts, and others obscure ancient runes. Several pillars had already snapped, leaning diagonally across the ground with rubble scattered everywhere, adding an even greater sense of desolation.
The temple's dome was long gone; looking up revealed only the grayish sky, occasionally pierced by a few faint beams of divine light weaving through the clouds, spilling down into the shattered temple to echo and shimmer with the divine patterns on the ground.
In the center of the temple stood a broken divine altar covered in dust. The divine statue originally enshrined upon it was long incomplete, leaving only the upper half of its torso, yet one could still discern the majesty and sanctity it held back in the day.
Throughout the entire temple, there was not a shred of vitality. The air was filled with dense spiritual energy of heaven and earth, mixed with a faint aura of divinity and the vicissitudes of time, along with an elusive, lingering intent to kill that portended the cruelty of this ultimate duel.
Unlike the previous few rounds, this round featured no exclusive abyss-corrupted monsters.
Instead, one hundred top geniuses stood scattered across each of the divine pillars, their postures upright and their auras formidable.
They were all prodigies who had survived round after round of brutal screening, standing out from hundreds of millions of candidates across the Federation. Every single one of them possessed heaven-defying talent and formidable combat prowess, with gazes as sharp as blades and pressures radiating from their bodies that could not be underestimated; merely standing there, they projected an invisible aura that commanded respect.
This ultimate duel was also known as the "Genius Divine War".
Every Genius present enjoyed great fame and prestige within their respective states.
Some were the top scorers of the state-level Unified Examination, some were heirs of divine-meridian families, and others were Core Disciples of top factions. Every single person carried countless expectations upon their shoulders.
And these geniuses were the prized treasures of all major factions.
Anyone who could smoothly mature would undoubtedly become a top powerhouse of the Federation in the future!
Either holding high positions within the Federation to wield regional authority,
or becoming faction leaders commanding countless troops,
or becoming lords of conglomerates with wealth rivaling nations,
or becoming military commanders guarding the Federation's borders.
Everyone's future was fraught with infinite possibilities.