Chapter 2412: Chapter 2416: Unable to Do It
"We can choose freely?!"
The crowd’s eyes lit up.
"Senior Wu, what do you mean by ’as long as you can get it’?"
Jiang Chen detected something different and softly inquired.
"Hehe."
Wu Zhengfeng chuckled lightly and looked at Jiang Chen with appreciation.
No one would ignore the updates on the information within the Identity Jade Token, and Wu Zhengfeng believed that all the students had already thoroughly checked what could be exchanged for points at the academy yesterday.
Facing the enormous and terrifying resource temptation, being able to remain rational and find the underlying meaning in his words, Jiang Chen’s resilient mind was indeed impressive!
When I first heard this news, I didn’t think of that; I was only focused on grabbing something.
Wu Zhengfeng murmured to himself.
As Jiang Chen’s words echoed, the surroundings fell silent as everyone noticed that point.
"Among all the rewards offered by the academy, the Spiritual Treasures and Elixirs available to choose from, unless explicitly stated as part of the reward, you’ll need to take the initiative yourself. When you go to claim them, you’ll understand why I say this. Here, I advise you all not to blindly grab the best but to act according to your abilities!"
Wu Zhengfeng didn’t explain much but simply advised everyone.
The crowd was momentarily stunned, each with different expressions. Jiang Chen had a contemplative look in his eyes; it seemed these rewards weren’t so easy to acquire!
But thinking about it, if it were easy to grab anything, and everyone chose the top resources, the academy would run out of worthwhile items in a few years.
Glancing at everyone, Wu Zhengfeng smiled slightly and turned to Sun Qianshan and the others: "The competition for the top person in each realm now begins. You three will compete first; you may battle in a free-for-all or one-on-one, choosing your battle method yourselves."
"Choosing our own battle method?!"
Everyone was momentarily stunned, then looked towards Jiang Chen and the others. If they could choose their battle method, the people from Changlin Academy would have too much of an advantage. If they chose group battles, the matches in the following three realms might hold no suspense.
"Senior Wu, isn’t this a bit unfair?"
Cheng Kang hesitantly glanced at Yun Tao, Mu Ling’er, and Jiang Chen, then called out.
"Why is it unfair? It’s unfair to let you choose yourselves? If you disagree with someone else’s chosen method, propose your own. If the dispute continues without a resolution, I will ultimately decide the battle method for you."
Wu Zhengfeng looked at Cheng Kang with indifference.
The fact that Cheng Kang could think it unfair showed he realized he might face group attacks. In that case, if their academy had the larger numbers, they might choose that battle method.
Jiang Chen and the others exchanged a glance and shared a knowing smile, and then...
"I quit!"
"I quit too!"
The calls were made one after another, a continuous stream of voices announcing withdrawals from the competition.
Everyone was momentarily stunned, looking at those announcing their withdrawal with surprised expressions.
Those shouting their withdrawal were surprisingly all students from Changlin Academy or bearing the name of Changlin Academy. Among the three from the Divine Infant Realm Early Stage, no one withdrew. In the Mid Divine Infant Realm, Jian Wuheng, Feng Qingyang, and Lin Zhong all withdrew, leaving only Jiang Chen.
After the recent trials, even Lin Zhong lost the confidence to challenge Jiang Chen.
In the Late Divine Infant Realm, Mu Ling’er chose to withdraw, and in the Divine Infant Realm Peak, Fire Phoenix chose to withdraw. Thus, in the Mid Divine Infant Realm, only Jiang Chen was left; in the Late Stage, Yun Wuhun and Cheng Kang remained; in the Peak Realm, Lei Kai and Yan Hu remained.
"See? Not everyone thinks about relying on numbers for group battles; sometimes, don’t be too petty-minded."
Glancing at the people of Changlin Academy, Wu Zhengfeng looked indifferently at Cheng Kang.
Cheng Kang’s face heated up with shame, bowing his head. He hadn’t expected the people of Changlin Academy to directly give up such an advantage. Although they might be rejected, trying was always worthwhile; what if it succeeded?
At the foot of the mountain.
"This..."
"They chose to withdraw?!"
The deans looked towards Hu Yiqiu and Jian Wuheng in astonishment.
Jian Wuheng wore a proud smile, standing tall and looking at the screen that had gathered; the screen now only showed scenes beside the Spiritual Spring, and the withdrawal calls were heard clearly through it.
"The branch academy isn’t just about power; not only are the students’ realms high and battle prowess strong, but they also have their pride!"
Li Yuanting spoke solemnly: "Everyone knows Changlin Academy is at risk of losing its branch academy title, but few remember that a hundred years ago, Changlin Academy was the strongest among all junior academies, and it was the only one to receive the branch academy title upon establishment since the founding of Changling Academy."
"Since then, until today, that title has never been stripped from Changlin Academy. This is Changlin Academy! An academy that can be a legend among all junior academies!"
The words had just fallen when everyone was astonished.
"Always held the branch title?!"
"Since its founding..."
"I remember now, the records mention that Changlin Academy was founded even before Changling Main Court. When the Great Emperor unified the continent and hadn’t yet begun to strongly support the establishment of academies, Changlin Academy had already been established!"
"Yes, that’s right. Changlin Academy seems to be one of the earliest academies on the continent, even earlier than the Six Great Academies!"
Reminded by Li Yuanting, the deans recalled ancient records and looked at Jian Cangqiong with astonishment.
The eliminated students showed astonished expressions, and the eliminated Sang Zhenglong and Sang Zhirou both straightened their chests, proud. This was the pride of their Changlin Academy, and as students of the academy, they shared in the glory!
"Changlin Academy’s students chose to withdraw because the pride of the academy prevents them from using a larger number to bully the fewer. Even if this time concerns the retention of Changlin Academy’s branch title, their inner pride doesn’t permit them to act that way!"
Li Yuanting watched the figures announcing their withdrawal on the screen, his eyes complicated:
"This is the pride of Changlin Academy. Even if these children may not understand or realize it, the pride of Changlin Academy has unconsciously influenced them! It makes them incapable of doing anything that would disgrace the academy!"
The deans collectively fell silent.
Looking at the faces on the screen, resigned but tranquil, except for Feng Qingyang and Lin Zhong, who voluntarily stepped down knowing they weren’t a match for Jiang Chen, the others left behind their strongest without mutual consultation.
They are from the same academy, and the choice was in their hands, yet they still chose the fairest battle method. This led the deans to ask themselves if their academy’s students could do the same.
The answers they got made them feel a bit ashamed.
They couldn’t!
