Chapter 353: Bullying the young, it really is fun

Above the earth, tens of thousands of examinees sat cross-legged, gazing at the massive Xunyang Tower.

They discussed and marveled incessantly:

"Yu Changsheng is too strong; he's already at the one hundred and eighty-fifth floor."

"Zhang Luobai isn't bad either; he's at the one hundred and sixtieth floor now. Actually, this result has already surpassed his performance last year."

"Zhu Lili is in hot pursuit at the one hundred and fifty-seventh floor; she can be considered the strongest newcomer this year."

"Zhu Lili shouldn't be stronger than Chen Yan, right? Chen Yan defeated Qiu Changji in the Dream Abyss."

"Is it possible that Qiu Changji is just too weak? His speed in climbing the tower is a bit slow; he's only at the seventy-fifth floor now."

…………

The crowd continued their discussion.

Xunyang Tower is the place where the truly strongest prodigies compete.

Many examinees from the Military Martial Guard sighed in their hearts; Chen Yan went to the third level of the Dream Abyss and might never be able to come out.

Chen Yan has an abstention token; after entering the third level of the Dream Abyss to finish what he needed to do, he would likely press the abstention button and leave directly.

"Hey, Military Martial ones, where is your Chen Yan?"

An examinee from the Aristocratic Alliance laughed out loud:

"How come I don't see him? Yu Changsheng is going to break the record this time. By the way, the previous record was still held by your Military Martial's Shen Yiwei."

A look of mockery appeared in his eyes.

After the Military Martial examinees from the Dream Abyss came over, they were all singing Chen Yan's praises one by one.

One person suppressed both Jiang Yuan and Qiu Changji.

Words like "Military Martial is invincible" were almost spreading everywhere.

The examinees from the Martial Suppression Division and the Aristocratic Alliance who had been guarding outside Xunyang Tower felt dissatisfied.

The strongest prodigies of the Aristocratic Alliance and the Martial Suppression Division are Yu Changsheng and Qiu Changji.

They believed that no matter how capable Chen Yan was, he wouldn't be a match for either of these two.

However, while these people were still discussing,

inside another world, it was pitch dark.

From within this world, one could see them, but could not hear their voices.

Chen Yan passed by their side.

In an instant, he rushed into Xunyang Tower.

"Chen Yan!!!"

The voice of the Summer Lord rang out in anger throughout the entire third level of the Dream Abyss, vast and mighty.

At this moment, the giant who was still fighting Lu Xunyang stopped its movements.

No examinee in the real world noticed everything that happened on the third level of the Dream Abyss.

And it was at this time.

A beautiful figure appeared in the sight of all the examinees.

It was San Jin.

She was first in the aptitude assessment and even knocked Yu Changsheng away with a single staff strike before entering the college entrance exam secret realm.

Her arrival instantly drew everyone's attention.

San Jin's face was haggard, and tears were still shimmering in her eyes.

She ignored the discussions of the others and rushed directly into Xunyang Tower.

San Jin bit her silver teeth, her eyes blurred with tears.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

She whispered incessantly.

If it weren't for her, Chen Yan would never have come to the third level of the Dream Abyss.

She was in immense pain; the reason she came to Xunyang Tower was because she had heard Lu Xunyang's words earlier.

Go north.

She didn't know if these words were meant for Chen Yan or for her.

But now, she had only this one way left.

She would undo everything she had done.

Chen Yan had influenced her; she could clearly feel that she possessed something she had never had before.

At this moment, she was incredibly determined.

Outside Xunyang Tower, behind a small hill.

Cheng Zizhen lay prone cautiously, watching the massive Xunyang Tower with extreme nervousness.

She clenched her fists, incredibly tense.

Chen Yan entered the first floor of Xunyang Tower.

The moment he entered Xunyang Tower, two points of light appeared on the window of the first floor of Xunyang Tower.

One represented Chen Yan, and one represented San Jin.

However, Chen Yan was still on the third level of the Dream Abyss at this moment; he could see San Jin and the other examinees who had also entered the first floor of Xunyang Tower.

But the others could not see Chen Yan.

The third level of the Dream Abyss is the dark world of the college entrance exam secret realm, while the real world is the light world.

Even in the dark world, Chen Yan could still challenge Xunyang Tower.

"Two hundred and fifty-second level."

Chen Yan's eyes were clear and bright as he murmured aloud.

Lu Xunyang's meaning must be that as long as Chen Yan reaches the two hundred and fifty-second floor, he can return to the real world.

Chen Yan waved one hand, and a Dao-Slaying Bamboo that had absorbed one billion Dao-Slaying Points appeared behind him.

This was the reward given by the College Entrance Examination Secret Realm when Chen Yan left the third floor of the Dream Abyss.

Although Chen Yan still hadn't left yet, that was because the Xia Lord had cheated.

Chen Yan's intent flashed, converting these one billion points into two Morning Star-grade, Grade A tempering treasures.

【Newborn Feathering Treasure Medicine】!

These were two tempering treasures with relatively mild medicinal effects.

This way, Chen Yan did not need to specifically sit down to absorb the medicinal properties.

Absorbing them while clearing the tower was also fine.

Chen Yan immediately swallowed these two treasures.

Instantly, strands of intense white light overflowed from Chen Yan's body, hazy and indistinct.

Chen Yan circulated 【Heaven Patrol】, and suddenly Chen Yan felt his vitality surging, his physical body being baptized and reshaped once more.

Behind Chen Yan, the Martial Dao Dharma Image appeared.

The ink color transformed into the appearance of Yunmeng City, and it began to outline continuously, making the entire Yunmeng City incomparably clear.

Rolling, newborn power condensed within Chen Yan's body, incomparably vast.

But Chen Yan felt no joy.

The strength displayed by Lu Xunyang had shocked him.

That was power that could almost destroy the world.

He wanted to take this as his own goal, to constantly chase, and then surpass it.

"Tempering is merely a means; the strength of one's own physical body is a path in itself."

Chen Yan whispered:

"Just like with will, I need to examine the problems within them to strengthen myself."

Chen Yan's heart was like a bright mirror; the Master of Tempering was a great person.

How could one who created the Martial Dao and founded a nation not be great?

But that person was also a lonely tyrant.

Too self-centered, believing only their own path was correct.

Therefore, Xue Qi died, dying time and time again.

All for the sake of a so-called experiment.

Chen Yan felt anger in his heart.

Xue Qi was his good friend.

Someone he hadn't known for long, but whom he deeply considered his good friend.

Someone who had fought alongside him and shared the same aspirations.

How could they not be a good friend?

Yet a person like this had been toyed with countless times and had died countless times.

Chen Yan clenched his fists.

On the glacier, he was silent, solemn, and also angry.

Because of Xue Qi.

"You want to change my Martial Dao, and I will also use my will to change your Martial Dao!"

He absorbed the medicinal properties, his power growing stronger and stronger.

"I want to tell you personally that will is greater than tempering!

Will far exceeds tempering!"

Chen Yan began to clear the tower.

San Jin had already rushed to the second floor, while Chen Yan had only just begun.

On his first floor, a beam of white light condensed into a white-clothed Ancient Divine Beast.

The white-clothed Ancient Divine Beast had waited for Chen Yan for a long time, but Chen Yan had not yet made a move.

It was very angry, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.

The next moment.

Crack!

A bolt of lightning shot out, instantly piercing through its body.

At the same time, a red light appeared.

These were the Dao-Slaying Points for successfully clearing the tower.

Chen Yan took out a Dao-Slaying Seed and began to absorb it.

Soon, he stepped into the second floor.

The lowest floors were all filled with relatively low-level Ancient Divine Beasts.

Chen Yan's eyes practically bloomed with thunder, obliterating them in an instant.

Right up to the fiftieth floor, Chen Yan killed them all in an instant.

By the time he cleared the fiftieth floor, Chen Yan hadn't even finished absorbing one-tenth of the medicinal properties of the two treasures.

He continued until the fifty-first floor.

This was a vast grassland.

A white light appeared, condensing into a boy of about ten years old wearing animal skins.

Although the boy was young, his eyes were extremely cold, and his entire being exuded an extremely sharp aura.

Chen Yan had not paid attention at first, but then he frowned.

These brows...

Isn't this the young Master of Hardened Body?

Chen Yan could be certain that this energy avatar was the likeness of the Xia Master.

It must have simulated the combat power and personality of the Xia Master in his youth to become a guardian of the Xunyang Tower.

The other challengers probably did not know the boy's identity, but Chen Yan had seen through it.

"Make your move."

The boy wearing animal skins spoke indifferently:

"I do not wish to say it a second time, make your move."

He was still young, but he could already release an invisible majesty.

"Arrogant!"

The boy gave a low shout, and the next moment, he punched toward Chen Yan with a boom.

With a slap sound.

Chen Yan slapped his palm onto the opponent's head and pressed down instantly.

Boom!

The boy instantly crashed to the ground, exploding into a blood mist, and then vanished as scattered energy.

"Bullying the young?"

Chen Yan said indifferently, turning to leave:

"Truly amusing."

…………

"The one on the fifty-second floor is San Jin, right? So fast!"

"Is it San Jin?"

"It is definitely San Jin."

"Then who is the one on the forty-ninth floor?"

Outside the Xunyang Tower, a crowd of watching examinees exclaimed in shock.

Some had started paying attention the moment San Jin entered the Xunyang Tower.

Whenever an examinee entered the Xunyang Tower, a light dot would appear on that floor of the tower.

The examinees outside judged who was on which floor based on these light dots.

However, this time, it left people confused.

Because after San Jin entered the Xunyang Tower, two light dots were both rushing toward the higher floors at an extremely fast speed.

Regardless of whether it was the one who rushed to the fifty-second floor or the one who rushed to the forty-ninth floor, the speed was too fast.

It was shocking.

"San Jin, is that the person Chen Yan went to the third level of the Dream Abyss to save?"

Among the watching examinees, Shen Youning spoke quietly.

"Then what about Chen Yan?"

Xu Di's expression was ugly.

Why did San Jin appear, but Chen Yan did not?

Shen Youning fell silent; when San Jin arrived, her eyes were filled with tears and she was incredibly anxious.

It was obvious that she had encountered something very bad.

She hadn't even had time to ask before the other party rushed into the Xunyang Tower.

Thinking of this, Shen Youning lowered her head, feeling terrible.

When Chen Yan wanted to enter the third level of the Dream Abyss, she did not stop him.

On one hand, Chen Yan had already surpassed her too much; on the other hand, Chen Yan still had an abstention token.

But San Jin's expression made her think of bad things.

"Chen Yan..."

Shen Youning whispered, the back of that figure who never stopped appearing in her mind; she hugged her legs tightly, feeling very lonely.

"Still thinking of Chen Yan?"

A discordant voice rang out.

In the distance, a youth wearing blood-red battle armor looked at Shen Youning and Xu Di mockingly:

"Where is your Military Martial Chen Yan? Blowing him up every day, can he even beat Yu Changsheng?"

The person spoke with extreme annoyance, showing great disdain for the Military Martial examinees constantly praising Chen Yan.

"Say that again."

Xu Di looked at the person coldly.

A trace of disdain appeared in the eyes of the youth wearing battle armor:

"I said..."

Boom!

A sound of blood-energy exploding rang out.

Beside him, a Military Martial Guard examinee punched him in the jaw.

"Still talking?" the Military Academy examinee spoke indifferently.

"You!"

Terror surfaced in that person's eyes.

Boom!

The Military Academy examinee threw another punch.

All around, an examinee from the Aristocratic Family Alliance stood up in dissatisfaction, but was pulled back by a companion.

"Why are you pulling me?"

That person growled in a low voice.

The companion, however, shook their head:

"That guy is just asking for it with his loose mouth, he deserves the beating; the military is very respectful toward Chen Yan right now, don't put yourself at risk."

After the companion finished speaking, the Aristocratic Family Alliance examinee who had been preparing to strike sat back down sullenly, spitting out a low curse:

"Picky nonsense."

Yet at this very moment.

Someone exclaimed aloud:

"That... is that really San Jin? It's already at the seventy-fifth floor!"

Everyone's expression trembled, and they all looked toward the Xunyang Tower.

In an instant, the surroundings fell silent.

Because, as they looked over.

The light point that had been on the seventy-fifth floor surged to the seventy-sixth floor in an instant.

"Seventy-seventh floor!"

"Seventy-eighth floor, holy crap!"

"So fast, even faster than Yu Changsheng!"

The crowd was stunned; regardless of whether that person was San Jin or not, they had already set a record.

Shock.

Incomparable shock; the crowd was in an uproar.

Could it be that even though that person entered the Xunyang Tower so late, they still had a chance to surpass Yu Changsheng?

At this moment, no one was paying attention to the Military Academy examinee and the Aristocratic Family Alliance examinee who were still brawling.

Everyone was stunned by this scene.

Shen Youning stared straight ahead, her eyes flickering.

That light point, still on the seventy-eighth floor, surged to the seventy-ninth floor in a flash.

Immediately following, the eightieth floor.

The eighty-first floor.

So fast!

PS: As I was writing, something felt wrong, so I deleted three thousand words; it's painful.