"Never mind..." After thinking for a moment, Li Chen shook his head and did not agree.
It wasn't that he wanted to compete for first place, but rather that the right to choose was in his hands.
However, this also means that a wrong choice by one side can create more enemies for that side.
For example, he chose Su Xian. Although he gained some benefits, he also gained a few more enemies, making it a very unwise choice.
This is Special Class, and the backgrounds of either side are probably stronger than Li Chen's, which is why he gave up.
Moreover, Li Chen didn't want to have so many enemies; he just wanted to quietly slack off.
Although he has inexplicably found himself on this path to the top, he has started to have some thoughts about it.
Is being number one really that important?
He had never participated in the Academy Tournament, but before he became Sequence User, he often saw people discussing the strength of certain Academy Tournament and the spectacular scenes.
Everything intrigued him, but as he grew up, it seemed he had earned that qualification.
It all depends on whether Li Chen is willing to fight for it.
At this moment, Su Xian, who was standing to the side, spoke up with a smile, "How is it?"
Li Chen met Su Xian's expectant eyes and shook his head, saying, "Silence or nothingness, first place or the Academy Tournament, what would you choose?"
"Among the most powerful individuals walking this path, do you acknowledge that you obtained first place through any means necessary?"
Su Xian was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding, but his mind worked quickly, and he immediately smiled and said, "Okay."
"In that case, I won't bother you any longer."
See you at the summit.
Li Chen's words awakened him; perhaps he had indeed acted too hastily.
Although the Academy Tournament was very important to him, as a fellow opponent on the road to the top, his first thought was not to defeat him, but to fear the impact it would have on him, and to use it by any means necessary.
Ji Shao remained silent. She had heard the entire conversation between the two, but she did not disturb them.
But after Li Chen said those words, her clenched fist loosened, revealing a subtle smile.
After Su Xian left, Li Chen stood still and did not move.
Instead, they looked towards the final stretch of the summit path, the path that was about to open, which would also be the final match of the Canglan Tournament Competition.
A competition to reach the top.
"First place? Let's see?" Li Chen murmured.
The Imperial Capital.
In a small courtyard, Dean Gu was leisurely watering the flowers and plants, and an old-fashioned radio sat in the courtyard.
A very old opera is playing.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Enter."
A man wearing a strange red mask and carrying two swords at his waist walked in. His hands were wrapped in bandages, and not a single inch of skin was exposed.
A hoarse voice came from his mouth.
"Old Gu, breaches are beginning to appear at Liming Pass."
Buzz~
In an instant, the entire courtyard fell silent, and the old-fashioned radio switched off—a truly peculiar occurrence.
"How long can Dawn Pass hold out?" Dean Gu asked, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.
"I didn't know. We've already sacrificed dozens of experts at the Withered Sea Realm to plug that breach."
Silence...
It should be noted that a powerhouse at the Withered Sea Realm is already capable of becoming the captain of the Inland Twelve Zodiac.
But now, a single message from the border signals the deaths of over a dozen powerful individuals.
How terrifying!
Dean Gu remained silent for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.
The man didn't say anything more, but waited for him to speak.
"Dawn Pass has stood for ten years; you've been there for ten years, haven't you?"
"Jian En, are you still willing to stay?"
Dean Gu's eyes were deep, as if he wanted to see the expression on the man's face behind the mask.
Jian En's tone remained unchanged as he calmly stated, "Ten years... ten years have already passed, but if ten years have passed, are we afraid of the next ten?"
"Dawn Pass is one of the Four Great Passes of our Human Race. Are we not to give up?"
"Haha... that's bold." Dean Gu laughed, a loud laugh.
Is ten years really not a long time?
For some people, ten years may not be a long time; it may pass in the blink of an eye.
But the environment at Dawn Pass is such that an ordinary person probably couldn't stay there for even half a day, no, not even a moment.
But the person in front of me had been there for ten years, and for ten years he had been guarding that perilous pass.
And now he can say it so casually, how can it not surprise people, how can it not make people sigh.
"I will arrange for the Fifth Sequence to suppress the rebellion at Dawn Pass. As for the loopholes at the pass, he should have a way to solve them."
"Hold on for a few more days." Dean Gu slightly raised his head, seemingly looking towards the distant border.
Jian En nodded slightly, just about to turn and leave.
Suddenly, Dean Gu called out to him.
"Jian En, your old man has been looking for you for quite some time. Don't you really want to go back?"
Jian En paused, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword at his waist trembling slightly.
After a long silence, he strode outside, but he seemed to murmur a sentence, which slowly dissipated with a gentle breeze.
"Like fallen leaves returning to their roots, once you've embarked on this path, there's no turning back."
"A beginning and an end, the path of the Sword Dao... is ruthless."
After his figure disappeared into the distance, Dean Gu stood at the door for a long time without moving.
"The Ruthless Dao, the sword without... alas..."