Jing Hongchen's Chess Game

Deathly Silence.

A Deathly Silence enough to freeze time.

In the central Battle Soul Arena, packed with tens of thousands of people, not even breathing could be heard. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the proud, solitary figure in the arena, their gazes filled with fear, reverence, and incomprehensible shock.

A Six-Ring Soul Emperor had been killed in a single strike.

"Genius" was no longer enough to describe this. This was a "monster," a "demon"!

"He... he really did it..." A student's trembling voice from the stands broke the silence.

In an instant, the entire Battle Soul Arena exploded into an uproar!

"He one-shotted him! He really one-shotted him! That was Senior Lin Tian, the strongest in the second year!"

"My god! What did I just see? A streak of silver light? Then... then Senior Lin Tian just..."

"It has to be fake! This is definitely an illusion! How did he do that?!"

Amid the uproar, Jing Ziyan tightly covered her mouth, trying to keep herself from crying out. Her heart pounded wildly, not from fear, but from an indescribable excitement and pride.

She had seen it. At the moment Ji Juechen drew his sword, there was no killing intent in his eyes—only a calmness nearly akin to the Dao. It was as though he was not killing someone, but completing a work of art.

"So this is... his sword path?" she murmured, the admiration in her eyes nearly overflowing.

[Ding! "Admiration" emotion detected. Source: Jing Ziyan.]

[Emotion intensity: 98! Critical reward triggered!]

[Congratulations, Host! You have obtained 6000 Sword Intent Points!]

Ji Juechen felt no ripple in his heart. He even found it only natural. Those 6000 Sword Intent Points were the reward he deserved.

The VIP section, however, presented an entirely different scene.

Several instructors who normally held themselves above others had turned pale, cold sweat streaming down their faces. They had never imagined that such a terrifying existence had been hidden within their academy.

"Dean Jing... this..." one instructor stammered as he looked at Jing Hongchen.

Jing Hongchen's expression was so gloomy it seemed water could drip from it. He stared fixedly at Ji Juechen in the arena, his gaze immensely complicated.

Shock, fury, but more than anything, an uncontainable fervor and greed.

"A Million Year Soul Ring... Sword Qi Projection... and that sword, fast to the absolute extreme..." he muttered, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest. "This is no mere fortunate encounter. This is destiny! A heaven-sent opportunity!"

He had originally thought that making Ji Juechen participate in the ranking matches was sending him to his death, killing a chicken to warn the monkeys and uphold the academy's rules.

But now, not only had this "chicken" not died, it had instead become a true dragon soaring through the nine heavens!

"We can't let him keep going like this." A flash of resolve passed through Jing Hongchen's eyes. "Such uncut jade must be carved by me! Everything he has must belong to Sun Moon Academy!"

He slowly rose to his feet. A powerful Soul Power pressure instantly enveloped the entire Battle Soul Arena, suppressing every sound of commotion.

"Silence!"

Jing Hongchen's voice was clearly transmitted into everyone's ears through an Amplifying Soul Tool.

"The match is over. Ji Juechen wins."

After announcing the result, his gaze shot like lightning toward Ji Juechen in the arena. "Ji Juechen, from this moment onward, you need not participate in the remaining rankings. In my capacity as the dean of Sun Moon Academy, I directly grant you the qualification to represent the academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Battle Tournament."

The entire venue erupted once more.

Directly granting him the qualification? This was an honor without precedent!

Everyone assumed Ji Juechen would thank him excitedly, that he would be overwhelmed with gratitude.

Yet Ji Juechen merely raised his head and looked at him with those icy eyes, calmly uttering three words:

"I refuse."

Refuse?!

He had actually refused the qualification personally granted by the dean!

Jing Hongchen's face instantly turned livid. He forcibly suppressed his anger and asked in a low voice, "Why?"

"Your qualification is too cheaply given." Ji Juechen's voice was not loud, yet it clearly carried throughout the entire arena. "What I want is a qualification won fairly and honorably with my own sword."

"Not something handed out like charity."

The entire venue fell silent again.

Everyone was stunned by Ji Juechen's arrogance and pride. He actually dared to contradict the dean to his face and even call the dean's "goodwill" "charity"!

Jing Hongchen's fist clenched in his sleeve with a crackling sound, his fury nearly bursting forth. Yet in the end, he endured it.

Because he knew that this was not yet the time to completely fall out with Ji Juechen. This Chess Piece was too important. He had to keep it firmly in his grasp.

"Good. What a 'fair and honorable'!" Jing Hongchen sneered. "Since that is the case, I will give you this opportunity!"

"The ranking matches will continue! You, Ji Juechen, will act as the challenger and challenge every victor of the ranking matches! Until you are defeated, or until no one else dares step forward to face you!"

"If you can become the final victor, then that qualification will be yours by your own ability!"

This was no longer a ranking match. This was a gauntlet—a one-versus-the-entire-academy battle against its geniuses!

Everyone thought Ji Juechen would retreat in the face of such difficulty.

But the corners of Ji Juechen's lips slowly curved upward.

This was exactly what he wanted.

A stage where he could endlessly harvest "emotions"!

"Fine," he answered succinctly.

Jing Hongchen gave him a deep look, then flicked his sleeve and left, leaving behind only a cold remark:

"Then let me see just how sharp your sword truly is!"

Watching Jing Hongchen's departing figure, Ji Juechen knew that this game of chess had officially begun.

And he was the Chess Piece least willing to be controlled—and the one that most tempted the Chess Player.

He turned around and stepped down from the competition platform, ignoring the reverent gazes around him as he headed straight for the competitors' passage.

Behind him, the entire Battle Soul Arena boiled over completely because of his words.

"Madman! He really is a madman!"

"He actually wants to challenge everyone? Who does he think he is?"

"But why do I... kind of look forward to it?"

Yet Ji Juechen had only one thing on his mind.

[Sword Intent Points balance: points.]

"How much emotion intensity will the next opponent have?"

He was getting a little impatient.

[Author: I really like Ji Juechen from Douluo Continent 2. This is my first time writing a novel. Although I really wanted to write a true Ji Juechen novel, my abilities are limited, so I started with the mainstream system-novel format instead, bringing everyone a lighthearted novel with satisfying moments. I hope everyone will actively follow along. There will be an extra chapter tonight ^ω^ .]