165: Chapter 165 Standoff

Yan Chen's mocking remark instantly attracted countless gazes.

He continued, "Originally, I was looking forward to you and Li Zhixing joining forces. What a pity, this Dragon Transformation Pool baptism has once again become devoid of suspense."

Beside Yan Chen, another crew-cut boy said, "No one should have any objections to Brother Yan taking the first position of the Dragon Transformation Pool, right?"

This was the seventh-ranked expert on the academy's prodigy ranking, a Tier 5 Grade 8 master, Fu Yan.

In fact, the vast majority of people believed that determining the positions according to the prodigy ranking was reasonable.

After all, the other 19 positions were roughly the same, and only the spiritual energy of the first position far surpassed the others.

Since there was naturally no hope for the first position, the other positions could just be taken casually.

The ones prone to dissatisfaction were actually only Bai Wanqing and Qin Ou.

Both of them were at the peak of Tier 5 along with Yan Chen, but judging from their previous battle performances, they were somewhat inferior.

Just at this moment,

"Please proceed to the Cleansing Pool, fellow students." A mechanical voice rang out.

Everyone looked over and saw a virtual projection of an artificial intelligence whose gender was indistinguishable.

The students present all knew the process of the baptism.

Shen Xingchen greeted his Senior Sister, "Senior Sister, I am heading to the boys' side. Be careful in everything."

Naturally, the bathing place for boys was separated from the girls'.

Bai Wanqing nodded.

Shen Xingchen followed the team toward a pool of water.

At this moment, Qin Ou walked over. "Shen Xingchen, regarding the last exchange tournament, I owe you a favor. This time, I can help you."

Shen Xingchen was somewhat surprised.

In his impression, Qin Ou was an extremely proud person; to think he would take the initiative to show goodwill to him.

However, it was also normal.

If not for him during the exchange tournament, Shangjing University would have been directly eliminated in the quarterfinals, and their team would have been permanently nailed to the pillar of shame.

And the most prominent spot on this pillar of shame would have Qin Ou's name carved on it.

Shen Xingchen waved his hand. "No need!"

These prodigies of Shangjing University probably still did not understand a fact.

Right now, even without the thunder emperor armor, no one would be a match for him in a single move!

Qin Ou certainly did not think so; he merely regarded Shen Xingchen as stubbornly putting up a front.

He continued to advise, "You must know that the Dragon Transformation Pool is far too important to Yan Chen. He has made full preparations for this baptism, and your chances are really small."

Shen Xingchen smiled. "I trust Senior Sister's strength more."

Qin Ou grew anxious. "Why must you be like this?"

He understood Shen Xingchen's pride; how could such a young Tier 4 martial artist not have his own arrogance?

But was there a need to be so... obstinate?

Shen Xingchen did not answer this question, instead saying sincerely, "Qin Ou, I think you're not a bad person."

Seeing Shen Xingchen's indifferent appearance, Qin Ou could only sigh helplessly in the end. "Suit yourself."

The group arrived at the Cleansing Pool.

This pool was not large, and the pool water was milky white, suffused with a faint mist carrying a sweet medicinal fragrance.

Senior Brother Xiaopang said from the side, "This Cleansing Pool is also a tributary of the Dragon Transformation Pool. Although its area is very small, the spiritual energy it contains is even greater than that of Mirror Lake."

Shen Xingchen nodded. "I can tell."

When he stepped into the Cleansing Pool, he felt his body become much lighter, and even his sluggish meridians became somewhat clear.

The Cleansing Pool was not just an empty name; it truly had the effect of purifying oneself.

After finishing the bath,

Shen Xingchen, under the guidance of the artificial intelligence, went to the partition to put on the battle robe.

Calling it a battle robe, it was actually a black robe with a very special material. Every single thread shimmered with spiritual light, colorful under the illumination of the light.

Everything was ready.

Shen Xingchen and his group walked along the mountain path toward the true Dragon Transformation Pool.

Along this road, everyone had little to say.

Those who could walk here all understood how rare the opportunity of the Dragon Transformation Pool was.

"Congratulations, everyone. Ahead is the Dragon Transformation Pool. Please freely choose your positions." The mechanical voice sounded once again.

But as soon as these words were finished, that illusory shadow disappeared.

This even more clearly showed that the competition for positions in the Dragon Transformation Pool was intentionally guided by the academy.

Shen Xingchen looked not far away.

Among the mountains, within a huge intermontane basin, the most eye-catching sights were the twenty Dragon Transformation Pools.

The pools were not arranged neatly.

Instead, they were scattered like stars in the sky and chess pieces on a board, embedded in the ground.

The water flowed down from the highest point of the mountains, carrying a roaring energy tide into the pools.

Everyone's gazes were irresistibly attracted to the pool in the very center, where the spiritual energy was so dense it was practically substantive.

Even those prodigies who initially just wanted to casually get any pool could not help but ignite with fiery gazes.

Right at this moment,

rustling footsteps came from the opposite mountain path entrance.

That was the girls' team.

Shen Xingchen spotted Senior Sister at a glance.

She was wearing a black long robe of the same style, her hair wet with water droplets hanging from the tips and clinging to her fair skin, making her supremely charming and beautiful.

Shen Xingchen could not help but sigh that Senior Sister was ridiculously beautiful from whatever angle.

Yan Chen had already walked to the edge of the main position of the Dragon Transformation Pool. "Let me ask one last time: is anyone dissatisfied with the positions? If not, we will begin the baptism."

He spoke this sentence with extraordinary confidence, as if he were the leader of everyone.

However, Yan Chen's gaze still exposed his inner thoughts.

He was staring straight at Bai Wanqing, his eyes full of provocative intent.

The others also anticipated the current situation.

Bai Wanqing was not one for many words; she simply walked out calmly from the crowd and confronted Yan Chen. "Let strength do the talking."

The corners of Yan Chen's mouth curled up, seeming very interested in all this. "To be honest, you are indeed pretty, but I don't like your icy-cold temperament."

He was also a man, and naturally could not be immune to a beauty like Bai Wanqing.

But Bai Wanqing had always been exceptionally aloof, completely lacking the enthusiasm of those vulgar girls.

This was even better; it gave a greater desire for conquest!

Yan Chen involuntarily licked his lips.

In Bai Wanqing's hands, purple-white electric arcs flickered. "Your gaze is truly disgusting."

Seeing Bai Wanqing's actions, Yan Chen's eyes turned cold. "In such a hurry to make a move?"

His aura also began to release, and flame-like spiritual energy enveloped his entire body.

At the same time, behind Yan Chen, a giant flame dragon flapped its wings, stirring up gusts of fierce wind.

This dragon might surged outward, actually causing the spiritual energy of this mountain range to boil, as if the entire mountain was welcoming Yan Chen's arrival.

The other prodigies watched this scene with great interest.

"This Yan Chen has stayed at the peak of Tier 5 for a long time, and his foundation was already deeper. Right now, he actually even occupies the geographical advantage of the Dragon Transformation Pool."

"I think if I were Bai Wanqing, I would also feel despair."

They all felt Yan Chen resonating with the entire mountain range; that was the buff brought by the dragon-attribute Talent Divine Ability.

"This Dragon Transformation Pool seems to have been prepared specifically for Yan Chen," someone said with jealousy.