As he spoke, Wu Yan decisively placed the black stone.
Su Yuan’s eyes flickered, and after a quick analysis, he foresaw that the black stones would form an encircling formation, putting him at a disadvantage.
"What a brilliant move..." Su Yuan praised, smiling, "I am not as skilled in chess and lag slightly behind Vice Director Wu."
"Not at all, not at all~ Royal Envoy Su has only started learning chess for a few days. If you were to practice for another year or so, I fear I would not be your match!"
Su Yuan didn’t say much, instead turning to look at the gate of Qiguang Academy.
"It seems Qiguang wants to give our students something to reckon with..."
Although Su Yuan and Wu Yan had nullified the pressure on the crowd, the gate of Royal Knight Academy was clearly not simple. The Great Flame students didn’t act rashly and merely stopped to wait for the word from Wu Yan and Su Yuan.
Su Yuan picked up another white stone, gently rubbing it between his fingers, and looked towards the students standing by, ready. Flicking the stone, it soared over everyone and fell above Zhou Lingyun’s head.
Zhou Lingyun, startled, quickly caught the piece and then, somewhat excitedly, cupped his fists in salute.
"Shuzhou College, Zhou Lingyun, at your service, Royal Envoy!"
After a speech at Capitol Capital College, everyone now knew who Su Yuan was. Learning of Su Yuan’s background made them even more curious, and they later investigated discreetly.
Ordinary people could not obtain information on Su Yuan, but geniuses like Yang Heng and the Zhao Family Sisters, with their deep backgrounds, didn’t even need to investigate themselves. Their family elders had already shared some intelligence with them, repeatedly warning them not to oppose this figure!
Such as "The Star Lord who has slain the most Star Envoys," "The foremost in the Dragon Vein conflict," and "Burning Sun Reverse Attack King Level"...
Even just the tip of the iceberg was enough to astonish and awe these talented students of Great Flame. And after a few days of secret spreading, all the students who had come to Qiguang were already filled with fervent admiration for this legendary figure.
"Shuzhou College..." Su Yuan smiled, "I too am from Shuzhou, seems we have some fate."
Zhou Lingyun nodded excitedly. In the past few days, everyone learned that Su Yuan was originally from Guangchuan in Shuzhou.
Looking at Zhou Lingyun, Su Yuan asked with a smile, "Do you have the courage to go and push open this door?"
Zhou Lingyun tightened his grip on the stone in his hand, as if holding a command, took a deep breath, and said, "Yes!"
Su Yuan nodded and smiled, then looked at the gate and said, "Go on... If you encounter difficulties, draw your sword and cut through."
"Yes, Royal Envoy!"
Zhou Lingyun responded loudly, then placed the stone by his waist and, amidst the nervous gazes of the Great Flame students, headed toward the tightly closed Knight’s gate of the Royal Knight Academy.
Before he took a few steps, the pressure that had dissipated from the Knight’s gate descended upon Zhou Lingyun again.
Zhou Lingyun’s steps faltered, but he did not stop, pushing forward step by step despite the chest tightness and palpitations.
Three hundred meters, two hundred meters... one hundred meters!
"Buzz!"
Upon stepping within a hundred meters of the gate, Zhou Lingyun suddenly felt a blur in his vision, and everything around him started to mutate and spread from beneath his feet. In no time, he found himself within a chapel.
He was walking on a road paved with a red carpet, and on both sides ahead stood twelve fully armored Royal Knights.
Looking back, the Great Flame people, even Su Yuan, Wu Yan, and others, had all vanished.
"An illusion?!"
Zhou Lingyun’s heart tightened. Just as he was about to carefully examine his surroundings, he suddenly felt a strong sense of sharpness emanating from the knights ahead.
The next moment, the eyes of the two nearest knights flashed with golden light, swinging their longswords and sending two sharp sword lights crossing toward him.
"Hmm??"
Though surprised, Zhou Lingyun wasn’t flustered and immediately dodged aside.
However, the knights did not relent, continuously slashing out streams of sword light.
Zhou Lingyun dared not be careless. He drew his longsword to meet the incoming sword lights as he proceeded on the luxurious red carpet.
As he advanced, the Royal Knights ahead awakened one after another, slashing increasingly dense sword lights at Zhou Lingyun.
"Hiss!"
Soon, a bloodline appeared on Zhou Lingyun’s shoulder.
"Sure enough, I’m wounded..."
Zhou Lingyun glanced at the slowly bleeding wound, his eyes narrowing slightly, but the next moment, his gaze grew even more resolute.
The sword lights of the twelve knights did not scare Zhou Lingyun. Instead, they ignited his will. He shifted his stance, wielding his longsword, coolly and decisively crushing the interwoven sword lights, step by step advancing forward.
Outside, students like Wen Long, Liu Qinyan, and Yang Heng watched Zhou Lingyun heading toward the Knight’s gate, his body occasionally trembling, his complexion growing paler!
"Hold on, Zhou Lingyun!" everyone silently prayed.
Although they didn’t know what kind of trial Zhou Lingyun was undergoing, it was clearly not a simple one.
Previously, the pressure leaking from just the gate alone made all the students feel chest tightness and palpitations. What more their fellow, Zhou Lingyun, who was heading there alone?
Inside the chapel, the twelve Royal Knights were all moving, endless sword lights raining down like a deluge.
Even if Zhou Lingyun’s swordsmanship was extraordinary among peers, he struggled to withstand such dense torrents of sword lights, his whole body covered in blood marks, probably suffering two to three dozen sword wounds!
His body grew heavier, his consciousness blurrier, even his sword swings slowed. Facing the relentless torrent of sword lights, Zhou Lingyun hesitated somewhat in his heart.
Advancement was extremely difficult, yet if he retreated even a step, it seemed all aggression would cease immediately...
"No, I cannot stop!"