Chapter 262 The Mysterious Dean's Demand

Dean Ming Jing seemed to turn a blind eye to the surging wave of emotions from the crowd.

He calmly finished his narration.

Suddenly, his tone shifted.

His voice became more serious than ever before.

His gaze was like a torch, firmly locked onto Jiang Yun.

"However... Student Jiang Yun, your talent is monstrous, but rights must coexist with obligations! A Heavenly Saint Student does not only enjoy boundless privileges but must also shoulder a heavy responsibility! The Head Dean has high hopes for you. While allowing you to enjoy the full cultivation of Sky Dome Academy, he will naturally have requirements for you!"

He paused deliberately.

This tugged at everyone's nerves.

"Jiang Yun!"

Dean Ming Jing's voice was heavy and solemn.

Every word carried immense weight.

"Since you have accepted the title of Heavenly Saint Student and are willing to enjoy these privileges and the cultivation of all the resources our Sky Dome Academy can provide, you must prove to the academy, to the Head Dean, and to all your fellow disciples here that you possess the... supreme potential and strength to match this title! The Head Dean has one requirement for you, which is also... a special test!"

The hearts of everyone present seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand; even their breathing stopped.

A test?

What kind of test?

What could possibly be worthy of the title and treatment of a Heavenly Saint Student?

Dean Ming Jing's gaze swept across the tense and expectant Faces.

Finally, it returned to Jiang Yun.

Word by word, he clearly announced it.

"Starting from today, within one month..."

He deliberately elongated his tone.

Allowing the invisible pressure to climb to its peak.

"You must successfully ascend the Provincial Capital's Heaven Ranking!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned!

But they quickly calmed down.

Ascending the Heaven Ranking?

Although difficult!

For someone with Jiang Yun's SSS-Rank Talent and these resources...

As long as he didn't slack off.

Ascending the Heaven Ranking within a month seemed far too easy!

It seemed... not impossible?

This thought had just risen in many people's minds.

However.

Dean Ming Jing's subsequent addition...

Was like a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens.

It boomed and exploded in everyone's minds.

"Furthermore, your rank must not be lower than..."

He paused slightly.

His gaze was like lightning as he spat out the number that caused the entire square to fall into dead silence, followed by a mountain-shaking wave of horror.

"The Top Ten of the Heaven Ranking!"

"Boom—!!!"

If the previous announcement of privileges was a colossal wave that drove people mad with envy and jealousy, then this requirement was a world-destroying divine lightning bolt that instantly charred everyone and made their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!

"Wha... What?! One month?! Top ten... of the Heaven Ranking?!"

"Crazy! This is absolutely insane! Did the Dean misspeak?!"

"The Top Ten of the Heaven Ranking?! What kind of monsters are they? Even the weakest is at the fifth or sixth level of the Amethyst Rank! Most of them are High-tier Amethyst Rank geniuses and prodigies! Every one of them is battle-hardened, with luxurious beast configurations and an endless stream of trump cards!"

"Jiang Yun has only just entered the Gold Rank, right? Even if he's an SSS-rank, even with resources piled up, reaching High-tier Gold Rank in a month would be hitting the ceiling! Even if he's lucky and reaches the Amethyst Rank... how can he fight against those Amethyst Rank geniuses and prodigies in the Top Ten?!"

"Top ten in the Heaven Ranking in one month... that's simply not a Domain one can touch just by having a Heaven-Defying SSS-Rank Talent! Unless this guy can reach the seventh or eighth level of the Amethyst Rank in a month, it's absolutely impossible! This requirement... this is simply an impossible task! Is it a deliberate provocation?!"

"It must be! I reckon the Head Dean also felt the treatment was too ridiculous and wanted to use this impossible task to make Jiang Yun back down! Only the worthy can take these rewards; it doesn't discourage geniuses, and it also saves Face for the academy!"

...Horror, doubt, mockery, schadenfreude... all sorts of complex emotions spread through the crowd like a plague.

The looks directed at Jiang Yun...

Instantly shifted from extreme jealousy...

To deep sympathy, pity, and an undisguised playfulness of waiting to see a joke.

Even someone as steady as Su Yuntian...

Had his brows tightly locked in a frown at this moment.

He felt this requirement was simply inconceivable.

It was pushing someone to the absolute limit!

Meanwhile, Lin Tao, Su Mingxuan, and the others...

After experiencing the agonizing jealousy of falling from the clouds into the abyss, felt as if they had been injected with a shot of adrenaline; they almost couldn't control themselves from laughing out loud on the spot!

The wild joy in their hearts was like a volcanic eruption.

"Hahahaha! One month? Top ten of the Heaven Ranking?! Jiang Yun, you're finished! Let's see you be arrogant now! Let's see how you hold onto that Heavenly Saint Student hat! If you can't fulfill the requirement, you'll become the academy's biggest laughingstock!"

Jiang Yun was also stunned for a moment.

Top ten of the Provincial Capital's Heaven Ranking?

Although he didn't know much about this Provincial Capital's Heaven Ranking yet!

He had also heard the discussions of the people around him.

The weakest was at the mid-level Amethyst Rank.

This requirement was indeed very difficult.

However, he didn't think he was unable to complete it.

With the academy's resources and various types of cultivation support...

And going to those Secret Realms and treasuries to obtain reward treasures!

Plus his Heaven-Defying Beast Taming Space.

He figured making Little Fire and Little Skylark reach the Amethyst Rank within a month wouldn't be difficult.

As long as they advanced to the Amethyst Rank.

With Little Fire's combat power.

He was confident he could fight those fifth and sixth-level Amethyst Rank geniuses!

Moreover, the Molten Fire Grotto Secret Realm would open soon.

If he could gather the evolution Materials for Little Fire and Little Skylark during this time...

The strength of both beasts would surely advance by leaps and bounds!

By then, the top ten of the Heaven Ranking wouldn't be impossible to challenge!

While Jiang Yun was lost in thought...

And the crowd was clamoring with discussion...

Dean Ming Jing's next words...

Instantly turned all the noise into dead silence again.

Leaving only the sound of heavy heartbeats.

"If you can..."

Dean Ming Jing looked at Jiang Yun, whose gaze had suddenly become sharp.

His tone carried a hint of encouragement and an unfathomable meaning.

"If you can complete this requirement..."

He raised his volume slightly.

Ensuring every word was branded into everyone's hearts.

"The Head Dean promises to personally bestow upon you a... radiant Sun-Level treasure as a reward!"

"What!!!"

"Ra... diant... sun... Level?!"

These three words seemed to possess magic.

Causing all the Elders and instructors present, even including the Inner Court Deans...

To have their pupils shrink violently!

Their breathing instantly became heavy!

That was a supreme treasure far beyond the Diamond, Meteor, or even higher Realms!

A radiant Sun-Level treasure!

Even in the entire Provincial Capital, they were extremely rare!

One probably couldn't even scrounge up five of them!

They were existences sufficient to serve as the guardian treasures of major factions!

Its value!

Was simply immeasurable!

Enough to make any Moon-Erosion Grade expert go mad with desire!

And that wasn't all!

Dean Ming Jing continued:

"Or... you can propose a reasonable request within the capabilities of Sky Dome Academy. As long as it is not excessive and does not violate moral principles... the Head Dean can also personally agree to fulfill it for you!"

A personal promise from the Head Dean!

The crowd gasped again!

A promise from a nearly omnipotent super-expert!

The weight of this reward!

Compared to that radiant Sun-Level treasure!

Was perhaps even greater!

Its potential massive value!

Was enough to make any faction go crazy!

To pay any price for it!

This was truly... one step to heaven!

Huge risk!

Accompanied by a heaven-sent opportunity enough to drive the world mad!

This was no longer just a challenge.

It was a massive gamble!

A shocking gamble wagering all of one's reputation and future!

In an instant.

The entire square of tens of thousands of people...

Fell into absolute silence.

It was as if even time and space had frozen.

Everyone's gaze...

Carried unprecedentedly complex emotions...

As they focused on the thin but straight figure of the youth in the center of the square.

Pressure?

It was like a mountain collapsing or a tsunami.

Enough to crush steel into powder!

In one month, going from Low-tier Gold Rank to possessing the strength to at least challenge the Top Ten of the Heaven Ranking, mid-level or even high-level Amethyst Rank experts?

The chasm between them!

Was wider than a heavenly moat!

Opportunity?

It was like the star river of the Nine Heavens cascading down.

Shining with a brilliant luster that made one's Soul tremble!

A radiant Sun-Level supreme treasure!

A promise from a powerful figure like the Head Dean!

Possessing any one of them!

Was enough to change the trajectory of a lifetime!

Everyone was gasping!

Expectant!

Curious!

At this moment, Jiang Yun...

Merely frowned slightly.

He was surprisingly calm!

To others, this might be an impossible requirement!

But for Jiang Yun...

Perhaps it wasn't entirely impossible to complete.

Back down?

Never!

His path...

Had always been carved out by stepping through thorns and the impossible!

Under the gazes of everyone, some holding their breath, some mocking, and some pitying...

Jiang Yun, with a resolve that burned his bridges...

A sharpness that grew stronger when facing the strong...

And an incomparable confidence belonging to a young Prodigy, like a sharp sword being unsheathed!

He suddenly raised his head.

Those deep eyes were now startlingly bright.

As if they contained thunder that could split open Chaos.

He directly met Dean Ming Jing's gaze on the high platform, which was full of expectation and also a hint of scrutiny.

There were no grand words, no passionate speeches.

His voice was even a few shades lower than when he received the title earlier, yet it clearly penetrated the barriers of space, carrying a decisive, unquestionable firmness and confidence that rang in everyone's ears.

"Student Jiang Yun will certainly not fail this mission!"

"This test! I accept it!"

He paused slightly.

His voice suddenly rose.

Carrying a sharp edge that tore through all obstacles.

"Within one month!"

"I, Jiang Yun, will surely step onto the Heaven Ranking and join the Top Ten!"

"Boom!!!"

The moment his voice fell...

An even stronger invisible shockwave swept through the square!

The dead silence was completely broken.

Replaced by an even more surging storm of waves!

Amazement, disbelief, heartfelt admiration, bone-chilling mockery, naked schadenfreude... countless gazes with different meanings were like physical arrows, weaving into a giant net that firmly locked onto the youth in the field.

Dean Ming Jing looked at the burning fire and resolute confidence in Jiang Yun's eyes, and the seriousness on his Face finally dissolved, revealing a truly satisfied, even slightly appreciative smile.

"Good! Very good! Little fellow!"

He praised loudly.

"You have ambition! You have a sense of responsibility! Then this old man... will wait and see!"

He said no more.

Turning to Elder Mo Chen, who was also in shock, he gave a few instructions, ordering him to continue hosting the subsequent freshman tests and arrangements.

Then.

He beckoned to Jiang Yun.

His tone was much gentler.

"Jiang Yun, come with me."

His voice fell.

Before Jiang Yun could react.

The soft white light surged around him again.

Like a warm tide.

Instantly enveloping Jiang Yun entirely.

"Swoosh!!!"

The light flashed.

Like a reflection in water or a flower in a mirror.

The figures of the two men, under the gaze of tens of thousands...

Completely disappeared from the center of the square.

Leaving behind only an exploding square, boiling as if hot oil had been poured into it.

And those two keywords destined to set off a colossal wave.

Heavenly Saint Student!

Jiang Yun!

And his seemingly crazy and arrogant!!!

Oath to reach the Top Ten of the Heaven Ranking in one month!

This storm...

Would definitely not stop at Sky Dome Academy.

It would surely, with an even more violent posture...

Sweep through the entire Provincial Capital!

And shock all factions!