72: Hidden phase

The electronic voice of the Virtual Network continued to ring out.

“Registration for the fifth and sixth matches of Phase Two will now begin.”

The martial arts hall suddenly fell silent once again.

“As expected, there is more to Phase Two.”

“The fifth and sixth matches.”

“Based on what happened before, they should be at the Fifth Rank, Sixth Layer, and the invincible strength of the Fifth Rank, Sixth Layer.”

“Creating history?”

“No!”

“Our youth is already beginning to write his own history!”

The noisy sounds of the venue returned.

Lin Yan watched the registration countdown on the giant projection with a calm gaze.

Finally, it has reached the Fifth Rank, Sixth Layer.

Everything before could be considered a slight warm-up for him.

Only... when those people challenged the continuation of the kings road before, it seemed like they registered for four matches directly.

Now that only the fifth and sixth matches are open for registration, does it mean Phase Two only has these two matches?

In other words, Phase Two ends once you reach the invincible strength of the Fifth Rank, Sixth Layer?

And does this also mean that the Intermediate kings road will be cleared?

While his thoughts wandered...

The ten-minute registration time slowly ticked away... aboard the USA's private plane.

The atmosphere was somewhat silent.

“Invincible Fifth Rank, Sixth Layer.”

“He really has it.”

The thin youth, who had been skeptical before, spoke up unwillingly.

The green-eyed, well-endowed woman no longer laughed wildly; her slightly enchanting eyes flickered with bursts of cold light.

“No wonder they wanted us to come.”

The old man glanced at the two of them and nodded slightly.

Connie and Bev were finally serious.

He shifted his gaze toward Simon, and his expression suddenly froze.

Hmm?

“Interesting.”

“Hehe... interesting...”

The corners of Simon's mouth curled slightly as a scorching Battle Intent rose from his body.

I hope you won't be easily knocked down this time.

I'll be waiting for you to reach the Sixth Rank to fight me!

“Teacher.”

“Let's go down.”

“No one will register for the fifth and sixth matches.”

“There's no need to watch what comes next.”

The old man pondered for a moment.

“Alright.”

“Based on this registration situation, this is likely the final stage of the Intermediate kings road.”

“While Lin Yan is the primary target, it's best not to let some of the Prodigies from The Four Great Ones off either.”

“Let's go deal with them first.”

After he finished speaking.

He immediately swiped his wristband to send messages to the Prodigy teams from other countries... meanwhile.

At the largest martial arts hall in Magic City.

The four Prodigy teams from Imperial Martial, Magic Martial, Jiang Wu, and Chuan Wu had already gathered together. Like many people in the Dragon Country at this moment, they were watching the live broadcast of Lin Yan's kings road.

Ping Cang withdrew his gaze from his wristband.

“They're here.”

Suddenly.

Numerous gazes all focused on him.

Ji Zhuang and the principals of the other two universities narrowed their eyes simultaneously.

“As expected, it's just as the higher-ups thought.”

Ping Cang continued, his eyes full of coldness.

“Furthermore.”

“They have shamelessly carried out overwhelming publicity.”

“It shouldn't be long before the entire Magic City, and even the whole country, knows this news.”

“Our place will soon be overcrowded.”

Ji Zhuang spoke in a cold voice.

“This is to force that little fellow to show up later.”

“What a malicious scheme.”

Ping Cang nodded slightly.

“Haotian University's principal, Duan Tiancheng, has already gone to our School.”

“Besides him, there are also some personnel from above.”

“They won't let him come out.”

After he finished speaking.

He turned to look at the ten Prodigies who were already looking at them, and just as he was about to say something.

Shangguan Wu grinned.

“Principal.”

“We heard everything.”

“We all understand.”

“If they dare to come so shamelessly to crush the pride of our golden generation, they'll have to step over my, Shangguan Wu's, corpse first!”

The young, unified voices were full of determination.

“For the Dragon Country, our generation will not shrink from our duty!”

Among them.

There was Mu Baiyi, and there was also Ying Chao.

There were also other Prodigies from The Four Great Ones whom Lin Yan didn't know at all.

Domestically, they would all have a desire to win and feelings of non-submission.

But when facing other countries.

All of that would be cast aside.

Everything boiled down to just four words.

Country! Above all else!

This was the absolute cohesion of the Dragon Country, one of the four powers of Blue Star, and it was also what the various countries on this planet feared most about the Dragon Country.

The lips of the four principals trembled slightly.

“You are all... good lads!”

...The ten-minute registration time was neither long nor short.

While everyone waited, it was soon about to reach its end.

At this moment.

“Hmm?”

A slight commotion broke out among the various countries in the spectator stands.

“What?”

“In Magic City, The Four Great Ones have gathered, along with a joint Prodigy team from the USA and other countries.”

“The USA's roster includes Simon Shaw, Connie, Bev...”

“They hope to have a friendly exchange with the Dragon Country's epoch-making Prodigy, Lin Yan!”

The expressions of the people from the Dragon Country changed slightly, and they abruptly looked at the Youth in Black standing quietly in the center of the venue.

Then they simultaneously looked toward the USA's spectator stands, about to burst into curses.

Many figures immediately stood up and held those people back.

“Don't!”

“This is an overt ploy!”

“We absolutely cannot affect the Flame King at this time!”

“The Prodigies of The Four Great Ones have all gone; it's clear the country received the news long ago, and they will definitely handle it!”

Numerous figures swung their fists unwillingly.

“F*ck!”

“So f*cking shameless and despicable!”

“Even Simon Shaw has come over. Isn't it obvious they want to deliver a heavy blow while Lin Yan is at his peak?”

“Don't you know what the USA's character is like?”

“Not to mention Chairman Xia Zhou has always been a head above their Chairman Sol.”

“Now that the Flame King is growing so rapidly, they simply can't sit still.”

“But can we really keep it from him?”

Just as those words were spoken.

“Lin Yan!!”

“Are you still here fighting this bullsh*t kings road?”

“Get lost and go back to receive the baptism of our country's Prodigies!”

Bursts of fragmented shouts resounded.

Lin Yan, who was wondering why so many people from the Dragon Country had suddenly gone quiet, looked up slightly toward the USA's spectator stands.

“Hahaha!”

“He seems like he doesn't know yet!”

“That's right.”

“I suppose the Dragon Country doesn't want him to know either, right?”

“Tsk tsk, the top universities of the Dragon Country are gathering in Magic City to face the Prodigy team led by our country.”

“Could they be going there to take a bullet for you?”

Prodigy team?

Gathering in Magic City?

Taking a bullet?

Lin Yan's mind raced.

Right at that moment.

Numerous voices from the Dragon Country came from behind him.

“Flame King, don't fall for it!”

“They are trying to interfere with your state of mind!”

“Focus on finishing the kings road!”

“Yes, don't listen to their nonsense!”

Everything that was happening seemed to converge at the same instant.

The electronic voice of the Virtual Battle Network resounded.

“Registration closed.”

“Number of participants: 0.”

“Lin Yan of the Dragon Country, Phase Two challenge complete.”

“Lin Yan of the Dragon Country, Intermediate kings road challenge successful.”

“Overall Evaluation: Extreme Rank.”

“Ranked as Intermediate King, First Place.”

The electronic voice faded.

Lin Yan also looked up; no joy or happiness could be seen on his face, which was instead filled with coldness.

The USA... he had already deduced the general gist of things from the fragmented information.

In the spectator stands.

The various countries had mocking expressions, and their hearts felt as refreshed as if they had drunk a glass of ice water on a hot summer day.

Go on, be arrogant! Why aren't you being arrogant anymore?!

The Dragon Country's side didn't start celebrating because the kings road had ended; instead, they all looked at the youth standing quietly in the arena with worried eyes.

Right then.

Another sudden change occurred in the venue.

A projection screen appeared in front of Lin Yan, who was preparing to leave.

Accompanied by the familiar electronic voice of the Virtual Network.

“Young King Lin Yan.”

“The hidden stage of the Intermediate kings road has been activated.”

“Do you choose to undertake the challenge?”

“Note: The hidden stage has three difficulty options. Successfully completing different difficulties will increase the overall evaluation Rank and grant higher rewards.”