172: Chapter 172 It's time to award the Philosopher's Stone.

Shen Ye's body stiffened beside him.

He finally understood why Li Qingyue had worn that bizarre smile earlier.

The two-way anchoring theory used by the Titan Furnace originally came from Su Bai.

Taking the basic structure Su Bai had casually handed over, they manufactured the Titan Furnace, believing they had mastered a top-tier system capable of dominating the National Competition.

In the end, they were blasted straight through by Su Bai's true finished product!

What kind of technological collision was this?

From start to finish, it was simply a student taking a few lines of rough drafts casually written by the teacher and running off to challenge the teacher's complete answer!

Qi Yuan slowly sat back down in his chair.

At that instant, he seemed to have aged ten years.

But soon, his gaze grew unprecedentedly fervent.

There was no shame or annoyance.

Nor was there any jealousy.

There was only the near-mad craving of a true scholar upon beholding supreme truth!

"Su Bai..."

Qi Yuan stared intently at the youth at the other end of the VIP gallery.

"I must thoroughly research and understand this system!"

Just at this moment, a magnificent bell tolled through the arena.

Nine phantom golden divine dragons streaked across the sky from the direction of the imperial city, circling and hovering above the arena.

Everyone quickly quieted down.

The Empress slowly stood up.

The beaded curtains parted to both sides, and that majestic, peerlessly beautiful face was completely revealed for the first time on the nationwide broadcast cameras.

"The current National Card Creator Prodigy Competition has officially concluded."

"Qin Ye completed Purgatory Mode by her own strength, displaying the courage and sharpness proper to a Dragon Country prodigy."

"We announce—"

"Qin Ye is the overall champion of this National Competition!"

Golden national destiny descended from the sky, converging into an illusory crown that slowly landed atop Qin Ye's head.

Cheers rang out once more.

Qin Ye raised her head to look at the VIP gallery.

She did not look at the Empress, nor did she look at those shocked Tier 9 powerhouses.

She only looked at Su Bai.

Afterward, this young girl who had just swept through the nation's prodigies dropped to one knee and placed her right hand over her chest.

This was the etiquette for a Magic Card Master to express the utmost respect to a Card Creator.

The cameras across the entire venue also turned toward Su Bai at this moment.

The Empress continued to speak:

"Su Bai created the two major systems of the Magical Girl System and the Stand System, opening up a completely brand-new direction for Dragon Country's card creation path. His merits should not be measured solely by this competition's championship."

"We grant Su Bai the qualification to enter the National Treasure Secret Realm and comprehend the philosophers stone."

"All seniority checks, academic reviews, and background investigations are waived."

"Directly promoted—Core Candidate of the Truth Sanctuary!"

The Card Creation Masters in the VIP gallery simultaneously changed expressions.

The qualification to comprehend the philosophers stone was already startling enough.

Direct promotion as a core candidate of the Truth Sanctuary was an unprecedented special exception in Dragon Country for hundreds of years!

Yet this time, no one raised any objections.

Because the arena ruins were laid right before their eyes.

The defeat of thirty-four prodigies was Su Bai's most powerful proof of qualification!

The Empress looked at Su Bai.

"Beloved Subject Su."

"Half a month ago, you said in the Imperial Ultimate Hall that Magical Girls were already outdated."

"We originally thought you were merely being brash and hot-headed."

"Now, it would seem—"

A faint smile surfaced in the Empress's eyes.

"We underestimated you."

Countless gazes across the venue gathered on Su Bai.

Yet Su Bai remained calm.

"Your Majesty flatters me."

He glanced at [The World] suspended behind Qin Ye.

"The Stand is also just starting out."

His voice was not loud.

Yet it made the entire arena instantly quiet down.

Just starting out?

A Tier 2 Stand Card that stopped time, manifested the soul, ignored material load limits, and blasted straight through a Tier 5 SS-grade system from the front.

Relying on it, Qin Ye had swept through thirty-four national prodigies in eighteen seconds!

Such a thing was actually considered just starting out?

Then after the Stand System was truly perfected, what would it become?

A Tier 3 Stand?

A Tier 5 Stand?

A Tier 9 Stand?!

Everyone merely imagined it for a moment, and their scalps tingled numbly.

Right at this moment, a continuous string of system notifications rang out in Su Bai's mind.

[Congratulations to the host for completing the National Competition domination!]

[The Magical Girl System and the Stand System have completed their first fusion!]

[The Stand System has gained world-class recognition!]

[Massive amounts of shock, adoration, and fanatical emotions have been generated on a global scale!]

[The Power of Wishes is converging!]

An invisible torrent surged from all corners of the world.

The shock of tens of billions of viewers in the live broadcast room.

The Card Creators' fanaticism toward the brand-new system.

The hope seen by countless weak class-holders after breaking through rank barriers.

All of this completely transformed into the purest wish power, pouring into Su Bai's body!

[Triggered top-level Critical Refund!]

[Perfectly inherited all of Qin Ye's Mental Power!]

[Obtained exclusive Stand: The World!]

[Obtained ability: The World - Time Stop!]

[Mental attribute has broken through the current rank limit!]

[Advancement conditions have been met!]

[Congratulations to the host for advancing to a Tier 3 Card Creator!]

Boom!

The Mental Power inside Su Bai's body instantly underwent a qualitative change.

All surrounding sounds rapidly elongated, distorted, and finally vanished completely.

The falling ribbons froze in mid-air.

The audience maintained their cheering postures.

The golden flowing light on the Empress's sleeves stopped in place.

The entire world, in Su Bai's eyes—

Suddenly came to a halt.

Su Bai slowly stood up.

A dark golden human figure visible only to him silently manifested behind him.

He walked over to the Empress, reached out to pick up the teacup on the table, and gently placed the teacup back into the Empress's palm.

Afterwards, he returned to his own seat.

"Time begins to flow."

Snap!

The frozen ribbons continued to fall.

The tsunami-like sounds rushed back into his ears.

Yet the Empress suddenly felt a heaviness in her palm.

She lowered her head.

The teacup originally placed on the table had somehow appeared in her hands.

The tea in the cup did not sway in the slightest.

The smile on the Empress's face vanished for the first time.

Replaced by unconcealed shock.

Li Qingyue also abruptly turned her head, looking at Su Bai in disbelief.

That instant just now—

She hadn't noticed a single thing!

Meeting their gazes, Su Bai smiled slightly.

"Your Majesty."

"It is time to award the philosophers stone."