The seven challengers who had confronted Lin Ran all lay sprawled on the ground, leaving the freshmen in the audience in a state of dazed disbelief.
"Is that… it?"
"Damn, that felt like it lasted just over a minute!"
"True… but it was packed with action. It’s the first time I’ve seen Big Boss Lin Ran go all out."
"Yeah, many of his moves were so fast I couldn't even properly see them before they flashed by."
"For instance, up to this point, we still don't know how Wu Huanyu was critically injured."
"Perhaps his illusion skills weren't enough, and he was instantly defeated by Lin Ran's gaze?"
"If that's the case, doesn't that make Lin Ran ridiculously strong?"
"Fire and close combat to defeat Wan Meng, summon flying arrows to defeat Qin Tian and Lu Yuan, spatial manipulation to defeat Li Xuan, lightning to defeat Lei Zhan, physical condensation to defeat Lin Zhao Fan, illusion mastery to defeat Wu Huanyu…"
"He defeated them all at their strongest points! He didn't just kill them, he crushed their spirits!"
"Is this what they call a true six-sided warrior? Truly terrifying…"
"And who can forget, Lin Ran's talent is the Natural Spirit Body, which enhances physical defense and vitality?"
"And this supposed tank-like talent of his didn't even get hit once by these seven people…"
Seeing Lin Ran on stage, as if he had accomplished a trivial task with effortless grace, the freshmen found it hard to swallow.
Among the senior students, cheers of "Ran God! Ran God!" erupted once more.
These cheers naturally came from the students from humble backgrounds.
A top scholar from a poor family, pressured by the seven great clans, had made a powerful comeback.
This was even more satisfying than reading a feel-good novel!
For them, it had been a long time since a hero like Lin Ran had appeared!
"Ran God!"
"Ran God!"
"Ran God!"
Hearing the ceaseless cheers, Lin Ran smiled and waved to the stage again, then tossed the Dragon Blade he held to Wan Meng.
"Your weapon is very effective. Don't forget to keep it safe."
"Now, are you still not going to give up?"
Although the seven were severely injured, Lin Ran had held back somewhat.
Otherwise, given the current disparity in strength, it would have been effortless for Lin Ran to defeat them all instantly.
However, that would have also triggered the arena's protection mechanism.
This was why Lin Ran intentionally didn't deplete their vitality too much, creating an opportunity to torment them a bit longer.
Lu Yuan and the others, their faces pale from the combined effects of fear and pain, exclaimed, "We surrender! We surrender!"
As their words echoed, the arena announcer chimed in.
"Beep! The victor has been decided! The winner of this arena match is - Lin Ran!"
Upon hearing the official announcement, the students from humble backgrounds on stage erupted in cheers again.
"Ran God!"
"Ran God!"
"Ran God!"
The freshmen in the audience, however, did not join in the revelry.
After all, they were in the same cohort as Lin Ran… they were rivals.
Faced with Lin Ran's unfathomable strength, beyond reverence, there was a greater sense of unwillingness and disappointment.
Why wasn't *he*, who was being revered on stage, one of them?
With a sun-like figure like Lin Ran appearing among his peers, their own faint starlight would likely be completely eclipsed…
Lin Ran watched the seven figures enveloped in green light and sent down for treatment. He stretched leisurely and then looked out at the audience.
"Anyone else want to challenge me?"
Under Lin Ran's gaze, all the freshmen instinctively lowered their heads.
It was a joke! Even seven of the top-ranked special recruits had been thrashed when they teamed up. Who else would dare to seek trouble?
At this moment, Lin Miao stealthily approached Luo Qing Yan and whispered something in her ear.
Luo Qing Yan first showed surprise, then a look of understanding, and finally nodded with a smile.
Then, with a dashing backflip, Luo Qing Yan leaped onto the stage, raising a hand energetically into the air.
"I will!"
Upon seeing who it was, Lin Ran tilted his head.
"What are you doing here?"
Luo Qing Yan grinned and walked up to Lin Ran, tidying his slightly disheveled clothes, and then punched him lightly in the chest.
"Of course, to fight you!"
"Hmph? Weren't you very arrogant just now? Come on! I'll deal with you!"
Lin Ran rolled his eyes, about to say something, when he suddenly received a message through his bio-chip from Luo Qing Yan.
"Sister Miao wants me to spar with you and exert my full strength."
"This way, their boss – the principal of Yan University – can officially acknowledge us and have us under his wing."
"Moreover, they'll provide both of us with a special prize, which is rumored to be quite valuable."
"This way, we can silence the doubters."
"After all, in the face of absolute power, their protests will naturally be invalid~"
Lin Ran then sighed.
"Alright, let's do it!"
"But I have to warn you beforehand, if you cry after I beat you, I'm not responsible."
Luo Qing Yan snorted and drew out a lightsaber.
"Who cries who, it's not decided yet!"
"Just accept your fate and die!"
Saying that, a dense and blazing holy light erupted from Luo Qing Yan.
The sheer density of this energy stunned all seven people below the stage.
What kind of situation was this, after being beaten by one monster, another one appeared?
Damn it! With this level of energy fluctuation, anyone would believe she was a Rank 4 Awakener!
It was estimated that even Luo Qing Yan could easily defeat all seven of them!
When these two went all out, they truly ignored all basic principles!
Seeing Luo Qing Yan assume a fighting stance, Lin Ran's expression turned stern.
The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, the Gate of Babylon behind him, and the Room domain of the Op-Op Fruit were all deployed instantly.
The onlookers, caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, were a bit flustered.
"What the hell is going on? Are they fighting each other?"
"Hey, why do their declaration of war sound so much like flirting?"
"No need to doubt it… they probably went through all this just for a little bit of spice."
"Sigh, I'm so jealous… why didn't a perfect life template like Lin Ran's fall to me!"
"Indeed, I'm just a pickled cabbage fish, sour, weak, and redundant…"
At this moment, Lin Miao quickly ran to the side of the stage and clapped her hands.
"Alright! Then, our freshman challenge continues!"
"The current second-ranked Luo Qing Yan will face the current first-ranked Lin Ran!"
"Countdown begins!"