It was inherently a rather comical situation for a fourth-year university student to look up to a first-year as a role model.
However, in the presence of this roaring fanboy, whose passion resembled that of Lin Ran's most devoted followers, no one could muster a laugh.
Both Lin Ran and Luo Qingyan had displayed a level of dominance that seemingly surpassed that of the older students who had spent years at Yan University.
Though they were reluctant to admit it, the reality was undeniably harsh.
Finally, as the smoke cleared from the stage, the outcome of their beam-of-light confrontation became apparent.
As the saying goes, "The left side always loses in a beam struggle."
This time was no exception.
Luo Qingyan, positioned on the left, found her angelic true form battered and broken by the energy onslaught, appearing on the verge of collapse.
In contrast, Lin Ran's Susanoo on the right remained completely unscathed, not even a scratch.
"I lost... I wholeheartedly accept it..."
Luo Qingyan raised her hand and dispelled her angelic true form, sighing at Lin Ran.
Lin Ran, in turn, deactivated his Susanoo and walked over to her with a smile:
"Hey now, didn't I tell you?"
"With me around, you just need to be a pretty boy and there's no need to try so hard."
"Wouldn't it be nice to just lie in my arms and whine? Be good, okay?"
"After all, I am Lin Ran."
Luo Qingyan's pretty face flushed.
This guy, using her own words to tease her again…
Yet, she found herself quite susceptible to it.
Although Luo Qingyan thought this to herself, she didn't voice it:
"Hmph, just you wait, I'll pin you to the ground and beat you sooner or later!"
Lin Ran spread his hands in mock helplessness:
"Alright, I'll be waiting then..."
Just as the two were openly displaying their affection in front of countless people, a voice, old yet hearty, echoed from afar.
"With these two at Yan University, this year's competition is secured!"
"Come, children, let me have a good look at you."
Everyone turned to follow the sound and saw an old man in white, with white hair and a white beard, descending from the sky.
"It's Principal Ma!"
A sharp-eyed student immediately recognized the newcomer.
Many, including the older students, gasped in unison.
Had this freshman competition stirred up such a tremendous stir? Even Principal Ma had come?!
The principal of Yan University, whose real name was Ma Te, was not just a renowned figure within the Dragon Country.
Even across the entire Blue Star, he was a celebrated individual.
The primary reason was that he was a genuine Tenth-Order Awakened, and was infinitely close to the peak of the Tenth-Order Awakened.
In terms of solo combat prowess, he belonged to the absolute top tier in this world.
Furthermore, Ma Te had been at the helm of Yan University for nearly five hundred years. He was also remarkably amiable and enjoyed immense prestige within the school.
Even the scions of influential families held him in high regard.
After all, the combined might of an entire influential family might not even be a match for him alone…
Seeing Ma Te appear, almost all the freshmen became visibly excited.
Under everyone's gaze, Ma Te landed in front of Luo Qingyan and Lin Ran, smiling at the duo:
"Good! Very good! Excellent!"
"Considering the significant power gap between you two and the other freshmen, the school has decided not to assign you to any of our five major departments."
"You will both be directly under my purview."
"From this day forward, Yan University establishes a new department, the Chaos Department, and I will personally serve as its dean!"
"This year, the Chaos Department will temporarily recruit two students, namely Lin Ran and Luo Qingyan!"
Ma Te didn't waste time with pleasantries, delivering a bombshell announcement right off the bat.
Although this arrangement made Lin Ran and Luo Qingyan exceptionally special, clearly indicating preferential treatment,
No one stepped forward to voice any objections.
After all, it was Ma Te! A hero of the Dragon Country!
His feat of single-handedly repelling an invading army of a hundred thousand foreign races from a massive spatial rift, thus safeguarding a city in the Dragon Country and saving millions of lives, was still vivid in everyone's memory. He was revered by countless individuals as the strongest in the Dragon Country.
Coupled with the terrifying power displayed by Lin Ran and Luo Qingyan, they could demonstrate absolute crushing superiority against anyone who dared to face them.
To be personally mentored by Ma Te…
While many felt so envious their teeth ached, they could only grudgingly accept it.
Seeing that no objections were raised by either the freshmen or the upperclassmen, Ma Te chuckled again:
"Alright! Since no one opposes, this matter is settled!"
"Coincidentally, you two are the first and second place winners of this competition, so I shall present your rewards here and now."
"Along with that, a small welcome gift."
"After all, you two are the pioneers of my Chaos Department..."
"The future prosperity of the Chaos Department will depend on you both!"
With that, Ma Te, as if performing a magic trick, produced two thick stacks of vouchers and handed one to Lin Ran and the other to Luo Qingyan:
"Mo Neng Equipment and Qiu Feng should have already provided you with most of what you need, so I assume you're not severely lacking."
"These are vouchers for basic heavenly treasures and one-time use items. Please accept them."
The surrounding freshmen's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
How incredibly generous!
Without even counting, that stack of vouchers contained at least several hundred items…
Were the rewards for first and second place really this outrageous?
Before they could recover from their shock, Ma Te produced three more fruits.
One gold, one black, and one seven-colored.
"Qingyan already has the Heart of the Angel, so I won't give her another separately…"
"These two are the Epic-grade Sacred Fruit of Light and the Forbidden Fruit of Darkness. You may have them."
"They will help you develop your innate abilities, and their effects are quite remarkable."
Saying this, Ma Te placed the two fruits into Luo Qingyan's hands.
Lin Ran, standing beside her, couldn't help but glance at the attributes of these fruits.
[Sacred Fruit of Light]
[Category: Heavenly Treasure (Special)]
[Quality: Epic]
[Consumption Effect: Greatly aids the user in developing divine and light-element innate abilities, and can upgrade the level of low-tier innate abilities, further elevating high-tier innate abilities.]
[Forbidden Fruit of Darkness]
[Category: Heavenly Treasure (Special)]
[Quality: Epic]
[Consumption Effect: Greatly aids the user in developing curse and dark-element innate abilities, and can upgrade the level of low-tier innate abilities, further elevating high-tier innate abilities.]
?
Lin Ran curiously glanced at Ma Te.
Giving Luo Qingyan the Sacred Fruit of Light was understandable, but how did he come up with the Forbidden Fruit of Darkness? It was truly absurd!
However, Ma Te had no intention of explaining. He then handed the seven-colored fruit to Lin Ran:
"You, kid, only get one…"
"So, I've slightly improved the quality of this particular fruit."
Lin Ran looked at the fruit in his hand, his heart churning with a thousand waves.