"Very well! Let's have a match. The winner gets the right to personally take him down!"
With a whoosh,
Leo spoke as he drew his massive cross sword, his aura growing increasingly violent!
"Just what I wanted!" Okam also pulled out a palm-sized magic wand, and a whirlwind began to swirl around him!
Watching the two engage in a verbal sparring match that escalated into a physical confrontation, Link was left utterly dumbfounded, seriously questioning the intelligence of both.
Meanwhile, deep within the magic tower of the Imperial Cultivation Academy...
"Damn it!"
Moulton glared at the magical scene before him, nearly bursting with rage!
"This kid is nothing but a troublemaker!"
"What should we do now, Director?" Klud asked, half-amused and half-dismayed, as he too had not anticipated the situation would develop this way!
"We absolutely cannot allow Okam and Leo to duel right now. Even if they want to settle things, it must wait until the arena battle!" Moulton said sternly.
As everyone knew, the arena assessment was the highlight of the entrance examination for the "Imperial Cultivation Academy." Moulton had long since planned to use this opportunity to promote the academy's reputation, and he would not allow Okam and Leo to fight prematurely!
"I understand!" Klud nodded in response, then began to chant a few incantations, casting a communication spell.
In the next moment, the chief examiner, Gabriel, who was situated at the foot of the hill, received Klud's message and quickly stood up to shout, "Stop right now! The Vice Director has issued an order: no fighting before the assessment. Anyone who dares to violate this will be disqualified!"
"Huh?"
Upon hearing this, Okam and Leo finally ceased their hostilities, both frowning as they stepped back.
"Wait, they actually didn't fight?" Link mused, glancing at Gabriel with a hint of disappointment. "How boring!"
Seeing that the two had calmed down, Gabriel let out a sigh of relief and announced, "I declare that the first assessment of the Imperial Cultivation Academy has now begun!"
As he spoke, he took out a magic scroll from his pocket and tossed it into the air!
In an instant, with a thunderous roar, the small hill behind them was enveloped in dark clouds, accompanied by booming thunder and flashes of lightning!
"This mountain path has been set with a 'Lightning Magic Array' by the Vice Director. All participants must reach the summit within one hour, or they will be eliminated!"
Gabriel continued, "The first three to reach the top will receive a reward of 50,000 gold coins; the top five will receive 5,000 gold coins; and the tenth place will receive 1,000 gold coins!"
Boom...
As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding participants couldn't help but murmur among themselves.
"What?"
"50,000 gold coins for the top three?"
"The gap between the top three and the top five is just too huge..."
"And they're selecting the top three this year instead of just the first. Could it be for... them?"
Many participants instinctively turned their gazes toward the "Three Radiant Heroes" in the crowd!
The reward was so conspicuous that if they still couldn't figure it out, they would truly be foolish!
"50,000 gold coins, wow! What a generous offer!"
Link was so excited by Gabriel's announcement that he nearly lost control of himself!
He knew that what he needed most right now was gold!
Moreover, the construction of the third "Necropolis"—the "Slaughterhouse"—required exactly 50,000 gold coins!
This was like receiving a pillow when one was already sleepy!