In the crowd, many were shocked and marveled continuously. Clearly, the appearance of Purple Mist had given them an unprecedented huge impact.
"Although it is very surprising, it also reminds me of the news that spread some time ago. Can the Yellow-level Academy’s superb master who drew the attention of the Thirteenth Prince and briefly sparred with him to a draw be anyone other than Ye Chen?"
Someone suddenly brought up this matter, capturing the attention of others. Looking at the black iron student badge on Ye Chen’s chest, hadn’t all these things already confirmed Ye Chen’s strength?
Unfortunately, the initial impression of Ye Chen was too vague, and only a few people witnessed that event, so not many could guess until now who exactly it was.
Thinking about this, everyone suddenly felt a sense of relief. After all, the Thirteenth Prince was one of the superb masters in Xiafeng Academy, and if Ye Chen could fight him to a draw, his strength must also be superbly strong.
Looking again at the base of the Stele of Strength, Ye Chen was completely engulfed by the vast purple light emitted by the stele, leaving only a blurry figure intermittently visible. But everyone distinctly felt as if they were witnessing an invincible monarch descending, standing amidst the Purple Mist, overlooking the Eight Desolates, and commanding all heavens with grandeur.
"Ye Chen, the once peerless genius, has now returned, and has become even stronger and more invincible."
This was the collective sigh of the people.
Ye Chen had always been astoundingly captivating, and now, once again emerging dramatically, he validated the heavenly talent he was rumored to be, proving that he was no failure.
Within the purple light, Ye Chen stood tall and proudly alone, his posture straight and slender, his black hair rising without wind, dancing wildly, and his eyes deep and boundless, emitting an overwhelming aura of a monarch that involuntarily made others submit.
The sound of cutting wind was ceaseless to the ears, as numerous figures rushed rapidly to the scene, arriving at the Martial Arts Square in front of the Stele of Strength, each with a tremendously strong presence, at least all being Innate Experts, comprising of other elite students of the Heavenly Level Academy as well as instructors and even elder figures of the academy, all startled and gathered here.
The elite students of the Heavenly Level Academy were naturally immensely shocked, but instructors and elders had lost their usual dignity. Looking at the young figure in front of the Stele of Strength, they could not help feeling excited.
"Purple Mist, once again Purple Mist. Heaven blesses Xia Feng, for in this generation, there emerged consecutively two peerless geniuses of the Purple Mist level."
The elders couldn’t help but get excited, for those teaching students, how could they not wish to see a peerless genius born in the academy, one who would lead the entire academy toward even more glorious heights.
The Thirteenth Prince arrived at the scene, his handsome face first full of shock, then understanding, as he lightly smiled, "Ye Chen, it indeed was you causing this commotion. I thought, besides you, who else in the academy could have produced Purple Mist."
This statement effectively offended many elite students of the Heavenly Level Academy, many of whom wanted to retort, but the words reached their lips and couldn’t escape.
As brutal as it was, they had to accept this fact, unless it was the unparalleled Crown Prince, otherwise in the academy, truly only Ye Chen could achieve this, because he had already demonstrated it.
However, the Thirteenth Prince might have this potential as well, only he had never been tested.
Ye Chen smiled faintly, not denying it, because the reality was the best proof. Pretending to be modest would only invite accusations of feigned humility—why bother.
Then he looked at Xia Mang and said, "Five hundred thousand Gold Coins, bring them here."
His light words were filled with an imposing aura, straightforwardly inquiring, yet Xia Mang’s face was pale and bloodless, he didn’t dare to oppose because Ye Chen’s demonstrated strength could defeat him in really just two or three rounds, perhaps even less.
He remembered what Ye Chen had once told him—
"Do you think being two hundred and ninety-sixth on the list is impressive? It’s insignificant!"
At the time, Xia Mang thought Ye Chen was too arrogant, condescending, and he took it as a provocation; but looking at it now, the other party truly had all the credentials to be arrogant and disdainful; it was just that he himself was in the dark, played all along by the other party.
Handing over the Purple Pattern Gold Card, Ye Chen didn’t even spare him a glance and directly drew his own Purple Pattern Gold Card, swiped it, and a streak of light appeared. The five sparkling gold stars on Xia Mang’s Purple Pattern Gold Card completely vanished, and five gold stars appeared on Ye Chen’s card, totaling nine stars, the ninth being slightly dimmer.
At this moment, his card held a total of eighty-seven thousand Gold Coins, an astronomical sum by any standard.
Seeing the Purple Pattern Gold Card in Ye Chen’s hand, the Thirteenth Prince also couldn’t help but sigh lightly, nearly ninety thousand Gold Coins—it was no small sum, and even he might not own as much.
Looking at Xia Mang’s pale face, he merely shook his head lightly, equally disdainful.
Suddenly, a strong overpowering presence emerged, causing the entire Purple Mist around to almost dissipate.
Numerous people’s expressions changed, all looking in the direction where a terrifying figure appeared, radiating an astonishing ambiance.
This was a man, seemingly only around forty years old, his face stern, in the prime of his life, robust and mighty, his muscular physique powerful as if containing an enormous force, standing there in the distance like an ancient Fierce Beast, exerting a terrifying oppressive force.