Three days later, the central plaza.
Unlike the competition grounds, the central plaza stood at the heart of the Spirit Hall Academy, occupying its absolute center.
Though countless people had passed through this plaza since its creation, it had only ever convened all teachers and students once.
And on that occasion, the convener was Qian Xunji!
His purpose was to announce the Elder's Hall's decision and crown Bibi Dong as the Saintess of Spirit Hall!
Decades later, this central plaza once again issued a summons to all students and teachers.
On the plaza, various classes were lined up in order, the crowd a dense mass of figures.
Many gazes were fixed on the location of Class A, Second Year, continuously searching for one person's silhouette.
"Hey, hey, do you know the result of Wang Zhong's spar with Teacher Ying Yanyang?"
"I don't know either! Everyone was cleared from the plaza. Only the homeroom teachers of each Class A and a few elders were allowed to remain. Only they know the outcome."
"Moreover, the Class A homeroom teachers haven't revealed the competition result to the students. Nobody knows. That Wang Zhong, I heard he hasn't appeared in class for three whole days. His classmates couldn't even ask him!"
"We only saw the beginning of a great battle, and the rest we either couldn't see or weren't allowed to. It's so frustrating!"
"Right! A battle between a Soul King and a Soul Sage shouldn't have any surprises, but that Soul King happens to be Wang Zhong. His strength and level are completely different."
"Wang Zhong is simply a monster. He cultivated to the Soul King realm in six years since enrolling! At this speed, the so-called prodigies of the Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects outside aren't even fit to carry Wang Zhong's shoes!"
"The most terrifying thing is that Wang Zhong has never lost a single challenge in the academy. That's the truly frightening part, isn't it! Whether it was a one-on-one or a group battle, he solved all opponents by himself!"
...
Amidst the crowd, bursts of hushed whispers arose, each voice discussing every matter related to Wang Zhong.
But soon, these voices faded away quietly, as Bibi Dong, Ghost Shadow, and Chrysanthemum passed to the most conspicuous position at the front.
Bibi Dong, holding the Papal Scepter, stood at the very front, her majestic voice echoing across the entire central plaza.
"Teachers and students, I imagine you are all filled with curiosity about one matter at this moment."
"Who won the battle between Wang Zhong and Ying Yanyang?"
"One is the powerful, noble, and majestic homeroom teacher of Class A in the academy, and the other is an outstanding prodigy of Class A, who has advanced bravely since enrolling and has never tasted defeat. Although there is a significant gap in their strength, the latter has created too many miracles!"
"In the first semester of the first year, at six and a half years old, he, a level sixteen Soul Master, challenged a level twenty-six Great Soul Master of the second year and won!"
"In the second semester of the first year, at seven years old, with the strength of a level twenty-four Great Soul Master, he challenged a level forty-one Soul Sect and won."
"In one year, his Soul Power increased by sixteen levels, an incredibly terrifying speed, even out of reach for others."
"In the second year, at eight years old, he became the youngest Soul Sect since the founding of Spirit Hall Academy! With his level forty-two strength, he faced and defeated the five Soul Kings of the 'Invincible Team Combination' who were once renowned in the academy!"
The simple review left all students and teachers in shock and admiration. Although they had a vague concept in their hearts, knowing Wang Zhong's talent was strong and his power terrifying, it was only when all these facts were laid out that they clearly understood how far that "strength" reached, and to what extent that "terror" was heart-pounding.
"With a continuous winning streak, he has never lost!"
"Four years later, that undefeated record continued just three days ago!"
"Wang Zhong, twelve years old, level fifty-two! He defeated his homeroom teacher of Class A, whose Soul Power level far surpassed his own!"
A single statement stirred a thousand waves, and a clamor of astonished exclamations erupted from the assembled students and teachers.
"Teacher Ying Yanyang, he lost!"
"He was a level seventy-nine, a super expert just one step away from breaking through to the Soul Douluo rank!"
"Wang Zhong, is he that strong!"
Among the third and fourth-year students, former disciples of Ying Yanyang, such as Pei Yan, Zhang Shuai... Yu Feixue, Ji Xiaoshuang, and others, their faces were complex as they murmured in surprise.
"His victory, his talent, his effort, have earned him the glory and reward that rightfully belong to him!"
Amidst the gazes and exclamations of the crowd, a resplendent and exquisite left arm bone floated quietly above Bibi Dong's jade hand. Simultaneously, beside the Soul Bone, a badge intricately carved from purple and gold appeared.
The Purple Gold Medal!
This was the highest honor symbolizing the younger generation of Spirit Hall, and Bibi Dong's presentation of it now was self-evident.
"Wang Zhong, come to the stage!"
"Receive your glory and deserved reward!"
Outside the plaza, Wang Zhong's figure slowly walked towards this location.
He was not particularly tall, nor particularly robust. His body possessed a strong and sturdy build. His ordinary face was not handsome, merely described as clean and refined.
But he carried an aura that could make anyone turn their heads and pay attention.
It was the confidence born from countless victories! It was the fearlessness from countless battles against opponents far stronger than himself and emerging victorious! It was the perseverance cultivated through years of diligent and hard practice! It was also the arrogance and self-assurance unique to a gifted young genius who possessed the strength of a Soul King at just twelve years old, with talent that was astonishing and unparalleled on the continent!
Wang Zhong walked step by step, his body as upright as a pine tree. His emerald green eyes held a calm and steady gaze, with a gentleness and a deeply hidden affection, looking directly at Bibi Dong, who stood at the very front.
From his childish, unmannered, and audacious kiss on her hand upon first stepping onto the stage, she had not blamed or punished him.
Their reunion in the little wooden house, her sorrow and peace, had sparked a faint curiosity deep within his heart.
Before the annual competition, his overwhelming physical strength had won against Lu Xiaoshuang. The coolness of her hand on his face and her troubled gaze had evoked a different emotion.
Through continued contact and interaction in the little wooden house, he understood that the woman before him had a peculiar gentleness and softness towards him, because she wanted to take him as her disciple.
The acquisition of his third Soul Ring, the word "Mom" spoken in the forest, the warm embrace that received no verbal response but no refusal, the bestowal of the Wisdom Head Soul Bone – he felt that selfless, even slightly obsessive, care.
The acquisition of his fourth Soul Ring, the rift caused by a gift that had since vanished in the forest. He understood she harbored painful memories of a love she was unwilling to revisit, and because of this, he knew that this proud and noble woman also had moments of powerlessness.
The figure flying through the air, the boy who threw himself into her arms, and the extremely gentle and passionate response to the word "Mom" – he would never forget it.
Swallowing a medicinal pill to poison himself, her furious accusations and shouts still echoed in his ears. The four years of constant companionship and meticulous guidance in the Death Canyon had etched her image deeper and deeper into his heart.
"She is not my mother, but she has given me everything a mother could give!"
Wang Zhong's steps did not falter. He walked, firm and determined, the crowd parting for the glory radiating from him, leaving a wide avenue leading directly to Bibi Dong.
Gazing fixedly at that exquisitely beautiful and noble face, Wang Zhong slowly knelt on one knee.
At Wang Zhong's action, Bibi Dong chuckled inwardly, "Silly child, you're receiving glory and rewards, how can you kneel!"