Chapter 2562: Chapter 2565: I Am from Changlin Academy

Is this... forming an array with one’s body?

Jiang Chen glanced at the youth in white, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

"Everyone, please introduce yourselves!"

Jin Ming surveyed the group of outsiders and spoke softly.

Each outsider beside the Holy Elders, except for Jiang Chen, was in pairs - one mature and one young.

In response, the youth beside the Second Elder, who had just asked Jin Ming, cupped his fists toward Jin Ming and the others and spoke loudly, "I am Huo Qiong from the Huo Family in the Canglan Domain! This is my second uncle, Huo Langtian."

"Ming Yang from the Ming Hall in the Canglan Domain! This is Elder Wu!"

"Zuo Qiqi from the Zuo Clan in the Canglan Domain, this is my father, Zuo Lincheng."

"Su Qingpeng from the Su Family in the Canglan Domain, this is my third uncle, Su Lieyang."

Hearing the introductions, Jiang Chen looked at Huo Qiong, Zuo Qiqi, and Su Qingpeng in surprise, a hint of astonishment appearing in his eyes.

What a coincidence?

Noticing the change in Jiang Chen’s expression, Jin Ming chuckled and said, "The Changlang Continent is vast, but the Canglan Domain is not large; it’s merely an annular area between the Six Great Academies and Canglan City, also known as the Central Region along with the domains where the Six Great Academies are located."

Jiang Chen nodded in understanding, and then cupped his fists toward everyone, saying, "Jiang Chen, from Changlin Academy!"

"Changlin Academy?"

Everyone expressed some confusion, and Zuo Qiqi, with a glint in her eye, softly asked, "Brother Jiang, are you from Changlin Academy, not Changling Academy?"

"It’s Changlin Academy in the Mingqian Realm."

Jiang Chen said with a smile.

"Mingqian Realm? Where is that?"

"Seems like it’s a remote domain in the Outer Ring Region!"

"Outer Ring Region? Why did the Great Elder find someone from the Outer Ring Region?"

The people of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan started to discuss in amazement.

Zuo Qiqi revealed a hint of disdain upon hearing this and turned her head away from Jiang Chen.

Yan Hu did not introduce himself either, as he was only accompanying Jiang Chen.

Whoosh!

At this moment, a figure suddenly appeared above the square, drawing everyone’s gaze upward.

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

"Salutations, Clan Leader!"

Everyone cupped their fists and bowed in salute, Jiang Chen following suit while observing the newcomer.

The newcomer was a stern-faced middle-aged man, dressed in a golden robe embroidered with a giant Devouring Rat, his eyes full of sternness as he looked at everyone.

This was Jin Tianqiong, the current Clan Leader of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan!

"The Ancestral Land will soon open, and only six can enter. Our clan has fifty-five people eligible to enter. The five Grand Elders have recommended five people, making sixty in total; these sixty will undergo three rounds of battle to compete for six spots. Now, the contest for spots shall commence..."

The man did not waste words and directly announced the number of participants and basic rules for this selection.

Jiang Chen was momentarily stunned, it’s starting just like this?

"We were delayed in a small town; we should have arrived three days earlier."

Jin Wenhao, noticing Jiang Chen’s confusion, explained in a low voice.

Jiang Chen suddenly understood that the delay in arriving early was all for waiting for him.

"Thank you."

Jiang Chen said softly in gratitude.

"Wait a moment!"

Just as Jin Tianqiong was about to announce the start of the assessment, a voice rang out, causing everyone to turn toward the altar.

Three figures appeared on the altar, and a gold-robed elder with a face full of helplessness brought a middle-aged and a young man over to Jin Ming and the others.

"Greetings, Supreme Third Elder!"

"Salutations, Supreme Third Elder!"

The people of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan all bowed toward the gold-robed elder.

"Supreme Third Elder, please explain."

Jin Tianqiong glanced at the middle-aged and young men and looked at the gold-robed elder calmly.

"Haha, Clan Leader Jin, I am Lin Zhong, commander of the Canglan Army, and this is my son Lin Jianghuan."

The middle-aged man spoke up before the Supreme Third Elder could, "I pleaded with the Supreme Third Elder to bring us here, hoping Clan Leader Jin would allow my son to participate in the Ancestral Land spot competition."

"Sorry, there are only five spots for outsiders!"

Jin Tianqiong showed no regard for Lin Zhong, speaking indifferently before turning to the square and loudly stating, "Begin the formation!"

Buzz!

A mysterious fluctuation appeared over the square, and the people of the Gold-devouring Rat Clan jumped to the sides as twelve large arenas emerged in the square, each covered by a transparent light shield.

Lin Zhong’s face changed, his brow furrowing slightly as he said in a low voice, "Clan Leader Jin, can’t you give some face to the Canglan Army?"

"Can you represent the Canglan Army?"

Jin Tianqiong gave Lin Zhong a brief glance, then turned and shouted, "First round, group battle, with five people per arena; determine a winner from each. Now, ascend the stage!"

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

The fifty-five Gold-devouring Rat Clan members who had reached the Divine Infant Realm Peak leaped onto the arenas, with five arenas having only four members, clearly leaving spots for Jiang Chen and the others.

"Go ahead!"

Jin Ming said softly.

Jiang Chen nodded and was about to leap toward the arena, and Huo Qiong and the others also moved almost simultaneously.

"Wait a moment!"

A loud voice suddenly rang out, and a vast momentum pressed down on Jiang Chen, Huo Qiong, and the others.

Jiang Chen furrowed his brow slightly and turned to look at Lin Jianghuan, and Huo Qiong and the others all frowned as well.

Jin Tianqiong glanced at Lin Jianghuan but made no indication, as if he hadn’t seen anything.

Glancing at Jin Tianqiong, Jiang Chen understood.

It seems Jin Tianqiong doesn’t want to offend the Canglan Army too much; Lin Zhong wants him to change the rules, which is impossible, but if Lin Jianghuan can persuade someone among Jiang Chen and the others to voluntarily withdraw, then it’s not the Gold-devouring Rat Clan breaking the rules.

Seeing that Jin Tianqiong did not intervene, Lin Jianghuan breathed a sigh of relief, curled his lips, glanced at Jiang Chen and the others, and softly said, "If any of you is willing to give up your battle spot to me, I can introduce you to the Canglan Army."

Huo Qiong and the others exchanged glances and looked toward Jiang Chen. If any of them might be tempted by this offer, it could only be Jiang Chen.

Lin Jianghuan was momentarily stunned; he was just probing to use this as an opening and didn’t expect everyone to act in such unison, so he, too, looked at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen helplessly glanced at Huo Qiong and the others before saying indifferently, "Sorry, I have no interest in joining the Canglan Army."

"Kid, do you look down on the Canglan Army?"

Having found a breakthrough point, Lin Zhong quickly shouted, a hint of ferocity in his eyes.

"Commander Lin, if not joining the Canglan Army means looking down on it, then too many people in this continent look down on the Canglan Army!"

Jiang Chen cast a casual glance at Lin Zhong.

Jin Tianqiong and the others were momentarily stunned, then looked at Jiang Chen with interest.

"You... sharp-tongued kid, which family are you from? What’s your name?"

Lin Zhong shouted severely.

"I’m not from any family. My name is Jiang Chen, from Changlin Academy!"

Jiang Chen’s tone remained perfectly calm.