"Oh, isn't this someone from Ziwei Academy? I wonder who's leading the team this year!"
A group of people approached, all wearing uniforms of golden battle robes. They were from the Northern Emperor Academy, one of the four great academies, representing nobility and dominance.
The Northern Emperor Academy was the strongest after Dragon Qing Academy. It only recruited adventurer-type lords and no farming-type lords, consisting entirely of battle-crazed individuals.
"Jin Hongyun!" Chu Luoyan descended from the airship, radiating killing intent, and walked towards them step by step. She asked, "Do you want to fight?"
Upon seeing Chu Luoyan, Jin Hongyun's mood soured. How could this woman be leading the team?
This was unreasonable!
Why would this woman be interested in leading a team to participate in such a grand competition?
Jin Hongyun, who had been full of bluster moments ago, took a step back as Chu Luoyan advanced. She advanced, and he retreated. The onlookers found it quite exasperating.
It was like a mouse meeting a cat!
"Hahaha! The weather is lovely. We have some business to attend to, so we'll be leaving now." With that, Jin Hongyun quickly led his team away, circling around Chu Luoyan and leaving the area as if any delay would put them in danger.
Everyone was extremely curious about what Chu Luoyan had done to Jin Hongyun to make him so terrified.
"A defeated opponent dares to provoke me!" Chu Luoyan snorted dismissively.
Zhou Yan and the others were astonished. The Northern Emperor Academy was known as the strongest after Dragon Qing, yet its team leader was so intimidated by Chu Luoyan's aura that he fled on the spot.
He had even been defeated by Chu Luoyan before, and judging by the way she had defeated him, it couldn't have been a simple victory.
Shocking!
Not only Zhou Yan and his group were shocked, but even the students from the Northern Emperor Academy were speechless, unable to understand why their teacher was so afraid of one woman.
Soon after, another magnificent golden airship descended from the sky. This airship was exquisitely designed, even luxurious, giving an immediate impression of nouveau riche.
The entire airship was inlaid with various precious decorations like diamonds, agates, and jade, as if proclaiming to the world: "I am rich."
"It's Saint Sun Academy," Leng Yue remarked.
Then, a group of teachers and students of various complexions alighted from the airship.
"This, isn't this a grand competition between our four great academies? Why are there foreigners?" a disciple muttered in disbelief.
"Have you forgotten that Saint Sun Academy is an international academy itself? Its sponsors are from major corporations and influential families, and it also recruits outstanding students from other countries."
"Isn't it true that after our four academies' grand competition concludes, the top three winners will represent Shenlong Country in an international competition against students from other countries?"
"You're underestimating the students of Shenlong Country too much. These foreign students simply cannot represent our country in battle!"
Saint Sun Academy was an international institution that recruited numerous outstanding lord students from abroad. Even if foreign students were to secure the top three positions, it would only prove that the country's own students were inferior.
However, in all these years, Shenlong Country had never experienced such a situation.
Zhou Yan initially felt nothing, but he quickly realized the clever strategy of Shenlong Country.
This strategy was none other than the "catfish effect."
As genius lords of their own country, it would be too humiliating to lose to foreign lord students.
Moreover, if foreign students were to win the top three and represent Shenlong Country in the competition, they would be severely criticized.
At this point, the students of Shenlong Country would unleash unprecedented fighting spirit, doing everything they could to defeat their opponents.
Zhou Yan remembered how, on Earth, China had used similar methods to improve many industries. For instance, the introduction of Apple's mobile phones into the market led to a massive reshuffle in the previously chaotic mobile phone industry, giving rise to outstanding mobile phone brands like Huawei and Xiaomi.
Why did Shenlong Country's four great academies designate one of them as an international academy and recruit so many foreign students?
The four great academies often held joint competitions. Regardless of the type of competition, no one wanted to lose to foreigners on their own soil.
If they lost, where would they find face?
A white-skinned teacher, upon seeing the icy Chu Luoyan, his eyes lit up. With a charming smile, he approached her and said gallantly, "Miss, my name is McDonald Baker, you can call me Baker. It's a pleasure to meet you."
After speaking, McDonald Baker reached out to hold Chu Luoyan's hand, intending to kiss it in Western etiquette.
"Slap!"
In an instant, Chu Luoyan's killing intent surged. She fiercely slapped McDonald Baker, sending him flying over ten meters away, leaving countless people stunned.
"Hmph!" Chu Luoyan said nothing, leaving like an aloof queen from hell.
"Domineering!" Ye Bufan praised.
"I want to be like Elder Chu Luoyan in the future," Luo Yushuang said with admiration.
"Good!" Gu Nianyun also nodded in approval.
"Awesome!" The other students gave thumbs up.
Everyone looked at Zhou Yan, who remained silent. Zhou Yan was speechless, "Why are you all looking at me?"
He then realized they were all waiting for him to speak. So, Zhou Yan straightened his expression and said, "Damn!"
Everyone else: "(￣ー￣)(ノ￣ー￣)ノノ(º_ºノ)(˘•灬•˘)(・_・)ノ彡(-_-;)彡"
"Holy crap! Why would he choose a name like Baker? Isn't that something from the sea?" Zhou Yan continued.
Everyone was speechless again. They were all praising Chu Luoyan, but this kid was disparaging that Baker, or rather, as Zhou Yan correctly pointed out, "shell."
Everyone followed Chu Luoyan, leaving.
However, McDonald Baker, who had been beaten by Chu Luoyan, was displeased. He angrily declared, "Everyone, this woman is too rude. This is disrespect towards us. Go!"
Suddenly, McDonald Baker led a group of people and surrounded Chu Luoyan.
The elders around Chu Luoyan were not to be trifled with either. They stood behind Chu Luoyan, ready to strike at any moment.
Did they think they could deal with people from Ziwei Academy without asking them first!
Zhou Yan also actively intercepted the group of ill-intentioned Saint Sun Academy students.
"What, you don't like it? Want to fight? Come on, I'll take all of you on!" Zhou Yan stood in front of the Saint Sun Academy students, roaring at them arrogantly.
The others were stunned!
Holy crap!
This Zhou Yan is too much of a badass!
No way, he can't steal all the limelight!
Thus, Ye Bufan and the senior students also walked towards the Saint Sun Academy students, shouting, "Want to fight? Come on, who's afraid of whom? Turtles are afraid of iron hammers!"