Chapter 19: MONSTER HUNTING TRIAL

Chapter 19 — “THE MONSTER HUNTING TRIAL — RESULTS”

The horn echoed across the artificial hunting realm like the roar of an ancient dragon.

BWOOOOOOOM—!!

Participants froze mid-attack.Monsters halted their charges.Even the wild winds stilled.

Stage 2 had ended.

Long Hao flicked the blood off his knuckles and stretched his shoulders.His breathing was steady.His expression calm.

Beside him, Xue’er lowered her frost aura, the ice lotus behind her dissolving into shimmering mist.Her violet-gold eyes glowed with gentle satisfaction.

“You did amazing,” she said with a proud smile.

Long Hao shrugged lazily.”You too.”

Her cheeks reddened — just barely.

Participants gathered back at the massive plaza, injured, exhausted, or utterly defeated. Healers rushed around, treating broken bones, frostbite, burns, and poison wounds.

The weaker ones looked pale.

The stronger ones stood tall.

And then—

Every head turned as three figures emerged from different corners of the realm.

1. Ling Yifan — The Spear Prince

Clad in black armor-like robes, diamond spear gleaming on his back, silver eyes cold and unreadable.Even covered in monster blood, he moved with a noble grace — tall, slender, lethal.

Whispers erupted:

“That’s Ling Yifan…!””The Mystic genius…””Look at that spear… it’s literally DIAMOND!””He killed a Gold-tier earth dragon in one strike!”

Ling Yifan didn’t acknowledge anyone.His gaze settled briefly on Long Hao.

A silent clash of will.

Xue’er’s lips tightened nervously.”Be careful. He’s… not simple.”

Long Hao’s smirk returned.”He’s interesting.”

She sighed.”You and your obsession with interesting people…”

2. Bai Qianlan — The Moonlit Mirage

She stepped into view like drifting moonlight.Long white hair fluttering, pale blue eyes glowing softly.

A beauty almost equal to Xue’er — but colder, more distant, ethereal.

Everyone whispered:

“The Bai clan’s prodigy…””She can create illusions that deceive even gold-tier beasts!””She harvested over 300 points alone!”

Bai Qianlan looked briefly at Long Hao.

Something flickered in her eyes.

Admiration?Curiosity?Challenge?

She said nothing and walked on.

Xue’er narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Oh no…” she muttered.”She looked at you.”

Long Hao blinked.”…And?”

Xue’er pouted.”She better not look too long.”

Long Hao raised an eyebrow.”You jealous?”

“NO!” she protested — far too fast.

3. Chen Wulian — The Heavenly Battle Body

Chen Wulian arrived like a walking war god.

Torso exposed, muscles ripped like carved stone, eyes burning with gold-tinted battle intent.His body was covered in scars and monster blood — but he didn’t look injured.

Someone shouted:

“He fought barehanded!””He punched a Gold-tier beast until it exploded!””Monster… absolute monster…”

Chen Wulian’s gaze swept the crowd.

Then landed on Long Hao.

He nodded once — deeply respectful.

Long Hao returned the nod.

Two warriors silently acknowledging each other.

When Xue’er walked in, radiant and glowing with divine frost, the crowd roared.

“THE DIVINE ONE!””She froze an entire army of Silver beasts!””She’s not human… she’s celestial!”

Long Hao walked next to her.

The roaring died.

Replaced by:

“Him again? The arrogant Gold?””He looks too calm… what is he?””He must be relying on the princess…””No way a Gold beats an Epic!”

Long Hao ignored them.

Xue’er glared at the crowd.

“Shut up,” she muttered under her breath — so only Long Hao could hear.

He chuckled.

“You’re adorable when you’re angry.”

She blushed instantly.”D-don’t say things like that!”

A blinding pillar of azure light shot into the air as the instructor returned to the floating stage.

All conversations stopped.

He raised a scroll.

“These are the results of Stage Two.Only the top 4000 will advance to the academy.”

Gasps.

4000 out of almost 800,000 (total) candidates.

This was the true elimination round.

The instructor continued:

“Your points have been calculated.Your ranks now define your position among tens of thousands.”

He paused dramatically.

“Beginning with the Top 3.”

The crowd leaned forward.

Breaths caught.Hearts pounded.

Xue’er squeezed her hands behind her back.

Long Hao remained expressionless.

“Rank 1 — with a terrifying total of 12,340 points — the only Divine Talent…”

He pointed at her.

“Ouyang Xue’er!”

The plaza detonated.

“THE DIVINE PRINCESS!””She froze an entire valley!””She soloed a Gold dragon beast!!””How do you compete with that?!”

Xue’er bowed politely, but her eyes drifted to only one person.

Long Hao.

He nodded once.

She smiled — proud and relieved.

“Rank 2 — with 10,980 points — Mystic Rank…”

The air cracked with tension.

“…Ling Yifan, Prince of the Ling Royal Family!”

The crowd erupted.

“Diamond Spear Prince!””He pierced gold-tier beasts like paper!””How does a spear made of diamond even exist?!””Ling Yifan is a living nightmare…”

Ling Yifan stepped forward.

Eyes calm.Aura cold.Spear glowing faintly.

He looked at Long Hao.

Long Hao looked back.

Something unspoken passed between them.

Not hostility.Not friendship.

A promise.

The instructor inhaled deeply.

“And Rank 3…”

Long Hao raised an eyebrow.

Xue’er grabbed her skirt tightly.

The entire plaza went silent.

“…with 10,210 points…”

People gasped.That number was insane.

“…Long Hao.”

BOOOOOOOM—!!!

Explosion.

Chaos.

Absolute disbelief.

“HIM?!””THE GOLD?!””No way—no way—NO WAY!””He beat all the Epics?!””He almost matched Ling Yifan?!””HOW CAN A GOLD DO THAT?!”

People stared at him like he broke the laws of reality.

Even Long Hao frowned slightly.

He wasn’t expecting Third place — he expected Xue’er ahead of him.But to be beaten by Ling Yifan?

His eyes narrowed.

“Well,” he muttered, “looks like he wasn’t wasting his time.”

Xue’er grabbed his sleeve happily.

“Rank 3! I knew it! You’re incredible!”

He smirked.”You expected too much.”

Xue’er’s cheeks turned pink.

“I expect even more next time,” she whispered.

The instructor lifted both hands.

“These top 4000 participants have passed Stage Two and will be ADMITTED into Azure Dragon Academy!”

A thunderous roar erupted.

Cheers.Crying.Collapsing to the ground in relief.

For many, this moment defined their entire life.

But the instructor wasn’t done.

“Stage 3 will begin soon — but it will ONLY affect your rankings for academy resources.”

Gasps.

“So Stage 3 is only for ranking?!””No elimination?””Thank heavens…””But the ranking inside the academy matters!””Rank 1 to Rank 10 get insane rewards!”

The plaza became a storm of whispers and tension.

Everyone was calculating:

Who will rise?

Who will fall?

Can anyone dethrone the Divine Princess?

Can anyone surpass Ling Yifan?

How terrifying will Long Hao be in close combat?

Long Hao cracked his knuckles.

Xue’er smiled.

Ling Yifan silently adjusted his diamond spear.

Bai Qianlan’s moonlit aura sharpened.

Chen Wulian rolled his shoulders with a grin.

The next stage…would be chaos.

[Chapter ENDS]

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