*Boom!* In the sky, a figure descended like a black iron tower, slicing through the air with a sharp whistling sound. His feet landed heavily on the ground, and at that moment, the floor made of special material cracked with tiny fissures. Moreover, when he landed, the dozens of participants in the arena felt a violent tremor, and they all cast curious glances at the shadowy figure. When they saw the person, they were slightly enlightened. Liu Qing, the Overbearing Spear, exuded a fierce and domineering aura that could only be matched by him in the Inner Academy. As he landed, Liu Qing’s body stood straight as a spear without any bend. The black heavy spear on his back, which was as long as he was tall, exuded a thick, oppressive aura. After landing, Liu Qing raised his head suddenly and cast his gaze towards a certain spot on the high platform, his eyes filled with intense fighting spirit. The target of his gaze was, as everyone had expected, Lin Xiuyan!
The audience’s gaze followed Liu Qing’s to settle on Lin Xiuyan. Feeling the tension between the two, everyone eagerly anticipated who would emerge victorious in this battle between the Inner Academy’s top contenders. In response to the attention, Lin Xiuyan smiled lightly and nodded to Xiao Yan, who was not far away. Then, he tapped his foot on the ground, and his body, like a falling leaf, flashed off the high platform. A faint green wind vortex formed beneath his feet, and he walked down the invisible steps, each step solid as if he were walking down a real staircase. This spectacle seemed to demonstrate a level of air-walking mastery.
This feat immediately drew gasps from the crowd. They knew that even a Dou Wang (Soul King) would need to use their Dou Qi wings to stay in the air, and such an effortless air-walking display required at least the strength of a Battle Emperor (Soul Emperor).
Seeing Lin Xiuyan’s display, even the elders on the high platform nodded in approval. With their discerning eyes, they could see that it wasn’t true air-walking but rather the use of Wind-Attribute Dou Qi to form invisible stepping points, which couldn’t last long. Still, it required precise control of Dou Qi, and for someone of Lin Xiuyan’s current strength to achieve this was quite impressive.
Under the awestruck gazes of the audience, Lin Xiuyan slowly descended to the ground. He landed lightly and stood with his hands behind his back, his figure exuding elegance and grace. By now, many female students were already showing signs of admiration in their eyes.
*Chirp…* Just as everyone was still marveling at Lin Xiuyan’s air-walking, a faint rumble of thunder echoed in the air. Some people looked up, but apart from a fleeting silver flash, they saw nothing. As they looked around in confusion, a few sharp-eyed individuals noticed a new figure in black robes appearing in the arena.
“Xiao Yan? This guy’s speed… is so fast.” Xiao Yan’s appearance was familiar to all the Inner Academy students, and his characteristic Heavy Profound Ruler revealed his identity. Soft exclamations of surprise began to rise and fall.
Xiao Yan’s entrance was not as grand as the previous two, but in the eyes of the truly powerful, it was no less impressive than Liu Qing’s or Lin Xiuyan’s. After all, his speed was indeed terrifying.
In the arena, Liu Qing, Lin Xiuyan, and a few others turned their heads to focus on the silent, black-robed young man. A subtle hint of wariness flashed in their eyes; this speed demanded respect even from them. Many wondered if they, even using their full strength, could match it.
“His speed is probably unmatched among the Dou Ling (Soul Ancestors). And from the look of it, his technique is still somewhat raw. I wonder how terrifying it will be when he masters it fully,” Elder Hao, who was quite friendly with Xiao Yan, stroked his beard and praised genuinely.
“His movement technique must be of a high rank. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to achieve such an effect,” another elder nodded, hinting at a clue.
Grand Elder Su Qian stood calmly, but the thunderous sound, which was not unfamiliar to him, flashed through his mind. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes, pondering, “How did this little guy get such a movement technique? It’s the ‘Wind Lightning Pavilion’s’ secret. If those guys find out, there will be trouble.”
If Xiao Yan knew that Elder Su could recognize the origin of his technique, he would be astounded by the old man’s insight.
Shortly after Xiao Yan, Liu Qing, and Lin Xiuyan entered the arena, a little girl in white clothes slowly climbed up the stairs. Under the shocked gazes of the surrounding crowd, she moved to the front of the line, chewing something in her mouth, and looking around. When she saw Xiao Yan, she grinned, revealing cute, neat little fangs.
Not many in the Inner Academy knew Ziyuan’s identity. Perhaps only those on the Strong Ranking and some senior students knew. For the newer students, her name was unfamiliar, as she didn’t often appear in the Inner Academy, and no one dared to challenge her. Thus, only Liu Qing, Lin Xiuyan, and a few others were known, while the top-ranked Ziyuan remained a mystery.
As whispers spread, the expressions of the participants became uneasy. Most of them, except for the newcomers, showed fear. Their reactions puzzled the audience.
Ziyuan ignored the curious looks, continuing to chew on the pills Xiao Yan had refined for her. She appeared relaxed, with no sense of the impending contest.
A couple of years ago, there were a few in the Inner Academy who could match her, but those strong ones had since graduated. Time passed, and she, still in the form of a little girl, became the longest-staying student in the Inner Academy—though a somewhat peculiar one.
So, with Ziyuan’s almost monstrous strength, even Liu Qing would struggle to match her. This little girl had become an extraordinary existence on the Strong Ranking.
*Cough!* A soft cough containing Dou Qi echoed in everyone’s ears, and the murmurs began to fade. Soon, all noise ceased, and everyone’s gaze turned to the black-robed elder in the center of the high platform, filled with awe and respect.
As the Grand Elder, whose power and authority were second only to the mysterious Headmaster, even ordinary elders respected him, let alone the students.
“Since everyone is here, we can begin the tournament,” Su Qian said mildly. “But before we start, I must remind you: although the Inner Academy has an open and liberal atmosphere, I hope you all avoid fatal moves. You are still students, not in the Dark Corner where survival is brutal. Though the Arena is somewhat bloody, its purpose is to train you, not to fight to the death. So, please show restraint.”
Some participants nodded, but many more remained indifferent. In such a competition, who wouldn’t go all out to reach the top ten? But with full strength, accidents were inevitable.
Scanning the faces of the participants, Su Qian shook his head helplessly. The Inner Academy’s competitive spirit had grown, and the once-naive newcomers had become seasoned warriors. Curbing their ferocity was a challenge.
“The rules are the same as before. Draw lots to determine your opponents,” Su Qian continued, seeing his words had little effect. He waved his sleeve, and a piece of black cloth fell, revealing a stone platform. On the platform was a large wooden tube filled with bamboo sticks.
“There are twenty-five blue-stemmed and twenty-five red-stemmed bamboo sticks, numbered from one to twenty-five. If you draw a blue twelve, your opponent is the one with the red twelve,” Su Qian explained the drawing rules. It was simple, so even first-timers understood quickly.
“Alright, start drawing!” The participants lined up and drew sticks, announcing their numbers and stepping back.
Xiao Yan didn’t rush. He stood still, but suddenly frowned and smiled, turning his head. He swept his gaze backward, catching a venomous stare—it was Bai Cheng, who had lost to him. From his expression, he still held a grudge and seemed to believe he had lost because of the Dragon Force Pill.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s gaze, Bai Cheng sneered, strode forward, and drew a red stick. He announced, “Red fifteen,” and stepped aside, continuing to glare at Xiao Yan, cursing, “I hope you draw Liu Qing’s number!”
As Bai Cheng cursed, Xiao Yan slowly walked to the platform, drew a blue stick, and, after a pause, chuckled. “Blue… fifteen,” he said, smiling at Bai Cheng, whose sneer had frozen on his face.
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