As everyone gazed at the heavily injured Bai Cheng, who had been flung against the wall and lay motionless, a heavy silence enveloped the arena. The force of Xiao Yan’s previous punch was so powerful that even from a distance, many people could sense its intensity. They could not fathom what would happen if that punch had struck them directly. In the arena, Xiao Yan slowly straightened up, his clenched fist trembling slightly as a trickle of blood dripped down his fingers. While the earlier blow was fierce, it also left his hand somewhat painful from the backlash. However, compared to the nearly ninety percent of the force that Bai Cheng bore, Xiao Yan’s condition was undoubtedly much better.
Xiao Yan raised his head and scanned the various expressions on the faces of the spectators on the high platform. He cleared his throat and turned his gaze towards Su Qian, who was seated in the judge’s seat.
Feeling Xiao Yan’s gaze, Su Qian glanced at the unconscious Bai Cheng below and shook his head with a wry smile. After such a heavy strike, even if Bai Cheng managed to survive, he would likely be left with severe, lasting injuries. Su Qian had no words to say; after all, Bai Cheng’s attacks on Xiao Yan had been deadly. This outcome was, in a way, well-deserved.
After exchanging glances with the other elders, Su Qian signaled to the instructors maintaining safety in the arena. Two of them immediately rushed forward and carried the motionless Bai Cheng out of the arena.
“Ahem, this match is won by Xiao Yan,” Su Qian announced, looking at Xiao Yan in the arena. “However, I hope that in the next matches, everyone will refrain from using such excessive force. Those who use overly aggressive means will be disqualified from the competition.”
Su Qian’s words carried a clear warning. The students who made it to the Strong Rankings were among the best in the Inner Academy. If any of these talented individuals were to suffer serious harm, it would be a significant loss. Additionally, some students had considerable backgrounds, which, while not influential within the Academy, could cause trouble if something happened to their kin. The repercussions would be messy.
Nodding with a faint smile, Xiao Yan lightly tapped the ground and leaped onto the high platform, ignoring the numerous gazes as he took his seat.
“What a waste, he couldn’t even beat him,” Liu Fei muttered coldly, watching Xiao Yan return to his seat seemingly unharmed. She then turned to Yao Sheng, who was closely observing Xiao Yan, and said, “Yao Sheng, if you encounter him, don’t be so useless.”
Yao Sheng was momentarily taken aback, but then he nodded with a sinister smile. “Don’t worry, Fei-er. If I get the chance to meet him, I’ll make sure to get your justice.”
“Don’t underestimate Xiao Yan. Otherwise, you’ll end up like Bai Cheng, defeated in an unexpected manner. The blue flame armor he used before had astonishing defensive power,” Liu Qing warned sternly.
Yao Sheng nodded, though his expression remained cold and dismissive.
“Brother Xiao Yan, are you alright?” Dong-er asked, holding Xiao Yan’s arm with concern. She could sense that his breathing was a bit heavy, indicating the toll the battle had taken on him.
“I’m fine. It’s just that the flame armor consumes a lot of Dou Qi. I just need a moment to recover,” Xiao Yan replied, taking a Qi-recovery pill from his storage ring and swallowing it.
Watching Xiao Yan’s face, Dong-er relaxed as she saw the color returning to his cheeks. She then turned her attention back to the ongoing match, whispering, “I didn’t expect Bai Cheng to have such skills. That Blood Ground Splitting move must be at least mid-rank Xuan Tier.”
“Yes, and the secret technique he used to boost his strength is not common. I’m genuinely surprised,” Xiao Yan agreed, smacking his lips.
“Ha, Bai Cheng and Bai Shan have some background. Their family, while not extremely prominent, is still considered a second-rate power. In terms of strength, even the three major families of the Jia Ma Empire can’t match them. This secret technique must be a family legacy,” Huang-er explained with a smile.
Xiao Yan nodded slightly. In the Inner Academy, any background was irrelevant due to the special rules. It was not uncommon for a random student to have a powerful backing.
“Looks like I’m probably the most powerless one here,” Xiao Yan mused with a self-deprecating smile. He had little background, and the Xiao family in the Jia Ma Empire, already weakened, was now being hunted by the Yunlan Sect. The only person he could rely on was himself.
“A single Fifth Rank Alchemist is more valuable than any force. Even a Battle Emperor would show respect. Who would dare say you’re weak?” Dong-er smiled softly, her delicate hand gripping Xiao Yan’s.
Hearing this, Xiao Yan was taken aback and then laughed. He had almost forgotten his most important identity. Patting Huang-er’s head, he joked, “But even a Fifth Rank Alchemist might not be much in the eyes of Huang-er’s background, right?”
“But Brother Xiao Yan is still young. A Fifth Rank Alchemist at such a young age is very rare,” Huang-er replied with a smile.
Xiao Yan smiled and sat cross-legged on his wide chair, closing his eyes to meditate and recover from the exhaustion of the battle.
Staring at Xiao Yan’s calm face, Huang-er murmured in her heart, “Brother Xiao Yan, I believe you’ll become a true powerhouse when we meet again…”
The battles continued, each more intense than the last. Several of the top ten Strong Ranking fighters appeared, showcasing their overwhelming strength, leaving the crowd in awe.
When Wu Hao finally took the stage, he won his match with relative ease. His opponent, a One-Star Dou Ling, was slightly stronger but lacked the experience, and thus, Wu Hao easily exploited a mistake and defeated him in less than ten minutes.
Seeing Wu Hao return to the high platform, still unsatisfied, Xiao Yan shook his head with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Could it be that this guy was only happy when he was utterly exhausted?
“Number Thirty-Seven!” Suddenly, a number rang out across the plaza, causing a hush to fall over the audience. All eyes shifted to the tall, imposing man on the high platform, whose face was as calm as water.
The man stood quietly, and as he sensed the stares, he slowly opened his eyes, and a fierce, domineering aura surged forth like a snake awakening from hibernation.
Bazhen Liu Qing!
Since his defeat by Lin Xiu Ya, this overpowering man had never lost a match in the Inner Academy. His record of consecutive victories in the arena filled the students with both awe and fear.
Standing up, Liu Qing moved forward, and with each step, his domineering aura grew stronger. Some who were nearby could even feel their breaths becoming heavier.
Liu Fei, watching the broad back of Liu Qing, her eyes filled with admiration. Since childhood, she had never seen Liu Qing admit defeat to anyone, not even someone as talented as Lin Xiu Ya. Of course, she mentally excluded Zi Yan, as the girl was not considered normal.
Glancing at Xiao Yan, Liu Fei sneered. “No matter how much you struggle, to my cousin, you are nothing but a small clown!”
Xiao Yan, unaware of Liu Fei’s thoughts, wouldn’t care even if he knew. Words were just hollow explanations; only a real fight could give a definitive result.
Leaning back in his chair, Xiao Yan’s gaze followed Liu Qing, who was stepping out. Despite everything, he held great respect for this man. Unparalleled dominance—that was the best description of Liu Qing. Xiao Yan thought that, given time, no one would deny that this man had the potential and talent to become a giant in the Dou Qi Continent.
“Boom!” As Liu Qing stepped onto the railing, his foot struck the ground, and his body, like a tower, descended from the sky, landing with a visually stunning impact. The hard floor cracked into powder, and cracks spread rapidly.
Standing straight, Liu Qing crossed his arms, and the black, heavy spear on his back shone with a cold light under the sun. This, combined with his domineering aura, could make those with weak wills surrender without a fight.
Seeing the intimidating Liu Qing, Xiao Yan smiled, a fiery fighting spirit rising in his dark eyes. Among his peers, only Lin Xiu Ya and Liu Qing truly made him wary and serious.
“Indeed, a formidable opponent.”
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