The intensity of the second round of the competition far exceeded that of the elimination round on the first day. Those who had made it this far were all immensely powerful, and even with such strength, they had to give their all to secure victory. Some matches even ended in a Pyrrhic victory, where both sides suffered severe injuries.
As the second round unfolded at a feverish pace, participants entered the arena one after another. After extremely fierce contests, there would be one celebrating and another in sorrow. On the high platform, Xiao Yan watched as Wu Hao was being overpowered by his opponent, unable to help but sigh. Today, Wu Hao’s luck seemed to have run out; he had drawn an opponent ranked among the top ten on the Strong Ranking, a gap of nearly a rank. Despite Wu Hao’s efforts, he was gradually pushed into a disadvantageous position, and the situation was now firmly in his opponent’s hands.
“Wu Hao has done well to get this far. If he had faced someone around the twentieth rank, he might have been able to put up a good fight, but his luck wasn’t great, and he drew a top-ten expert. Even if he loses, I don’t think Wu Hao will regret it too much, given his character,” Xun Er said with a gentle smile.
“Mm,” Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. Wu Hao hadn’t come with the intention of reaching the top ten; his main goal was to compete with the true powerhouses of the Inner Academy. His current opponent had thoroughly fulfilled that wish, so even if he lost, he wouldn’t be too dejected.
“Brother Xiao Yan, be careful with Yao Sheng. He’s quite a troublesome opponent. You need to be extra cautious during the fight,” Xun Er reminded him softly.
“Don’t worry.” Xiao Yan smiled. He had once fought Yao Sheng and, with Lin Xiuyan’s warnings, he understood the man well enough not to underestimate him.
“Twenty-four people in total, which means after today’s competition, twelve will remain. According to the special rules of the tournament, six of these twelve will be randomly selected to compete for the top ten spots. The winners will directly enter the top ten, along with the other six lucky ones,” Xun Er explained softly.
“Eh? So, doesn’t that mean the other six who aren’t chosen can enter the top ten without fighting?” Xiao Yan said in surprise. “Isn’t that a bit unfair to the six who are chosen?”
“Hehe, there is no such thing as perfect fairness. Besides, those who make it to the final round are all truly qualified to enter the top ten. When everyone has the necessary strength, a little luck is also needed,” Xun Er smiled sweetly.
Nodding with a wry smile, Xiao Yan suddenly raised an eyebrow. “Six people competing, three winners, plus the other six who don’t fight—seems like we’re still short of one person, right?”
Xun Er chuckled. “You forgot about Zi Yan, who always says she’ll protect you? With her strength, I doubt anyone can challenge her for the first place.”
Xiao Yan was taken aback, then nodded with a smile. He had indeed forgotten about this crucial little companion.
Turning his gaze back to the arena, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Wu Hao had been completely overpowered by his opponent, leaving him no chance to counterattack. During a clash of Dou Qi, the formidable Dou Qi surrounding his body was instantly shattered. His opponent didn’t press too hard, merely using force to knock him out of the arena.
Once outside the ring, Wu Hao was quite straightforward. He bowed to the winner on the platform and, rubbing the bruised spot on his arm, he grinned as he returned to the high platform.
“That guy is really strong, as expected of a top-ten expert. I used all my skills, but could only hold out for thirty rounds, and that was with him holding back,” Wu Hao exclaimed as he came back.
“Are you okay?” Seeing the expression of satisfaction on his face, Xiao Yan shook his head. This guy was still so excited despite being beaten so badly.
“Hehe, just a few bruises, I’ll be fine after a few days of rest,” Wu Hao waved dismissively. Just as he was about to speak, an elderly voice from the referee’s platform rang out, “Next match, number seven!”
“Eh? Looks like it’s your turn now,” Wu Hao said, nudging Xiao Yan with a grin.
Xiao Yan heard the voice and was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected his turn to come so soon. Turning his head, he looked across the high platform, where Yao Sheng stood, his face also showing a moment of surprise before breaking into a sinister smile.
“That guy is really arrogant,” Wu Hao muttered, patting Xiao Yan on the shoulder. “Don’t lose, or with his character, you’ll surely get humiliated.”
“Don’t worry, he won’t get the chance,” Xiao Yan replied, eyeing Yao Sheng coldly.
“Xiao Yan, don’t lose,” a light laugh came from nearby. Xiao Yan and the others turned to see Lin Xiuyan and his companions.
As the center of attention, Lin Xiuyan’s actions naturally drew the gazes of many to Xiao Yan. It seemed that Lin Xiuyan was about to appear next?
Nodding to Lin Xiuyan and the others, Xiao Yan lightly tapped the ground. A faint silver light formed under his feet, and with a low rumble of thunder, a black figure flashed into the arena.
Seeing Xiao Yan appear, the audience was initially stunned, then filled with excitement. No one doubted his strength after his fierce battle with Bai Cheng the previous day. They were eager to see another spectacular performance.
“Hmph, he sure got on the stage fast,” Liu Fei sneered, watching Xiao Yan in the arena. She glanced at Yao Sheng, who was sharpening his knives, and said, “If you lose to that guy, don’t show your face around me again.”
Yao Sheng’s lips curled, a cruel smile appearing on his soft face. “Don’t worry, Fei, I’ll beat that guy to his knees in front of you.”
Liu Fei smiled in satisfaction. She had no doubt about Yao Sheng’s strength. Glancing at the green-clothed girl on the opposite side, she thought, “Little bitch, let’s see how proud you’ll be when Xiao Yan is defeated!”
“Be careful, Xiao Yan isn’t an ordinary opponent,” Liu Qing, who had been meditating, frowned slightly, looking at Yao Sheng who was about to enter the arena.
“Boss, don’t worry. This kind of trash doesn’t need you to deal with it personally. I’m enough,” Yao Sheng smirked, irritated that Liu Qing had been giving Xiao Yan so much attention. Now, he was determined to show Liu Qing that Xiao Yan was nothing but a paper tiger, easily broken.
With those words, Yao Sheng leaped off the high platform. As he approached the arena, two streams of slightly dark Dou Qi surged from his feet, slowing his descent. Finally, he landed lightly on the ground, not kicking up a speck of dust.
“Yao Sheng? I heard he’s now ranked within the top fifteen of the Strong Ranking. This is a real tough opponent,” someone in the stands commented.
“Yes, Yao Sheng is much stronger than Bai Cheng. This match is going to be interesting. I wonder if Xiao Yan can continue to advance…”
“Who knows? Even some of the top-ten experts are wary of Yao Sheng’s Dou Qi. It’s still too early to tell who will win…”
As Yao Sheng entered the arena, a murmur of whispers spread through the stands, clearly surprised by the matchup.
Ignoring the whispers, Xiao Yan slowly grasped the hilt of the heavy ruler on his shoulder and swung it down. The ruler cut through the air, producing a sharp whistling sound, and invisible force left a faint mark on the floor.
Lifting his head, Xiao Yan’s gaze met Yao Sheng’s, who was smirking at him. Xiao Yan’s face hardened, the repeated provocations by Yao Sheng having already irked him. He had promised to settle things in the tournament, and now, he wouldn’t hold back.
“Lucky guy, you’ve had it easy so far, but I’ll end your luck here,” Yao Sheng’s eyes gleamed with a cold light. He flipped his hands, and two pitch-black daggers appeared. The daggers, about half a foot long, had several strange grooves on their bodies, glowing with a dark red color, like coagulated blood, exuding a bloody smell. The blades shimmered with a chilling light, and if you looked closely, you could see a faint, deep purple color at the tips, indicating a deadly poison.
The daggers spun rapidly in Yao Sheng’s hands, like two black snakes, flexible and deadly.
To Yao Sheng’s mocking words, Xiao Yan’s face remained calm. He glanced at him and then turned his gaze to the referee’s stand, waiting for the match to begin.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s annoyingly calm demeanor, Yao Sheng’s face darkened. He crossed his daggers and lightly scraped them, sparks flying with a cold glow…
The conflict between Xiao Yan and Yao Sheng in the Sky Fire Energy Tower was known to many ranked students, so their encounter sparked interest. All eyes were on the two, tension building.
Su Qian slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the two. After a moment, he waved his hand, and a faint voice sounded, “Begin the match!”
The atmosphere in the arena erupted!
Su Qian’s voice, like a spark, shattered the tense atmosphere!
“Shriek!” In the arena, Yao Sheng launched the first attack. His body burst with a slightly black Dou Qi, and his form became a blur, rushing towards Xiao Yan like lightning.
Despite Yao Sheng’s arrogance, he did have the strength to back it up. Just his speed alone was enough to make Xiao Yan a bit surprised.
In the blink of an eye, Yao Sheng was upon Xiao Yan. The audience held their breaths, knowing that Yao Sheng excelled in close combat. While Xiao Yan’s ruler was powerful, he needed space, and if the distance was too close, he would be trapped.
Of course, Xiao Yan was aware of this. As Yao Sheng entered his three-meter range, he finally moved. His feet flashed with silver light, and he stepped back like a teleportation, swinging his ruler horizontally. The powerful force created a faint glow, and the sharp whistling sound continued.
Yao Sheng was surprised to see Xiao Yan pull away at such close range. Feeling the pressure, he sneered, and with a flick of his feet, his body rose, and the daggers shot down towards Xiao Yan.
“Clang!” The daggers struck the ruler, creating sparks and a powerful force that easily pushed the ruler down.
Though the daggers weren’t suited for direct attacks, Yao Sheng’s true strength far exceeded Xiao Yan’s. With the augmentation of his Dou Qi, the small and nimble daggers could overpower the ruler. This was the advantage of higher strength.
As the daggers hit the ruler, Yao Sheng bent his arms, using the force to flip in mid-air, and then kicked towards the sky, his body like a hunting eagle, the sharp daggers aimed at Xiao Yan’s head, bringing a chilling wind.
Facing Yao Sheng’s sudden, vicious attack, Xiao Yan’s brows furrowed. His feet flashed with silver light, and he retreated, swinging the ruler from below upwards with great force.
Seeing his attack fail, Yao Sheng was a bit surprised. His body twisted in the air like a fish, and the ruler barely missed him.
With the attack dodged, Xiao Yan pulled back, lifting his head to see Yao Sheng landing on the ground, standing safely a short distance away.
This round of combat was brief but intense. Any slight mistake could result in serious injury from the ruler or daggers.
The danger was not apparent to most in the stands, who only saw the quick movements, one person jumping and then landing, forming a standoff again.
Of course, the other participants on the high platform saw the exchange clearly, and when the two separated, they cheered.
In the arena, Yao Sheng rubbed his daggers, his gaze on Xiao Yan, now more serious. In the brief clash, Xiao Yan’s extensive combat experience had not given Yao Sheng any advantage.
“I can’t afford a draw, or Fei will be unhappy,” Yao Sheng’s eyes flickered, and he quickly formulated a plan. “His speed and combat experience are not inferior to mine, but my actual strength is greater. I’ll use that to suppress him!”
With that thought, Yao Sheng’s body trembled, and a foul-smelling black Dou Qi surged from his body, swirling around him. The black Dou Qi was strange, seeming sticky, and left faint black water traces on the floor, forming small puddles.
As Yao Sheng’s Dou Qi emerged, a oppressive aura enveloped the area, weakening those with lower ranks. This was a common tactic for those with higher ranks.
However, this aura had little effect on Xiao Yan, whose mutated Dou Qi, after devouring a Heavenly Flame, could block such oppression.
A graceful green Dou Qi slowly spread from Xiao Yan’s body, creating a counter-pressure, occupying a small corner of the arena, while the rest was dominated by Yao Sheng’s overwhelming aura.
In the clash of auras, Xiao Yan was completely at a disadvantage, a gap caused by their true strength. Although Xiao Yan’s combat power was not weak, in such a confrontation, raw combat power had little effect.
“No matter how strong you are, this is the gap in our ranks,” Yao Sheng laughed, seeing Xiao Yan suppressed by the aura.
Xiao Yan glanced at the smug Yao Sheng and slowly formed hand seals. Moments later, he shouted in his mind, “Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes, Green Lotus Transformation!”
With the shout, a surge of green flames erupted from Xiao Yan’s body, enveloping him in a fiery figure. The flames then swiftly retracted, but with their return, his Dou Qi surged, and his black hair billowed. The increase in Dou Qi also boosted his aura, allowing him to match Yao Sheng’s, each occupying half the arena.
“Trickery!” Seeing the aura balanced, Yao Sheng’s face changed, and he sneered.
“Whatever beats you is the right way,” Xiao Yan replied with a cold smile. With the Heavenly Fire Three Mystical Changes, his Dou Qi was not far behind Yao Sheng’s, and he no longer feared his full-force attack being easily deflected by the daggers.
“Yao Sheng, you can’t lose to this wimp… him!” On the high platform, Liu Fei’s face turned anxious as she saw Xiao Yan’s aura surge. She jumped up and shouted, but before she could finish, she felt a cold gaze from the green-clad girl, Xun Er, and swallowed her words, her heart turning cold.
Seeing her insult unspoken, Xun Er’s cold gaze slowly withdrew.
“Hmph, what’s there to be proud of? Wait until that wimp loses to Yao Sheng, and I’ll humiliate him! I have my cousin protecting me, so I don’t fear you, little bitch!” Liu Fei sat back, her face pale, thinking angrily.
Hearing Liu Fei’s shout, Yao Sheng’s gaze on Xiao Yan became even colder. Dark light gathered at his feet, and he suddenly kicked the ground, his figure darting towards Xiao Yan.
“In, in…” Entering the attack range, Yao Sheng wasted no time, his arms trembling, the daggers like two venomous snakes, striking at Xiao Yan’s body, leaving a trail of afterimages.
“Clang, clang, clang…” Silver light flashed at Xiao Yan’s feet, and he used the “Three Thousand Lightning Movements” to move nimbly. The heavy ruler served as a shield, blocking the relentless barrage of daggers, producing a series of crisp sounds.
Tightening his grip on the ruler, Xiao Yan’s arm muscles tensed. The daggers, though light, felt like heavy stones hitting the ruler. With such a dense attack, even Xiao Yan’s wrist began to go numb.
Fortunately, such a high-density attack also exhausted Yao Sheng. After five minutes of relentless assault, the pace slowed, and the dagger afterimages vanished, the pressure on the ruler instantly reduced.
Swinging the ruler forcefully, Xiao Yan retreated, his chest heaving, facing the panting Yao Sheng. Looking down at the ruler, he saw it covered in tiny white dots, his scalp tingling. This attack was too dense, and without the ruler’s wide surface, he would have had to retreat…
“This guy does have some skill…” Breathing out, Xiao Yan’s gaze settled on Yao Sheng, gaining some understanding of his combat methods.
“Yao Sheng, use all your strength, don’t waste time!” Hearing the woman’s urging from the high platform, Yao Sheng’s brows furrowed, and he sighed, staring at Xiao Yan with a dark look. He moved his hands, and a thick black Dou Qi surged from his body, enveloping him.
The black Dou Qi spread, forming a large mass, rhythmically expanding and contracting, as if brewing something.
Seeing Yao Sheng’s strange actions, Xiao Yan grew wary, his Dou Qi ready to strike.
“Black Water Realm!” A low shout came from the black Dou Qi, and the mass spun rapidly, a whirring sound echoing throughout the arena.
Amidst the spinning, countless black droplets sprayed out, almost filling the entire arena in moments.
Unclear about the nature of the black water, Xiao Yan retreated, avoiding the splashing droplets. Suddenly, he stopped, realizing his feet were in a pool of black water. Struggling to pull free, he found the water had a strong suction force and was highly corrosive. In mere seconds, the soles of his shoes were eroded, and only his quick reaction to wrap his feet in Dou Qi saved him from complete destruction.
“The entire arena is my territory, how will you land? This match, you’ve lost!” A cold laugh echoed, and Xiao Yan’s eyes narrowed, seeing the black water splash, and Yao Sheng’s figure emerging, daggers slashing at his arms.
On the high platform, seeing Xiao Yan immobilized by the black water, only able to withstand Yao Sheng’s attacks, gasps filled the air.
Hearing the gasps, Yao Sheng’s smirk deepened, and his daggers sped up. But just as he was about to strike, a gust of wind hit him, and he stabbed empty air…
Missing, Yao Sheng crouched, twisting strangely in the black water, retreating several meters. Looking up, he was startled to find Xiao Yan missing…
“Where is he?” The stands were filled with confusion, and everyone looked around.
Yao Sheng’s face darkened, and he noticed a reflection in the black water. His body froze, and he snapped his head up, seeing Xiao Yan suspended in the air, a pair of huge purple-black wings flapping behind him, like a god.
As Yao Sheng looked up, all eyes followed, and the sight of Xiao Yan with wings made them all freeze…
“Dou… Dou Qi Wings?” Gasps of shock came from the stands, the high platform, and even the referee’s seats, their eyes filled with awe and disbelief.
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