Xiao Yan’s calm voice echoed through the square, silencing the murmurs of the crowd. The gazes filled with various emotions kept shifting between the tall figure and Yao Sheng, who was pale and disheveled outside the arena. After a moment of silence, a crisp applause suddenly broke out, followed by a chain reaction of roaring claps that rose to the heavens. Hearing the resounding applause, Xiao Yan raised his head and looked towards Xuner’s location. She was smiling radiantly, her delicate hands gracefully clapping, and it was from there that the first sound of applause had come. With a smile at Xuner, Xiao Yan turned his gaze towards Liu Qing and the others. Upon seeing him, Liu Qing met his eyes, gave a subtle nod, and then looked away. The scowling and muttering Liu Fei beside him was ignored by Xiao Yan.
“In this round, Xiao Yan is the victor!” On the judges’ stand, Su Qian also stood up with a smile, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue before he declared slowly.
As Su Qian’s judgment fell, the applause in the arena became even louder. The gazes directed at the black-robed young man were filled with unmasked awe and respect. Xiao Yan’s strength displayed throughout the competition had thoroughly impressed them.
Glancing again at the ashen-faced Yao Sheng, Xiao Yan’s Purple Cloud Wings flapped lightly, and he rose into the air. He swiftly flew up to the high platform, and with a tremor of his shoulders, the wings retracted. Finally, under the envious gazes of the onlookers, he disappeared.
“Xiao Yan, well done! Now let’s see how that guy can provoke you,” Wu Hao exclaimed with a beaming smile, giving Xiao Yan a hearty punch on the shoulder. The previous battle had been nothing short of thrilling, and he had felt his heart rise and fall countless times in suspense.
“I didn’t know you had such a rare flying battle skill,” Hu Jia said curiously, moving behind Xiao Yan, her face full of envy.
Xiao Yan smiled, his gaze turning to the green-clad girl in front of him. Her beautiful eyes held a hint of a tender smile.
“Haha, congratulations, Xiao Yan! Beating Yao Sheng practically guarantees you a spot in the top ten,” a cheerful voice called out from behind. Turning, Xiao Yan saw Lin Xiuya and his companions.
“Just luck, I suppose. If it hadn’t been for his Black Water Realm being exactly countered, victory would have been much harder,” Xiao Yan shook his head with a smile.
“You have a flying battle skill, so his Black Water Realm wasn’t much use against you,” Lin Xiuya’s gaze flicked subtly over Xiao Yan’s back, and he whistled in admiration.
“But now that you’ve beaten Yao Sheng, you’ve really dampened the spirits of Liu Qing’s faction. No one will dare to underestimate you anymore,” Lin Xiuya said with a teasing smile, looking at Liu Qing and his group.
“I just want to get into the top ten. Whether I’m first or tenth doesn’t matter to me,” Xiao Yan replied with a grin. He had no intention of getting involved in the rivalry between Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing. His participation in the Strong Ranking Competition was solely to secure a spot in the top ten and gain entry to the lower levels of the Sky Burner Tower. As long as he could get a spot, whether it was first or tenth, it was all the same to him.
Lin Xiuya chuckled, understanding Xiao Yan’s meaning, and changed the subject: “Haha, after the competition, we might go into the deep mountains. If you’re interested, you can join us. That item will be of great benefit to you.”
At the mention of the “Core Refining Body Essence,” Xiao Yan’s heart skipped a beat, but he remained composed, saying casually, “We’ll see. But that beast is quite powerful. Getting it won’t be easy.”
“Let’s try anyway. You know how valuable that item is,” Lin Xiuya sighed. Even though he knew the chances were slim, he still didn’t want to give up.
Xiao Yan nodded vaguely, engaging in a brief conversation with Lin Xiuya before his attention was drawn back to the intense battles in the arena. The following matches were still thrilling and dangerous. Even with their keen eyes, Xiao Yan and his companions couldn’t help but nod in admiration. The students who had reached this stage were among the top in the Inner Academy, and their battles were indeed exhilarating.
In the ensuing matches, Xiao Yan saw Lin Yan in action. After being completely cleansed of the fire poison, Lin Yan’s strength had clearly improved. According to Xiao Yan’s estimation, if judged purely by strength, Lin Yan could likely enter the top five of the Strong Ranking. In this match, his opponent was only ranked 19th, and Lin Yan defeated him with ease, forcing his surrender in just twenty rounds.
Shortly after Lin Yan’s appearance, the two most formidable opponents, Liu Qing and Lin Xiuya, also took the stage. They were the brightest stars in the Inner Academy, and even with Xiao Yan’s current reputation, there was still a significant gap between them. As the center of attention, their appearances naturally drew all eyes, and the thunderous cheers once again filled the arena.
Liu Qing was the first to take the stage. His opponent was ranked 11th in the Strong Ranking and had reached the level of an Eight-Star Dou Spirit. This ranking and strength were already at the forefront of the Inner Academy, but judging from the slightly bitter expression on his face, it seemed he was deeply unhappy about facing Liu Qing.
The ensuing battle proceeded as expected. From the start, Liu Qing’s overwhelming aura pinned down his opponent. His large hand, like an eagle’s claw, left trails of afterimages in the air, striking with unpredictable force. Despite the opponent’s desperate resistance, his body continued to suffer injuries. After nearly ten minutes of oppressive combat, Liu Qing finally unleashed a terrifying burst of speed. When everyone regained their senses, they saw Liu Qing’s hand stopping at the opponent’s throat.
Feeling the cold, sharp wind at his throat, the 11th-ranked strongman had no choice but to concede defeat with a show of grace.
Looking at the battle that had been decided in less than ten minutes, everyone on the stands sighed and shook their heads. It was no wonder that these were the top three superpowerful figures. Although Liu Qing’s opponent was also an Eight-Star Dou Spirit, close to Liu Qing’s peak Dou Spirit, the gap in their strength was like a chasm, even to those with slightly weaker strength.
On the high platform, Xiao Yan gazed down at Liu Qing in the arena, sighing involuntarily. The competition had reached the second round, but Liu Qing had yet to use his Mountain Splitting Gun. Relying solely on his bare hands, he had made many strong fighters retreat. Such power was truly terrifying.
“Liu Qing is almost half a step into the Dou King realm. Though he can’t compare to a true Dou King, he is far stronger than ordinary Dou Spirits,” Xuner said softly, her beautiful eyes lowering. “And Lin Xiuya is probably just as strong.”
Xiao Yan nodded, sighing, “Indeed, both are very powerful. In the Inner Academy, apart from Zi Yan, no one can suppress them.”
At this point, Xiao Yan suddenly turned his head, his gaze fixing on Xuner, and asked with a smile, “How about Xuner?”
Xuner’s long, fine eyelashes fluttered, and she playfully retorted, “What does Brother Xiao Yan think?”
Staring at the girl in front of him, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a sense of dizziness. How long had it been since he had seen her shine? She had the ability and strength, yet she chose to quietly support him in small, insignificant ways.
Gently caressing Xuner’s blushing cheek, Xiao Yan sighed, “Little girl, I know you have a strong cultivation talent. Though I rarely see you in action, I can still sense that your current strength is much greater than mine. In the Jia Nan Academy, especially after my arrival, you have almost entirely concealed your brilliance. I don’t want you to suppress yourself for me. Instead, I prefer your brilliance. It gives me the drive to catch up.”
Xuner stared at Xiao Yan, surprised by his sudden words. After a moment, she smiled, a radiant, flawless beauty that left the surrounding crowd in awe and breathless.
“Does Brother Xiao Yan want to see Xuner’s brilliance?” The green-clad girl stood tall, her hair loosely tied with a light purple ribbon. The face that usually bore a gentle smile now lifted in a noble, proud expression. This pride was different from Liu Fei’s arrogant pretense; it was a confidence in her own strength.
A confident man is charming, and a confident woman has an irresistible allure. This was evident in the suddenly heated gazes around them.
Seeing the familiar expression on Xuner’s face, Xiao Yan also smiled and nodded.
“Then, after the competition, I’ll show Brother Xiao Yan the most brilliant Xuner,” Xuner smiled sweetly, looking at Xiao Yan’s delighted face, and silently added in her heart, “Before we part.”
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