Today was destined to be the most bustling day of the year at the Canaan Academy, for the internal courtyard selection contest that had captured the attention of all students would reach its most thrilling climax today! Hu Jia, Bai Shan, Wu Hao, Xuner, and Xiao Yan, these five contestants had, in the past two days, clearly displayed their astonishing and formidable strength. And today, the five strongest participants from this year’s outer courtyard would engage in the most eye-catching clash of titans!
Due to this, the number of people gathered on the square today was nearly several times that of the previous two days. These onlookers were not only the academy’s students, but many had also come from the nearby Canaan City, drawn by the allure. As residents of Canaan City, they were well aware that today was the peak of excitement for the entire Canaan Academy each year. Thus, they would not miss such a grand event.
When Xiao Yan and his companions arrived outside the grand square and saw the throngs of people blocking the entrance, they were left speechless. In the end, with the help of Instructor Rulin, they managed to enter through a closely guarded passage.
After passing through a long, dark corridor, they emerged into a cacophony of noise that struck them as they stepped out of the tunnel. The transition from the quiet environment to the sudden uproar left Xiao Yan and his group momentarily disoriented. After a while, they gradually regained their composure and gazed at the dense crowd surrounding the square, exchanging wry smiles.
They slowly made their way up the base of the square and finally stopped at their class’s designated spot, taking a relieved breath as they sat down. Sitting on the chair, Xiao Yan chatted softly with Xuner beside him. Suddenly, he fell silent and turned his gaze towards a special entrance in the square. There, Bai Shan, surrounded by a group like a star among his admirers, looked over. Seeing Xiao Yan’s gaze, a sneer flashed across Bai Shan’s handsome face. His lips moved slightly, and although he did not speak aloud, Xiao Yan could still discern his words.
“I will make you lose all your dignity today…”
A faint coldness passed through Xiao Yan’s dark eyes, but a slight smile appeared on his face. He nodded slightly at Bai Shan and moved his lips: “I’m waiting.”
“Brother Xiao Yan, if you are to fight against Bai Shan, be careful. Though his personality is indeed unlikable, his ability to stand out in Canaan Academy, where geniuses abound, indicates that he has an absolutely terrifying cultivation talent.”
Xuner, who had been keeping an eye on Xiao Yan, naturally noticed the silent battle between him and Bai Shan, and she gently reminded him.
“Okay.” Xiao Yan nodded slightly without argument. Indeed, he harbored hostility and vigilance towards Bai Shan, but this did not make him dismiss or underestimate the latter. Xuner’s words were true; without significant talent, no matter how handsome one was, it would be impossible to stand out in Canaan Academy, a place where strength reigned supreme, and become a figure of prominence.
Not long after Bai Shan entered the square, a girl in red clothes slowly walked in. As she entered, many eyes in the audience turned to her. No matter what, Hu Jia could be considered a rare beauty, and what was even more captivating was her background. The Vice Principal of Canaan Academy, a position of immense power, was not to be underestimated, even compared to some of the top forces on the continent. Furthermore, due to the unique status of Canaan Academy, even some Battle Sect level experts dared not act arrogantly in front of her grandfather, Hu Gan. After all, even without mentioning the countless strong figures who had emerged from Canaan Academy, the Academy’s surface-level power alone was enough to deter those top forces from acting recklessly. Many in the Canaan Academy knew that whoever won Hu Jia’s heart would not only gain a warm and tender companion but also save themselves at least ten years of hard work. Few doubted this, as Hu Jia’s grandfather, as the Vice Principal, had such power. Although many were enticed by this, and some self-proclaimed geniuses had tried to approach Hu Jia, none of them succeeded, and they returned battered and bruised. The girl in red, with her fierce demeanor, had scared off all her persistent suitors. Therefore, until now, no male student in Canaan Academy had successfully captured the heart of this little enchantress.
Watching the girl in red walk slowly to the other side of the viewing platform, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered Instructor Rulin’s words about her having a special interest in Xuner, and his expression became somewhat odd. After a moment, he shook his head and muttered, “Indeed, she lives up to her name as a little enchantress; even her preferences are so unique.”
About half an hour after Hu Jia entered, the number of people on the viewing platforms around the square had reached a nearly overwhelming level. The sea of black heads stretched endlessly, and the noisy voices converged, reaching the clouds.
*Boom!*
As the azure sky rose high, the clear sound of a bell finally rang out in the square. Hearing the bell, the noisy square quieted down, and countless eyes followed the sound, looking towards the vast expanse of the square.
At the center of the square, where all eyes were focused, Vice Principal Hu Gan slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping around, and his powerful voice, like rolling thunder, resonated in the air above the square: “Yesterday, the internal courtyard selection chose the final fifty contestants, all of whom have the qualifications to enter the internal courtyard. However, there are also clear hierarchies within the internal courtyard. To obtain better cultivation conditions, you must strive to achieve the best results in this final competition. Every improvement in ranking will greatly benefit you. So, give it your all to secure better cultivation conditions!”
Hu Gan glanced at the students, who were getting excited, and smiled: “In the past, the selection contests used a round-robin format. This year, after discussion at the academy, we’ve slightly changed the last round’s format.”
Hearing this, the students were taken aback and turned curious gazes towards the field.
“Now, please ask the top fifty contestants to enter the field,” Hu Gan announced with a laugh.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan and Xuner were slightly surprised. Fifty people in one square? Although many were confused by Hu Gan’s words, after he spoke, figures continued to flash from the stands, eventually appearing in the square.
As more and more figures appeared in the square, the atmosphere in the stands was immediately electrified. When the graceful and handsome Bai Shan and the fiery-tempered girl in red, Hu Jia, appeared, the atmosphere reached a crescendo. Neat cheers echoed, deafeningly loud.
“Let’s go.” Looking at the scattered figures in the square, Xiao Yan chuckled, stood up, and smiled at Xuner beside him.
“Good luck!” Instructor Rulin waved her fists and smiled at the two of them.
Nodding with a smile, the two leaped, their toes touching the railing, and their bodies traced two arcs in the air, landing gracefully in the field under the watchful eyes of countless spectators.
With Xiao Yan and Xuner’s entry, the already heated atmosphere surged even higher.
“This year, instead of a series of rounds, we will have a large, passionate free-for-all elimination match. The longer you can last in this elimination match, the higher your rank. Conversely, the sooner you are eliminated, the lower your rank,” Hu Gan said, watching the contestants file in. “In this square, you may use any means, even team up. But as long as you can survive the chaos, you will win.”
As Hu Gan’s words fell, whispers began to rise in the square, clearly indicating that this new format caught them off guard.
“After the match starts, stepping out means losing. We have someone counting, so if you can hold out a bit longer, your rank might improve. Therefore, endurance equals victory.”
“This elimination mode is quite interesting,” Xiao Yan said, his gaze slowly sweeping over the contestants. Standing next to Xuner, he smirked as he looked at Bai Shan, “But this way, we do have an advantage. Since we can team up, let’s first get rid of the others.”
“Alright,” Xuner agreed without hesitation, nodding cutely. She glanced around the field and added, “Actually, this format is beneficial for Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao. They all have considerable reputations in the academy. I noticed that many of the contestants have connections with them. Once the battle starts, they might be able to form alliances too.”
“Hmm? Don’t you have a considerable reputation in the academy? Can’t you gather some allies too?” Xuner replied playfully, “If it were before, I would have had flower protectors, but now that I have my chosen one, why would others bother?”
Xiao Yan paused, then nodded helplessly, “Alright, since that’s the case, it seems the final elimination will be up to us. I don’t think anyone can force us out of the arena unless everyone teams up against us. Bai Shan? Wu Hao? Or Hu Jia?”
Glancing at the young man with a huge black ruler on his back and a slender figure, and seeing the confidence on his handsome face, Xuner smiled sweetly. She loved the confidence he exuded.
“No matter how turbulent the waves, we’ll face them together.” She suddenly took Xiao Yan’s hand and whispered.
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