Chapter 20: The Inner Academy Selection Tournament!
The Inner Academy Selection Tournament, as one of Jia Nan Academy's grand events, naturally drew an immense amount of attention. Moreover, during this tournament, those who were usually the leading figures of the academy would all make appearances.
To the male and female students who regarded these people as their idols and objects of affection, this was undoubtedly an enormous attraction.
On the day of the competition, the academy had prepared a colossal arena in the plaza, which was now packed to the brim, utterly impenetrable.
Jiang Yun brought Zi Yan quietly to their own class's area. His gaze swept across the surroundings of the plaza, finally resting on the central area of the spectator stands.
That was the area with the best view. There were three seats there, and seated in them were exactly three white-haired, white-bearded old men.
Jiang Yun recognized one of them—Vice Principal Hu Gan. The two beside him, Jiang Yun had never met. In Jiang Yun's perception, one of them had an exceptionally sharp, fierce gaze. Even though he was doing his best to suppress it, Jiang Yun felt as if he were seeing mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
This one was likely the captain of Jia Nan Academy's Enforcement Team, Wu Tianlang.
Around these three, faint ripples of spatial fluctuation would occasionally appear. This type of spatial ripple only occurred when one's internal Dou Qi was cultivated to a certain limit, allowing them to resonate with the external space—a hallmark of touching upon the Dou Zong realm.
Clearly, all three were peak Dou Huang level powerhouses, merely half a step from Dou Zong. The strength of Jia Nan Academy was evident at a glance.
Yet this half a step was fraught with a thousand difficulties and ten thousand hardships. Had they a Sect-Breaking Pill, they could likely step directly into Dou Zong.
Although Jia Nan Academy had no shortage of funds nor ingredients, they lacked a high-tier alchemist capable of refining the Sect-Breaking Pill. This measly half-step had stubbornly trapped them for who knows how many years.
Now, although Elder Huo had entered the tier 6 realm, if he wanted to refine that peak tier 6 pill, the Sect-Breaking Pill, he likely still had a very long road ahead.
Just as Jiang Yun shifted his gaze away, among the three, Wu Tianlang furrowed his brows and began continuously sweeping his gaze in Jiang Yun's direction.
"What's wrong?" Noticing Wu Tianlang's strange behavior, Hu Gan couldn't help but ask.
"Nothing." Finding nothing, Wu Tianlang withdrew his gaze and said flatly.
Hu Gan nodded at this. Seeing that the time was about right, he waved his hand toward a certain spot.
In the next instant, as the referee took the stage, the Inner Academy Selection Tournament finally kicked off, and the atmosphere within the arena reached its boiling point.
"First match! Huang Class One, Wu Da, versus Huang Class Two, Du Hao! Contestants, to the arena!"
"Second match! Huang Class Two, Hu Yun, versus Mysterious Class Three, Lü Lie! Begin preparations!"
"Ha~~~ Little Yun, so boring!"
In the spectator stands, Zi Yan, 'forever' twelve years old, leaned listlessly against Jiang Yun's shoulder, utterly disinterested in the noobs pecking at each other below.
With her level of strength, she was ranked among the top even across the entire academy. Toward the battles of Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi below, she truly couldn't summon any interest.
"Bear with it a little longer. It'll be over soon!" Jiang Yun dotingly ruffled the top of Zi Yan's head. By now, he was a whole size larger than her, looking even more like an older brother.
This could be glimpsed from how Zi Yan's way of addressing him had changed.
"Ninth match! Huang Class Three, Jiang Yun, versus Mysterious Class Two, Li Yunzhi! Contestants, to the arena!"
Zi Yan, who had been teetering on the edge of drowsiness, instantly jolted alert upon hearing that familiar name. She shook Jiang Yun's arm vigorously. "Little Yun, it's your turn!"
Jiang Yun nodded. Under the astonished gazes of the classmates beside him, he walked toward the arena.
After Jiang Yun left, the classmates who came to their senses exchanged glances.
"That guy is from our class?"
"Have you ever seen him before?"
"I've never seen him. You?"
"Me neither!"
If even his own classmates were this surprised at the sight of Jiang Yun, there was no need to mention the other students. Over these two years, Jiang Yun had truly kept too low a profile. He hadn't befriended anyone, living as a complete training recluse. Thus, his visibility was minimal.
Su Qian's original expectation had fallen through completely. He had thought Jiang Yun would stir up waves in the Outer Academy and liven the place up. Who could have imagined that Jiang Yun would keep his composure so well, directly becoming a training recluse? As a result, in the Outer Academy, he was a complete stranger.
Standing in the arena, Li Yunzhi, Jiang Yun's opponent, was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with the strength of a 5-star Dou Shi—not bad among this batch, but still not entirely secure for breaking into the top fifty.
However, upon seeing Jiang Yun step onto the stage, his face immediately lit up with wild joy. In a relaxed tone, he said, "Little kid, this isn't the place for you. Turn around and jump off yourself—it'll save you a good beating!"
Jiang Yun did not reply. He merely glanced at the referee off to the side.
Seeing this somewhat 'stubborn' Jiang Yun, the referee cast him a pitying look, yet still dutifully announced:
"Match, begin!"
"Gale Palm!"
As the referee's command rang out, with a whoosh, Dou Qi condensed in Li Yunzhi's palm. Wind rose beneath his feet as he explosively shot toward Jiang Yun. It had to be said, cultivating wind-attribute Dou Qi, Li Yunzhi's striking speed was quite fast.
Pity, no matter how fast, he couldn't evade Jiang Yun's lock-on, nor overcome the gap in cultivation.
Jiang Yun merely tilted his body slightly, easily dodging the opponent's attack. At the same time, his palm had already reached the opponent's chest—looking as if the opponent had simply crashed into it himself.
With a loud bang, Li Yunzhi was sent flying viciously by Jiang Yun's palm. Even in midair, he clutched his chest with one hand and stared at Jiang Yun in sheer horror.
Right now, he only felt that his entire body had been shaken apart and could muster no strength whatsoever. He could only watch helplessly as he fell from the arena.
"Whoa—"
Watching Li Yunzhi, who had been defeated so easily, the spectating crowd fell momentarily silent. The outcome was simply too dramatic. Were it not for the fact that everyone knew match-fixing was impossible here, some might even suspect the opponent had taken a dive.
At this moment, the referee also came to his senses. He stared in astonishment at Jiang Yun's departing back. Being closer, he sensed things more clearly. Just moments ago, he had felt a terrifying aura erupt from Jiang Yun's body—a life-threatening menace. And he himself was a 5-star Dou Ling, mind you.
This boy was terrifying beyond belief!
This scene was also fully taken in by the three—Vice Principal Hu Gan and the others—upon the spectator stands. With a trace of shock and doubt, Hu Gan looked at Wu Tianlang beside him and asked, "That aura just now...?"
"No mistake. Da Dou Shi level strength. But exactly what star—still uncertain!" Wu Tianlang nodded. Even with his mental fortitude, he was somewhat shaken at this moment. Such a genius actually existed in this world?
A ten-year-old Da Dou Shi?
"The First Elder really did pick up a little monster!" Hu Gan let out a long breath and said with some feeling. Then, as if thinking of something, a gloating smile surfaced on his face. "This year's Inner Academy is probably in for some unrest!"
The two beside him nodded one after another. They thought Hu Gan was talking about Jiang Yun. Indeed, with Jiang Yun's talent entering the Inner Academy, conflict with the old students was inevitable. The Inner Academy was definitely in for some excitement.
Pity, Hu Gan was referring to someone else entirely. Though, whoever it was, the result was much the same!
"Little Yun, well played!" Seeing Jiang Yun return victorious, Zi Yan was even happier than if she'd won herself, bouncing around in excitement.
"Nothing worth being proud of. Just a Dou Shi, that's all!" Jiang Yun calmly shook his head and said in a flat tone.
"Fortieth match! Huang Class Three, Zi Yan, versus Mysterious Class Three, Wang Shan."
Zi Yan watched Jiang Yun, who was being rather humble about it, and nodded with an air of great seriousness. Indeed, a mere Dou Shi—not worth getting happy over.
Just then, Zi Yan heard her own name. Her eyes instantly lit up. With great enthusiasm, she declared, "My turn! Little Yun, just watch my performance!"
Watching Zi Yan rush toward the arena, Jiang Yun hurriedly called out after her, "Watch your limits! Don't be too heavy-handed."
Seeing Zi Yan wave her hand dismissively, Jiang Yun looked toward her opponent. He was a tall, sturdily built fellow. Beneath that burly, bear-like physique, an extraordinary presence radiated out.
Zi Yan compared to him was so vastly disproportionate it was almost 'enormous.' But at this moment, Jiang Yun could only inwardly mourn for the opponent and hope Zi Yan wouldn't be too heavy-handed.
"Jiang Yun, is Zi Yan's strength very strong?" At this time, Wu En, who had stealthily crept over, happened to overhear Jiang Yun's instructions to Zi Yan. He stared at Zi Yan's departing back with some curiosity and asked.
"Mm, very strong. Under normal circumstances, I'm not her match." Jiang Yun pondered, as if estimating the odds between himself and Zi Yan, and only gave his answer after a moment.
"That strong?" Wu En was somewhat surprised. In his eyes, Jiang Yun was already the epitome of unfathomable depth, and his performance just now had indeed matched his speculation. Then what level was Zi Yan, who was even stronger than Jiang Yun?
Dou Ling? Or Dou Wang?
"Then, under what special circumstances are you stronger?" Though he'd gotten his answer, Wu En was still a bit curious. Just what were those special circumstances?
Jiang Yun did not answer. He merely smiled wordlessly as he watched Zi Yan standing in the arena, his fingers ceaselessly rubbing the storage ring in his hand.
Seeing Jiang Yun not answering, Wu En didn't press further about what those circumstances were. He silently fixed his gaze on Zi Yan in the arena, wanting to see what was so extraordinary about this little girl.
Wang Shan stared at that small, young figure racing over and fell silent for a moment. After confirming repeatedly that no one else was coming up, he couldn't bear it any longer and warned, "Little girl, you'd better go down. At your age, I truly can't bring myself to strike!"
On the arena, Zi Yan suddenly became the focus of countless gazes. Some people even beat their chests and stamped their feet, filled with regret. They stared at their own opponents, roaring inwardly without cease.
'Why couldn't that guy have been me?!'
In their eyes, Zi Yan was practically a 'lucky gift-bringer,' someone sent to hand over free points! Had the instructor of Huang Class Three lost his mind, letting someone of this level successfully register?
Under the strange, scrutinizing gazes from all around, Zi Yan tilted her large, jet-black eyes and shot a sidelong glance at the Wang Shan across from her. A peculiar smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. She interlaced her ten fingers and pressed down slightly. Instantly, a series of crackling pops sounded from her knuckles. She raised her head, looked toward the referee's direction, and said with the air of an old veteran, "Hey, can we start yet?"
Up on the high platform, cold sweat was now streaming down the referee's face. At this moment, he didn't even dare to meet Zi Yan's eyes directly. The instant Zi Yan had glanced his way, he felt as if he'd seen a terrifying demonic beast staring coldly at him. His heart couldn't stop trembling.
Receiving no response for a long while, Zi Yan's brows furrowed slightly. She looked at the referee with some contempt in her heart. What a weakling. Little Yun would never be scared by her.
At this thought, the corner of her mouth couldn't help but lift in a slight arc.
"Alright. Begin. Remember, do not take anyone's life!" Just then, Hu Gan's calm voice drifted over, instantly resolving the referee's awkward predicament.
Zi Yan raised her head and glanced at the three old men on the high platform, curling her lip. All of them were guys she couldn't beat.
"Hmph— Then we'll just see if he can hold on!"
"So that's one of the geniuses the First Elder brought back?" Wu Tianlang now looked at Zi Yan with some curiosity and asked.
"Indeed. Don't be fooled by her small, delicate appearance. As far as this old man knows, her true form is a demonic beast of extraordinary bloodline. She accidentally consumed Transformation Grass, which turned her into this appearance. Before entering the academy, her strength was already at the peak of rank 4. Now, she's likely already reached rank 5." Hu Gan watched Zi Yan and quietly explained to the two.
"Rank 5?" Even Wu Tianlang, who as captain of the Enforcement Team had experienced countless battles and long since cultivated a composure that remained unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, couldn't help twitching at the corner of his mouth upon hearing this.
"A Dou Wang can already rule as king in the Inner Academy. And the First Elder left her in the Outer Academy?" The final peak Dou Huang, Elder Li, asked, puzzled.
"She refused to go herself. Said she was waiting for that boy!" Hu Gan quietly explained, pointing in Jiang Yun's direction.
Jiang Yun keenly sensed someone spying on him. He raised his head to look. Instantly, eight eyes met. He gave a slight nod and then continued watching Zi Yan on the arena.
"Such sharp perception. The quality of this year's new students is very high!" Wu Tianlang watched Jiang Yun and said with some emotion.
"Heh heh! This old man is more envious of his luck with romance!" Elder Li chuckled lightly, his laugh somewhat mischievous.
"You old rascal!" Hu Gan scolded him with a laugh, neither too harsh nor too light, though he, too, felt a twinge of envy in his heart.
Who wouldn't want, in their youth, a childhood sweetheart of peerless talent, wholehearted and devoted, with whom they could grow up together? Let alone a childhood sweetheart whose leg was so enormously thick, the kind one could cling to for a lifetime.
Unaware of how Hu Gan and the others were discussing and envying him, Jiang Yun was now watching Zi Yan on the arena with great relish. The battle had already begun.
"Insolence!" Just moments ago, he had kindly warned her out of consideration that she was a little girl. Yet she showed such contempt before the whole crowd. Wang Shan's expression couldn't help but darken. With extreme sternness, he said, "Don't think that just because you're a little girl, I'll go easy on you. The Inner Academy isn't a place a little milk-baby like you can waltz into. Let this senior teach you a lesson!"
Watching Wang Shan launch into lecturing mode, Zi Yan immediately grew impatient. She flicked her pale purple ponytail, her cute, neat little tiger teeth grinding against each other. Then her slender foot gently lifted, paused a moment, and suddenly stomped down!
"Bang!"
As her foot landed, a muffled explosive boom thundered out. Following that, amidst the vast, shocked outcry from the crowd, a fissure a full half-foot wide rapidly extended out from beneath Zi Yan's foot.
In the blink of an eye, it reached the equally stupefied Wang Shan. An invisible shockwave of force shot violently from the earth, rushing straight at Wang Shan.
Wang Shan's reaction was swift. Although his heart was shrouded in some shadow and unease due to the terrifying strength Zi Yan had displayed in that instant, he still quickly responded.
With a fierce shout, a surge of vigorous Dou Qi violently erupted from within his body. In the blink of an eye, a suit of yellow Dou Qi armor took form on the surface of his body.
He was unmistakably a Da Dou Shi, a seeded contender for one of the fifty slots. Pity...
He ran into Zi Yan. Sometimes, luck was even more important than strength.
(End of Chapter)