Hearing Xiao Tian's amusing words, Xun'er couldn't help but look over. "That is Bai Shan, the one Instructor Ruo Lin mentioned."
As she spoke, Xun'er's brows furrowed, and anger surged within her heart, for Bai Shan had directed a trace of killing intent toward her Xiao Tian Ge.
"Do not worry. With this fellow, I can easily handle him with one hand."
Xiao Tian sensed Xun'er's anger. Knowing her temperament, he naturally understood what was unfolding. She was, without question, the most fiercely protective wife in all of Battle Through the Heavens.
Xun'er nodded gently. Xiao Tian had already revealed his cultivation level to her the previous night, but she, too, made a silent resolution in her heart.
In the distance, Hu Jia also noticed Bai Shan's abnormal demeanor. A meaningful smile played at the corner of her lips. "The two of you had best fight until both are gravely wounded—preferably crippled. Then Xun'er might just become mine."
At Hu Gan's signal, the chief referee stepped from the referee's platform to the center of the arena.
"Today is our academy's annual Inner Academy selection competition. Only the top fifty will be able to advance to the Inner Academy. Therefore, I hope all of you will perform admirably and display your greatest strength. Otherwise, you will miss this opportunity and be forced to await the next."
"Without further delay, I hereby announce that the Inner Academy selection competition has officially begun! Contestants whose names are called, please enter the arena promptly. During the matches, intentionally endangering another's life is strictly forbidden."
As the chief referee's voice fell, waves of cheers and applause erupted throughout the arena, filling it with fervent excitement.
The chief referee pressed his hands downward, and the noise gradually subsided. "Cheng Mo of Yellow Class Three versus Wang Tong of Profound Class One."
The moment the chief referee's words rang out, two figures darted from separate locations and landed within the arena.
Their cultivation levels were evenly matched, and after a bout of intense combat, Wang Tong ultimately emerged victorious.
In succession, three or four more matches took place.
"Xiao Xun'er of Yellow Class Two versus Mo Wen of Profound Class Two."
Hearing the referee call her name, Xun'er smiled at Xiao Tian. "Xiao Tian Ge Ge, Xun'er is going to compete now."
"Mm. Good luck. I look forward to your performance."
Xiao Tian nodded, casting a glance at Mo Wen, who had already stepped into the arena.
Xun'er lightly tapped the ground with her toes and, like a dancing butterfly, gracefully descended onto the competition platform.
Xun'er's posture was elegant. She resembled a green lotus emerging unstained from the mud.
With Xun'er's entrance, cheers erupted from both the spectator and participant stands alike.
Xiao Tian gazed at the widely beloved Xun'er, a faint smile curling at his lips. *This is mine. You may only look, but I possess her.*
Seeing that both parties were in position, the chief referee announced in a booming voice, "Let the match begin!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the two exchanged combat formalities. Mo Wen immediately swung his fist, launching an assault. The howling force of his punch swept toward Xun'er.
Xun'er calmly shifted her body, evading his strike with effortless ease.
Seeing his first attack miss, Mo Wen immediately adjusted his stance, preparing to press his offense. Yet Xun'er's figure remained light and ethereal, weaving clear of every blow.
Xun'er reflected that Xiao Tian was waiting for her. What if some vixen took advantage of her absence to approach him?
Thus, she ceased holding back. Golden light erupted between her palms, coalescing into a streak of radiance that struck the young man's body with unerring precision. The overwhelming Dou Qi blasted him cleanly out of the arena.
"This round, Xiao Xun'er claims victory!"
The referee's voice rang out loudly.
"Thank you for the match, Senior."
Xun'er inclined her head toward Mo Wen, then her figure departed the arena directly. The moment she returned to her class's section, she spotted several bold young women making their way toward Xiao Tian. Yet upon catching sight of Xun'er, they feigned innocence and promptly retreated.
A knowing smile graced her lips as she swept her gaze over them. It was one matter when her home had been stolen while she was absent before. But if it happened now, would that not render her utterly useless?
"Xiao Tian Ge Ge, how was my performance?"
Xun'er stood before Xiao Tian, bending slightly at the waist. Her luminous eyes sparkled with anticipation as she regarded the listless Xiao Tian seated in his chair.
Xiao Tian looked at Xun'er, his gaze brimming with admiration. He reached out and stroked her head. "Xun'er, you are truly amazing. Your performance was outstanding."
"Hehe~"
Xun'er's eyes flashed with joy at Xiao Tian's praise. She promptly settled beside him, linked her arm through his, her small face radiant with smiles.
"This little girl is becoming more and more formidable. She can even defeat a senior from the Profound Class so cleanly," Xiao Yu, standing nearby, remarked with a smile to Xun'er. Instructor Ruo Lin likewise nodded in satisfaction.
"Xue Beng of Profound Class Three versus Xiao Yan of Yellow Class Two."
The chief referee's announcement resounded through the arena. A man gripping a long spear materialized instantly upon the platform, his burning gaze fixed upon Xiao Xun'er.
"Brother Tian, I shall teach him a lesson on your behalf."
Xiao Yan had also noticed that this man was his Brother Tian's love rival. He narrowed his eyes, rose to his feet, and strode toward the competition stage. *Brother Tian treats me so well. Anyone hostile toward him is my enemy.*
Xiao Yan and Xue Beng stood facing one another. They exchanged a brief nod. After the referee declared the start, Xue Beng tightened his grip on his spear and, carrying a ferocious momentum, thrust it directly at Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan caught the long spear with his bare hand. His figure flickered, morphing into a shadow that vanished from sight.
"Overlapping Waves."
With a low roar resounding in his heart, Xue Beng's long spear surged forward with an indomitable, relentless force, driving straight toward Xiao Yan's fist. As the spear shaft vibrated, waves of crimson light cascaded forth, the scorching aura akin to billowing waves of red flame.
"Eight Extremities Collapse."
Xiao Yan passed clean through his attack, materializing directly before him. Xue Beng hastily raised his spear to block. Xiao Yan's fist slammed squarely into the spear shaft.
"Crack!"
The sound of finely tempered metal snapping rang out. Xue Beng's long spear shattered into two pieces. Xiao Yan's fist landed squarely on his body. He immediately vomited blood and was sent hurtling backward.
Bai Shan and the others observed the astonishingly fierce Xiao Yan, a trace of competitive fire igniting in their eyes. "This is a formidable opponent."
Time drifted onward. Over a dozen further matches unfolded. During this stretch, Xiao Yu also took the stage. Her opponent's strength was unremarkable, and she ultimately defeated him to advance.
"Cai Ji of Yellow Class Four versus Xiao Tian of Yellow Class Two."
"Xiao Tian Ge Ge, give it your all!"
Hearing his name called, Xiao Tian nodded to Xun'er and the others. With a flicker, he appeared within the arena.
His opponent was a young man of rather handsome bearing.
"Are you Xiao Tian?"
The man stood opposite Xiao Tian, a trace of contempt and provocation glinting in his eyes. "You are unworthy of her. Only my boss, Bai Shan, is qualified."
Xiao Tian cast him a disdainful glance, a cold sneer curling at his lips. "Whether I am worthy of her or not is not for you to judge."
"Shall we begin? It is rather unpleasant to stand here beside such a worthless creature."
The man before him was precisely the target Xiao Tian had chosen to establish his authority today. Otherwise, enduring constant harassment from these ants day after day, disrupting his time with Xun'er, would prove intolerably irksome.
"Let the match commence!" After uttering these words, the chief referee flashed away from the arena.
"Arrogant brat! Allow me to teach you how to respect your seniors and refrain from such insolence."
"Mountain Splitting Slash!"
An axe materialized in Cai Ji's hand. His figure closed in on Xiao Tian with alarming speed. Arriving before him, he brought the axe chopping down with savage force.
Watching the axe descend with irresistible momentum toward Xiao Tian, and seeing Xiao Tian appear utterly unresponsive, Xiao Yu and Instructor Ruo Lin's expressions shifted, flooded with deep concern.
Only Xun'er's expression remained unchanged, still preserving its perfect tranquility. She understood Xiao Tian's current strength with absolute clarity. Even if every student in the entire Outer Academy were bound together, they would be insufficient for Xiao Tian to face alone.
"Boy, are you scared witless? I never imagined you would be this utterly worthless."
Cai Ji beheld Xiao Tian's motionless form and unleashed a frenzied laugh, as though already envisioning his boss praising and rewarding him lavishly after the match, with himself ascending to the position of chief lackey.