"Today is the competition to determine the top fifty spots. Xiao Tian, Xun'er, and Xiao Yan, with your strength, I believe you are guaranteed to be among the top fifty. Only you, Yu'er, need to exert yourself further, but do not place too much pressure upon yourself."
Instructor Ruo Lin patted Xiao Yu's hand. Her mood was exceptionally buoyant today. After today, she would be promoted to a Profound-rank Instructor.
"I will try my best, Instructor."
Xiao Yu nodded, her expression grave.
"Yesterday, my hope was merely that some of you might enter the top fifty. However, after witnessing your strength, I believe you can set your sights on the top five."
"Is there some special reward for the top five?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow upon hearing Ruo Lin's words and asked with keen curiosity.
"Each year, the top five finishers in the Inner Academy selection competition are granted entry into the Hidden Book Pavilion once. Most of the contestants here are aiming precisely for this—even Vice Dean's granddaughter, Hu Jia."
"That sounds like an exceedingly tempting reward."
Though Xiao Tian was already aware of the reward for the top five, he too was deeply curious about the Hidden Book Pavilion. It was, after all, the collected repository of an entire academy.
Within it, there even resided two peak Dou Ancestor level guardians.
Ruo Lin observed the keen interest flickering across the faces of the two Xiao brothers, and a faint smile played at her lips.
As long as they could secure a place in the top five, she would become the most distinguished instructor in the academy.
"The four formidable opponents the two of you must keep a close watch on are as follows. First, the Little Enchantress, Hu Jia. She has been personally tutored by the Vice Dean, and her strength currently stands as the undisputed number one among all Outer Academy students."
"Second is Bai Shan. Over these past two years, he has likewise been the most prominent figure. His strength is exceedingly formidable, likely no weaker than the Little Enchantress."
"Third is Wu Hao of the Enforcement Team. His most terrifying attribute is his combat experience, for the Enforcement Team frequently engages in lethal combat."
"Fourth is Lu Mu of the Alchemy Department. Xiao Yan, you in particular must pay close attention to this individual. There is a high probability he will be your opponent today. In addition to being an alchemist, he is also remarkably gifted in cultivation."
"These three individuals are all Xun'er's suitors. Should you face them, they will most certainly not hold back in the slightest."
"As for the rest, it is simply the three of you yourselves."
Ruo Lin finished listing the names and general information of the four in a single breath. When she mentioned Lu Mu, she even cast a sidelong glance at Xiao Yu.
"Lu Mu? I shall keep a close eye on him."
Xiao Yan stroked his chin, his eyes brimming with fighting spirit.
Xiao Tian naturally took note of Ruo Lin's peculiar reaction. Xun'er leaned in close to Xiao Tian and whispered, "That Lu Mu is Cousin Xiao Yu's most fervent suitor."
"Oh, you little minx, forgetting all loyalty at the sight of beauty. You have just sold me out entirely."
Xiao Yu overheard Xun'er's words and descended upon her with a mischievous grin. The two immediately dissolved into giggles and playful tussling.
Afterward, Instructor Ruo Lin briefed Xiao Tian and the others on certain matters concerning the Enforcement Team and the alchemists.
"Everyone, thank you for your patience. Today is the competition to determine the top fifty. I know you can scarcely wait any longer, so without further delay, I hereby declare the competition open. All contestants whose names are called, please ascend to the stage promptly."
Then, from the referee's platform, the names of the combatants rang out, and the summoned contestants swiftly mounted the stage to do battle.
Today's matches were noticeably fiercer than yesterday's. The skill levels of the participants were now far more evenly matched, and the contests were difficult to separate.
Time slipped quietly by, match after match.
"Profound Class One's Zhang Zhi versus Yellow Class Two's Xiao Tian."
At the referee's announcement, everyone in the arena turned their gazes toward Xiao Tian. He was now a celebrity throughout the Outer Academy—whether through his identity as Xun'er's beloved, his status as the academy's greatest troublemaker, or his devastating one-hit annihilation of an opponent the previous day.
These combined reputations had, in an instant, rendered Xiao Tian a household name within the Outer Academy.
Beneath the collective stare of the crowd, Xiao Tian strode unhurriedly onto the competition stage.
His opponent was no ordinary figure either. He was a peak Dou Master level expert.
"I hope this match compels him to reveal some of his hidden trump cards."
Hu Jia fixed her stare intently upon the tall and straight figure of Xiao Tian within the arena. This was solely because her grandfather had informed her the night before that Xiao Tian was her greatest adversary, and she must not underestimate him under any circumstances.
She held considerable faith in her grandfather's words—barring, of course, certain peculiar inclinations.
"Match, begin!"
The moment the referee's voice fell, Zhang Zhi launched the first strike, hurtling forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.
His right fist was clenched tight, sheathed in an earthy yellow Dou Qi. Carrying a surging, irresistible momentum, it drove directly toward Xiao Tian's face.
Spectators in the audience and contestants alike held their breath, watching that punch with rapt attention, terrified that a single blink might cause them to miss a spectacular duel.
Yet, to the astonishment of all, when Zhang Zhi's fist struck Xiao Tian's face, there was none of the dull, sickening thud expected from knuckles meeting flesh.
Zhang Zhi's fist passed clean through Xiao Tian's body. He had struck only an afterimage left by Xiao Tian's blinding speed—a revelation that startled him to his core.
Xiao Tian's figure rematerialized behind him and delivered a palm strike squarely to his back. Zhang Zhi, sensing the presence at his rear, reacted with lightning speed and instantly deployed a Dou Technique to condense a yellow shield behind him.
Xiao Tian shattered the shield with a single palm strike. The barrier, which had appeared impossibly sturdy, crumbled into nothingness beneath the force of that blow, like fragile glass.
In the end, Xiao Tian's palm landed directly upon Zhang Zhi, who had yet to fully turn around. He instantly felt as though he had been struck by a heavy war chariot, his body hurtling forward like a kite with its string severed, crashing to the ground beyond the arena.
Zhang Zhi coughed up a mouthful of blood. His injuries were not severe, but he had lost the capacity to continue fighting. He understood that Xiao Tian had exercised restraint. Otherwise, he would be lying prone just as Cai Ji had the day before.
"I concede. You have bested me. Thank you for holding back."
Zhang Zhi staggered to his feet, cupped his hands toward Xiao Tian, and retreated to his class's section.
"Xiao Tian... wins."
Xiao Tian smiled faintly, departed the stage, and returned to his original place to resume chatting with Xun'er.
Everyone else regarded Xiao Tian with profound curiosity, wondering what his true strength might be, for he had dispatched a peak Dou Master as though it were mere child's play.
Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and the others were all astonished by the speed Xiao Tian had displayed. They furrowed their brows, contemplating methods to counter him.
"Yellow Class Two's Xiao Yan versus Alchemy Department's Lu Mu."
Xiao Yan strode into the arena beneath Xiao Yu's gaze, tinged with both encouragement and quiet admonition.
After Xiao Yan entered, a blue-clad figure likewise flew into the arena with a series of acrobatic tumbles, alighting gracefully at the field's center.
Lu Mu introduced himself with an air of overfamiliarity, attempting to use Xiao Yan as a stepping stone to draw closer to certain connections.
The two dueled for a brief spell, and then both began to toy with flames. The flames shifted and morphed ceaselessly in their hands, looking less like a contest and more akin to an exhibition performance.
"Playing with fire... are you not afraid of wetting the bed tonight?"
Observing the spectacle of the magnificent and beautiful competition stage, Xiao Tian blurted out a thoroughly nonsensical remark.
"Brother Xiao Tian, you are far too naughty~"
Xun'er, seated beside him, heard Xiao Tian's words and could not suppress a peal of laughter. She then hastily covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling with seven parts amusement and three parts feigned reproach.
Xiao Tian chuckled softly, took Xun'er's flawless, slender hand, and gently toyed with it in his own, his gaze still fixed upon the match unfolding in the arena.
Xun'er's face flushed crimson, and her head slowly came to rest upon Xiao Tian's shoulder. She did not withdraw her hand, letting him play with it as he wished.
Ultimately, this match concluded with Xiao Yan claiming victory, thanks in no small part to Xiao Yu's constant cheering and his own superb fire manipulation skills, using flames to bind Lu Mu in place.
Xiao Yan's unique Dou Qi and fire manipulation abilities drew the keen interest of Elder Huo from the Alchemy Department.
As one match drew to a close, a young man clad in a blood-red robe emerged victorious over his opponent.
"Do you dare to face me in battle?"