"Haha, Bai Shan and Xiao Tian—you two had best fight to the death. That way, I shall have two fewer rivals to contend with."
Hu Jia's cunning, beautiful eyes shifted between the two fiery individuals, revealing a satisfied smile.
Meanwhile, Wu Hao stood quietly to the side, clutching his blood-red longsword, conserving his energy. He, too, felt immense pressure from Xiao Tian, and he trusted this intuition absolutely. It was this very instinct that had allowed him to survive in the merciless world of slaughter.
---
"Dong!"
A bell resounded across the plaza. At its chime, Vice Dean Hu Gan materialized at the center of the square.
He raised his hand and pressed it downward through the air. Instantly, the plaza fell silent, every gaze fixed intently upon him.
"After these two days of competition, fifty individuals worthy of entering the Inner Academy have been selected. However, the Inner Academy also maintains strict rankings. The higher your placement, the better the cultivation resources you will receive upon entry. Therefore, I urge you to give this your all."
"However, considering that this competition features an abundance of popular and powerful contestants, after deliberation, the academy has resolved to alter the rules for this year's contest."
"Next, I invite the fifty successfully promoted contestants to assemble at the center of the arena."
Confusion rippled through the crowd as they watched Hu Gan. No one understood his intent—save for Xiao Tian, of course.
Though baffled, all who had advanced leaped into the arena from every direction.
As the contestants filled the stage, the audience erupted in frenzied excitement, cheering at the top of their lungs.
Among them, Xun'er's supporters were the most fervent, shouting until their faces flushed crimson and their veins bulged.
"This competition will not adopt the round-robin format of previous years. Instead, it shall be a free-for-all."
"This means all fifty of you will compete upon the same stage. The longer you endure, the higher your ranking. Those eliminated earliest will receive the poorest results."
"Here, you may employ any means, without any restrictions whatsoever. You may also choose to form alliances. In this contest, you may use every method at your disposal to achieve the best possible ranking. Naturally, external forces not belonging to yourselves are forbidden."
"Special referees stationed outside the arena will record the order of your elimination."
As Hu Gan's voice fell, the arena instantly erupted. This was an entirely new competition format—a grand melee.
"So it is this kind of contest. How intriguing!"
Behind Xiao Tian, Xiao Yan revealed a smile at the corner of his mouth. He had been anxious about encountering Xiao Tian earlier, but with this format, and considering Xiao Tian's unfathomable strength, he might even secure victory by doing absolutely nothing.
"Four against forty-six. And it is us."
Xiao Tian curved his lips into a smile, glancing at the restless Xiao Yan, then at Xiao Yu, whose face had grown somewhat pale.
"Cousin Xiao Yu, you should remain with Xun'er. Do not wander off. Leave the rest to us."
"This time, we shall carry you. You need only cheer from the rear."
"Truly? Then I shall entrust it to you three. Hehe."
Xiao Yu moved behind Xun'er, looking frail and helpless, as though seeking protection. Seeing Xiao Yu in this state, Xun'er also offered a sweet smile.
Xun'er's small hand clasped Xiao Tian's, her eyes brimming with encouragement. Xiao Tian nodded.
Xun'er released Xiao Tian's hand and positioned herself before Xiao Yu, fixing her gaze upon the other contestants nearby. She always followed Xiao Tian's instructions with absolute, unwavering fidelity.
"Do you all understand the rules of the competition?"
Hu Gan surveyed all fifty contestants in the arena and asked.
"Understood!"
Everyone shouted in unison. Seeing no objections, Hu Gan raised his hand. "Since you all understand, then I hereby declare... the competition begins."
He swept his hand downward, and his figure instantly dissolved into an afterimage, vanishing from the plaza.
As Hu Gan's gesture and words fell, the competition stage blazed to life with a riot of colorful Dou Qi energy.
Many who were caught unprepared were sent hurtling directly out of the arena by the sudden onslaught.
"Vice Dean, this competition format of yours is rather commendable. It will sharpen their vigilance. In this world of cultivation, no one will greet you before striking."
An elder observed the contest unfolding in the arena with keen interest.
"I merely grew weary of those tedious competitions and sought to devise something novel."
---
After roughly ten individuals had been blasted from the stage by surprise assaults, aside from a handful of mortal enemies locked in combat to the death, most chose to halt their attacks or cautiously observe the others.
Many also began seeking out familiar faces with whom they could ally, forming groups.
Xiao Tian instructed Xiao Yan to erect a green Dou Qi protective barrier around them, isolating them from the Dou Qi fluctuations outside.
During this interval, many secretly launched attacks against the barrier, but they only produced faint ripples—incapable of even cracking its surface.
From within the shield, the four of them watched with great amusement as the others fought or forged alliances.
As time steadily elapsed, the fighting gradually shifted from individual combat to team skirmishes, and eventually into chaotic mass brawls.
During this stretch, a four-man team also assaulted Xiao Tian and his companions, but they were all sent flying and eliminated by a single sweep of Xiao Yan's Xuan Heavy Ruler.
"Brother Tian, should we attempt to win over the others?"
Xiao Yan, hefting his Xuan Heavy Ruler, asked Xiao Tian.
"There is no need. We are not acquainted with the rest, and most of the people here harbor hostility toward me."
"That is not my fault."
Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Xun'er playfully stuck out her tongue and spoke with a giggle.
The chaotic melee within the arena finally drew to a close. The entire field had been divided into six factions: Xiao Tian's team of four, Bai Shan's faction, Hu Jia's faction, Wu Hao's faction, and two other teams composed of individuals who also appeared to be Great Dou Master cultivators.
"The final battle is upon us. How thrilling!"
The spectators, seeing that the forces within the arena had been clearly delineated, understood that the most critical moment had arrived. Each of them was wildly excited, some even leaping to their feet to wave banners and cheer.
"You all go eliminate the others. Xiao Tian is mine."
Bai Shan addressed his teammates.
Then, gripping his long spear, he swiftly closed in on Xiao Tian's team of four, followed closely by several peak Dou Masters.
Hu Jia's team and Wu Hao's team likewise pursued and eliminated the remaining two factions.
"Brother Tian, leave Bai Shan to me. I shall deal with him on your behalf."
Xiao Yan was utterly ablaze with fighting spirit. The instant he finished speaking, he charged out, looking as though he wanted to bellow, "Pure madness!"
"Xiao Yan, out of my way! Let Xiao Tian step forward and face me!"
Bai Shan roared, glaring at the onrushing Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Tian, are you afraid to fight me? Will you cower like a coward?"
"If you wish to fight Brother Tian, you must first get past me."
Xiao Yan brought his Xuan Heavy Ruler crashing down upon him. Bai Shan could only raise his long spear to parry, and the two instantly plunged into ferocious combat.
As for the other peak Dou Masters who advanced upon Xiao Tian, they were all blasted out of the arena with a single punch from him.
Then, while teasing Xun'er, he watched Xiao Yan and Bai Shan locked in battle. As for Xiao Yu, standing beside Xun'er, her mouth was stuffed full of dog food, and she wore a look of utter resignation.
Bai Shan's blood surged with rage when he saw all his comrades eliminated in an instant—and then witnessed the pair flirting with one another.
"You dare let your mind wander while fighting me? Take this!"
Xiao Yan seized the moment of Bai Shan's distraction and drove a fist directly into his face. Bai Shan was sent staggering backward three full steps.
The two then resumed their battle. Bai Shan deployed his signature Dou Technique, the Profound High-Rank Thunderclap Earth Arc Blast. Xiao Yan ultimately used his unique flame to block it, then proceeded to deliver a brutal beating to Bai Shan.
At the sight of Xiao Tian's unique flame, Elder Huo, seated beside Hu Gan, immediately demanded that Xiao Yan join his Alchemy Department.
Xiao Yan was no longer a mere five-star Great Dou Master, but a seven-star Great Dou Master. Without women occupying his heart, his cultivation naturally advanced at breakneck speed.
Bai Shan knew he was outmatched and began to retreat step by step. Hu Jia's and Wu Hao's teams, in turn, finished eliminating the other two factions.
"Ladies and gentlemen, why do we not first ally ourselves to deal with them? Afterward, we may each fight to determine the victor. What say you?"
Bai Shan, his face bearing a crimson fist mark, looked toward Hu Jia and Wu Hao.
Having witnessed Xiao Yan's strength, both of them also regarded him as quite troublesome. Moreover, there was Xiao Tian, whose depths remained utterly unfathomable. They readily consented to Bai Shan's proposal.
Just as they were about to formalize their alliance, a voice rang out from within the competition stage.
"Very well. This contest should end now."