The voice brimmed with confidence and dominance, as though the people before him were nothing more than ants.
Bai Shan and the other two lifted their heads toward the source of the voice.
Looking up, Xiao Tian stood at the very center of the competition stage. The moment his words faded, black lightning erupted ceaselessly from his body. The lightning, as though alive, leaped, coiled, and flickered around his form, radiating a heart-stopping luminescence.
Xiao Tian's body slowly rose into the air. Red lightning flickered through his eyes. His White robes billowed and rustled. He resembled an Immortal God descending upon the mortal world. The fluctuating Red lightning saturated the surrounding air with oppression and unbridled ferocity.
Xiao Tian raised his right hand. Red lightning condensed continuously within his palm, like enraged thunder dragons.
"Xiao Tian, cease your theatrics! Everyone, strike together and eliminate him!"
Bai Shan bellowed, brandishing his spear and charging toward Xiao Tian. Hu Jia and the others likewise launched their attacks at him.
As for Xun'er and the other two, they made no move whatsoever, precisely as Xiao Tian had instructed them beforehand.
"Blood Splitting Slash."
"Thunderclap Eight Desolations."
"Phantom Wood Piercing the Heart."
"..."
Everyone unleashed their attacks at once, hurling them toward Xiao Tian.
Yet their Dou Techniques were blocked outright, then obliterated the instant they touched the lightning shrouding Xiao Tian's form.
Witnessing this, the scalps of the few assailants prickled with dread. They froze on the spot.
"What is Xiao Tian's true strength? Even a low-level Dou Spirit could not neutralize these attacks so effortlessly, could they?"
An elder, observing the scene, asked with deep curiosity.
"It seems we still underestimated him."
Hu Gan narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Xiao Tian without pause, attempting to discern his cultivation level.
Back on the stage.
"Is this the sum of your strength? You truly disappoint me."
A cold, imperious smile curved upon Xiao Tian's lips. His voice dripped with disdain.
"My strength is something you are utterly incapable of contending with."
Xiao Tian clapped his hands through the air toward them. The Red lightning coiled around his hand and surged forth like a violent tempest, transforming into dazzling bolts of lightning that blasted toward the three teams.
The lightning bolts were as swift as a flash of light, and the energy contained within them seemed capable of annihilating all creation.
Hu Jia and the others frantically circulated their Dou Qi, deploying their ultimate techniques and defensive measures to resist Xiao Tian's onslaught.
Yet before Xiao Tian's power, their ultimate techniques were no sturdier than paper, instantly ripped asunder.
As the lightning bolts descended without pause, screams and the thunderous impacts of bodies striking the ground erupted throughout the arena.
In a flash, smoke choked the arena, churning up vast clouds of dust.
As the smoke gradually dispersed, the scene within slowly unveiled itself before every eye.
Scores of bodies lay strewn across the ground, their forms scorched black, still twitching sporadically. Among Hu Jia's trio, Bai Shan's white robes had been reduced to rags. His hair stood on end, and he sprawled unconscious upon the ground, black smoke wafting ceaselessly from his mouth.
Wu Hao was in slightly better condition than Bai Shan, yet his clothes hung in tatters, his face seared black. He lay crumpled on the ground, his eyes hollow and vacant.
Both of them specialized purely in offense and possessed no meaningful defensive measures. In contrast, Hu Jia had fared considerably better, for her Dou Qi attribute granted her many methods of defense.
Her garments bore numerous tears, but Xiao Tian had controlled his strike to avoid her most private areas, so no untoward exposure occurred.
Hu Jia, too, lay upon the ground, her delicate face smudged black. Her eyes remained fixed on Xiao Tian, her body incapable of movement.
The ground encircling them was riddled with craters, as though it had been strafed by heavy aerial fire, its surface utterly disfigured.
"Quickly, tend to them!"
An elder shot to his feet and shouted.
"There is no need. That young fellow held back. Their injuries are largely superficial. A few days of rest will mend them fully."
Hu Gan pressed down on the elder's shoulder, speaking in a low voice. He cast a grateful glance toward Xiao Tian.
His gratitude stemmed, naturally, from the fact that his cultivation allowed him to sense Xiao Tian's deliberate restraint when dealing with Hu Jia.
Of course, Xiao Tian had only revealed a fraction of his true strength this time. Had he unleashed his full power, they would all have long since departed to drink Meng Po's soup.
Xiao Tian descended slowly to the ground, swept his gaze over them, then glanced at the referee before walking back to Xun'er and the others.
"Big Brother Xiao Tian, you were incredible!"
Recalling Xiao Tian's domineering display moments before, Xun'er flung herself directly into his arms, showering him with praise.
Xiao Tian instantly wrapped his arm around Xun'er's waist, lifted her into the air, and spun her around.
"Was I dashing or not?"
"You are the most dashing in my heart."
Xun'er whispered, nestled in Xiao Tian's embrace.
"That is wonderful! I actually made it into the top five! Thank you, Xiao Tian! You are truly amazing!"
Xiao Yu jolted awake from her daze and immediately sprang into the air.
"Basic operation. Basic operation. No need for excessive praise."
Xiao Yan also grinned with delight. Though he felt the gap between himself and his elder brother widening, no jealousy stirred in Xiao Yan's heart—only joy.
He was happy to have so effortlessly secured a place in the top five, and happy, too, for Xiao Tian's present strength.
Xiao Tian extended his fist before Xiao Yan. After a moment of stunned silence, Xiao Yan extended his own and knocked it gently against Xiao Tian's.
"Hahaha."
The two gazed at each other and laughed. The bond of their childhood flooded back into their hearts in an instant.
"Vice Dean, how should this be adjudicated?"
The head referee glanced at Hu Jia, who was struggling to rise, and regarded Hu Gan with a rueful smile.
"They violated no rules. They have all won fairly and honorably. Judge as you normally would."
Hu Gan looked at Hu Jia and mused inwardly, *This should teach you that there is always someone better, and that you are not the only prodigy under heaven. You have had it far too easy before and have lost yourself somewhat. I hope you can draw a lesson from this, rein in your arrogance, and cultivate with true diligence.*
"The competition is concluded! The top five in this Inner Academy selection are Xiao Tian, Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er, Xiao Yu, and Hu Jia!"
The head referee rose to his feet, swept his gaze across the entire arena, and proclaimed in a resounding voice.
"Xiao Tian! Xiao Tian!"
Waves of cheers erupted instantly within the arena, chanting Xiao Tian's name in an unbroken roar. Xiao Tian's domineering, demon-god-like figure had been seared deep into their minds, and all prior hostility had dissolved into nothing.
In Jia Nan Academy—and indeed across the entire continent—strength reigned supreme. Only a powerful fist could command true respect.
With truth in hand, the world is mine. Should truth fail, then there remains heavenly justice.
No one objected to the allocation of the top five slots. Hu Jia was the only one among the defeated who could still move, if barely.
The only target of collective envy was Xiao Yu, who had lain down and coasted to victory the entire time, even securing a top-five position with a mere five-star Dou Master cultivation.
*Was this the bliss of following the right big brother and clinging to the right thigh?*
Everyone's shared sentiment: *How infuriating! It is simply heinous! Yet... I want it too.*
Following the head referee's proclamation, the alchemists of the Alchemy Department strode onto the stage to carry the wounded away for treatment.
"Let us go. The competition is over. We should descend now. All that remains is to await the opening of the Treasure Pavilion and the Inner Academy's summons."
Beneath countless gazes, the four slowly departed the devastated competition stage. With their departure, this year's selection tournament came to an official close.
Xiao Tian's single strike had defeated the three erstwhile favorites to claim the championship, leaving a profound and lasting impression—one that would be recounted throughout the Outer Academy for years to come.
The four returned to the Elegant Pavilion, subjected to constant stares the entire way.
"We are back at last. It felt as though we were being gawked at like monkeys the whole journey. It was unbearable."