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Chapter 451: Battle Royale Final Circle
The night passed uneventfully. The Moon set, and the sun rose as usual, ushering in a new day. The Selection Competition continued. As expected, Xiao Yan easily defeated his opponent just like the day before, steadily and firmly advancing towards the Inner Academy. Although, in Xiao Yan's opinion, this was just a small Adjustment to his busy life.
After several consecutive days, the Selection Competition also reached its end, determining the final fifty slots eligible for Cultivation in the Inner Academy. However, after the slots were decided, the students' enthusiasm did not wane; instead, it increased, simply because the upcoming matches would be a true battle of Geniuses!
Today was destined to be the most lively day of the year for Jia Nan Academy, because the Inner Academy Selection Competition, which had captured the attention of all the students, would reach its most exciting climax today!
Hu Jia, Bai Shan, and Wu Hao, these individuals who were already star figures in the Outer Academy, did not disappoint their countless captivated younger schoolmates. In the matches over the past two days, they had clearly demonstrated their astonishingly formidable Strength to everyone.
In previous years, they would have undoubtedly been the undisputed big stars of the Selection Competition. However, this year was slightly different from previous years, because this year, two Dark Horses had emerged one after another: one was Xiao Yan, and the other was Xun'er. Since Xiao Yan's appearance, in all the battles throughout the Selection Competition, they had not needed a second move!
Even Xun'er, who had already shown Strength not inferior to Hu Jia and the others, had inexplicably become much stronger.
But regardless, today, battles would occur between these five strongest students of this year's Outer Academy, and the most eye-catching strong-on-strong clashes would unfold!
And precisely because of this, the number of people gathered on the Plaza today was several times that of the previous two days. These spectators were not entirely students of the Academy; many had come from Jia Nan City outside the Academy, drawn by its reputation. As residents of Jia Nan City, they also knew that today was the most lively time of the year for the entire Jia Nan Academy, so they naturally would not miss such a grand event.
When Xiao Yan and the others arrived outside the large Plaza, the entrance was already blocked by a sea of people, making it impenetrable. Fortunately, they were Academy students, and also the Protagonists of the day, so they didn't have to squeeze through the crowd. Instead, they entered the Plaza through a heavily guarded exclusive Passage.
Others might arrive much earlier due to a lack of Confidence, hoping to gather more information. However, Xiao Yan and the others didn't need to do this. Therefore, not long after they arrived, a clear bell rang out.
Upon hearing the sound of the bell, the noisy Plaza quieted down, and then countless gazes followed the sound of the bell towards the center of the Plaza.
Under everyone's gaze, Hu Gan slowly stood up, his eyes sweeping across the surroundings. His powerful voice, like muffled Thunder, echoed and swirled in the air above the Plaza:
"Yesterday, the Inner Academy Selection Competition selected the final fifty students who are qualified to enter the Inner Academy for Cultivation. Today's matches will not affect your qualifications. However, the Inner Academy also has a clear hierarchy, and to obtain better Cultivation conditions in the Inner Academy, you must achieve the best possible results in this final match. Every rank increase will be of great help to you, so give it your all, in order to obtain more excellent Cultivation conditions!"
The students had heard more or less about the Inner Academy and knew that what the Vice Headmaster said was true. Therefore, after his words fell, the eyes of many students were filled with soaring fighting spirit.
Hu Gan glanced at the students who had been stirred up and were somewhat excited, and smiled:
"In previous years, the Selection Competition used a round-robin format. However, this year, after discussion at the Academy meeting, we have slightly changed the format of this final round."
After speaking, under everyone's doubtful gazes, Hu Gan said in a loud voice:
"The fifty students who passed the selection, now, all enter the arena!"
Although the students were confused, some still jumped onto the field. Then, people surged out from various places. In a short while, more than half of the contestants were on the field. Xiao Yan and the others, being skilled and bold, were not afraid of what new tricks they could pull, and also entered the arena.
After all fifty people were present, Hu Gan chuckled, clearly with a hint of mischief, and said:
"This year, we will no longer have round-robin matches one by one. Instead, we will have a grand, passionate, and exciting free-for-all Elimination Match. The longer you can last in this Elimination Match, the higher your ranking will be, and vice versa."
As if afraid that everyone wouldn't understand, he continued to explain:
"Within this Plaza, no matter what methods you use, even if you team up and form groups with others, as long as you can preserve yourselves in the free-for-all, then you have won. After the match begins, leaving the arena means losing. We have people specifically counting, so as long as you can last a little longer in the chaotic battle, perhaps your ranking will increase significantly. Therefore, perseverance is victory."
It was unclear whether they had had this idea for a long time, or if they knew that according to previous matches, no one could pose any threat to Xiao Yan and wanted to stir things up. In any case, this year's Ranking Match was indeed different from before.
As soon as Hu Gan's words fell, whispers arose in the Plaza. Clearly, this format, which was different from previous years' matches, caught them somewhat off guard. But some busybodies, who had seen through some of the intricacies, began to converse with others:
"This Elimination Match is quite interesting. Tsk, looking at this, Xiao Yan is probably going to be targeted."
"Don't say that, I really want to see if he can still protect that flower among everyone."
"Although it's unfair, it's interesting, not bad."
In short, amidst the discussions, the rules of this Battle Royale Final Circle mode, which started right away, were mostly understood by everyone, and they began to look forward to the upcoming match.
Time flowed by. Seeing that it was about time, Hu Gan first asked the contestants on the field if they were ready. Only after confirming that they were all prepared did he announce the start of the match under everyone's watchful eyes.
Instantly, intense Dou Qi fluctuations appeared on the bodies of everyone on the field who had already built up their Momentum. The dazzling colors of various Dou Qi drew cheers from the spectators.
However, it was unclear whether the contestants had truly figured out the Rules, or if they had received some information beforehand, but the battle did not immediately break out. Their subsequent actions clearly showed that they were immediately moving towards the companions they had chosen.
Everyone was very cooperative. Even the occasional lone contestant would be pulled in by someone they had met but were not familiar with. The entire process was extremely fast. In about half a minute, the field was divided into four groups. Three of them were roughly equal in size, led by Bai Shan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia respectively. As for the fourth group, it only consisted of Xiao Yan and one other person.
Perhaps the people behind him gave him Confidence, but Bai Shan lightly performed a Spear Flourish, pointing the tip of his spear directly at Xiao Yan, and said proudly:
"Xiao Yan, leave her! Otherwise, today we will definitely make you lose face!"
Xiao Yan looked at him with cold eyes. He naturally recognized that this person was the one whose aura he had sensed in the forest on the first day. He wouldn't seek trouble himself, but since Bai Shan had actively brought his face forward for him to hit, Xiao Yan naturally wouldn't be polite anymore.
His gaze, however, irritated Bai Shan. He didn't understand how Xiao Yan could still look so unconcerned when facing so many people.
His gaze narrowed slightly, and he said coldly:
"Xiao Yan, since you won't listen to advice, don't blame us."
Although he said this, Bai Shan had already made up his mind that if he found an opportunity, he would definitely cripple Xiao Yan.
The changes on the field also caused many spectators to look at each other blankly. Although they had guessed that this was not a fair match, they hadn't expected that Xiao Yan would face almost everyone.
This scene even made many Teachers feel that the Vice Headmaster had gone too far and might not be able to control the situation later. However, seeing his calm and composed appearance, they ultimately said nothing more, only silently sighing for Xiao Yan in their hearts.
On the field, Xiao Yan keenly sensed a malicious intent. Knowing that there were bad people mixed in with this group of generally simple students, he took a long breath. Then, under the fiery gazes of Bai Shan and the others, he held Xun'er's soft hand, gently protected her behind him, and then walked leisurely towards Yun Shan and the others, saying indifferently:
"You think you can make me lose face just by moving your mouth? Are you not awake?"
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