"Today is the competition to determine the top fifty spots. Xiao Jietian, Xun'er, and Xiao Yan, with your strength, I believe you are guaranteed to be in the top fifty. Only you, Yu'er, need to work harder, but don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Instructor Ruo Lin patted Xiao Yu's hand. Her mood was exceptionally good today; after today, she would be promoted to a Xuan Class Instructor.
"I will try my best, Instructor."
Xiao Yu nodded, her expression serious.
"Yesterday, my hope was that some of you could enter the top fifty. However, after seeing your strength, I think you can aim for the top five."
"Is there any special reward for the top five?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, hearing Ruo Lin, and asked curiously.
"The top five in the Inner Academy selection competition each year get to enter the Hidden Book Pavilion once. Most of the contestants here are aiming for this, even Vice Dean's granddaughter, Hu Jia."
"It seems like a very tempting reward."
Although Xiao Jietian knew about the reward for the top five, he was also very curious about the Hidden Book Pavilion. It was, after all, a collection belonging to an academy. Inside, there were even two Dou Zong (Peak Battle Master) level guardians.
Ruo Lin saw the interested expressions on the two Xiao brothers' faces and a slight smile played on her lips. As long as they could enter the top five, she would become the most outstanding instructor in the academy.
"The four strong opponents you two need to watch out for are: first, the Little Enchantress Hu Jia. She has been personally tutored by Vice Dean, and her strength is currently the undisputed number one among the Outer Academy students."
"Second is Bai Shan. In these past two years, he has also been the most prominent figure, with extremely formidable strength, probably not weaker than the Little Enchantress."
"Third is Wu Hao from the Enforcement Team. His most terrifying aspect is his combat experience, as the Enforcement Team frequently engages in dangerous missions."
"The fourth is Lu Mu from the Alchemy Department. Xiao Yan, in particular, you need to pay attention to this person. There's a high possibility he'll be your opponent today. Besides being an Alchemist, he is also very talented in cultivation."
"These three people are all Xun'er's suitors. If you face them, they definitely won't hold back at all."
"As for the rest, it's just the three of you yourselves."
Ruo Lin finished listing the names and general information of the four people in one breath. When she mentioned Lu Mu, she even glanced at Xiao Yu.
"Lu Mu? I'll keep an eye on him."
Xiao Yan stroked his chin, his eyes full of fighting spirit.
Xiao Jietian naturally noticed Ruo Lin's unusual behavior. Xun'er leaned close to Xiao Jietian and said, "That Lu Mu is Cousin Xiao Yu's most fervent suitor."
"Oh, you little girl, forgetting loyalty for beauty, you just sold me out."
Xiao Yu heard Xun'er's words and came over to her with a mischievous look, and the two immediately started giggling and playing around.
Afterward, Instructor Ruo Lin and Xiao Jietian explained some things about the Enforcement Team and Alchemists.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting. Today is the competition to select the top fifty. I know you can't wait any longer, so without further ado, I declare the competition open. All contestants whose names are called, please come to the stage promptly."
Then, the names of the combatants were announced from the referee's stand, and the named contestants quickly ascended the stage to compete.
Today's matches were noticeably more intense than yesterday's. Everyone's skill levels were already quite similar, and the fights were hard to distinguish.
Time quietly passed through one match after another.
"Xuan Class One's Zhang Zhi versus Yellow Class Two's Xiao Jietian."
Listening to the referee's voice, everyone in the arena looked towards Xiao Jietian. He was now a celebrity in the Outer Academy, whether it was his identity as Xun'er's boyfriend, the biggest troublemaker, or his powerful one-hit kill of an opponent yesterday.
These titles combined instantly made Xiao Jietian a household name in the Outer Academy.
Under everyone's gaze, Xiao Jietian slowly walked onto the competition stage.
His opponent was also not a simple character; he was a peak Dou Shi level expert.
"I hope this match will force him to reveal some of his trump cards."
Hu Jia stared intently at the tall and straight Xiao Jietian in the arena, simply because her grandfather told her last night that Xiao Jietian was her biggest opponent and she should not underestimate him in any way.
She was quite convinced by her grandfather's words, of course, except for certain peculiar habits.
"Match start!"
As the referee's voice fell, Zhang Zhi immediately made the first move, rushing out like an arrow released from a bow.
His right fist was clenched tightly, covered in an earthy yellow Dou Qi, carrying a surging momentum, directly aimed at Xiao Jietian's face.
People in the audience and contestant stands held their breath, intently watching this punch, afraid that they might blink and miss a spectacular duel.
However, to everyone's surprise, when Zhang Zhi's fist struck Xiao Jietian's face, there was no dull thud expected from a fist hitting flesh.
Zhang Zhi's fist passed directly through Xiao Jietian's body. He had struck only an afterimage left by Xiao Jietian's rapid movement, which startled him.
Xiao Jietian's figure appeared behind him and delivered a palm strike to his back. Zhang Zhi, sensing someone behind him, reacted quickly and immediately used a Dou Technique to condense a yellow shield behind him.
Xiao Jietian directly shattered the shield behind him with a palm strike. The seemingly incredibly sturdy shield, under the power of Xiao Jietian's palm, was instantly shattered and disappeared like fragile glass.
Finally, a palm strike landed directly on Zhang Zhi, who hadn't fully turned around. He instantly felt as if he had been hit by a heavy-duty truck, his body flying forward like a kite with a broken string, landing outside the arena.
Zhang Zhi coughed up a mouthful of blood. His injuries were not severe, but he had lost the ability to continue fighting. He knew that Xiao Jietian had held back, otherwise he would have been lying like Cai Ji yesterday.
"I'm impressed, I lost. Thank you for holding back."
Zhang Zhi staggered to his feet, cupped his hands at Xiao Jietian, and walked back to his class's position.
"Xiao Jietian, wins."
Xiao Jietian smiled slightly, left the stage, and returned to his original spot to continue chatting with Xun'er.
Everyone else looked at Xiao Jietian curiously, wondering what his true strength was, as he fought a peak Dou Shi as if it were child's play.
Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and others were all surprised by the speed Xiao Jietian displayed. They frowned, thinking of ways to counter him.
"Yellow Class Two's Xiao Yan versus Alchemy Department's Lu Mu."
Xiao Yan walked into the arena under Xiao Yu's slightly encouraging and warning words.
After Xiao Yan entered, a blue figure also flew and tumbled into the arena, landing lightly in the center of the field.
Lu Mu introduced himself very familiarly, trying to use Xiao Yan to get closer to certain relationships.
The two initially dueled for a bit, and then both began playing with flames. The flames constantly changed shapes in their hands, looking less like a competition and more like an exhibition match.
"Playing with fire, aren't you afraid of wetting the bed at night?"
Looking at the beautiful and magnificent competition stage, Xiao Jietian blurted out a nonsensical remark.
"Brother Xiao Jietian, you're too naughty~"
Xun'er, beside him, heard Xiao Jietian's words and couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter. She then quickly covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling with seven parts amusement and three parts feigned anger.
Xiao Jietian chuckled softly, took Xun'er's long, flawless hand, and gently played with it in his own, his gaze fixed on the match in the arena.
Xun'er's face flushed red, and her head slowly leaned on Xiao Jietian's shoulder. She didn't withdraw her hand, letting him play with it.
Ultimately, this match concluded with Xiao Yan's victory, thanks to Xiao Yu's constant cheering and his superb fire manipulation skills, using flames to bind Lu Mu.
Xiao Yan's special Dou Qi and fire manipulation skills attracted the attention of Fire Elder from the Alchemy Department.
At the end of one match, a young man in a blood-red robe defeated his opponent.
"Do you dare to fight me?"