Translator: CinderTL
Boom!
In the void, a Cosmic Arena descended with a thunderous crash.
But this time, Jiang Ye didn't appear on the arena floor. Instead, he was in the audience stands!
Accompanying Jiang Ye was a large group of other contestants.
Dozens, a hundred, two hundred... The numbers kept growing, the crowd surging.
"The Top Ten competition has become an open space?" Jiang Ye exclaimed, surprised by the change.
Previous matches had been held in enclosed arenas.
But starting with this round, spectators were allowed.
Whoosh!
At that moment, a massive screen materialized above the arena.
Top Ten Finalists: Shen Changxi, Liu Wanxiao, Yun Qing'er, Jiang Ye, Lei Xiao
Top Ten Match 1: Shen Changxi vs. Lei Xiao
Top Ten Match 2: Liu Wanxiao vs. ...
Lines of text scrolled across the screen.
"Yun Qing'er really made it to the Top Ten," Jiang Ye remarked, unsurprised as he scanned the list.
"Jiang Ye!"
A figure flashed before him, appearing directly in front of him.
"Brother Haoran?" Jiang Ye turned to see Xu Haoran.
"Brother Jiang, you actually made it into the top ten!" Xu Haoran exclaimed, his face filled with admiration.
Xu Haoran had been eliminated in the top fifty, failing to advance from the earlier five-person group battles. Seeing his fellow disciple reach the top ten filled him with bitter disappointment.
"Just luck," Jiang Ye chuckled.
"Hmph! Always with the 'just luck'!" A soft snort came from behind them.
Zhao Qingli, her snowy peaks held high, strode forward on her alabaster legs. "Congratulations on making it into the top ten."
"Class Monitor," Jiang Ye smiled. "Did you make it into the top hundred?"
"I was eliminated in the top hundred," Zhao Qingli sighed. "I got lucky in the top 250 round—my opponent wasn't too strong, so I managed to scrape through. But I was instantly defeated in the top hundred."
"That's still impressive!" Jiang Ye said with a smile. "Anyone above the top hundred is considered a Class A student."
"Mm." Zhao Qingli glanced at him, a flicker of worry in her eyes.
The gap between her and Jiang Ye was growing wider by the day.
While Jiang Ye was talking with Zhao Qingli, Xu Haoran, and the others, the remaining members of the top ten were also studying the rankings.
"Jiang Ye... he really made it into the top ten," Shen Changxi murmured, her ethereal beauty radiating a cold, aloof aura as she gazed ahead.
Ever since her teacher's words, she had paid close attention to Jiang Ye. His advancement to the top ten came as no surprise.
"I hope I get to face him in the next round," Shen Changxi thought silently, remembering her teacher's instructions: If you encounter Jiang Ye, crush him!
In the stands, on a high vantage point, Liu Wanxiao stared at the list. "Jiang Ye... he's also achieved his first breakthrough peak?" he mused. "He's definitely a formidable opponent."
"And Shen Changxi and Yun Qing'er..."
"Those two are incredibly strong. I'll need to give it my all to win the championship!" Liu Wanxiao's tiger-like eyes flashed with fierce determination.
In a secluded corner, Yun Qing'er stood alone in her bunny girl outfit, her timid gaze darting nervously around.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several figures flashed past, entering the competition space and appearing near Yun Qing'er. But when they saw her, their faces twisted with fear, and they hastily retreated.
"Hmm?"
"What are they so afraid of?" Yun Qing'er glanced around, shrinking back slightly, her own courage wavering.
Time passed.
Once all ten finalists had entered the competition space, the authoritative voice boomed again.
"First match of the Top Ten Tournament: Shen Changxi versus Lei Xiao!"
Buzz—
The moment the words echoed, the entire competition space darkened, leaving only the Cosmic Arena at its center bathed in brilliant light.
Swish! Swish!
Two figures materialized simultaneously on the arena.
"Begin!"
Without wasting a word, Penglai University valued efficiency above all else.
After both combatants selected their weapons, the battle commenced immediately.
Boom! An overwhelmingly powerful Martial Dao Aura erupted.
Lei Xiao, one of the top ten contenders, possessed undeniable strength. The instant the fight began, he transformed into a bolt of lightning.
Wielding a long spear, he unleashed a terrifying qi prowess, charging toward Shen Changxi with lethal intent.
"Shen Changxi," Jiang Ye murmured from the spectator stands, his gaze fixed intently on the match.
The reason for opening the Top Ten Tournament was likely the school's intention to allow the top ten students to assess their opponents' strengths in advance.
For Jiang Ye, this was also an excellent opportunity to understand his rivals.
On the arena, Shen Changxi, with her white hair and crimson eyes, stood motionless until Lei Xiao charged within striking distance. Then, she suddenly sidestepped.
Boom! She raised a snow-white, perfectly straight leg and, like a cannonball, slammed it against Lei Xiao's spear.
A dazzling surge of stellar energy erupted instantly.
Boom! The kick deflected Lei Xiao's spear, which had been aimed at Shen Changxi's chest, sending it veering off course.
Swish!
In the next instant, a dazzling sword light flashed, transforming into a crimson crescent moon that hurtled toward Lei Xiao's chest.
Boom— A figure was sent flying backward like a projectile, crashing off the arena.
Shen Changxi landed gracefully, her slender foot touching down without having moved an inch from her starting position.
Clang! She sheathed her sword and calmly walked off the arena.
Shen Changxi wins!
The entire arena fell silent.
The first match of the top ten tournament concluded far more swiftly than anyone had anticipated.
Lei Xiao, one of the top ten contenders, had been utterly defenseless against Shen Changxi?
Just how vast was the gap between them?!
"She's so strong!"
"Shen Changxi didn't even use her ultimate move! Just ordinary techniques, and she's already this absurdly powerful?"
"She's practically at the second breakthrough!" The other members of the top ten tournament wore grim expressions.
Soon, the second match began.
Liu Wanxiao faced another female competitor from the top ten.
In this battle, Liu Wanxiao displayed overwhelming strength.
With just three strikes, he defeated his opponent.
A flawless victory!
The third match.
Yun Qing'er stepped onto the stage.
Her opponent was a bald young man.
"Don't be scared, little beauty," the bald man said, his eyes lighting up at Yun Qing'er's timid demeanor. "It'll be over before you know it."
But as the match began, Yun Qing'er pulled out a war hammer three times larger than her head.
The bald man finally realized something was terribly wrong.
Boom!
Boom boom boom boom!
A complete and utter stomp.
A literal, crushing victory.
After violently swinging her warhammer over a hundred times, Yun Qing'er retrieved her weapon and retreated from the arena with a timid expression.
Behind her, fragments of human skin parchment, compressed to their absolute limit, scattered in the wind.
"That Yun Qing'er..." Jiang Ye watched her retreat, his eyelid twitching uncontrollably.
Just as I thought!
He knew anyone who could align themselves with that witch Su Tong'er had to be abnormal.
"Jiang Ye, you're up next," Zhao Qingli reminded him.
"Mm," Jiang Ye nodded.
"Good luck!" Zhao Qingli clenched her fair fist. "You'll definitely win easily."
"The class monitor really has faith in me," Jiang Ye said with a shake of his head and a smile.
As he spoke, his figure vanished.
Fourth Match of the Top Ten: Jiang Ye vs. Cai Hua!
"It's the first-place winner of the Freshman Trials! He's finally stepping onto the stage."
"I never expected Jiang Ye to make it to the top ten. I heard his strength was only at the mid-stage of the first breakthrough when he enrolled."
"Jiang Ye's progress is insane! He went from mid-stage to the peak of the first breakthrough in just three months?"
"He probably just broke through recently. This match will likely be a drawn-out battle."
"It'll probably last at least ten minutes, right?" The freshmen buzzed with speculation.
Amidst the heated discussion, the match had already begun.
Just half a minute later...
A brilliant spear light, like dawn tearing through the long night, pierced through the entire arena.
Jiang Ye wins!
(End of the Chapter)
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