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The morning sun pierced through the darkness, its soft, non-blinding rays illuminating the sky.
The square of Jia Nan Academy was already packed with people. Every Inner Courtyard selection competition was a grand event for Jia Ma City, not only attended by the academy's teachers and students but also by many residents of Jia Ma City, and even spectators who had traveled from further away.
Xiao Ning and Xiao Mei looked around but still couldn't find Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yu crossed her arms, suspiciously glancing at Xun Er: "Did you see that little pervert?"
Xun Er shook her head.
"He wouldn't be scared of getting beaten up and not dare to come, would he? Or maybe someone already beat him up, so he can't make it? The selection competition is about to start." Xiao Yu's index finger unconsciously tapped her arm, a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Don't worry, just trust Brother Xiao Yan." Xun Er smiled.
Xiao Yu sighed: "I'm really impressed with you... I don't know where you get such great confidence in him."
A commotion arose in the crowd as a girl in red slowly walked in.
"It's the little demoness." A strange light gleamed in Xiao Ning's eyes.
"Don't get fixated on every pretty face you see, wake up, she doesn't like men." Xiao Yu poked Xiao Ning's chest with her elbow, her expression displeased.
"I know she doesn't like men, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating beauty," Xiao Ning replied.
Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow: "Are you learning bad habits from that little pervert?"
Clang...
A crisp bell echoed across the square, and in the azure sky, the sun rose high, shining with brilliant light.
The noisy sounds in the square instantly ceased. Vice Principal Hu Qian, located in the center of the square, surveyed his surroundings, his voice, like muffled thunder, reverberating through the air above the square due to the Dou Technique:
"The fifty students qualified to enter the Inner Courtyard have been determined, and from these fifty, we will select five more elites. They will receive priority cultivation from the academy and enjoy better treatment.
"So, for the sake of a smoother path in your future, work hard, all students."
Looking at the eager participants, Hu Qian's face showed a hint of a smile:
"In previous years, the selection competition used a round-robin format, which was somewhat boring. To make the competition more interesting, we've made some changes this year."
Hu Qian's tone became a bit more excited: "Today, our competition will only have one match, a unique grand free-for-all!
"Within this square, no matter what methods you use, as long as you are the last one standing in the square, you win!
"Now, all students participating in the competition, please come onto the stage!"
Forty-nine people, including Xun Er, all walked onto the wide platform in the center of the square.
"Ah, why isn't that little pervert here yet?" Xiao Yu stamped her foot.
By this time, even Xun Er's face couldn't help but show a hint of worry.
Hu Qian quickly scanned the crowd, a hint of surprise in his voice: "Hmm? Why is one person missing... Student Xiao Yan, has Student Xiao Yan arrived?"
Just then, a figure descended from the sky, landing with a thud to the side of the participants, his legs slightly bent to absorb the impact of the landing.
Retracting his purple wings, Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Sorry, I'm a little late."
At this moment, Xiao Yan's figure exuded powerful Dou Qi fluctuations, having clearly reached the level of a Nine-Star Dou Grandmaster.
The overflowing Dou Qi caused Bai Shan, Wu Hao, and Hu Jia to slightly change their expressions.
Xun Er walked to Xiao Yan's side, rolling her beautiful eyes: "Brother Xiao Yan, I almost thought you wouldn't make it."
Xiao Yan chuckled: "I fortunately had a breakthrough, but I finally made it."
In an inconspicuous corner, a middle-aged man in beige clothes with an ordinary face and a monocle over his right eye muttered:
"Another last-minute arrival... I'm not even this punctual for work."
"Since everyone is here, the Inner Courtyard selection competition officially begins." Hu Qian's figure disappeared from the center, his voice echoing in the sky.
"Brother Xiao Yan, let's stick together." Xun Er's expression was slightly solemn.
"Mm, it seems if we don't show some real skill, this round might not be easy." Xiao Yan smiled calmly.
The other forty-eight people seemed to have reached an agreement, their gazes falling on Xiao Yan.
"Hu Jia, you take ten people to tie down Xun Er, no problem?" Bai Shan asked.
"Don't tell me what to do." Hu Jia glared at him, but didn't refuse, looking at Xun Er: "Hehe, Xun Er, Xun Er, you're mine."
Xun Er looked at her expressionlessly.
"Sigh, isn't it better if we're together? Let those stinky men get lost." Hu Jia said affectionately.
The students next to Hu Jia showed a hint of awkwardness on their faces; they were also among the "stinky men" Hu Jia referred to.
Vice Principal Hu Qian's vision went dark as he watched Hu Jia, who never changed her ways.
"Hahaha, Deputy Dean, your granddaughter certainly has a personality." A Dou Emperor Elder teased.
"A family misfortune, a family misfortune..." Hu Qian kept shaking his head.
The battle began. Facing numerous opponents, Xiao Yan, after reminding Xun Er to "take care of yourself," surprisingly took the initiative to attack.
Such a bold move drew exclamations from the audience.
Xiao Yan used the Heavenly Flame Three Mysterious Transformations, a Dou Technique formed by the fusion of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame and the Azure Lotus Core Flame, directly raising his level to that of a Five-Star Dou Spirit.
This was almost an entire major rank stronger than the surrounding students, who were generally only Five or Six-Star Dou Grandmaster.
Coupled with the differences in cultivation methods, Dou Techniques, and battle awareness, these students were almost no match for Xiao Yan, often being knocked to the ground with a single encounter.
"Stall for time, he's using a secret technique, it won't last long." Bai Shan gave the command.
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes. This Bai Shan had been constantly jumping around in front of him, causing him trouble, and Xun Er had also repeatedly expressed that this guy was annoying, so he decided to knock him off the stage first.
He quickly approached Bai Shan, causing the latter's expression to change.
"Stop him!"
Few people came forward.
Although everyone agreed to deal with Xiao Yan together, Bai Shan was also their competitor.
If it were a normal one-on-one battle, the top five, if nothing unexpected happened, would be Xiao Yan, Xun Er, Wu Hao, Bai Shan, and Hu Jia.
However, with today's free-for-all format, the outcome became unpredictable.
The reward of entering the Hidden Scripture Pavilion to choose a treasure was very tempting.
Bai Shan's departure also aligned with the interests of those weaker students!
"Damn it." Bai Shan also noticed this problem, his face turning ugly.
Xiao Yan approached Bai Shan, revealing a grin:
"It seems I didn't hit you hard enough last time... I heard the top five get special rewards. I wonder if getting you out of here first will make you regret it for a while."
Upon thinking of missing out on a great opportunity, Bai Shan's face drastically changed, and he finally relented: "I'm sorry, I was wrong, please show mercy."
"Too late." Showing two rows of white teeth, Xiao Yan threw a punch with great force.
Eight Extremities Collapse!
Bai Shan used his Dou Qi to resist for a moment, but it was crushed with overwhelming force.
The punch, imbued with astonishing power, landed on his chest, sending him flying backward, spitting blood.
Many people felt a pang of regret watching this; Bai Shan's strength was clearly among the top five, yet due to this selection mechanism, he exited the stage dejectedly.
"Hey, do you want to continue?" Xiao Yan looked at Wu Hao, his meaning clear.
Wu Hao's expression changed slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he chose to retreat. He wasn't foolish; there would be plenty of opportunities to challenge Xiao Yan later, there was no need to fight to the death at such a crucial moment.
If he were eliminated early like Bai Shan and lost the chance to enter the Hidden Scripture Pavilion, that would be a huge loss.
"Damn it, Bai Shan, you good-for-nothing, Wu Hao, coward!" Hu Jia cursed bitterly, and after glancing at Xun Er, she could only retreat as well.
Xiao Yan and Xun Er met up, standing on the stage, with almost no one daring to attack them.
Only Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Bai Shan had enough strength and prestige to unite the students.
Bai Shan had already left the stage, and Wu Hao and Hu Jia clearly understood that if they continued to gang up on Xiao Yan, they didn't know about others, but the two of them would definitely be taken down.
No one was willing to lose the chance to enter the Hidden Scripture Pavilion for a moment of pride!
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