"You think you can escape?!"
Mu Yun sneered, transforming into a blue streak that swiftly appeared before Lin Yan.
With a grab, Lin Yan's right hand, which held his long spear, was immediately restrained. Then, streams of water, thin as silk threads, wrapped around his wrist, carrying a rotational force that seemed to twist and sever his arm.
Lin Yan's sleeves were torn to shreds by the fierce wind, and his entire wrist and arm instantly turned black and blue. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Mu Yun's lips curled in a cold smirk. "Kid, today I'll teach you juniors a lesson: don't rely on a few trump cards to arbitrarily provoke your seniors. It's very dangerous in the Inner Academy."
Lin Yan's eyes were bloodshot, and his Dou Qi circulated to its limit. Behind him, a phantom image resembling a fire phoenix appeared. With a fierce burst, he forced Mu Yun's wrist away, and his spear thrust out like a dragon.
"A Di-rank Dou Qi technique? It seems I really underestimated you."
Mu Yun's expression instantly darkened. The folding fan in his hand snapped open. Lin Yan's displayed potential surprised him, causing him to change his mind. Instead of just a minor lesson, he decided to strike hard. Crippling the opponent would be best; if not, he'd at least severely injure him.
"Lin Yan!"
Yan Qingshan's angry roar, like a lion's, echoed through the arena. This immediately cleared the enraged Lin Yan's mind. Facing Mu Yun's renewed assault, he decisively turned his spear, slamming it into the ground, creating a large, black-smoking pit. Taking advantage of the flying debris, he swiftly exited the arena.
"Mu Yun wins!"
Great Elder Su Qian also saw Mu Yun's intention to strike hard. As soon as Lin Yan left the arena, he announced the result, preventing Mu Yun from causing further trouble. Mu Yun slowed his pace as he flew to the edge of the battlefield, merely holding his folding fan as he approached the sidelines.
"Kid, remember what I said. You juniors better have some manners and don't casually provoke your seniors."
Mu Yun spoke in an affected tone, pretending to be doing them a favor. This 'earnest advice' was utterly sickening, as everyone could see what he had just tried to do, yet he was still putting on this act.
Yan Qingshan's cold laugh echoed. "Mu Yun, senior, how we juniors conduct ourselves is none of your concern. As for you, since you're already old, you should simply enjoy your golden years, lest you be swept away by the younger generation."
Mu Yun naturally recognized Yan Qingshan, and his face darkened as he spoke, "Kid, you've got guts. It looks like your Qingshan Faction doesn't want to last in this Inner Academy."
"You don't get to decide that, sissy!"
Yan Qingshan knew that dealing with such a person meant not giving him a good face, as it would only encourage him to push his luck. He might as well just completely offend him.
Anyway, if it came to a battle to the death, this sissy would be utterly suppressed by him. No matter how strange his Water-attribute Dou Qi was, it would be useless against the Green Lotus Core Flame.
"Are you provoking me?!"
"Isn't that obvious?!"
"Very well, very well!"
The conversation was simple, but the conflict between the two had escalated to its peak. Mu Yun chose not to erupt directly, but after a deep look at Yan Qingshan, he flew off the stage.
His nature made him more accustomed to schemes and tricks; he rarely flared up at people on the spot. Moreover, the current occasion was not right. With so many elders present and countless Inner Academy students watching, although he lost face, it was genuinely difficult for him to lash out.
Mu Yun left the arena without a word, and immediately, several individuals with profound auras gathered around him. Afterward, numerous gazes began to stalk the members of the Qingshan Faction within the Inner Academy. Although they hadn't acted yet, it was clear they wouldn't wait much longer.
The second round of competitions had only twelve matches. As Zi Yan punched her opponent out of the arena, the sun had barely begun to set in the west. However, at this point, the Great Elder announced the end of the second round.
If they had continued, the top ten of the Strong Ranking could have been decided today, but to ensure the students were in better condition, allowing them to rest for a night was a better choice.
Late at night, Yan Qingshan was cultivating alone in his room. Suddenly, a soft sound came from the window crack. He raised his hand and sent out a pale green Dou Qi. The window opened and closed, and a small, delicate, and lovely girl in white appeared before him.
"Yan Qingshan, where's my reward?!"
Zi Yan skipped to Yan Qingshan, extending her fair, tender hand, a slight smile on her lips, as if she had just done something that pleased her.
"You finished eating again, no, what did you just do?"
Yan Qingshan flipped his hand, pulling out a jade bottle from his storage ring. Then he noticed something amiss. Zi Yan's aura seemed a bit chaotic, and there were faint traces of poisonous water on her sleeve cuffs, as if she had just fought someone.
Zi Yan recounted with a laugh to Yan Qingshan, "I helped you teach that Mu Yun a lesson. I ambushed him from behind; he didn't even see me before he was knocked out. I dug a pit and threw him in, and I even stripped his..."
The more Yan Qingshan listened, the more he felt something was off. Such a ridiculous method... was this little guy truly Zi Yan? This kind of digging a pit and burying someone, wasn't that something Feng Baobao from another world often did?
"You, do less of such things in the future. Mu Yun isn't really a threat to me; there's no need for this."
Yan Qingshan patted Zi Yan's small head, then handed her a jade bottle. Pulling her small body closer, he used Dou Qi to massage her, subtly checking her internal condition to ensure she hadn't suffered any hidden injuries.
"You, your Dou Qi is so strange, it's warm..."
Zi Yan's small face was a little red. The cute, childlike girl leaned against Yan Qingshan's embrace, revealing an inexplicable emotion that seemed beyond her age.
"Little silly!"
Yan Qingshan lightly poked Zi Yan's exquisite nose, then released her. The two then discussed tomorrow's matters, and Zi Yan found an opportunity to leave.
Yesterday's incident had caused too much of a stir, and Mu Yun was beaten up again today. Yan Qingshan's advancement had also been a bit too smooth. It wouldn't be good if more inside stories were revealed.
The night gradually faded with time. When the sky began to lighten and the first ray of sunlight appeared, Yan Qingshan slowly opened his eyes. After leaving his room and meeting up with the members of the Qingshan Faction, they headed directly to the central square.
The third day of the competition attracted immense attention from the students, as it involved the struggle for the strongest students in the Inner Academy. When Great Elder Su Qian and all the elders arrived, all procedures followed the same pattern as the previous two days.
"Today's matches will still proceed by drawing lots. If no one has any objections, please step forward~"
"Great Elder, please wait!"
A low shout resonated through the arena. Everyone looked towards the source of the sound. For many years that Great Elder Su Qian had held this Strong Ranking competition, this was the first time someone dared to challenge his authority.
Great Elder Su Qian looked at the speaker, his expression changing slightly, and he began to ponder.