In the plaza, two figures—a man and a woman—darted and clashed, their movements sparking fierce bursts of Dou Qi that drew gasps and cheers from the surrounding stands.
The students of Yellow Class Two stared at the lithe, azure-robed figure flitting across the stage, their eyes wide with astonishment. They hadn't expected this classmate, who'd only appeared today, to compete in the selection tournament—and with such prowess.
After a perilously close exchange, the azure figure paused abruptly. Golden light flared between her palms, coalescing into a beam that struck her opponent's chest with precision, the forceful energy hurling the young man out of the ring.
"Senior, thank you for the match!" Having repelled her foe, the azure-clad girl offered a faint smile and a respectful salute.
"You're a freshman, aren't you, junior sister? I never imagined this year's new students would produce someone like you. Truly remarkable. I've lost!" The man, defeated by a newcomer, took it in stride, showing no shame. He gave a wry smile, casting a lingering glance at the refreshing, lotus-like girl before exiting the stage with grace.
"The match is over. Xiao Xun'er wins!" announced the referee. Only then did the azure-clad girl turn and glide off the stage.
"Xun'er, you… you beat Zhang Yuan! He was a top-ten contender for this tournament!" Xiao Yu, dressed in a pale purple academy uniform, hurried forward, her long, shapely legs carrying her swiftly. She eyed Xiao Xun'er with a mix of awe and suspicion. "You didn't hide your cultivation back at the Xiao Clan, did you?"
She'd been at the Xiao Clan's last family test, where Xiao Xun'er was only a Dou Zhe, wasn't she? How long had it been? Now a Da Dou Shi, and defeating a two-star Da Dou Shi like Zhang Yuan!
"Cousin Xiao Yu!" Xiao Xun'er greeted her with a nod, offering only a slight smile in response to the question, sidestepping it entirely.
"Alright, Yu'er, don't pry. Knowing too much isn't good for you," Mentor Ruo Lin said, stepping forward to pat Xiao Yu's head. She ushered both girls back to their seats.
Ruo Lin had been shaken by this very issue for two days, only recovering today. It was better for Xiao Yu to remain in the dark.
"Xun'er, where's that guy?" Ruo Lin asked, growing anxious as three more matches passed without a sign of Xiao Bai.
"Yeah, it's almost his turn! Where'd he run off to?" Xiao Yu glanced at the match schedule, her impatience rising. After witnessing Xiao Xun'er's performance, her initial doubts about Xiao Bai's participation had faded.
"He should be here soon," Xiao Xun'er said, biting her lip lightly, a flicker of worry in her bright eyes. Could something have happened with Xian'er?
As the trio whispered among themselves, the intense match on stage concluded. A burly man leaped forward, landing heavily on the platform with a stomp, his long spear slamming into the ground. His eyes gleamed with intensity.
"Xuan Class Two, Tu Shan, versus Yellow Class Two, Xiao Bai!"
The referee's voice had barely faded when the elders on the central platform halted their chatter, their gazes locking onto the stage, awaiting Xiao Bai's arrival.
"What's with that kid? Did something happen in the Magical Beast Forest?" a gray-robed elder frowned.
"Unlikely. All fourth-tier and above magical beasts have been driven to the Inner Academy's back mountains. With his strength, nothing in the Outer Academy's forest should threaten him," Elder Huo said, shaking his head, though a trace of doubt lingered. That lad didn't seem unreliable. Why would he miss his match?
"Grandpa, is this the 'exceptional talent' you mentioned? Too scared to even show his face?" The red-clad girl beside the Vice Dean, arms crossed, scoffed with disdain.
She'd assumed they were discussing some extraordinary figure, enough to draw all these rarely-seen elders. But this guy was just a coward hiding like a turtle.
"Maybe he ran into some trouble," the Vice Dean said, shaking his head helplessly. He didn't believe Xiao Bai was afraid—his cultivation was real, and he had no reason to be.
At that moment, the crowd in the stands erupted as they spotted the figure on stage.
"Look, it's Tu Shan! He's got to be a lock for the top five this year!"
"No doubt. Last year, just a year after enrolling, he made the top fifty but chose not to enter the Inner Academy. Said he'd train another year to aim for the top five. Tsk, talk about ambition. Most people would kill for that chance, and he just tossed it aside!"
"Heh, why not? If I had his talent, I'd do the same. The top five get access to the mysterious Scripture Depository, packed with high-grade Dou Techniques, cultivation methods, and elixirs. Last year's competition was brutal—Han Yue, Han Xian, Bai Cheng, any of them could've taken first in another year!"
In the Yellow Class Two section, Bai Shan's lips curved into a proud smirk upon hearing the discussions. Bai Cheng, mentioned in the crowd, was his cousin. That Xiao Bai, too scared to even appear, was nothing compared to his cousin's defeated foes. A spark of disdain for the unseen Xiao Bai flickered in his heart.
Glancing at the azure-robed figure ahead, his eyes burned with fervor. He'd been captivated by this girl at first sight today. Though she seemed to have a special regard for Xiao Bai, it didn't matter. A coward who wouldn't show his face didn't deserve her. Bai Shan vowed to drive him away.
"Xuan Class Two, Tu Shan, versus Yellow Class Two, Xiao Bai!"
The referee's voice rang out again, and the crowd began to focus on Xiao Bai.
"Haha, this Xiao Bai guy isn't too scared to show up, is he?"
"Heh, it's possible. If so, he's about to become infamous at Jia Nan Academy!"
"Wait, aren't you missing the point? Yellow Class Two is this year's freshman class, right? Is Xiao Bai a freshman?"
"Now that you mention it… there was that Xiao Xun'er earlier, the stunning azure-clad girl from the same class. Tsk, this year's freshmen are wild—some are insanely strong, others are total flops. If he's too scared to compete, why even register?"
"Who knows? Probably for face. Wouldn't be the first time."
On the stage, the burly youth gripped his spear, a strange expression crossing his face as he overheard the crowd. He hadn't realized his opponent was a freshman. A mocking smile spread across his lips as he boomed, "Junior Xiao Bai, even if you want to concede, you've got to do it on stage! Don't worry, as a freshman, I'll be very gentle. Come on up!"
"Haha!" The stands erupted in laughter.
Below, Yellow Class Two students squirmed under the crowd's amused, mocking gazes. Some, unable to bear the scrutiny, stood to leave the plaza.
Just then, Xiao Xun'er, who'd been glaring furiously at Tu Shan for his public taunt, tensed. Her face snapped toward a direction, and she murmured, "He's finally here!"
"Really?" Mentor Ruo Lin and Xiao Yu, hearing her, looked up.
As their puzzled gazes found nothing, a faint black dot appeared on the distant horizon, growing larger by the moment.
"Look, what's that?" A shout from the plaza drew everyone's attention, all eyes following the pointed finger.
"A Dou Wang?" someone sharp-eyed gasped, spotting a streak of purple light hurtling toward them.
Under countless stares, the purple light descended like a meteor, landing on the stage.
A white-haired youth in black robes stood holding a white-robed girl with an ethereal aura, appearing before the crowd.
The plaza fell silent, countless eyes fixed on them. Xiao Bai smiled faintly, setting Xiao Yi Xian down and patting her head gently.
Understanding his cue, Xiao Yi Xian tapped her foot lightly and glided toward Xiao Xun'er's location.
Nearby, Tu Shan stood stunned, eyeing the purple energy wings and the elders' lack of reaction. His heart jolted, and he quickly bowed. "Tu Shan of the Outer Academy greets this Elder!"
"Elder?" Xiao Bai chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm no elder."
"Then you are…?"
"Yellow Class Two, Xiao Bai."
His clear voice shattered the plaza's silence, resounding like thunder in everyone's ears.
The announcement set the crowd ablaze, incredulous gazes locking onto the black-robed youth on stage.
Yellow Class Two students clapped hands over their mouths, eyes brimming with disbelief. Are we dreaming? This Dou Wang is really our classmate?
"Xun'er, Xun'er, tell me this is real!" Xiao Yu's lips parted in shock, her eyes glued to the figure on stage, her hand shaking Xiao Xun'er's arm. The Xiao Clan has another Dou Wang!
"Xun'er, is your whole family full of freaks? You and Xian'er went from Dou Zhe to Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi in two months, but this guy's even crazier—from Dou Ling to Dou Wang!" Mentor Ruo Lin, recovering, gave a wry laugh. What kind of monsters did we recruit from Wu Tan City?
A sudden thought struck her, and she glanced suspiciously at Xiao Yu. Yu'er's a Xiao too… could she be hiding her strength like them?
She quickly shook her head, dismissing the idea. She knew Xiao Yu too well—the girl couldn't keep a secret to save her life. If she had that kind of cultivation, it would've slipped out long ago.
"Hehe, Mentor Ruo Lin, it's not that extreme. Brother Xiao Bai's just using a flight Dou Technique. He's not a Dou Wang yet," Xiao Xun'er said, her worries easing at the sight of the familiar figure. She hugged Ruo Lin's arm, smiling brightly.
"Xun'er! Mentor Ruo Lin!" A joyful cry rang out as Xiao Yi Xian reached Xiao Xun'er.
"Xian'er! Are you okay?" Xiao Xun'er rushed forward, grasping her hand with concern.
"I'm fine," Xiao Yi Xian said, shaking her head. Knowing what worried her, she leaned in and whispered, "The little golden dragon woke up today, so we got delayed."
"Oh, it's finally awake? That guy picks the worst times—not earlier, not later, but now? I was actually worried about you!" Xiao Xun'er muttered, understanding the delay. "Is it okay?"
Xiao Yi Xian paused, a smile flickering in her eyes. As Xiao Xun'er tilted her head in confusion, a faintly resentful voice sounded in her ear: "Waking from a long slumber, this dragon finds its family status has dropped yet again. The little mistress seems displeased with my timing—how heart-wrenching!"
"It's on you?" Xiao Xun'er glanced at Xiao Yi Xian's sleeve, her face showing brief surprise before she smoothly changed the subject. "Oh, the match is starting! Xian'er, let's go sit!"
"Mm!" Xiao Yi Xian nodded with a smile, while the little golden dragon in her sleeve rolled its eyes.
___
On the stage, Xiao Bai adjusted his robes leisurely, eyeing the burly youth whose face had paled, his expression flickering with uncertainty. "Senior, let's get started. Don't hold up the other competitors."
Tu Shan had expected a timid freshman he could easily crush. Instead, he faced a formidable dragon crossing the river.
He was caught in a bind. If he fought, given his earlier mockery, this guy might crush him, ruining his chances of entering the Inner Academy this year. But if he didn't fight, he'd become a laughingstock.
"Both competitors are present. Begin!" the referee urged, seeing Tu Shan hadn't conceded.
A glint of ruthlessness flashed in Tu Shan's eyes. Even if he lost, he wouldn't surrender without a fight. "No offense!" he roared.
Gripping his spear tightly, he channeled surging Dou Qi into it, the spear tip glowing fiery red. With a powerful stomp, he shot forward, the spear slicing through the air with a sharp gust, aiming straight for Xiao Bai's throat.
Tu Shan knew he had one shot. This thrust was the pinnacle of his countless spear strikes, a blow even a five-star Da Dou Shi would treat with caution.
The plaza fell silent. Though everyone knew the spear wouldn't harm the black-robed youth, the attack's momentum held them rapt, their eyes tracking the spear, hearts pounding.
As the spear neared Xiao Bai's throat, a slender, pale hand rose, two fingers delicately pinching the spear tip. Tu Shan's ferocious strike halted instantly, the spear immobile despite his full strength.
The crowd gasped. Though they'd anticipated the outcome, Xiao Bai's effortless deflection was staggering. Tu Shan was a contender for the tournament's top spot, yet before Xiao Bai, he seemed utterly powerless.
Xiao Bai lifted his gaze, offering a faint smile to the despairing, wide-eyed youth. A subtle curve tugged at his lips as he said softly, "Senior, you're far too gentle."
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