"I will definitely secure a spot in the top ten!"
Xiao Yan's sudden outburst startled everyone around him.
But he paid it no heed.
He knew his older brother too well. That slight furrow of the brow—he'd seen it countless times since childhood. Every time it appeared, it meant he was about to get a lesson. Not the physical kind he could fight back against, but the kind delivered from an unassailable moral high ground, leaving him utterly defeated without a single punch thrown.
"That's more like it."
Han Yue blinked, confusion flickering across her delicate features. To her, breaking into the top ten of the Strong Ranking was an almost insurmountable mountain. Yet, in the exchange between these two brothers, it sounded as ordinary as discussing the weather.
She turned her puzzled gaze toward Xiao Jietian.
"My younger brother is no ordinary person." His voice was calm, yet carried an undercurrent of absolute conviction. "I believe in him."
Then his gaze shifted to her. "Senior Han Yue, if you put forth your full effort now, the top ten should not be beyond your reach either."
His words were laced with quiet encouragement—and something else. Certainty.
Han Yue's breath caught.
She hadn't realized he could see through her cultivation so clearly. A moment ago, she had only hoped to hold her ground. Now…
She drew a deep breath, as if his words had injected her with a surge of resolve. "Then… I'll give it my all."
Xun'er watched from the side, a faint, helpless smile gracing her lips.
This girl… she's already beyond saving.
"Dong——"
A deep, resonant bell toll echoed across the plaza, sinking into every ear like a drumbeat against the chest.
In the distance, roughly ten silhouettes descended swiftly from the sky, landing upon the elevated seating platform reserved for the academy's highest authority. At the forefront stood none other than Elder Su Qian.
Behind him were the Inner Academy's most influential elders.
The instant they appeared, the entire plaza fell into absolute silence.
The tournament was about to begin.
Everyone held their breath, suppressing the surging excitement within their chests until their faces flushed red.
"All Strong Ranking participants, enter the arena."
Su Qian's gaze briefly swept across Xiao Jietian's tall, upright figure. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. His aged yet powerful voice rolled through the air like thunder.
Swish—swish—swish—
Figures shot forth from every direction, converging upon the plaza below.
Liu Qing, the Overlord Spear, descended with earth-shattering force, his overbearing physique cracking the ground beneath him. Violent battle intent radiated from his entire being.
Lin Xiuya, graceful as a passing breeze, employed his wind affinity to tread upon the air itself, descending as though walking on solid ground. His Dou Qi control was pristine—flawless.
Seeing the others make their moves, Xiao Yan activated the Three Thousand Lightning Movement without hesitation.
A low rumble of thunder.
And then, in the span of a single breath, he had already crossed from the high platform into the arena, standing silently amidst his competitors.
"So fast—I didn't even see him move!"
Murmurs rippled through the audience seats. The contestants, however, wore solemn expressions.
That speed had already surpassed theirs. Even Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing felt a sliver of apprehension creep into their hearts.
"ROAR——"
A deafening dragon's cry split the heavens.
A four-colored lightning serpent, over seven zhang in length, coiled through the sky before plunging toward the plaza with terrifying momentum.
"Wh-What is that?! Is someone launching an aerial attack?! Are we under siege?!"
"Tell my mother I love her—I don't want to die a virgin!"
Panic rippled through the crowd.
"Tell your sister! Can't you see there are people on top of it?!"
Everyone looked up.
There, standing atop the lightning dragon, were two figures—a man in a dark azure robe, and a silver-haired woman draped in a gown of moonlight silver.
"…Senior Xiao Jietian and Senior Han Yue?!"
The lightning dragon crashed downward, its violent aura sweeping outward like a storm. Those standing too close were forced back several steps by the sheer pressure alone.
The massive serpent slowly lowered its head. Then, it dissipated into nothingness.
Xiao Jietian and Han Yue descended gently, landing side by side.
On the high platform, Xun'er pouted slightly, her voice dropping into a soft murmur. "After the tournament ends today… I'll make you condense a lightning dragon and fly around with me the entire day. I'll exhaust you to death."
No one heard her. But somehow, the temperature around her seemed to drop by a few degrees.
The surrounding students erupted into excited chatter.
"That was insane! The pressure from that lightning dragon almost made me piss myself!"
"I thought I was about to meet my ancestors…"
"Hey… remember that rumor that spread through the academy a while back?"
"Heh heh. Look at them now. I think we can finally confirm it."
Eyes darted between the two standing shoulder to shoulder in the arena. Strange, knowing smiles bloomed across countless faces.
Han Yue's ears burned crimson under the weight of their gazes. She lowered her head shyly.
Yet she did not step away from Xiao Jietian's side.
In that instant, the hearts of countless admirers shattered into pieces.
Others glanced between Han Yue in the arena and Xun'er outside it, their expressions shifting to those of eager gossip-seekers.
The contestants, however, were not focused on romance.
Their eyes were fixed on Xiao Jietian, expressions grave.
Condensing objects from Dou Qi was something a Dou Ling could accomplish. But to condense something of that scale—to maintain sustained flight, to carry passengers—even a Dou Wang would expend a significant portion of their reserves.
In a tournament where every ounce of Dou Qi mattered, such an act was either sheer folly… or the display of someone with overwhelming, absolute confidence.
And Xiao Jietian showed no sign of depletion whatsoever. His Dou Qi reserves seemed utterly untouched.
The implication sent a chill through every competitor present.
"It seems there are quite a few dark horses this year." An elder on the high platform gazed at the contestants with unconcealed anticipation. "This tournament will be a true clash of titans."
Su Qian, however, ignored the spectacle below. His eyes had locked onto Xiao Yan.
"That brat… why does he possess the Wind and Thunder Pavilion's Three Thousand Lightning Movement?" His brow furrowed slightly. "If they discover this, it will inevitably invite trouble."
Earlier, when Xiao Jietian had claimed that Xiao Yan could resolve the Fallen Heart Flame crisis, Su Qian had already begun investigating the young man. He had been observing him ever since.
"…Forget it." Su Qian exhaled through his nose. "That little rascal Xiao Jietian is certainly aware of it. With his talent, the Wind and Thunder Pavilion is hardly worth losing sleep over. Let the kid deal with his own mess."
The moment he recalled how Xiao Jietian had so smoothly manipulated him before, Su Qian's mood soured considerably.
He probably planned this from the very beginning.
After Xiao Jietian and Han Yue entered the arena, a petite figure in a white dress slowly ascended the stone steps, drawing the stunned gazes of everyone around her.
She chewed on something—constantly, ceaselessly—her dark, glittering eyes darting about as if searching for someone.
Until she spotted Xiao Jietian.
Her face broke into a wide grin, little tiger teeth peeking out as she waved energetically at him.
Finally, she took her place at the very front of the assembly.
Those who didn't recognize Zi Yan exchanged confused whispers. Those who did… their eyes flickered with barely concealed fear. A few who had personally experienced her "friendliness" shuddered involuntarily.
"Ahem!"
Su Qian rose from his seat, clearing his throat. His voice boomed across the plaza.
"Since everyone is present, I hereby declare the Strong Ranking Tournament… officially begun!"
"WOOO! FINALLY!"
"My big sword… my saber has long thirsted for battle!"
The audience exploded into thunderous cheers. Spectators leaped to their feet, shouting the names of their favored contestants.
Su Qian raised a hand, palm facing downward. Slowly, he pressed.
The noise subsided.
"The rules remain unchanged from previous years." His voice carried easily across the silent plaza. "Drawing of lots."
With a sweep of his sleeve, the black cloth covering the central stone platform was blown away, revealing what lay beneath.
A bamboo tube.
Within it rested fifty bamboo slips.
"Within this tube are red and blue bamboo slips, numbered one through twenty-five. Opponents shall be determined by matching numbers of opposing colors. The victor advances. The loser is eliminated."
He paused, his aged gaze sweeping across the assembled contestants.
"Now… draw your lots."
The competitors stepped forward in orderly succession.
One by one, they reached into the bamboo tube.
And drew their fate.