On the square, two figures—one male and one female—flashed past each other, their movements bursting with fierce Dou Qi fluctuations, drawing bursts of exclamations from the surrounding spectators.
The students of the Yellow Class Second Group looked at the girl in the green dress on the stage. Her graceful figure moved with agility, her presence light and elegant. Their eyes carried a hint of surprise—they hadn't expected this classmate, who had just appeared today, to participate in this year's selection competition, let alone possess such strength.
After a perilous exchange, the green-clad figure suddenly halted. A golden light surged between her palms, transforming into a beam that struck the young man's chest with precision. The powerful energy sent him flying out of the battle ring.
"Senior, I appreciate the match!" With a single strike, she had repelled her opponent. The young girl in green smiled faintly and cupped her hands in a respectful salute to the young man.
"You must be a new student! I didn't expect such a talented individual among this year's freshmen. Impressive! I've lost!" Despite being defeated by a freshman, the young man accepted it with ease, showing no sign of embarrassment. He smiled, took one last deep look at the girl, whose beauty was as refreshing as a green lotus, and exited the stage gracefully.
"The match is over—Xiao Xun'er wins!" Hearing the referee's announcement, the girl in green turned and gracefully stepped off the competition stage.
"Xun'er, you… you actually defeated Zhang Yuan! He was one of the top ten favorites in this selection competition!" As Xun'er approached, a young woman wearing a light purple academy uniform, her long, shapely legs striding forward, quickly came up to her. Xiao Yu's gaze was filled with curiosity as she scrutinized the girl in front of her. "You little minx, were you hiding your strength back in the Xiao Clan?"
She had been present at the Xiao Clan's last family test, and back then, Xun'er had only been at the Dou Zhe realm. But now, in such a short time, she had reached the Da Dou Shi level? And even defeated Zhang Yuan, a Two-Star Da Dou Shi?
"Cousin Xiao Yu!" Xun'er greeted her but merely smiled in response to Xiao Yu's question, offering no answer.
"Alright, Yu'er, don't ask. Knowing too much won't do you any good!" Instructor Ruo Lin walked up and patted Xiao Yu on the head before pulling the two of them toward their seats.
She had been troubled by this matter for two days and had only just come to terms with it today. It was best if Xiao Yu remained unaware of the details.
"Xun'er, where is that guy? Why hasn't he arrived yet?" Seeing three more battles conclude without any sign of Xiao Bai, Instructor Ruo Lin started to worry.
"Yeah! His match is coming up soon. Where on earth is he?" Looking at the battle schedule, Xiao Yu grew anxious as well. After witnessing Xun'er's strength, she no longer doubted Xiao Bai's participation as much as she had initially.
"He should be here soon!" Xun'er gently bit her red lips, a trace of worry flashing in her bright eyes. Had something happened with Xian'er?
As they whispered among themselves, the intense battle on stage concluded. A burly young man leaped onto the stage. As he neared the high platform, he stomped his foot down heavily, his legs crashing onto the stage with force. His long spear struck the ground with a sharp thud, and his eyes gleamed with a sharp light.
"Xuan Class Second Group, Tu Shan, versus Yellow Class Second Group, Xiao Bai!"
As soon as the referee's announcement echoed across the stage, a group of elders in the central viewing area instantly stopped their idle chatter. Their gazes all turned toward the high platform, waiting for Xiao Bai's arrival.
"What's going on with that boy? Could he have run into trouble in the Magical Beast Forest?" A gray-robed elder frowned and voiced his concern.
"That shouldn't be the case. We've already driven all the Rank 4 and higher Magical Beasts to the Inner Academy's back mountain. With his strength, nothing in the Outer Academy's Magical Beast Forest should pose a threat to him!" Elder Huo shook his head, feeling a bit puzzled as well. That kid didn't seem like the unreliable type. Why would he miss his match?
"Grandfather, is this really the so-called outstanding talent you mentioned? Looks like he's too scared to even show up!" A red-clothed young woman crossed her arms in front of her chest, curling her lips in a disdainful sneer.
She had been curious about the person they had all praised so highly, even making these usually indifferent old men gather in anticipation. But now, it turned out he was just a coward.
"Perhaps something unexpected happened." The elderly man sighed helplessly. He didn't believe Xiao Bai was afraid—his abilities were real, after all, and he had no reason to be scared.
At this moment, the students surrounding the stage became increasingly excited upon seeing the figure standing there.
"Look, it's Tu Shan! This guy should be guaranteed a spot in the top five this year!"
"Of course! Last year, after only one year at the academy, he already made it to the top fifty. But he didn't enter the Inner Academy, saying he wanted to train in the Outer Academy for another year and aim for the top five in the selection competition! Tsk tsk, he's really an ambitious guy. Others would kill for the chance to enter the Inner Academy, but he just gave it up!"
"Hehe, what's so surprising about that? If I had his talent, I would do the same. Making it into the top five grants a chance to enter that mysterious library. It's said to contain Dou Techniques, Qi Methods, and even pills—all of a high grade. If there hadn't been too many strong contenders last year, he might have actually had a chance to get in!"
"Yeah! Last year's competition was incredibly fierce. Han Yue, Han Xian, and Bai Cheng—each of them had the strength to fight for first place under different circumstances!"
In the Yellow Class, Second Group's area, Bai Shan heard the discussions around him and smirked proudly. The Bai Cheng they were talking about was his cousin—someone who had defeated many others. And yet, that guy didn't even dare to show his face? Bai Shan couldn't help but feel disdain for the unseen Xiao Bai!
His gaze shifted forward, landing on a graceful figure dressed in green. A hint of fervor flickered in his eyes. The moment he saw this girl today, he felt his heart stir. Though she seemed to have a special attitude toward that Xiao Bai, it didn't matter. Someone who didn't even dare to appear wasn't worthy of her—he would make sure that guy stayed away from her!
"Tu Shan from the Xuan Class, Second Group, versus Xiao Bai from the Yellow Class, Second Group!"
The voice from the referee's stand echoed once again, drawing the audience's attention toward Xiao Bai.
"Haha, do you think this Xiao Bai guy is too scared to step onto the stage?"
"Heh, it's possible! If that's the case, he'll definitely become famous in Jia Nan Academy—for all the wrong reasons!"
"Wait… you're all missing the key point! The Yellow Class, Second Group—isn't that the freshman class this year? Does that mean Xiao Bai is a freshman?"
"Huh? You're right! And wasn't there a girl named Xiao Xun'er in that class too? That stunning girl in blue from earlier? Tsk tsk… this batch of freshmen is really something—some are unbelievably strong, while others are utterly useless. If he's too afraid to fight, why sign up at all?"
"Who knows? Maybe for appearances' sake? It's not like that hasn't happened before!"
On the battle stage, a burly young man wielding a spear listened to the chatter below, a strange expression appearing on his face. He hadn't paid much attention before, but now he realized his opponent was a freshman. His eyes gleamed with amusement, and he called out in a booming voice, "Junior Xiao Bai, even if you want to forfeit, you should come up and do it properly! Don't worry, since you're a freshman, your senior will be very gentle. Now, come on up!"
"Haha!" The audience erupted into laughter.
Among the Yellow Class, Second Group students, many felt humiliated under the mocking gazes of the crowd. Unable to bear it, some stood up, preparing to leave the plaza.
Just then, Xun'er's beautiful eyes, which had been filled with anger as she glared at Tu Shan, suddenly widened. Her body tensed, and she sharply turned her gaze toward a distant direction, murmuring, "He's finally here!"
"Really?" Instructor Ruo Lin and Xiao Yu immediately looked up upon hearing Xun'er's words.
At first, they saw nothing, but soon, a tiny black dot appeared on the horizon. Within moments, it rapidly grew larger.
"Look! What is that?" Someone in the plaza shouted, attracting everyone's attention.
"That… is that a Dou Wang expert?!" One sharp-eyed spectator spotted the streak of violet light rushing toward them at high speed and exclaimed in shock.
Under countless gazes, the violet streak of light drew closer and finally descended onto the battle stage like a shooting star.
A black-clad young man with white hair appeared, carrying an ethereal-looking girl in a white dress in his arms.
The entire area fell into silence. Countless eyes locked onto the black-clad youth. Xiao Bai smiled faintly and gently set down Xiao Yi Xian, patting her head.
Understanding his cue, Xiao Yi Xian tapped her toes lightly and swiftly moved toward where Xun'er was standing.
Not far away, Tu Shan stood in a daze. His eyes flickered as he took in the violet energy wings on the young man's back. Then, noticing that none of the elders on the platform were reacting, his heart trembled. Quickly, he bowed and respectfully said, "Outer Academy student Tu Shan greets this elder!"
"Elder?" Xiao Bai chuckled nonchalantly and said, "I'm no elder."
"Then you are…?"
"Xiao Bai, from the Yellow Class, Second Group!"
His clear voice shattered the silence, resounding like thunder across the entire plaza.
The sudden revelation caused an uproar. Disbelieving eyes turned toward the black-clad youth standing atop the stage.
The students of the Yellow Class, Second Group, covered their mouths in shock, eyes brimming with astonishment. Were they dreaming? Was this Dou Wang-level powerhouse really their classmate?
"Xun'er, Xun'er, tell me quickly, is all of this real?" Xiao Yu widened her red lips, her gaze fixed on the figure on the stage, while her small hands continuously shook Xun'er's arm. Their Xiao family had finally produced another Dou Wang!
"Xun'er, is your whole family made up of monsters? You and Xian'er went from Dou Zhe to Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi in just two months, and this guy is even more outrageous—going from Dou Ling to Dou Wang!" Instructor Ruo Lin, having come back to her senses, smiled bitterly. Just what kind of monstrous students had Wu Tan City recruited this year?
As if recalling something, she cast a somewhat suspicious glance at Xiao Yu. Yu'er… Since she was also from the Xiao family, could she be just as terrifying but had simply hidden it well?
But she quickly shook her head, discarding the thought. She knew Xiao Yu too well—there was no way she could keep something like this a secret. If she had such cultivation, she would have exposed it long ago!
"Hehe, Instructor Ruo Lin, it's not that exaggerated! Xiao Bai-ge just used a flying Dou Technique. He's not actually a Dou Wang yet!" Xun'er, having seen that familiar figure, finally let go of her worries. Holding onto Instructor Ruo Lin's arm, she smiled sweetly.
"Xun'er! Instructor Ruo Lin!" A delighted voice rang out as Xiao Yi Xian approached them.
"Xian'er! Are you alright?" Xun'er immediately stepped forward, grasping Xiao Yi Xian's jade-like hand, her face full of concern.
"I'm fine!" Xiao Yi Xian shook her head, knowing what Xun'er was worried about. She leaned in and whispered, "Little Golden Dragon woke up today, so we were delayed."
"Oh! It finally woke up? That little guy sure picked a great time—not early, not late, but right now, making me worry about you!" Xun'er instantly understood why they had arrived late and muttered under her breath. Then, she asked, "How is he?"
Xiao Yi Xian was momentarily stunned before a faint smile flickered in her eyes. Just as Xun'er was feeling puzzled, a slightly aggrieved voice sounded in her ear:
"After a long sleep, this dragon's family status has dropped once again. And now, my young mistress even seems displeased with the timing of my awakening. This truly wound my dragon heart!"
"That little guy is on you?" Xun'er glanced at Xiao Yi Xian's sleeve, her delicate face showing some surprise. Then, acting as if nothing had happened, she said, "Ah! The match is about to begin. Xian'er, let's go sit over there!"
"Mm!" Xiao Yi Xian nodded with a smile while the little golden dragon in her sleeve rolled its eyes in silence.
On the Stage.
"This senior, please make your move. Don't delay the matches of the other participants!" After slowly adjusting his clothes, Xiao Bai looked at the burly young man opposite him, whose face had turned slightly pale and expression somewhat uncertain, and spoke in a calm tone.
What he had initially assumed to be a scared freshman who wouldn't dare show his face had actually turned out to be a fearsome dark horse!
Now, he found himself stuck in an awkward position. If he fought, having just mocked the guy moments ago, would this fellow retaliate by severely injuring him? If that happened, his chances of entering the Inner Academy this year would be gone!
But if he didn't fight, wouldn't he become a joke?
"The match has officially begun. Get started already!" The referee urged upon seeing that Tu Shan had yet to surrender.
Hearing this, a flash of determination flickered in Tu Shan's eyes. Even if he was going to lose, he refused to go down without a fight. With a loud shout, he declared, "Forgive me!"
He tightly gripped his spear, causing it to tremble as his Dou Qi surged into it. The spear tip ignited with a fiery red glow. Then, with a powerful stomp on the ground, he propelled forward like a fierce storm, aiming straight for Xiao Bai's throat.
Tu Shan knew he only had one chance to attack. So this spear strike contained the full power of all his past training—his strongest move yet! Even a five-star Da Dou Shi would have to take it seriously.
The square fell into complete silence. Though everyone knew that this attack wouldn't harm the black-clothed young man, they were still captivated by its sheer momentum. Countless gazes followed the spear, their hearts tense.
Just as the spear was about to pierce Xiao Bai—
A slender, white hand casually lifted, extending two fingers to lightly grasp the spear tip.
Tu Shan's fierce and powerful strike came to an abrupt halt. No matter how much force he exerted, the spear didn't budge an inch.
The crowd erupted in an uproar. Even though they had expected the outcome, the effortless way Xiao Bai had neutralized the attack was simply unbelievable. After all, Tu Shan was one of the top contenders for the championship in this selection tournament. Yet, in front of Xiao Bai, he looked utterly powerless.
Raising his eyes slightly, Xiao Bai gazed at the wide-eyed, utterly despairing Tu Shan and gave a faint smile. His lips curled into a slight arc as he spoke softly:
"Senior, you truly are too gentle!"
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