The Competition Begins

The moon is high in the sky, and the night breeze is getting cooler.

Shen Xuan slammed his folding fan shut and was the first to stand up, breaking the brief moment of warmth.

"Alright, enough of the reminiscing. Tomorrow is the Four Academies Competition, so go back and rest up. Let's not give the other academies a reason to laugh at the four of us."

See you on the field tomorrow!

Upon hearing this, Tuo Bashan also stood up, patted Chen Fan's shoulder twice with his large, fan-like hand, left behind this bold statement, and then laughed as he turned and strode away with a powerful stride.

Su Qingyue nodded slightly to the three of them as a farewell.

Her figure flickered slightly, like a silent ray of moonlight, quietly disappearing into the shadows deep within the courtyard, leaving no trace.

Only Shen Xuan and Chen Fan remained in the courtyard.

Shen Xuan and Chen Fan exchanged a glance, a gentle yet slightly challenging smile playing on their lips.

"Our goal at the Heavenly Sword Martial Academy is to Champion the Freshmen Competition. You, the captain of the Star River Martial Academy, better watch out."

After saying that, he didn't linger any longer, turned around and left gracefully, leaving behind only a composed silhouette.

In the blink of an eye, the bustling courtyard was left with only Chen Fan.

He sat alone at the stone table, picked up the slightly cooled cup of tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

The cool tea slid down his throat, but a genuine smile appeared on his face.

There are friends, there are rivals, and there is a predictable, exhilarating battle.

Very nice.

He stood up, stretched, and turned to go back to his room.

Nothing more was said that night.

As night fades and the first rays of dawn pierce the clouds, gilding the continuous mountain range of the Nine Provinces Martial Academy with a golden edge.

"Thump!!"

An ancient, deep bell rang out.

The sound of bells pierced through the sea of clouds, crossed the mountains, and echoed on every peak, awakening the souls breathing in every corner.

The Four Academies Competition has officially begun.

The echoes of the bell had not yet faded, and the atmosphere in the center of the Nine Provinces Martial Academy, on the Floating Martial Arena carved from a single piece of Stars debris, had already frozen.

Nearly a hundred outstanding Prodigies from the four universities were divided into four groups, each clearly representing a distinct faction.

They are the brightest Stars of the golden generation of the Human Federation, and at this moment, every breath they take carries an irrepressible fighting spirit and pride.

Outside the arena, Ten Thousand Dao eyes were cast from all directions to witness this momentous event that would determine the Fortune the next century.

High on a platform in the clouds, the mentors and senior executives from the four universities stood side by side.

The mentors of Heavenly Sword, Canghai, and Nine Provinces looked at their proud disciples standing in the ranks, their faces bearing confident smiles.

However, their gazes would involuntarily drift past the crowd toward the Star River Martial Academy's camp, eventually settling on the seemingly out-of-place young figure.

His gaze was incredibly complex, containing admiration, apprehension, and an intense possessiveness that made him want to snatch it away immediately.

"Quiet!"

A deep shout, like a resounding bell, instantly silenced all the noise inside and outside the arena.

The Vice Dean of the Nine Provinces Martial Academy, an elderly man dressed in simple hemp clothing with a profound and imposing aura, had somehow appeared in the center of the training ground.

He surveyed the entire room, his gaze sweeping over every young and resolute face, his booming voice resounding throughout:

"I hereby declare the Four Academies Competition, the Battle of Freshmen, officially open!"

Without any unnecessary pleasantries, the old man got straight to the point.

"The arena, a unique space guarded by our institute— the Shattered Ancient Battlefield!"

"This place is the site of Primordial God-Demon War. Space is shattered, laws are chaotic, and danger and opportunity coexist. You, the freshmen of the four academies, will be randomly teleported to the four extreme points of the battlefield in teams."

He paused, then his voice suddenly turned stern.

"The competition will last for three days, with team scores determining the final ranking! There are three ways to obtain points: first, by hunting down the Baleful Spirits born from malevolent energy within the battlefield; second, by collecting scattered Dao Mark Fragments; third..."

The old man's eyes sharpened, and the words he uttered sent a chill down the spines of all the Prodigies.

"Eliminate students from other universities!"

"Each eliminated trainee deducts their current points. If the team leader is eliminated..."

A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"You can directly seize half of the opponent team's total points!"

These words caused an uproar in the audience.

This rule is too harsh!

This means that from the moment they enter the battlefield, every captain will become a moving treasure trove, the most lucrative prey in everyone's eyes. A bloody hunt between all teams targeting all their captains is already inevitable.

Countless gazes instinctively converged on the front of the four teams.

Shen Xuan, Su Qingyue, Tuo Bashan, and... Chen Fan.

"Buzz!!"

Before anyone could process these cruel rules, the Vice Dean had already formed a hand seal and pointed sharply towards the sky.

The space above the training ground suddenly distorted, and a huge, chaotic, pitch-black rift was forcibly torn open by the Power of Laws.

Beyond the crack lies an upside-down world, with shattered walls and soaring crimson aura vaguely visible, as if Primordial Ferocious Beasts has opened its massive jaws to devour its prey.

"Enter!"

At a command.

"Roar!"

With a surge of fighting spirit, Tuo Bashan let out an excited roar and took the lead, guiding the disciples of the Nine Provinces Martial Academy into a crimson torrent that plunged into the dark rift without hesitation.

Immediately afterwards, Shen Xuan, holding a folding fan, walked with ease, followed by the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Martial Academy whose Sword Qi soared into the sky, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath.

Su Qingyue took a more direct approach. With a flash of moonlight around her, she and the disciples of the Canghai Martial Academy transformed into a cold, clear Stream of Light and disappeared into the crack.

Finally, it was Star River Martial Academy's turn.

The twenty-odd newly Prodigies, gazing at the bottomless Spatial Rift that exuded an ominous aura, couldn't help but feel a sense of tension on their faces. They all turned their gazes toward their captain.

Chen Fan didn't say much, but turned around and gave a reassuring look to the young faces behind him.

Then, he turned around, his hands still tucked into his sleeves, and took the first step, strolling leisurely into the Ancient Battlefield filled with unknowns.

After a dizzying spin, I felt a solid sensation beneath my feet.

Shattered Ancient Battlefield, in the Eastern Region, lies a desolate, blood-red plain.

Shen Xuan and the others from the Heavenly Sword Martial Academy appeared. Almost the instant he landed, he closed his eyes, and a barely perceptible Sword Intent rose from between his brows and merged into the Void.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, gazed at the southeastern horizon, and a gentle smile curved his lips.

"Everyone, gather your Sword Intent and stealthily move southeast."

"Our first target— Chen Fan of the Star River Martial Academy!"

At the same time, in the northern region, atop a mountain covered in ice.

The moonlight surrounding Su Qingyue slowly dissipated. Her clear, cold eyes reflected the star trails of the entire sky, and her Mental Power, like an invisible net, instantly covered an area of tens of thousands of miles.

She didn't say a word to the team members behind her, but simply extended her slender finger and pointed towards the southeast.

Actions speak louder than words.

Meanwhile, in the Western Regions, there was a volcanic area burning with black flames.

"Boom!"

Tuo Bashan and his team crashed down like meteorites. He didn't even bother to investigate, and just grinned as he sensed the purest fighting spirit between Martial Artists.

"Haha! Over there! Found you!"

"Brothers, charge! Let's take down that monster Chen Fan first!"