The crowd was buzzing with discussion.
"That person seems to be from the Canglan Academy, right?"
"Previous reports indicated that almost everyone in the Imperial Capital and Canglan had confirmed the information, but I didn't expect this person to be so high-profile."
"They really don't even take the Imperial Capital Team seriously..."
Many people were watching the play; the atmosphere seemed tense even before the Academy Tournament started.
For those who didn't participate, they were incredibly excited, as such a scene was extremely rare to witness.
The provocations started even before the Academy Tournament began.
Li Chen also began to descend from the sky, landing beside Su Zhe, and asked...
Why haven't you gone in yet?
Su Xian's lips twitched involuntarily. "I was just worried you'd get lost, but who knew you'd cause such a commotion?"
Ignoring the stares from those around them, Li Chen waved his hand and said, "Let's go in."
The group of people then went inside in front of everyone.
The Imperial Capital Team.
The leading man glanced at them indifferently, then led the others down and went inside.
This unexpected provocation didn't affect him much; he would naturally take action during the Academy Tournament.
"Whether you're a dragon crossing the river or a worm, the Academy Tournament will tell."
Many teams, observing the tacit agreement and silence between the two teams, waited for them to enter before setting off themselves.
Many people in the group began to look very serious; based on the commotion just now, they were starting to feel apprehensive.
The gap in strength is too large.
But they are also representing their own academy in this competition, and they're trying to run away before it even starts. It's really shameful.
Many teams are already silently hoping they won't run into either of these two teams; ideally, they'd both meet.
At least that way they won't be eliminated so quickly.
Located in the Canghai City, it is the venue for the Academy Tournament.
This is a circular open-air venue, just like a Bird's Nest, with many teams already standing in the middle.
The ground was made of an unknown material, with runes engraved on it.
Su Zhe was somewhat surprised; it was his first time participating in the Academy Tournament, and he looked around in surprise.
Wow, this line is really long.
"It's much more spectacular than the previous Canglan Tournament."
After all, the people here are mostly from many cities in the Xia Kingdom. They speak their own dialects and discuss in the stands which team they think will win.
Or perhaps some people have already started trading.
Su Xian laughed and said, "Of course, the Canglan Tournament doesn't have this many people. After all, the former is only hosted by the academy, while this one is jointly hosted by the Human Race."
"It was jointly organized by the Special Affairs Bureau, the Four Great Passes, and numerous other families."
"It's obvious that they're not even in the same league."
Su Zhe nodded, but his gaze kept wandering in other directions.
There weren't many teams around them, and each team was about 10 meters apart, which was also to prevent teams with grudges from starting a fight right now.
Li Chen stood at the front and glanced at everyone.
The aura emanating from the heads of those people already told him their cultivation level.
Their location was in the center, and they were assigned to their positions according to the positions they received during the Academy Tournament.
As for the Imperial Capital Academy, they were in the group standing at the very front.
It belongs to being bathed in all the dazzling light.
Enjoying the stares that were directed at him.
Now we just wait for the rules officer to explain the rules of this competition.
There were no referees in the Academy Tournament.
According to Su Xian, only rescuers are allowed to engage in life-or-death struggles in the Academy Tournament.
Because all the participants in the previous Canglan competition died in the Academy Tournament Secret Realm, and the culprit was the Imperial Capital Academy, this is why Faluo had given Li Chen many instructions beforehand, telling him to act within his capabilities.
After waiting for so long...
Until the sound of fireworks exploding rang out.
A spectacular rainbow painted the entire sky.
The crowd gasped in surprise.
Li Chen opened his eyes and looked at a round, table-like object slowly descending from the sky, around which twelve people were already seated.
Here we go...
Li Chen recognized several familiar faces among the twelve people.
Cang Lao, Wei Laoda, and the man in black from yesterday were all inside.
From this, it seems that Li Chen has guessed quite a bit. Cang Lao represents Canglan, Wei Laoda represents Ruined Pass, and the man in black is also a guardian of Canghai Pass.
As for the other nine people, he didn't know. After removing the two gatekeepers, there were still seven people left, and these seven people should represent other families and representatives of the Special Affairs Bureau.
Almost all of them are strong individuals...
At this moment, an elderly man at the round table inside the ring stood up and said, "The Academy Tournament officially begins."
"Bang... bang... bang"
A series of explosions rang out.
The entire venue began to be rendered in a strange and dreamlike atmosphere, as if encompassing everything.
A large, fruit-laden tree for visitors appeared in the center of the area.
Li Chen remembered this feeling, and Su Zhe and the others also felt it; it was an illusion created by Cang Lao.
However, that tree was real.
Li Chen murmured, "The breath of life."
This Academy Tournament is truly outrageous; the Calamity Realm's abilities were merely used for the opening celebration.
Standing beside Ji Shao, Ji Mumu also looked up at the big tree and said, "The fruit on that tree is very special."
Ji Shao laughed and said, "Those are Miracle Fruits; each kind of fruit has different effects."
"Anyone participating in the Academy Tournament can take one from here."
"The higher you go, the more extraordinary the energy contained in the fruit becomes."
"Of course, it can't be picked now; we have to wait until the Academy Tournament rankings are finished before we can pick it."
Ji Mumu nodded blankly, her eyes seemingly fixed on the bright red fruit at the very top, and she unconsciously swallowed.
A Greed desire also appeared in Su Zhe's eyes as he looked at the tree.
In his eyes, this tree is a treasure!
Jianping glanced at them and then paid no more attention. His goal had already been set: the number one spot.
The Path of the Kings...
Su Xian also looked at the figure in the distance and clenched her fist.
Mu Hen was somewhat dazed, his expression a little blank. It was his first time participating in the Academy Tournament, his first time standing in the national spotlight, so he naturally underwent some subtle changes.
It was in an old house, far away, near the Sinful Pass.
Several elderly and middle-aged people watched the live broadcast of the Academy Tournament, their faces somewhat silent.
One of the old men, pinching the ring on his thumb, scolded...
"Xiaohen, why did you participate in the Academy Tournament?"
"How can you, as a father, discipline your own son?"
The middle-aged man showed no fear and laughed loudly, "My son? I can't control him."
"Since he wants to stand in the light, it means he's tired of the darkness."
"I'll take the blame for him if necessary. What right do you old folks have to say such things?"
One of the old men sneered and said, "When enemies come knocking, don't say we won't take action."
"If Mu Hen dies then, it'll be his own fault!!"
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone gradually turning cold.
"If your elders' affairs affect my son, I will make you and them pay the price."
"Not everyone is willing to follow the rules, otherwise I would have already left Sinful City and killed those bastards."
The old man sneered.
I hope that's true...