Resolute

Ling Xiao and Long An.

They represented the faces of Myriad Manifestations Palace and Beast Taming Sect respectively, and were both favored contenders for the top three of this Five Academies Grand Meeting.

Under the brutal thirteen-to-seven format, these two Heaven's Chosen, who should have displayed their edge in the semifinals or even the finals, met ahead of time in the second elimination round.

For the participating Cultivators outside the two sects, this was undoubtedly cause for celebration. The next round would be even crueler—seven into four—and there were already four seeded contestants. Add Song Changsheng, that dazzling dark horse, and without question, a storm of blood and slaughter was bound to erupt.

If they could eliminate one, or even two, seeded contestants before then, the pressure of the next round would be reduced severalfold.

With First Prince Zhao Yin receiving a bye and Ji Liangyu and Song Changsheng advancing one after another, both the contestants and the audience below thought there was no longer any chance. Yet, while Myriad Manifestations Palace still had three people remaining and Beast Taming Sect had only Holy Son Long An left as its lone seedling—

This pair of old rivals, Ling Xiao and Long An, met once more on the arena of the Five Academies Grand Competition.

It could only be said that fate toyed with men; in the unseen darkness, Heaven had its own will.

"Ling Xiao and Long An already had old grudges between them. During this gathering, Beast Taming Sect has been humiliated by Myriad Manifestations Palace time and again. As they say, when enemies meet, their eyes blaze all the redder. One seeks to wash away the shame of his past defeat, while the other is narrow-minded and repays every grievance in full. This will be quite a show."