A Mountain Is Higher Than Another

Matches were held one after another on the arenas at the back of the sports field.

Fortunately, someone with an outrageous Psychokinesis talent like Su Nianyi was the only one in the entire Yan'an No. 7 High School.

The other matches that followed didn't have such absurd situations.

They all underwent Blood Essence Level testing, strength, and speed detection one by one, then entered the arena in an orderly fashion, fighting each other on this wide arena. From time to time, injured students would be rescued by teachers, or even the principal, who was at the Outer Scenery Level, using Spirit Energy.

After watching for a while, Li Xijun didn't feel much interest.

It was only during the second round that Zhou Yibai's recently increased Blood Essence Level surprised him. The other party seemed to have quietly reached Blood Essence Level 7.8.

He didn't know what methods or fortuitous encounters he had used.

However, for Li Xijun, who possessed the Grand Luo Mark, it was merely a moment of surprise.

He himself possessed immense potential and a boundless future, so he didn't care about the other party's minor progress or little secrets.

Next, he took some time to watch Ye Liuyun's match.

He had to admit that the flowing, continuous swordplay was indeed quite suited to his cultivation technique and state of mind.

Even in this rather chaotic arena competition, with multiple opponents attacking him, his swordsmanship remained like a surging river, blocking all attacks. He fought his way to victory, one sword strike at a time.

Time passed slowly, until all ten arenas in the second round had determined their winners.

The martial arts teachers at each arena blew their assembly whistles.

"Hurry up and get your Blood Essence detection and speed and strength detection done, and prepare to enter the arena."

The teachers' loud voices echoed throughout the entire sports field.

By the time Li Xijun arrived at arena 9, many people were already in position, and the first few had already begun their tests.

As the Elite Class member defending this arena, Zhou Shenghao naturally stood at the entrance of the arena, being the first to be tested.

"Zhou Shenghao, Blood Essence Level: 8.7."

As his Blood Essence Level appeared on the screen beside him, the expressions of the other 20-plus people on this vast arena changed.

Meanwhile, Zhang Haifeng and several other teachers, seated on the high platform above this football-field-sized arena, showed surprised expressions and began discussing in low voices.

"Reaching Blood Essence Level 8.7 by the end of the semester, this is definitely a seed for the Nine Schools Alliance."

"More than that, if he can successfully break through to 9.1 and maintain his progress, he might even be able to challenge the Imperial Capital Two Heavens."

"I don't remember Zhou Shenghao progressing this quickly before. Both of the Zhou brothers have performed quite impressively this semester."

Zhou Shenghao, of course, didn't hear the teachers' discussion on the high platform. He continued with his speed and strength tests as usual.

"Speed: 19.1 m/s; Punching Power: 924 kg."

These results made the students who followed closely behind him change their expressions.

"We have a Nine Schools Alliance seed in our group."

"It's over, there's no suspense in this match, is there?"

"Hey, hey, is anyone willing to team up? We'll deal with him first."

Many people started whispering and discussing among themselves.

Especially as one Martial Arts student after another completed their tests quickly, with most of them being far behind Zhou Shenghao, these discussions grew louder.

"Bro, don't make a move when we get on the stage later, the defender is a bit too strong. Let's team up and take him down first!"

A skinny boy who arrived even later than Li Xijun patted his shoulder, also intending to form an alliance.

In response, Li Xijun, who had already reached the Blood Essence detection instrument at the entrance, smiled and said:

"You guys are too slow. Let me do it."

With that, he also walked into the vast arena. The red light of the Blood Essence detection instrument flashed, and the corresponding text appeared on the large screen.

"Li Xijun, Blood Essence Level: 8.1."

The name that suddenly appeared second on the large screen attracted considerable attention.

Seeing his 8.1 Blood Essence Level, the boy with the skinny physique behind him couldn't help but say enviously:

"You say we're slow, but with your 8.1 Blood Essence Level, you still can't beat his strength and... Holy crap!"

The sudden exclamation caused the three girls who had formed a small group and were chatting behind him to frown.

However, when one of the girls saw the speed and strength displayed after [Li Xijun]'s Blood Essence Level on the large screen, she let out a classic shriek.

"Ahhh, sisters, hurry and look!"

"Ahhh, heavens, sisters, the speed and strength testing instruments must be broken."

"Ahhh, how could this happen?"

Because of these screams, not only the 20-plus people on this arena, but even the teachers on the viewing platform who were whispering to each other, Many students who had finished their earlier exams and were planning to find a ring to watch also curiously gathered around, looking at the big screen.

"Speed 19.7 m/s, punching power 966 kg."

As this string of data appeared coldly on the screen, discussions immediately erupted.

"Holy crap, are this speed and power correct?"

"Is the Blood Essence detector malfunctioning? This is basically close to the speed and power of Blood Essence Level 9.0."

"No, man! Is this right?"

"I remember! Isn't this the guy who improved rapidly during the opening month's exam, the one who killed a Blood God Cult member at Blood Essence Level 9.0 a while ago?"

"It's him! The genius who fought and killed stronger opponents, transcending levels!"

As the matter of him defeating the Blood God Cult cultist was brought up, students who generally remembered it had an epiphany and erupted in cheers.

At this, not only Ye Liuyun, Zhou Yibai, Su Nianyi, and others who were originally watching the ring.

Almost all the martial arts students who had just finished their matches in the first two rounds and weren't too heavily injured also curiously crowded over.

Even Su Nianying, who had been scanning the entire venue from the sky, landed next to Li Xijun.

She directly reached out and touched and squeezed several places on him, causing the students to gasp and many adolescent boys and girls to make suggestive comments.

"Hmm, you've really made some progress."

Su Nianying felt Li Xijun's body, which had been tempered to near perfection, and couldn't help but be a little surprised.

"Come find me directly later. You don't need to wait for the results to be posted."

With the outcome mostly decided in her mind, Su Nianying finished speaking, her figure flashed, and she reappeared in the sky.

And just like Su Nianyi on Ring 1 in the first round, Li Xijun, who was being intensely watched by the 29 people in the arena and the many martial arts students outside, felt a sense of enjoyment from this spotlight treatment from the bottom of his heart. He calmly and unhurriedly walked step by step to the center of the ring.

This made Zhou Shenghao, who was originally being given everyone's full attention, feel like he had become a nobody on the side of the road.

He slowly tightened his grip on the Tiger-Head Broadsword in his hand, his gaze sharply fixed on Li Xijun, who had walked to the center of the ring. The sound of the referee counting down reached his ears:

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Start!"

The explosive gunshot resounded across the ring once more.