At exactly nine in the morning, amid a sky full of celebratory fireworks and the audience's applause, the beautiful host holding a microphone announced the start of the Hundred Schools League finals. Lin Hao paid little attention to her opening remarks, but when the judges were introduced, he froze for a moment. He hadn't expected Jiang Tianhai to be at the competition. Then he glanced at Jiang Weiwei. She gave him a look that said, You know what I mean. Lin Hao's mouth twitched. It seemed Jiang Tianhai had come for him.
Before long, the drawing ceremony officially began. As usual, the team captains were responsible for drawing lots. When Lin Hao walked onto the stage, Fang Yao, seated in the VIP section, froze. That idiot was actually the captain of Shancheng Martial University's team! Lin Yueyue hadn't expected Lin Hao to draw a lot either. "Looks like that brat's been keeping something from us." Lin Yueyue and Fang Yao exchanged glances, both spotting the astonishment in the other's eyes. Fang Yao's surprise instantly turned to delight. Could this be the surprise that idiot had in store for her? Lin Xiaorou, licking a giant lollipop, hadn't thought of any of that. She was simply cheering happily for her big brother to go up and draw.
Lin Hao drew number two in the upper half of the bracket, which meant Shancheng Martial University would be the first to compete. Of the five top martial universities, Longcheng Martial University and Modu Martial University were in the upper half. Qingzhou Martial University, Jiangnan Martial University, and Shencheng Martial University were in the lower half. Their opponent was Yancheng Martial University, which had drawn number one in the upper half. Jiang Weiwei and the other team members looked over Yancheng Martial University's information. Its captain, the strongest on the team, was a Silver Mid-tier fighter.
Lin Hao didn't give it much thought and casually said, "Same as usual. Mo Zixuan, you'll lead off. I'll hold the rear. Remember, you're competing, not fighting for your lives. If you're outmatched, don't push yourself."
Mo Zixuan, Wang Meng, and the others lit up at the chance to compete. "You got it, Brother Lin. We won't let you down." Jiang Weiwei was very pleased with Lin Hao's arrangement too. She glanced at Su Xiaorui, who was still sulking, and felt helpless. Her best friend had been in a tiff with her over Lin Hao since last night. Now she was still in a foul mood—the kind that nothing could cheer up.
"First match: Yancheng Martial University versus Shancheng Martial University. Competitors, please make your way to the arena at once." With the host's announcement, the first match of the Hundred Schools League officially began. The audience erupted in thunderous applause. Reporters from various television stations aimed their cameras at the center of the arena and began broadcasting live.
"Brother Lin, I'm off!" Mo Zixuan pumped his fist. When Lin Hao nodded, Mo Zixuan took a single stride onto the arena.
Yancheng University sent out a sturdy Bronze Mid-tier fighter. He stepped onto the arena and casually cupped his hands. "Lin Hao, Bronze Mid-tier Martial Artist. Please guide me." Mo Zixuan's mouth twitched. Was this guy named after Great God Lin? How had the first person up already turned out to be such a character? Down below, Lin Hao heard him and was left with a face full of dark lines. The other team members covered their mouths, doing their best not to laugh aloud. Jiang Weiwei was stunned too. This was too absurd.
Mo Zixuan faced Lin Hao with a faint smile. "Shancheng Martial University, Mo Zixuan, Silver initial stage Martial Artist."
At the referee's call to begin, a bow engraved with ancient patterns suddenly appeared in Mo Zixuan's hands. Across from him, Yancheng Martial University's Lin Hao conjured a Blazing Flame Blade nearly two meters long. Seeing the Cloud Piercing Bow in Mo Zixuan's hands, his opponent immediately realized he was a ranged fighter and had to be engaged at close quarters. He struck first. "Battle Skill: Sky-Splitting Slash!" A blazing Blade Aura wrapped around the blade and hurtled toward Mo Zixuan. Mo Zixuan didn't panic. He raised the Cloud Piercing Bow in his left hand as a surge of green energy gathered in his right. In an instant, three green arrows were nocked. He loosed all three at once. The first arrow pierced Lin Hao's Blade Aura, while the other two kept their momentum and shot toward him.
Lin Hao swung his great blade in a blur, barely managing to withstand the destructive force of the two arrows. But the impact had injured his internal organs, and a thread of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. A Silver Grade fighter could normally keep a Bronze-rank fighter firmly suppressed, unless the latter was an outlier.
Seeing his first strike succeed, Mo Zixuan instantly moved to Lin Hao's flank. A brilliant white light suddenly blazed in his hands. No arrow appeared; the light simply flowed into the Cloud Piercing Bow, and Mo Zixuan plucked its string, sending a vibration toward Lin Hao. Caught off guard, Lin Hao was flung from the arena by the force. It was one of the inherited Battle Skills of Mo Zixuan's family: Startled Bird!
When Lin Hao fell from the arena, the referee immediately announced, "First match, Yancheng Martial University versus Shancheng Martial University: Shancheng Martial University wins. Yancheng Martial University, please send out your second competitor."
Lin Hao watched Mo Zixuan on the arena and nodded in approval. Mo Zixuan had won by catching his opponent off guard: first, he fired three arrows to confuse him, then used the vibration of the bowstring to strike when he least expected it. That had saved him a great deal of Spiritual Power for the next match.
The audience below watched in bewilderment. They didn't understand the power of Mo Zixuan's second Battle Skill. All they saw was a student with a long blade somehow getting knocked off the arena.
For the second match, Yancheng Martial University sent out a Bronze High-rank fighter wielding a short blade. As soon as he stepped onto the arena, he activated his Battle Skill: Trace-less. At that point, most of the audience could see only Mo Zixuan standing onstage. The fighter who had just arrived had vanished. Jiang Weiwei frowned. A Concealment Martial Art. Even Gold rank fighters had to rely on sensing their opponent's aura to barely track their position. Mo Zixuan, however, simply smiled. His smile brimmed with confidence. He was the first member of Shancheng Martial University to take the stage—and the first competitor in the entire Hundred Schools League. As Shancheng Martial University's top genius, Lin Hao the freak aside, he had to give the school a strong start.
Without making any obvious move, a flash of golden light suddenly passed through his eyes. His innate skill, See Through, activated. In an instant, Mo Zixuan pinpointed his opponent's position. He drew his bow and nocked an arrow. A red arrow, carrying unmatched speed and force, shot toward a corner of the arena.
His opponent clearly hadn't expected the sudden arrow and hurried to dodge. But it was too late. The arrow pierced his left shoulder, and its force sent him tumbling off the arena—he had already been standing near the edge. Even Fang Wei, seated among the judges, couldn't help praising him. "That's a fine talent." Jiang Tianhai nodded repeatedly. "According to the roster, he's Shancheng Martial University's top genius. He certainly has some skill."
Lin Hao was also a little surprised. He hadn't known Mo Zixuan had an innate ability to see through movement. The discovery had pleasantly surprised him. The Shancheng Martial University team cheered in unison, encouraging Mo Zixuan.
When the opponent fell from the arena, the referee immediately announced, "Second match, Yancheng Martial University versus Shancheng Martial University: Shancheng Martial University wins. Yancheng Martial University, please send out your third competitor." Meanwhile, the medical team assigned to treat competitors during the matches hurried over to examine the student. A teacher from Yancheng Martial University rushed over, his face full of worry. When the doctor said the student was out of danger, the teacher finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then he sent out Yancheng Martial University's captain.
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