New Student Tournament, Climb the Mountain and Seize the Flag!

Mu Chen watched Zhe Li Tong's departing figure and curled his lip.

"Pfft, what are you pretending to be so profound for?"

"Just wait until I enter the Hua Tianjie realm. The first thing I'll do is challenge you!"

As he spoke, he turned around and looked at Luo Ling, who was quietly watching him from beside him. The arrogance in his eyes instantly melted into a gentle smile.

"What do you think? Did that guy's words scare you? Are you completely captivated by me now?"

Watching his smug expression, Luo Ling's clear eyes flickered with helplessness.

"You're really good at bragging."

Though she teased him, she knew very well that this young man before her had never been someone who merely talked big.

Since he wanted to be first, he would surely give it everything he had.

Bing Tianxuan grinned, raised a hand, and greeted Shi Hao.

"Hey, Shi Hao! Did you see that smug look on that guy's face? Was he intimidated by my overwhelming presence?"

Shi Hao was taken aback, then helplessly shook his head. A warm smile appeared on his handsome face.

"If even calling someone arrogant counts as flattering them, then you really have a problem."

"Pfft, who's afraid of him? When soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it."

Bing Tianxuan waved his hand carelessly, then grabbed Luo Ling.

Under the envious, jealous gazes of a group of freshmen, he swaggered back toward the dormitories.

The next day.

The first ray of morning light pierced through the clouds and shone upon the incomparably vast Beiqing Academy.

The academy, which had been silent for the night, instantly came alive.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

Ancient, distant bell chimes echoed across heaven and earth, announcing the official opening of the new student tournament.

One dormitory after another opened, and the freshmen followed their instructors toward the tournament grounds.

Figures gathered from all directions, turning the sky into a dense black expanse. One could not see the end at a glance.

Not only the freshmen of this class, but even many older students had come to watch.

They all wanted to see who among this year's freshmen would be able to claim the throne of strongest newcomer.

At the very front of the crowd, in the most conspicuous position, several figures stood quietly.

Bing Tianxuan wore a simple white robe, his arms folded across his chest as he stood there in an unrestrained, arrogant manner.

Beside him, Luo Ling was still dressed in a plain skirt, pure and elegant as a lotus. Though she did not fit in with the noisy crowd around her, she was impossible to ignore.

Bing Tianxuan's gaze finally settled on an open plain before a towering mountain range.

Looking across it, the vast plain was almost completely packed with freshmen. Voices surged like waves, and cheers filled the skies.

At the very front of the plain, that mountain range rose high into the clouds. Snow and mist wreathed it, making its hidden peaks seem almost divine.

An ancient, majestic aura washed over them.

"That is Beiqing Mountain?"

Bing Tianxuan narrowed his eyes and studied the mountain.

Just then, three streaks of light suddenly shot through the sky.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The three streams of light tore through the air like meteorites, carrying terrifying pressure as they descended above the plain.

As the light dispersed, three elderly figures appeared.

The man in the middle wore a gray robe. His hair and beard were completely white, yet his face looked as youthful as a teenager's.

However, his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, seemingly able to see through all things.

He stood with his hands behind his back. There was not the slightest fluctuation of spiritual energy around him, yet everyone present did not dare make a sound.

"That is... Elder Tianyan, Burning Heaven!"

Someone in the crowd cried out in alarm.

They had immediately recognized this highly esteemed figure of Beiqing Academy.

Elder Tianyan's gaze slowly swept across the young faces below, his clear voice ringing in every ear.

"I am Tianyan, and I have been appointed to preside over this year's new student tournament."

The entire venue instantly fell silent. Everyone held their breath and waited for the great figure's words.

Elder Tianyan smiled faintly. Without wasting words, he went straight to the point.

"I know what all of you are looking forward to."

"However, this year's new student tournament will be somewhat different from the previous ones."

As soon as those words fell, the crowd below erupted into discussion.

"Different? Isn't it just a competition?"

"How will it be compared?"

Elder Tianyan raised his hand to quiet the crowd, then pointed behind him at the snow-covered Beiqing Mountain.

"This time, there will be no arena battles, no flashy one-on-one matches."

"Do you see Beiqing Mountain? There is a Beiqing Flag planted atop the mountain."

"The rules are simple: whoever is the first to take down that Beiqing Flag will be this year's number one freshman!"

"Whoa!"

The entire venue boiled over once more.

Such a simple, brutal rule only further ignited the fighting spirit in the youths' hearts.

There would be no complicated draws or deliberate arrangements. It would be a pure contest of speed and strength!

Whoever was fast, whoever was strong, would be king!

However, Elder Tianyan had not finished speaking.

A cunning gleam flashed in his deep eyes as he slowly continued.

"Still, I must remind you of one thing."

"On Beiqing Mountain, aside from the treacherous terrain, there are living Heavenly-Rank spirit beasts."

"Heavenly-Rank spirit beasts?!"

The moment those words came out, the excited freshmen seemed to have been doused with a basin of ice water. Their faces turned pale.

Heavenly-Rank spirit beasts were terrifying existences comparable to Rongtian Realm or even Hua Tianjie Realm cultivators.

They were supposed to face such monsters right after entering the academy?

Seeing their reactions, Elder Tianyan's smile widened.

"Of course, the first five students to reach the summit will each receive fifty spirit-value points."

"Second place will receive forty, and so on."

Elder Tianyan smiled and said, "Naturally, the most important reward is that the top five will be granted an exception to enter Spirit Hall."

"There, if you are lucky enough, you may even obtain a divine spirit... Spirit Hall..."

"Spirit Hall?"

All the freshmen sucked in a breath.

That was something countless people dreamed of, and it held an even more irresistible allure for them.

"Spirit Hall... my heavens!"

"Even if I have to risk my life, I'm getting into the top five!"

"Whoever dares stop me, I'll fight them to the death!"

Amid the deafening uproar, Bing Tianxuan, who stood at the very front, seemed somewhat out of place.

He rubbed his chin.

"Spirit Hall? I don't find that interesting at all."

"But..."

Bing Tianxuan's eyes shifted, and a sharp gleam suddenly appeared within them.

"Fifty spirit-value points for first place, plus the title of number one freshman. I'm bound to get it!"

With that thought, he turned to Luo Ling beside him.

"Luo Ling, shall we take first and second place?"

Luo Ling stood quietly, her clear eyes as calm as an ancient well.

"As you wish."

Though she only said two words, the confidence in her tone was no weaker than Bing Tianxuan's.

As for the others, they were nothing worth mentioning.

Since he wanted first place, she would accompany him and fight for it.

"Haha, I knew you were the most reliable."