The National Academy Team's Precarious Situation

The World Academy Competition can be considered a highly anticipated event on the international stage.

There are very few dueling competitions between mages internationally, and the major Magic Associations do not particularly encourage older mages to perform in Fighting Grounds for show and broadcast on television. Magic is, after all, solemn, sacred, and at the same time, filled with destruction and devastation...

The only ones who can truly foster this competitive spirit are the magic students. Magic students are young and vigorous, and they best represent how successful a country is in its magic education. This has led to the World Academy Competition becoming the biggest global magic duel spectacle every four years. Furthermore, the students' strength is neither too high nor too low, making them the most suitable demographic for magic competitions.

Of course, every country in the world has a team to represent them in the competition, but with so many countries, not all of them get the opportunity to showcase their strength on the world stage.

Students from each country must complete designated trial missions and obtain national emblems. To put it bluntly, it's like challenging other countries' dojos...

Only those national representative teams that have completed the various requirements can enter Venice to compete for rankings. As for the countries that haven't met the criteria, they can only slink back home.

In fact, the elimination rounds have already begun, and as they were boarding the special plane, Chen Lang learned that Great Xia's first match was against the British Team, resulting in an immediate loss...

The dormitories for the Great Xia National Academy Team.

Pang Lai, who was studying limited information on other national academy teams, put down his work as Chen Jin and Chen Lang walked in and stood up to greet them. "Old Chen..."

Chen Jin chuckled and said to Pang Lai, "Old Pang, it's been a while..."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Pang Lai immediately got down to business. "Old Chen, let's not talk about our relationship for now. There's one thing I need to make clear to you."

Chen Jin naturally understood what Pang Lai and the others meant and asked with a smile, "Are you worried I'll be an old fool and force my Chen Clan descendants in just to make up the numbers?"

Pang Lai didn't beat around the bush and nodded seriously. "You know, the Academy Competition involves many things... and we've already lost our first match!"

Among the thirty-two countries that advanced, there are also differences in strength. Losing the first match means they are already on the verge of elimination.

If they can't win the next few matches, they'll essentially have to pack up and go home.

"I am naturally aware of the loss in the first match. It is precisely because of this that I have come to offer timely assistance. Otherwise, if we lose the next match, wouldn't my Chen Clan be scrutinized by our countrymen?"

Chen Jin continued, "You can have the current National Academy Team members spar with us. We'll let strength decide."

Hearing Chen Jin's words, Pang Lai felt it made sense.

Now is not the time to gain fame. It's about elimination, and losing would clearly mean bearing the brunt of public criticism.

For Great Clans, intangible things like public opinion can be incredibly damaging...

At the same time, Pang Lai was somewhat surprised because he took a serious look at Chen Lang and suddenly realized that this kid was already a high-level mage!!!

Pang Lai looked at Chen Lang, whose face still appeared somewhat youthful, and asked, "How old is your son?"

"18."

Upon hearing this, Pang Lai's eyes widened considerably. "What!?"

Even Pang Lai couldn't quite believe that this kid was only 18!

The student he had taken on was already considered exceptionally talented, but he was only at the intermediate level. Then again, which 18-year-old descendant had already reached the high level!

What kind of magic prodigy was this?

Besides, couldn't you just participate in the World Academy Competition next term!

But now, Pang Lai was even more convinced that Chen Jin wasn't here to freeload on fame.

Perhaps it really was 'offering timely assistance'!

Although his cultivation level was up to par, whether Chen Lang was here to help or for another reason, an explanation was still needed.

"Then let's go. Come with me to the training grounds," Pang Lai said, not one to dally.

"Okay!"

The Great Xia National Academy Team's training grounds.

The students, who should have been diligently cultivating, were now gathered in a line of ten.

"The match against the British Team was lost far too unnecessarily. If we don't achieve good results this year, it won't be a good thing for our country or for yourselves!"

Pang Lai paused before continuing, "Given the extremely poor performance of all of you in the first match, our Great Xia National Academy Team will be conducting an internal elimination process."

The moment they heard the words 'internal elimination process,' everyone present looked displeased.

If they were eliminated at this point, wouldn't all their previous efforts be in vain?

But Pang Lai's words were not something they could question.

After all, the person in front of them was the chief of the Imperial Magic Association!

Domestically, the Imperial Magic Association represented the national Magic Association, and this person's status was even higher than many council members.

"Mu Zhen."

The person whose name was called looked visibly unhappy.

But at this moment, he had no choice but to step forward.

Pang Lai looked at him and said calmly, "I don't need to repeat why we lost the previous match, do I?"

The previous match against the British Team wasn't necessarily a loss. After all, not all the participants in the elimination rounds were the top aces of their teams.

But it was precisely because of Mu Zhen's arrogance, wanting to destroy the five people on the opposite side with a single blow, that he ended up being surrounded and quickly eliminated by them.

The subsequent five-on-four match was almost without any suspense...

Mu Zhen regretted it, but then again, what good was regret?

"I don't care if you were just acting out of anger or whatever, but you need to bear the consequences of your mistakes. However..."

Pang Lai's pause gave Mu Zhen a glimmer of hope, and he immediately said, "Mentor, please tell me what to do. As long as I'm not eliminated, I'll do anything!"

The Mu Clan had invested heavily in his training. If he were to go back like this, he wouldn't be able to establish himself anywhere, let alone domestically, even within the Family.

"This is Chen Lang, he's a substitute player. You'll spar with him later. If you win, you can keep your spot as a formal team member. If you lose..."

"Okay!"

Even though Pang Lai didn't finish, Mu Zhen agreed. He understood Pang Lai's meaning perfectly.

If he lost, he would be directly removed from his position as a formal team member.

However, as long as he wasn't directly eliminated, it was still an opportunity for him!

He had fought his way through to get here. Among his peers, who else could possibly stand against him?