Strong Ranking Competition Begins, Entry Method

Before dawn had fully broken on the day of the Strong Ranking Competition, the Inner Academy was already abuzz.

Around the arena, voices bubbled up like water boiling in a jar.

A dense sea of heads poured in through every passageway, calling out to friends and searching for seats.

Qin Han and Han Yue led Moon Spirit's members through the crowd at an unhurried pace.

Han Yue had changed into a moon-white fitted outfit today, outlining her slender figure. Her silver hair was tied high, and her cool, beautiful face was especially eye-catching in the morning light, drawing countless gazes along the way.

Unlike before, whenever she led Moon Spirit's students out, she had always walked in the very center of the group.

Today, someone else occupied the center. Instead, she walked quietly at Qin Han's side, almost like a mere accompaniment.

"Nervous?"

Qin Han asked casually.

He, too, wore white robes today. Tall and upright, with his usual carefree smile at the corner of his lips, he and Han Yue looked exceptionally well-matched walking side by side.

"Not really."

Han Yue's voice was cool. "Everyone only vaguely knows that you've broken through to Dou Wang, but you haven't fought in a long time. I'm afraid quite a few people will want to test you..."

Qin Han chuckled. "That depends on whether they can test the limits of my strength!"

As they spoke, several people emerged from a fork in the road ahead.

The young man at their head wore black, his face steady and resolute. The enormous black ruler on his back was particularly conspicuous.

It was Xiao Yan and his group.

Upon seeing Qin Han, Xiao Yan immediately paused and took the initiative to walk over.

"Qin Senior." Xiao Yan cupped his fists, his tone sincere. "Thank you for what happened at the Outer Academy some time ago. Regarding Second Brother, I owe you a favor."

Qin Han waved a hand and joked, "It was nothing. If you really want to thank me, then if we meet in the competition later, let me have three moves?"

Xiao Yan laughed and shook his head. "You're joking, Qin Senior. With your current strength, aside from that freakishly strong Girl Zi Yan, I'm afraid no one in the Inner Academy would dare claim they could definitely beat you. Why would you need me to give way?"

Qin Han's smile remained unchanged, but his gaze drifted, seemingly casually, toward the graceful figure in green beside Xiao Yan. He drew out his words meaningfully. "That... may not necessarily be true."

Xiao Yan froze slightly and instinctively glanced at Xuner, who stood calmly at his side. Then he gave an awkward laugh and did not pursue the matter.

"Shall we go together?" Xiao Yan invited.

"Sure."

The two groups joined together and headed toward the center of the arena, the atmosphere fairly harmonious.

They had not gone far when another large group came marching toward them from the intersection ahead.

The man at the front was built like an iron tower, with palms as thick and broad as fans.

His expression was cold and stern, his brows thick and long, carrying an imposing air even without anger. A long spear was strapped to his back. It was Liu Qing.

Beside Liu Qing, Wen Yan's face looked somewhat grim. When his gaze swept over Qin Han, a nearly imperceptible hint of apprehension flashed through his eyes.

The road was not particularly wide. As the two sides met head-on, the atmosphere immediately grew tense.

Liu Qing's gaze fell first on Xiao Yan, his eyes sharp. "Xiao Yan, whatever grudges we have, we'll settle them in the arena."

Xiao Yan's expression remained calm as he met his gaze without yielding. "I'll be ready anytime."

The smell of gunpowder immediately filled the air.

At that moment, Qin Han gave a soft laugh, breaking the tense atmosphere.

His gaze passed over Liu Qing and fixed directly on Wen Yan. His eyes narrowed, carrying a trace of chill. "Looks like I'm not the only one looking to settle scores with Lie Shan today."

Wen Yan's expression changed. Feeling the invisible pressure in Qin Han's gaze that belonged to a Dou Wang, he recalled how he had provoked Han Yue while Qin Han was away, and his heart tightened.

Liu Qing frowned. At a time like this, it would not be appropriate to back down. He snorted and looked at Qin Han. "They say you've broken through to Dou Wang. I, Liu Qing, have been wanting to experience your skills."

"Experience my skills?"

A curve lifted at Qin Han's lips as he said bluntly, "Are you worthy?"

"You...!"

Wen Yan's face turned livid, fury rising in his eyes, but Liu Qing stopped him with one large hand.

Yet Liu Qing's tone had clearly changed as well. At first, he had merely been wary; now, there was an added measure of anger.

Still, there was nothing to be done about it. After all, they had been the ones to approach Han Yue first, intending to seize Qin Han's ranking position.

Liu Qing gave Qin Han and Xiao Yan a deep look, then said no more and led his people past them in long strides.

After they had gone some distance, Lin Xiuyai, who had watched the entire exchange from the side, smiled and shook his head. He approached with Yan Hao and the others. "Tsk, tsk. Liu Qing really has provoked two fierce tigers at once this time.

"I just wonder which of you two he'll meet first in the arena?"

His gaze shifted between Xiao Yan and Qin Han as he sighed. "Qin Han, your rate of advancement—and Xiao Yan, too—really puts us older students to shame.

"Looks like we don't have much chance at that number one seat on the Strong Ranking today."

Lin Xiuyai shrugged.

After exchanging a few polite compliments, the group headed toward the arena together.

The closer they got to the arena's center, the more the scorching atmosphere rushed toward them.

The enormous circular arena could hold several thousand people, and every seat was now occupied.

Deafening waves of noise nearly blew the roof off, with all manner of shouts and cheers blending together.

Above the venue, a faint membrane of energy flickered in and out of sight. It was a barrier meant to keep the aftershocks of battle from harming the spectators.

Dozens of platforms of varying sizes were arranged in a circle. At the very center stood a colossal main platform more than a hundred zhang in diameter, its surface paved with dark-red hard stone that seemed to contain a steady, stabilizing energy.

As the students took their places, the elders responsible for maintaining order also arrived at their respective positions.

"Dong—"

An ancient, resonant bell rang throughout the arena, silencing the crowd.

At some point, Su Qian had appeared on the elevated platform beside the central arena. His gaze slowly swept over the sea of people below, lingering in particular on the fifty Strong Ranking experts who had long since gathered in a designated area beneath the platform.

His Dou Qi-infused voice was calm yet clear as it spread into every corner. "The Strong Ranking Competition now begins. Students ranked among the top fifty of the Strong Ranking, take the stage!"

The moment his words fell, the air filled with the sounds of rushing wind. Figures leaped from all around the stands, landing in the central arena.

Liu Qing's entrance was undoubtedly the most explosive. He stomped heavily against the ground and shot into the air like a cannonball, crashing onto the platform amid a howling gale. His wild, overbearing presence drew a wave of startled cries.

Lin Xiuyai appeared far more graceful and carefree. Like willow fluff drifting in the wind, he floated lightly across several dozen zhang before landing soundlessly, without stirring a speck of dust. He, too, received a burst of applause.

Xiao Yan was simply incredibly fast. The crowd only saw a blur before their eyes, accompanied by a faint rumble of thunder, and he was already standing steadily atop the platform. The speed of his movement technique drew many sidelong glances.

One figure after another mounted the platform in their own ways. In the blink of an eye, more than forty people stood upon it, all true elites of the Inner Academy, their powerful auras impossible to ignore.

At that moment, quite a few people turned their attention toward Qin Han, who had yet to take the stage.

Qin Han's strength—or more precisely, whether he had truly broken through to the Dou King realm—had always been a matter of intense interest.

The last time Qin Han had displayed his strength in public was during the Flame Energy Hunting Competition more than half a year ago, when he had been a Half-Step Dou King.

Although he had later accompanied the academy to the Fallen Fire Sect, he had originally been the captain of the Enforcement Team. Even if his cultivation had not reached the Dou King realm, it was still possible for him to join the group as an exception.

Thus, everyone wanted to know whether Qin Han had broken through to the Dou King realm while still a student, becoming Jia Nan Academy's most highly cultivated student in the past decade.

Under countless watchful eyes, Qin Han smiled faintly. Without any visible motion, there was a soft "puff" behind him as a pair of Green Flame Wings condensed from pure flame slowly unfurled.

The flame wings were not physical, yet they were incomparably solid. Nebula-like patterns flowed along their edges, blazing and dazzling.

"Dou Qi Transforms Wings?! He really is a Dou King!"

"Is that the fortune he obtained at the Fallen Fire Sect? Those flame wings are so beautiful!"

Waves of astonished cries rose from below the stage.

The female students of Moon Spirit in particular screamed wildly, worshipful little stars already sparkling in their eyes.

But before the cries could fade, an even more shocking sight made everyone's eyes widen.

Qin Han's flame wings gave a gentle flap. In one smooth, natural movement, he extended an arm and lightly wrapped it around Han Yue's slender, soft waist, taking her with him into the air.

Han Yue clearly had not expected Qin Han to suddenly pull such a move. A flush instantly rose on her cool, pretty face.

By the time she came back to her senses, they had already landed lightly.

"Woo—!!!"

After a brief silence, the entire arena erupted into howls and cheers far more fervent than before, instantly driving the atmosphere to its peak.