The Venomous Arena

To ensure the smooth progress of this combat test, and also to show his own level of importance, the principal specifically requested two Golden Core sword cultivators to guard the main entrance.

One carried a long sword on his back, while the other had a Sword Pellet orbiting him with a faint, spinning hum.

Indeed, these two were the very same sword cultivators Xu Xing had seen earlier at the entrance of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

They certainly had a wide range of business; professional security guards, it seemed.

However, compared to their casual demeanor last time, they were far more serious now, their sharp gazes sweeping over everyone entering the school.

Clearly, the price the principal paid was not low.

Xu Xing bit into a steamed bun, following behind a man in a suit and tie as he walked into the school. The two sword cultivators scanned the man in front, but their gazes did not linger on Xu Xing for even a second, as if they hadn't noticed another person there at all.

And in truth, that was exactly the case.

The main purpose of this visit to the school was to see the cultivation method created by Saint Emperor Abyss, so it was better to keep a low profile.

Otherwise, if he had only come to watch the combat test, would the school principal really have dared to show any disrespect if he had used his identity as Xu Sandao?

Arriving at the sports field, he looked up at the massive arena floating in the air.

I thought there might be some improvements, but it's still the same old thing.

This arena was called "Cease-Arms," a relic of the Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect. When practitioners sparred or fought upon it, if one side suffered a fatal injury, they would be teleported off.

However, the one seen here was only of the lowest grade; if the grade were higher, the arena could even form a world of its own.

Besides "Cease-Arms," the Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect also possessed the "Blood-Battle" arena. Once one stepped inside, the arena would isolate itself from the outside world until only one person remained standing.

Moreover, whether it was "Cease-Arms" or "Blood-Battle," they would provide an evaluation based on the performance of both combatants.

Hmm...

But those evaluations were rarely kind. With so many people watching today, it was likely that quite a few of these students would have their confidence shattered.

Xu Xing did not linger for long. He tossed the paper bag that had held his bun into a trash can and continued walking upward; the crystal card containing the Basic Refining Method was stored in the dean's office.

There shouldn't be anyone there now, but even if there were, it wouldn't matter.

Time reached nine o'clock sharp. The teachers of each class led their respective students to the sports field to wait.

The judges' platform floated in mid-air, occupied by the principal, the two vice-principals, the dean, the mayor's secretary, and Li Fengping, who had been personally invited by the principal.

"Begin!"

A voice, neither soft nor loud, resonated throughout the entire venue.

There were no long-winded speeches or complex ceremonies.

This was a combat test between practitioners; even if these students were still low in cultivation, the principal would grant them sufficient respect.

Today's main stage belonged to them!

Rumble!

Amidst a thunderous sound, the "Cease-Arms" arena floating in the air began to separate, like a completed building block set being taken apart. Streaks of scarlet spiritual light flickered, appearing incredibly murderous.

Under the gaze of everyone, the originally wide and massive "Cease-Arms" arena decomposed itself into twelve smaller arenas of varying sizes.

Thud! Thud! Thud...!

One by one, the arenas descended, kicking up dust and causing the ground to tremble continuously.

The dust rushing toward the spectator stands and the judges' platform was blocked by spiritual light, but the students and teachers were not so lucky. A wave of dust washed over them, and everyone ended up eating a bit of grit, more or less.

Seeing that the effect was sufficient, the principal waved his hand, and the dust flying from the descent of the arenas was "pressed down" as if by an invisible force, instantly settling.

Twelve arenas now covered the sports field, with the largest one in the center and the arenas becoming smaller the further out they were.

"Defenders! Take the stage!"

The combat test would only last for the morning, which was why this method was adopted.

Those with confidence could choose an arena to stand upon and defend. As long as they successfully defended nine matches, the defense was considered a success.

After the top twelve arena masters were determined, those twelve could challenge any other arena master—except themselves—to seize their arena. Ultimately, rankings would be decided based on the size of the arena held.

In other words, this combat test was not mandatory. Those who felt they lacked the ability could choose not to participate at all.

Silence...

Out of more than five hundred students, not a single one stepped onto the stage. The entire sports field grew increasingly quiet.

After several minutes passed in this manner, a student finally walked out—a student who looked somewhat mature for his age, with a cultivation level at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, placing him in the second tier among the students.

He stepped onto the smallest arena at the very edge.

"Du Qian from Class Four. I ask my fellow students for their guidance."

It was evident that he was a bit nervous.

With someone taking the lead, another student soon walked out. Also at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, she stepped onto the smallest arena, stood opposite Du Qian, and announced her name and class.

Whoa!

A burst of exclamations erupted from the lower-grade students in the spectator stands. It was starting right away!

The two did not waste time with idle chatter and went straight to fighting. Zhang Yunlu focused her full attention, terrified of missing a single detail, but as she watched...

Hm?

This is what they call a magical duel?

Such a thought surfaced in her mind.

The two traded blows, one hitting the other, one casting a Fireball while the other cast a Water Shield, just tossing spells back and forth in a remarkably rigid fashion.

Are they playing a turn-based game here?

Heh.

Fang Lin, arms crossed over his black battle saber, couldn't help but sneer at the sight.

Soon, the challenger's spiritual energy was exhausted; the spiritual energy of the Qi Refining stage simply could not withstand such reckless expenditure, though Du Qian, who was defending the ring, fared no better.

The challenger cupped her fists: "Senior Brother Du's cultivation is higher than mine; I am convinced of my defeat."

"Junior Sister, you are too..."

Du Qian had just begun to offer a humble reply.

[What is called a magical duel is in reality a mere drill of techniques; why not go to the bustling market and shout for rewards? You might earn two or three silver coins.]

[Both the attacker and the defender are nothing but small fry.]

A vast and majestic voice echoed across the entire training ground. The two on the ring froze, their faces instantly flushing a deep red.

Holy crap!

This ring's mouth is way too venomous!

The lower-year students in the spectator stands and the third-year students who had yet to take the stage were all shocked.

The challenger covered her face and jumped off the ring. The moment she remembered she had loudly announced her name just a moment ago, the shame in her heart nearly overflowed.

Although Du Qian had successfully defended the ring, he was left mentally shattered by this evaluation and simply gave up his position, jumping down as well.

For a time, no one dared to step onto the stage.

Especially those who lacked confidence; they had originally intended to try their best to put on a good performance, but given the current situation...

Go up there and make a fool of oneself?

"Take the stage." Xu Xing's voice suddenly reached her ears.

Zhang Yunlu was startled and hurriedly looked around, but she discovered nothing, only seeing her older brother waving at her from the spectator stands.

Is the senior here too?

Steadying herself, Zhang Yunlu left the ranks and walked toward the rings. In truth, even without Xu Xing's prompt, she had been planning to take the stage.

To be safe, she would just pick a medium-sized ring to defend.

"Go to the ring in the very center." Xu Xing's voice sounded again.

"..."

Xu Xing stood at the window of the dean's office, holding a crystal card in his hand, watching from afar as Zhang Yunlu walked step by step toward the central ring.

"The mouths of those brutes from the Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect are as venomous as ever."

Even within their own sect, quite a few people had been mentally shattered by the evaluations of the Cease-Arms ring.

However, thanks to this, internal conflicts within the Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect had decreased significantly.

Most of those who practiced body refinement were hot-blooded and prone to losing their heads, often starting fights over the smallest trifles.

Cease-Arms, Cease-Arms; no matter how great the conflict, as long as you went up to this Cease-Arms ring for a fight, you would feel that the conflict wasn't worth mentioning anymore.

So many years had passed, and he wondered if the guy who created the Cease-Arms ring had been beaten to death yet.