The Challenger Seat

In just a moment, Nalan Yanran regained her senses, inwardly shocked. "What kind of eyes are these? How can they be so terrifying that they made me lose my composure for a split second!"

Lu Man also sensed something was amiss, so he coughed twice and said, "Since you're just passing through, you should leave first!"

Seeing that Lu Man had given her the order to leave, Nalan Yanran bowed and said, "Very well, then this junior will take her leave!"

As Nalan Yanran was about to leave, she suddenly remembered that the little girl in the cyan outfit had mentioned Xiao Yu and was now asking her if she was from the Jia Ma Empire. She was certain that this little girl and the Xiao Yu she knew must know each other.

"Are you also going to the Jia Nan Academy?" Nalan Yanran asked Qing Lin.

With a hint of surprise on her pretty face, Qing Lin asked, "Are you also going to the Jia Nan Academy?"

Nalan Yanran nodded slightly and said, "I'm planning to go to the Jia Nan Academy to find Xiao Yu!"

Lu Man's expression darkened slightly as he said, "What a coincidence, you're also going to the Jia Nan Academy, and you're also looking for Xiao Yu from the Jia Ma Empire?"

Nalan Yanran's words aroused some suspicion in Lu Man's heart. They had just been talking about Xiao Yu, and now Nalan Yanran said she was going to the Jia Nan Academy to find Xiao Yu. It was really too suspicious.

Nalan Yanran knew from Lu Man's expression that she had misunderstood. Seeing the Dou Qi gradually rising from Lu Man's body, she hurriedly said, "Don't misunderstand, I really am going to the Jia Nan Academy to find Xiao Yu!"

"Do you have any evidence?" Lu Man asked with a hint of murderous intent in her eyes. She couldn't allow any uncontrollable factors to exist, because she had brought the Saintess with her this time, and she had to be careful!

"This..." Nalan Yanran frowned, wondering how they could possibly provide evidence.

Qing Lin stood to the side watching Nalan Yanran, a pang of sadness in her heart as she thought, "She's also going to the Jia Nan Academy to find Young Master Xiao Yu?"

However, seeing that Lu Man seemed about to make a move, Qing Lin quickly stopped Lu Man, saying, "Sister Lu Man, she doesn't seem like a bad person, and she doesn't seem to be lying. Since she said she's the Misty Cloud Sect Master, why don't we let her come with us? Anyway, we still haven't heard from Han Feng. Why don't we go to the Jia Nan Academy to find Young Master Xiao Yu first?"

Lu Man frowned as he glanced at the somewhat nervous Nalan Yanran. Sensing the aura of a Dou Ling emanating from Nalan Yanran, he pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright, in that case, why don't you come with us to the Jia Nan Academy first?"

Seeing that Lu Man's Dou Qi was gradually subsiding, Nalan Yanran nodded in agreement upon hearing her words, saying, "That would be for the best!"

Seeing that Nalan Yanran agreed without hesitation, Lu Man Man's doubts lessened somewhat.

The following day, Nalan Yanran followed Lu Man and the others towards Peace Town.

Meanwhile, in the Inner Academy of the Jia Nan Academy, after a day of battles, nearly half of the Strong Ranking contestants have been eliminated. The exciting battles between the strong were enough to amaze those who did not participate in the Strong Ranking Competition!

However, everyone else knew that this was only the first day of the elimination rounds, and the second and even third days of elimination rounds would be even more exciting. After the first day of elimination, only twenty-five people remained out of the fifty. Regardless of whether there was any element of luck involved in getting to this point, it at least showed that none of them were simpletons.

The most relaxed opponents were Zi Yan and Xiao Yu. Zi Yan's opponent was an arrogant guy named Bei Jun, while Xiao Yu's opponent was another student who had just entered the Strong Ranking from the Inner Academy's freshmen.

When Bei Jun saw that her opponent was a little girl, she was naturally extremely disdainful. In the end, she was kicked away by Zi Yan. As for Xiao Yu, it was even simpler. His opponent had witnessed Xiao Yu's previous moves and immediately withdrew from the competition as soon as he entered the arena, so Xiao Yu advanced directly.

Hu Jia and Wu Hao were eliminated in the first round by the veterans on the Strong Ranking. Hu Jia, with her proud nature, was quite frustrated for a while, while Wu Hao was much better off. Although he lost, he was happy to have been able to fight against other strong players on the Strong Ranking.

Xiao Yan's first opponent was Bai Cheng. After several months of training, Xiao Yan's strength was no longer what it used to be, and he easily defeated Bai Cheng. On the first day, they also witnessed the strength of the original top ten on the Strong Ranking, such as Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, Yan Hao, and Lin Yan.

Today is the second round of the competition. When Xiao Yu and his group arrived at the Inner Academy square again, everyone's eyes were on them. The momentum of the Pan Men in the Inner Academy had reached an unprecedented level!

"Pan Men!"

"Pan Men!"

"Zi Yan! Zi Yan!"

Standing next to Xiao Yu, Xun'er chuckled, "It seems that yesterday's battle has certainly boosted Zi Yan's reputation!"

Xiao Yu also looked at Zi Yan, who was walking at the front with her hands behind her back. Her mature appearance was quite endearing, making people forget her reputation as the "Brute Force King" for a moment!

Xiao Yu chuckled and said, "I really didn't expect that Zi Yan would like this kind of scene!"

Zi Yan, walking ahead, turned around upon hearing Xiao Yu's words and Xiao Yu, "Usually, people who don't know me look at me like I'm a child, but now it's different. They admire me. Humph, it's because your opponent forfeited yesterday. You're just jealous!"

Xiao Yu laughed and said, "Alright, alright, I'm just jealous!" As he spoke, he reached out and ruffled Zi Yan's hair.

Zi Yan pouted and shook her head, swatting Xiao Yu's hand away. Then she glared at Xiao Yu and said, "In this situation, can you please give me some face?"

Upon hearing Zi Yan's words, the group following Xiao Yu laughed. Not long after arriving at the high platform, Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, and the others also arrived.

Great Elder Su Qian announced the start of the competition as before, but this time, because twenty-five people had advanced, Great Elder Su Qian solemnly said, "After yesterday's elimination rounds, twenty-five people remain, meaning there is one extra. Therefore, after discussion by the Elder Council, we have decided to allow Zi Yan, Xiao Yu, and Lin Xiuya to advance to the Challenger Seat!"

"Challenger Seat? What is the Challenger Seat?"

"Why did they change the rules this year? That's not fair!"

"Nonsense, the Great Elder hasn't finished speaking yet!"

Sure enough, Great Elder Su Qian continued, "The Challenger Seat is a new rule added this year. After the remaining eleven people advance, any one of them can challenge any one of the three. I think you should all know their strength. Defeat any one of them, and then the top ten on the Strong Ranking will be determined!"

"If no one challenges them, the three of them will advance directly to the third round of the finals!"

"Did you all hear me clearly?" The Great Elder's voice slowly echoed throughout the entire square.