The Competition Begins

"In the elimination rounds, each academy team competed every other day. In other words, after every elimination match, you would have one day to rest and recover.

"However, one day was neither particularly long nor particularly short. If you were seriously injured during a match, there was a good chance you would be unable to continue into the next one. Therefore, in every match, your first priority must be ensuring your own safety."

After receiving responses from all the students, Grandmaster continued, "After the elimination rounds, the remaining sixteen teams will enter the quarterfinals, where eight teams will be selected to continue. Then comes the semifinals, narrowing eight teams down to four. Finally, the four teams will be reduced to three for the finals, using one-on-one elimination matches to determine which team receives a bye.

"The team receiving the bye will advance directly to the final, while the other two teams must fight a team battle. The winner will then face the team that received the bye. However, the team with the bye clearly holds an enormous advantage. Not only can it conserve its strength, but it can also gauge your true abilities.

"Although no one other than members of the competing teams will be allowed to watch the final match, this is Spirit Hall. Even if no one from that team can come to watch, the Pope and Spirit Hall's elders can. So once they know, it is equivalent to Spirit Hall's team knowing. Do you understand?"

Everyone nodded.

Grandmaster then looked at Tang Liu. "So, Xiao Liu, if we do not receive a bye in the end, you will have to take the lead in our match against the other team. Try not to let the others reveal too much of their strength."

Tang Liu nodded. "Yes."

Grandmaster