Challenge Tournament!

Lin Xia heard Xu Jian say that, and his brow immediately furrowed.

"What do you mean, 'Imperial University is about to fall from its pedestal'?"

"Ahem. Quiet down, everyone."

Just then, a deep male voice rang out from the loudspeakers all around them.

The familiar voice belonged to Director Xie Feng, standing on the raised platform.

As everyone turned to look toward the platform, they saw the director holding a microphone in one hand. With his other palm facing up and his fingers together, he gestured with utmost respect toward a white-haired old man standing beside him with his hands behind his back.

The old man wore loose, casual clothes. Though he stood about 1.7 meters tall, his posture was straight, and his face bore a resilient quality that the years could not erase.

Lin Xia had seen him in a photograph before. His surname was Yan, and he was the principal of Imperial University!

Principal Yan took the microphone Director Xie offered him. His brow furrowed as he spoke with a stern expression:

"Students, after the incident in the Artificial Secret Realm, we originally planned to postpone the Challenge Tournament.

"But Huajing University not only rejected our request, they deliberately slandered us, claiming we were trying to evade the fate of being demoted and didn't dare face them!"

As soon as Principal Yan finished speaking, the crowd erupted!

"Bullshit! We don't dare face them!?"

"Fuck Huajing University! A bunch of sons of bitches. Our juniors had their secret realm deliberately tampered with, and so many people were injured or killed... At a time this tragic, they're still insisting the tournament go ahead!?"

"I bet Huajing University was the one who tampered with the secret realm. After all, they're the only ones who stand to benefit!"

"..."

Lin Xia noticed something: most of the new students in his year looked bewildered, glancing at one another in confusion.

The ones shouting angrily were all upperclassmen.

Of course, there were three exceptions.

Zhu Tingyu, Wu Ziyang, and Xu Jian.

Their expressions showed they understood the whole story behind what had happened.

So Lin Xia immediately asked Xu Jian to explain it to him.

Xu Jian was dependable. He promptly gave him a thorough explanation.

In City S, there were two universities known as "two supreme powers from one school" and "mortal enemies in the same city."

They were Imperial University and Huajing University.

These two universities had long held the top spots across the Empire, monopolizing nearly all its exceptional talents. Outsiders even called them "talent factories"!

However, Imperial University had always maintained the upper hand over Huajing University.

After all, there was only one title of Great Xia First Academy.

So, in its bid to seize that title and monopolize the vast amount of rare resources the government awarded each year, Huajing University had challenged Imperial University.

As expected, the Great Xia Empire approved.

According to the rules, if Huajing University defeated Imperial University in the Challenge Tournament three years in a row, it would be promoted to the new Great Xia First Academy!

And this was the third year.

In the first two years, Huajing University had easily defeated Imperial University thanks to "that man."

If Imperial University lost again in tomorrow's competition, then... it would no longer be the Great Xia First Academy. Huajing University would take its place!

The entry requirements were relatively low, so more students would have a chance to become a "hero."

Anyone whose level was at least level 5 could compete.

As for upperclassmen whose levels were much higher than 5, they could simply suppress their levels down to 5.

In other words, all the Awakeners competing would be level 5.

After listening to Xu Jian's explanation, Lin Xia had a general understanding of the situation.

But when he asked who "that man" was—the one who had crushed Imperial University—fear flashed in Xu Jian's eyes. "Qin Tianyu, an SSR-class Awakener two years ahead of us!"

"Qin Tianyu..."

Lin Xia hadn't paid attention to the exceptional talents emerging each year back in high school, so the name meant little to him.

Just then, as the noise on the sports field gradually died down, Principal Yan continued:

"Regardless, tomorrow's Challenge Tournament must go ahead.

"I'm sure you all understand that this is the crucial battle that will determine whether Imperial University can defend its title as the 'First Academy'!

"If we lose that title, all the abundant resources we currently enjoy will disappear!

"So I hope all our teachers and students will come to the competition tomorrow and cheer on the students who take part!"

At that, the students on the sports field raised their hands and shouted in unison, all declaring they would be there.

Seeing this, Principal Yan and the other school leaders beside him smiled with satisfaction.

But their smiles soon froze, replaced by expressions of disappointment.

It was Director Xie's turn to speak. He took the microphone and fell silent for a moment before saying, "The five participants we originally selected have all withdrawn for various reasons... So we need to choose new participants. That's why we've gathered you here today."

After saying this, Director Xie glanced awkwardly toward the principal and the other leaders.

He saw that their expressions were just as grim as his.

Because Xie Feng had lied.

More precisely, all the school leaders had lied.

In truth, they hadn't recruited five participants at all.

Starting six months ago, Imperial University had sent a private message to every student's status panel once a week.

That private message had been an invitation to sign up for the Challenge Tournament.

But by yesterday, not a single person had signed up!

As for why things had turned out this way, all the school leaders knew the reason.

It was because Qin Tianyu of Huajing University was not only powerful, but also vicious!

The only restriction in the Challenge Tournament was that participants could not kill their opponents.

So Qin Tianyu carefully walked that line every time, beating Imperial University's participants half to death without actually killing them.

But even if they were saved, participants who suffered such severe injuries would have no future to speak of.

That was because Qin Tianyu would deliberately cripple their hands and feet. Most infuriating of all, during last year's tournament, an Imperial University student had clearly surrendered, yet Qin Tianyu still cut off his right arm!

Afterward, he escaped punishment with nothing more than, "I didn't notice he'd surrendered!"

As a result, the students at Imperial University were all afraid for their safety.

That was why, even now, with Director Xie having gathered all the students and publicly explained the importance of the Challenge Tournament, no one stepped forward to sign up...

After all, surely they couldn't sacrifice their future for the school's honor?

It wasn't that they lacked a sense of responsibility. They simply understood their own abilities.

They all knew they were no match for Qin Tianyu.

After all, Qin Tianyu had been born into a family of martial artists. Not only that, but he was rumored to have ties to an assassin organization...

"How about I sign up for the tournament!"

A resolute voice suddenly rang out across the utterly silent sports field, though its tone carried a hint of mockery.