Blazing Fire Academy Selection Trials Begin

Dozens of upperclassmen stood in neat rows below the platform. Every one of them looked excited, their faces beaming with bright smiles. Huo Lei, Huo Wu, and Huo Wushuang were among them, standing in the very front row.

"The selection trials will be held here tomorrow morning at nine. Any students who wish to participate should register with Teacher Xie Chong after dismissal. All right! Dismissed." Huo Feng spoke again and gestured toward the middle-aged male teacher standing beside him.

Xie Chong smiled and nodded in response to Dean Huo Feng, then waved at the crowd.

A stir ran through the onlookers. "Teacher Xie Chong is my idol. He became a Soul Sage before turning forty—so enviable." "Teacher Xie Chong is so handsome. I heard he still isn't married. Once I graduate..."

The upperclassmen in the square swarmed toward Xie Chong, who held paper and pen in hand. Huo Lei, Huo Wu, and Huo Wushuang alone did not go to register, because they did not need to. Teacher Xie Chong would write down their names himself. Everyone knew the three of them would certainly participate. Not only would they join the selection trials, they would also serve as the main force in the Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

"Brother, what do you think about this Soul Master Tournament? Any thoughts?" Huo Lei asked with a smile as he looked at Huo Wushuang.

Huo Wushuang pondered for a moment before saying, "Every Soul Master Tournament brings forth quite a few geniuses, and this one certainly won't be any different. It will definitely be a hard battle. I don't know about the other academies, but take the Five Element Academies as an example—every academy follows an extreme path, and the competition is fierce every year. Godwind Academy is the closest to us. That Feng Xiaotian broke through to level forty-four not long ago, and he's remarkably strong. I sparred with him once, and I was utterly defeated."

"Oh, really? Hahaha! That Feng Xiaotian is a regular at our academy. He always comes over under the pretext of sparring, though he doesn't seem to have visited lately. Still! Feng Xiaotian is nothing to fear. As long as Sister steps in, Feng Xiaotian is guaranteed to lose."

Huo Lei winked at Huo Wushuang suggestively.

"Hahaha! Yes, yes! Even if Feng Xiaotian had ten times the nerve, he still wouldn't dare defeat my sister!"

Huo Wushuang smiled in agreement, not forgetting to tease her.

"What are you two winking at each other for? You're clearly implying something. Luckily, the herbs Huo Lei gave me allowed my level to surpass Feng Xiaotian's. Otherwise, judging by my previous cultivation progress, my level would definitely have fallen behind his. Even though my level is higher than Feng Xiaotian's now, I still might not be his match in a one-on-one fight. Unless you go up, Huo Lei—then there would be a chance of beating him."

Huo Wu rolled her eyes at her brother and younger brother after hearing them tease her, then voiced her opinion.

"Let's go! Time for dinner. Tomorrow, we'll see who earns a spot in the Soul Master Tournament." Huo Wu called out to her brother and younger brother, then took the lead toward the academy cafeteria.

Eight o'clock the next morning.

Some students had already gathered in the square before Blazing Fire Academy. Most were lower-grade students who had come to watch the excitement. Only a small number were upperclassmen, who had come over to wait after breakfast.

There was still an hour before the selection trials began. The dean and teachers had not yet arrived.

Fifteen minutes later, more students arrived to watch.

Thirty minutes later, Huo Lei, Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and the upperclassmen had basically all arrived.

Forty-five minutes later, the dean and teachers also reached the venue.

Xie Chong, the teacher responsible for registration yesterday, pulled a pocket watch from his robes. After checking the time, he quietly said something to Dean Huo Feng beside him. Huo Feng nodded and rose from his seat. Xie Chong and several middle-aged male teachers seated on Huo Feng's other side hurriedly stood as well.

"Students, please be quiet! There are five minutes remaining before the selection trials begin. Upperclassmen participating in the competition, please prepare yourselves and be ready to take the stage at any time. These selection trials are extremely important. I hope all participating students will take them seriously and perform to the best of their abilities. Students who are watching, please keep a safe distance to avoid accidental injuries. This academy hereby announces that the selection trials have officially begun. Teacher Xie Chong will read out the names of the participants. Please welcome him."

After giving his instructions, Huo Feng officially opened the selection trials.

Huo Feng was the first to applaud, then he returned to his seat. Teachers and students throughout the venue broke into thunderous applause, while cheers rose one after another.

Xie Chong stood and gave a deep bow toward the front. "Thank you to the dean for his trust and to everyone for your applause. There are twenty-three participants in this competition. The format is free challenge, with no predetermined matchups. I will announce one student to enter the arena, and any other participant may challenge them. However, only one person may enter at a time, meaning one-on-one matches. The loser will be eliminated, while the winner will advance to the subsequent rounds. If no one challenges them, they will advance automatically. Now, I announce the first participant—Huo Wushuang."

Cheers erupted from the spectators. "Senior Wushuang! Senior Wushuang! ..."

Upon hearing his name, Huo Wushuang quickly walked from the crowd to the center of the square. He cupped his fists in salute toward the dean and teachers, then looked toward the upperclassmen and said, "Which student is willing to step forward?"

All the upperclassmen stirred, whispering and murmuring among themselves, yet no one stepped forward.

The curious gazes of the onlookers turned toward the upperclassmen, wanting to see who would come out and challenge Huo Wushuang.

After a while, not a single person came forward to challenge Huo Wushuang. Xie Chong announced, "Huo Wushuang advances automatically."

"Next up—Huo Wu."

Xie Chong announced loudly.

The crowd erupted once more, their cheers even louder than they had been for Huo Wushuang. "Senior Huo Wu! Senior Huo Wu! ..."

Huo Wu strode quickly into the square, looked toward the upperclassmen, and called out, "Who will fight me?"

The same situation occurred. Not a single person came forward to challenge her.

"Huo Wu advances automatically."

Xie Chong loudly announced the result, then called out Huo Lei's name.

The instant Huo Lei's name was announced, cheers rang out from the crowd. The cries of the female students were especially louder than those of the male students.

"Huo Lei! Huo Lei! He'll surely take first place!"

"Huo Lei! Huo Lei! He'll surely take first place! ..."

Huo Lei entered the center of the square with a smile and waved his arms in greeting to everyone.

"Dean, Young Master Huo Lei's support is incredible! It seems that in this Soul Master Elite Tournament, Young Master Huo Lei will surely shine brilliantly."

Xie Chong smiled as he praised Huo Lei to Huo Feng beside him.

Huo Feng chuckled. "Teacher Xie Chong, you flatter him."

Huo Lei did not say anything. He simply kept waving to the watching students around him in greeting. He did not look like he was taking part in a competition at all, but rather like he was holding a personal concert.

A moment later, Xie Chong announced the result. Huo Lei advanced automatically without any dispute. This outcome was entirely within his expectations.

Not long ago, he and his sister had faced Huo Zheng, a Soul Emperor. The strength he had displayed at the time was that of a Soul King. Among Blazing Fire Academy's students, his level was the highest by a vast margin. After his battle with Huo Zheng, word had spread throughout the academy within just a few days. He had even become the dream lover of every female student in the academy. From then on, he became a topic of conversation after meals and tea, and everyone treated him politely whenever they saw him.

"Students, please be quiet! Next up—Huo Lie." Xie Chong's voice rang out once again.

The spectators largely quieted down. The previous cheers were gone, replaced by hushed conversations and whispers.