The Top Hundred Decided!

In his next four matches, Li Yao drew Martial Masters of the Fifth and Sixth Ranks.

Two of them surrendered the moment they stepped onto the stage.

The other two knew how strong Li Yao was but still stepped up to fight him.

Li Yao admired people who pressed on despite knowing the odds were against them, so he deliberately held back. Even so, neither lasted three exchanges.

After those four matches, his Background Value rose from 3,700 to 14,000.

Meanwhile, the talk below the stage began to change its tune.

"Li Yao's seriously fierce. A Sixth-Rank Martial Master can't last a single move against him."

"You think he was pretending all along?"

"Pretending? To be what?"

"A lovesick fool. Think about it—he's the grandson of a Martial Saint, but he spent every day chasing after Yang Xiaoran. What was he after?"

"You mean... he acted like that on purpose so no one would notice him?"

"Maybe! Look at his strength. He's at least an Eighth-Rank Martial Master, yet he's always pretended to be Third Rank. What else could that be but deliberate?"

Li Yao heard them and nearly laughed aloud.

He remembered a line he had once seen online: Once I pass through the gates, great scholars will come to defend my cause.

Back when he was chasing Yang Xiaoran, the whole school had called him a lovesick fool, a good-for-nothing, and a disgrace to his nation-defending Great Family.

Now that he had shown his strength, people were speaking up for him, saying he had been disguising himself to avoid attention.

"Petty schemers, all of them," Li Yao muttered.

Only Liu Ming held his head high, as though he himself had won the matches.

"I knew you could do it."

Seeing Li Yao win filled Liu Ming with pride.

Li Yao smiled at Liu Ming and nodded.

A system notification sounded. "Ding! Congratulations to the host on winning the fifth round of the Semifinals and advancing to the top hundred. Background Value +3,000. Current Background Value: 17,000."

Li Yao went to the rest area and sat down in a chair.

Several students nearby saw him and hurried out of his way.

Li Yao paid them no mind. He leaned back and closed his eyes to rest. Then he heard people whispering nearby.

"Look, that's Li Yao, the Martial Saint's grandson."

"Holy shit, he's the Li Yao who chased Yang Xiaoran for three years?"

"Shh, keep it down. He's strong now. He hasn't lost once since the Preliminaries. He even knocked Liu Feng flat."

"So he was pretending before?"

"He had to be. How else could a Third-Rank Martial Master beat Liu Feng, who's Eighth Rank?"

"True. How could someone from a nation-defending Great Family really be a good-for-nothing?"

Li Yao opened his eyes and glanced at the speakers.

The two of them fell silent at once, lowering their heads and pretending to look at their phones.

Li Yao smiled but said nothing.

Just then, the referee teacher's voice rang out.

"The final match of this morning's Semifinals begins now, at the Seventh Arena in Area C!"

Li Yao stood and walked over to watch the match in Area C.

The remaining contestants there were fighting their final match. Its outcome would decide who made the top hundred.

On the stage, the two contestants were locked in a fierce struggle.

One wielded a Fire-Type Superpower, the other an Earth Element Superpower. Flames and chunks of stone collided in midair with a string of loud bangs.

Li Yao watched for a while, found it dull, and turned to leave.

Before long, the referee teacher's voice rang out again.

"The final match in Area C is over! The winner is Wang Hao!"

"With that, all one hundred places are decided!"

Cheers erupted from the stands.

The referee teacher continued, "This morning's Semifinals are over. Every student ranked within the top thousand may collect one hundred Spirit Stones from their teacher!"

"All contestants who advanced to the top hundred, gather at the Martial Arts Arena at three this afternoon to determine the top ten!"

Li Yao heard this and rolled his neck.

"The battle for the top ten is finally here."

He turned to leave, but someone suddenly called out behind him.

"Li Yao!"

Li Yao looked back and saw a girl standing a short distance away.

Yu Xuerou.

"Need something?" Li Yao asked.

Yu Xuerou walked over and looked at him. "Your performance today was quite a surprise."

"A surprise?" Li Yao smiled. "Seemed pretty normal to me."

"Were you pretending before?" Yu Xuerou asked.

"Guess," Li Yao said.

Yu Xuerou studied him for a moment, then said, "I'll give it everything I've got this afternoon."

"So will I," Li Yao said.

Yu Xuerou said nothing more and walked away.

Li Yao watched her go and smiled.

He left the Martial Arts Arena and found Li Wenbin waiting at the entrance.

"Young Master, congratulations on reaching the top hundred," Li Wenbin said with a smile.

"Nothing to it." Li Yao waved a hand. "Uncle Wenbin, how are things with the Yang Family?"

"They're still gathering Spirit Stones. They should have enough by tomorrow. Nothing else has happened," Li Wenbin said.

"Good. Let them gather them." Li Yao grinned. "When the time comes, I'll collect the Spirit Stones and deal with Lin Yun while I'm at it."

"Young Master, be careful in this afternoon's matches," Li Wenbin said. "There are bound to be strong fighters in the battle for the top ten."

"Strong fighters?" Li Yao smiled. "Since when have I, Li Yao, been afraid of strong fighters?"

Li Wenbin said nothing. He merely nodded.

Li Yao got into the car, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes to rest.

A system notification sounded in his mind. "Ding! Host's current Background Value: 17,000. The host is advised to increase his strength as soon as possible."

I know, Li Yao replied inwardly. I'm definitely winning this afternoon.

I, Li Yao, will claim a place in the top ten.