Imperial Capital University's President-Shi Jian!

Three in the afternoon.

Imperial Capital University's Martial Arts Arena.

Li Yao had come straight after lunch. Now he stood at the edge of the arena, staring at the empty grounds, his brow furrowed tight enough to crush a fly.

Even more students had come to watch than in the morning. The stands were packed, the aisles were full, and the entrance was choked with people.

Li Yao took out his phone and checked the rules again.

"Wait, isn't the battle for the top ten supposed to be fought on arenas?"

He looked up at the grounds. There were only four arenas at most, the same ones used for the morning's Semifinals.

But the rules said it plainly: the battle for the top ten would use ten arenas, with contestants defending their positions.

"So where are the arenas?" Li Yao rubbed his chin and checked the rules once more.

The rules were clear. Once the competition began, anyone confident in their strength could step onto an arena and become its defender.

The contestants below would decide which defender to challenge based on their own strength.

For fairness, each arena could be challenged only once every half-hour; the defender would have the remaining time to recover.

Otherwise, challengers could take turns wearing a defender down, which would be unfair.

Of course, a defender could also choose to forgo the rest.

"But there aren't even any arenas here!"

While Li Yao was puzzling over it, a commotion suddenly rose from the entrance.

"It's President Shi Jian! He came in person!"

The minor officials in the stands sprang up as though someone had pumped them full of chicken blood and rushed toward the entrance.

Li Yao's attention was drawn there too.

A plump old man walked in.

He looked to be in his sixties, with a kindly face and a cheerful smile, like a friendly old neighbor.

But Li Yao immediately caught the ruthless glint that flashed through his eyes. He could feel the man's Killing Intent even from far away.

"So that's how it is."

The confusion vanished from Li Yao's eyes.

Shi Jian, president of Imperial Capital University, was a Stone Superpower user. He had once served on the border and had become president only after retiring.

Li Yao had read his file in the Lineage's records. Supposedly, Shi Jian had taken down three Demon Emperor-level Demons single-handedly while stationed at the border.

He really is a formidable man. No wonder he's a veteran of the border.

Li Yao felt a chill of respect.

Truthfully, he admired people like that.

Everyone who defended their country deserved respect.

Surrounded by the crowd, Shi Jian made his way to the highest point of the stands.

He sat down slowly, then said, "All right, please quiet down."

His voice was not loud, but Spiritual Power carried it clearly to every ear, resonant without being harsh.

The noisy crowd fell silent at once. Shi Jian watched them and nodded slowly.

"Good," he continued. "All contestants in the top one hundred, step onto the arenas."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. In an instant, figures filled the arenas.

Li Yao joined them. He picked an arena in the middle and stepped up without pushing toward the front.

He had no desire to be the nail that stuck out. Better to keep a low profile.

Shi Jian's gaze swept across them one by one.

"Excellent!" he said. "This year's Martial Arts Tournament has a strong field!"

"I hope every one of you has a bright future and plenty of room to grow."

"Come!"

At that single word, six stone arenas drifted through the sky before everyone's disbelieving eyes!

Yes, drifted.

The six stone arenas, each three or four meters tall, floated through the air toward the Martial Arts Arena.

The crowd erupted.

"Holy shit! That's the president for you. What a way to make an entrance."

"Damn! Did the president make those arenas himself?"

"That's insane! What level of power does that take?"

"He rules the skies when it comes to showing off! Who wouldn't offer the president a cigarette?"

Li Yao was stunned too.

He looked up at the six stone arenas, one thought filling his mind.

Damn, this old president really knows how to show off.

The six stone arenas slowly descended onto the grounds, lining up beside the original four. Ten arenas exactly.

Shi Jian stood and clapped his hands.

"All right. The battle for the top ten begins now."

"There are ten arenas. Choose whichever you like and defend it."

"Defenders may rest on their arenas or choose not to, but each arena can be challenged only once every half-hour."

"If a defender goes half an hour without being challenged, they advance automatically."

"Is that clear?"

"Clear!" all one hundred contestants answered in unison.

Shi Jian nodded and sat back down.

Li Yao studied the ten arenas, weighing his options.

He was currently a Sixth-Rank Martial Master. Although the Nine-Turn Profound Art gave him strength comparable to a Ninth-Rank Martial Master, the contenders for the top ten were bound to be Eighth- and Ninth-Rank experts.

I should pick an arena farther back and secure a top-ten spot first.

Li Yao glanced around. Contestants had already taken positions on several arenas at the front.

Ye Xiao, first on Imperial Capital University's Strength Rankings and a Ninth-Rank Martial Master, went straight to the first arena.

Yu Xuerou, second on the Strength Rankings and also a Ninth-Rank Martial Master, took the second.

Several others in the top ten of the Strength Rankings had claimed arenas of their own.

After a moment's thought, Li Yao walked up to the Seventh Arena and leaped onto it.

"This one will do."

He stood on the arena and looked at the people below.

They looked back at him.

"Li Yao? He took the Seventh Arena?"

"Is he crazy? That arena's meant for the person ranked seventh!"

"He's only a Sixth-Rank Martial Master, and he dares defend an arena?"

"Winning against Liu Feng this morning must have gone to his head. Does he think he's invincible?"

Li Yao heard them but did not get angry. He smiled.

"If you've got the guts, come up here and fight me."

That set the crowd off even more.

"Damn! He's provoking us!"

"Get up there! Take him down!"

"Who's going?"

"I am!"

Ding! The host has stepped onto the Seventh Arena and successfully provoked others, triggering a side quest: gain 1,000 Background Value for every challenger defeated. No upper limit.

System, I love you!!!

Li Yao nearly went wild with delight when he heard the system.

This system really knows what I want. This is great.

A burly young man jumped onto the Seventh Arena.

Li Yao looked him over. He did not recognize him.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Wang Meng. I'm an Eighth-Rank Martial Master! Let's fight!"

The moment Wang Meng finished speaking, he threw a punch at Li Yao.

Li Yao slipped aside, dodged the punch, and kicked Wang Meng in the shin.

Wang Meng stumbled and nearly fell.

"That's it?"

Li Yao smiled.

Wang Meng's face flushed red. With a roar, he swung another punch.

This time, Li Yao did not dodge. He met it with a punch of his own.

Bang!

Their fists collided. Wang Meng flew backward and crashed below the arena.

The stands went silent.

"Holy shit! Li Yao won again?"

"How is a Sixth-Rank Martial Master that strong?"

"Was he really hiding his strength?"

Li Yao stood on the arena and dusted off his hands. Looking down at Wang Meng, he smiled and said, "Brother, you're not up to it."

Wang Meng got to his feet, his face dark. Without a word, he turned and left.

Li Yao looked at the people below. "Who's next? I'm begging you, come up here and beat me to death, will you?"

The people below exchanged glances. No one moved.

The system's voice rang in Li Yao's mind: "Ding! Congratulations, host, on your first victory in the battle for the top ten. Background Value +1,000. Current Background Value: 18,000."