The Top Ten Are Decided!
Li Yao stood in the Seventh Arena and waited ages, but not a single person came up.
He looked down. One by one, the people below lowered their heads and pretended to look elsewhere.
"Hey, any of you want to come up and try?"
No one answered.
"I really am Sixth Rank. If I'm lying, I'm a dog."
Still, no one moved.
Li Yao sighed and touched the corner of his mouth.
He had wiped away the little blood he had forced out long ago. Now he looked full of energy, standing straight as a spear. How did he look injured?
"Shit, this guy's definitely faking it," someone muttered.
"Exactly. Look at him. Does he look hurt to you?"
"I said all along he was hiding his strength, pretending to be in bad shape so people would go up there and throw themselves at him."
"Whoever wants to go can go. I'm not doing it."
"Me neither. Even Eighth-Rank fighters can't beat him. If I go up there at Seventh Rank, I'm just handing him my head."
By now, even a fool could tell Li Yao had been hiding his strength on purpose.
Otherwise, what Sixth-Rank Martial Master could take on so many opponents in a row without breaking a sweat?
And the way he had coughed up blood was clearly an act. How else could he still be so full of life?
They hated him so much their teeth itched, but none of them dared claim they could beat him.
Most of those remaining were Seventh-Rank Martial Masters. There were only a few at Eighth Rank, and more than half of them had already lost to Li Yao.
For once, Li Yao's Arena fell quiet.
Seeing this, Li Yao could only press a hand to his forehead and rub his head.
He glanced at the other Arenas.
At the First Arena, Ye Xiao stood with his arms crossed like a door guardian. No one dared approach.
At the Second Arena, Yu Xuerou stood there, cool and aloof as an iceberg. No one dared approach her either.
Challenges gradually began at the other Arenas, but they were mostly Seventh- and Eighth-Rank contestants testing one another. The fights weren't particularly fierce.
"Looks like there aren't any fools. These people are hard to trick."
Li Yao shook his head and simply sat cross-legged on the Arena.
He closed his eyes, settled his mind, and called out to the system.
"System, open the store."
A translucent blue panel appeared before his eyes.
Li Yao checked his Background Value: 24,000 points.
"Heaven-Rank Cultivation Technique 'Nine-Turn Profound Art'—redeemed, progress 75%"
"Earth-Rank Cultivation Technique 'Primordial Unity Art'—Background Value: 30,000 points"
"Spirit Artifact · Heaven-Piercing Sword—Background Value: 80,000 points"
"Pill · Marrow-Cleansing Pill—Background Value: 10,000 points"
"Superpower · Fire Control—Background Value: 20,000 points"
"Superpower · Lightning Control—Background Value: 25,000 points"
"Superpower · Wind Control—Background Value: 18,000 points"
Li Yao stared at the list, his eyes going wide.
"Holy shit, a Thunder-Type Superpower is only twenty-five thousand? That cheap?"
He was tempted, but after thinking it over, he decided to look around first.
"System, how much Background Value do I need to bring my Nine-Turn Profound Art to 100%?"
"Ding! Host's current Nine-Turn Profound Art progress is 80%. The remaining 20% requires 20,000 Background Value."
"Twenty thousand?" Li Yao did the math. He had 24,000 now, so he would still have some left afterward.
"Fine. Once the competition's over, I'll max out the technique." He was enjoying the thought when a commotion suddenly rose from below the Arena.
Li Yao opened his eyes and looked down. The other Arenas had finally grown lively.
An Eighth-Rank Martial Master jumped onto the Third Arena and started fighting its defender.
The two traded blows in a fierce exchange.
Challenges were underway at the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Arenas too.
But the fighters who had dared take those Arenas from the start were fierce, every last one. Despite the constant battles, the original defenders still held them all.
"Now that's interesting," Li Yao muttered.
He glanced at the First and Second Arenas again. No one dared go near either one.
Those two were both Ninth-Rank Martial Masters, in a league of their own among this year's contestants.
"Ye Xiao and Yu Xuerou really do have some skills."
Time ticked by.
Li Yao sat on the Arena, so bored he was almost falling asleep.
He looked at the other Arenas. The fights were fierce, but their outcomes were hardly in doubt.
The Third Arena's defender was Zhao Tiezhu, an Eighth-Rank Martial Master. His Iron Sand Palm roared through the air, and he knocked down everyone who challenged him.
The Fourth Arena's defender was Shi Lei, also Eighth Rank. His Earth Element superpower gave him exceptional defense. Others could pound on him for ages without budging him, and then he would send them flying with a single punch.
The Fifth Arena's defender was a young woman named Li Mengqi, an Eighth-Rank Martial Master. Her swordplay was razor-sharp, leaving every challenger floundering under her thrusts.
It was much the same at the other Arenas. All the defenders were Eighth-Rank Martial Masters, and none were weak.
As Li Yao watched, he began weighing them up.
These people have some real ability.
Just then, the referee's voice rang out.
"Time's up! The contest for the top ten is over!"
Li Yao blinked. It was over already?
He checked the other Arenas. Every defender was still standing. Not one had been knocked off.
"All Arena defenders, remain where you are! All other contestants, leave the field!"
The people below began to withdraw. The defeated challengers left one by one, their heads hanging.
Li Yao stood on his Arena and looked around.
First Arena: Ye Xiao.
Second Arena: Yu Xuerou.
Third Arena: Zhao Tiezhu.
Fourth Arena: Wang Lei.
Fifth Arena: Li Mengqi.
Sixth Arena: Zhou Hao, an Eighth-Rank Martial Master who wielded a long saber.
Seventh Arena: Li Yao.
Eighth Arena: Chen Wei, an Eighth-Rank Martial Master who fought with his iron fists.
Ninth Arena: Liu Yang, an Eighth-Rank Martial Master who used kicking techniques.
Tenth Arena: Zhang Tao, an Eighth-Rank Martial Master who wielded a long spear.
Of the ten, everyone was Eighth or Ninth Rank except Li Yao, who was Sixth Rank.
Looking at the lineup, Li Yao felt a little pleased with himself.
I made the top ten as a Sixth-Rank Martial Master. That makes me something of a legend, doesn't it?
As he thought that, the referee spoke again.
"Top ten contestants, assemble in front of the main platform!"
Li Yao jumped down and headed toward the main platform with the others.
In the stands, Principal Shi Jian rose to his feet. He looked at them with a satisfied smile.
"Not bad. This year's top ten are of a high standard." He paused, then continued, "The top-ten ranking matches will begin tomorrow at nine in the morning to decide the champion. Rest well today and get yourselves ready."
Li Yao was listening when the system sounded.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for advancing to the top ten. Background Value +5,000 points. Current Background Value: 29,000 points."
Li Yao froze for a moment, then broke into a grin.
Not bad, not bad. More Background Value coming in.
He was savoring the thought when someone beside him called out.
"Li Yao!"
Li Yao turned and saw Yu Xuerou.
Yu Xuerou walked up to him and said without expression, "You're strong."
Li Yao blinked, then smiled. "Am I? I think I'm pretty strong too."
Yu Xuerou ignored that and continued, "Tomorrow, I'll beat you."
Li Yao raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That confident?"
"It isn't confidence. It's a fact." With that, Yu Xuerou turned and left.
Li Yao watched her walk away and smiled.
"Interesting." He turned to leave as well.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
Li Yao took it out and saw that Li Wenbin was calling.
"Hey, Uncle Bin. What's up?"
"Young Master, I'm waiting for you at the school gate."
"Okay, I'll be right out." Li Yao hung up and hurried toward the gate.
As soon as he stepped out, he saw Li Wenbin standing beside a black sedan, his expression grave.
"Uncle Bin, what's wrong?"
"Young Master, get in the car first. We'll talk there."
Li Yao got in. Li Wenbin started the car and drove away from the school.
"Young Master, I just received word. It seems the Shangguan Family is making a move."
Li Yao raised an eyebrow. "What kind of move?"
"They seem to be investigating the old master's injuries. And they've made contact with people from the Lin Family."
Li Yao's face darkened. "The Lin Family? The Northern Border Lin Family?"
"Yes, that Northern Border Lin Family," Li Wenbin said. "I suspect they may have joined forces."
Li Yao leaned back against his seat, watching the streets pass outside as he considered it.
Looks like these muddy waters are getting deeper and deeper.