The Luck of the Gods Strikes: A Bye in the Draw!

The other four arenas had already produced their winners.

In the first arena, Ye Xiao stood with his arms crossed, his face expressionless. He looked as though nothing had happened, as though he had not fought at all.

But at his feet, Zhang Tao lay on the ground, gasping for breath. His clothes were in tatters, and his face was covered in bruises.

In the second arena, Yu Xuerou stood brushing dust from her clothes. Her expression was calm, as though nothing had happened.

Across from her, Liu Yang lay facedown and motionless. No one knew whether he had passed out or simply did not want to get up.

In the third arena, Zhao Tiezhu and Chen Wei had finished their fight too.

Zhao Tiezhu had won, but he was in bad shape. He was covered in wounds, his breathing came fast, and sweat poured down his face in great drops.

Chen Wei had lost, but he lay on the ground catching his breath with a smile on his lips, seemingly pleased with the fight.

The fifth arena had seen a fierce battle too. Li Mengqi stood leaning on her sword, covered in cuts, her clothes stained red with blood.

Across from her, Zhou Hao lay clutching his chest, unable to get up.

In the fourth arena stood Li Yao.

The referee swept his gaze across the arenas and shouted, "The top five have been decided!"

"Ye Xiao! Yu Xuerou! Zhao Tiezhu! Li Mengqi! Li Yao!"

"The rankings of the other four in the top ten remain unchanged! Wang Lei is provisionally sixth!"

The crowd below erupted.

"Holy shit, the top five are monsters!"

"Ye Xiao and Yu Xuerou crushed their opponents. Zhao Tiezhu and Li Mengqi fought tooth and nail. But Li Yao... why did that kid look like he was out for a stroll?"

"You don't know shit. Li Yao was showing off. Didn't you see him fight Wang Lei? First he made it look like they were evenly matched, then he sent the guy flying with one punch!"

"True. That kid's been hiding a lot."

"But what happens now? How do they pick the top three from five?"

"No idea. Let's hear what the referee says."

The referee cleared his throat. "Now for the rules to decide the top three!"

"Opponents will be drawn in pairs! One person gets a bye!"

Whoa!

The moment he finished speaking, the crowd erupted again.

"What? A bye?"

"There's a bye? So someone gets straight into the top three?"

"Holy shit, then it comes down to luck?"

"Is that really fair? The others have to keep fighting without a break!"

"Who cares if it's fair? Luck is part of strength too!"

"If I got a bye, I'd wake up laughing!"

"Wake up laughing? You couldn't even make the top five!"

"..."

Li Yao's eyes lit up when he heard that.

A bye? Now that sounds good. I could coast straight into the top three and save myself a fight.

The referee continued, "Next, the draw!"

"All five of you, step forward!"

Li Yao jumped down from the arena and strode over.

Ye Xiao, Yu Xuerou, Zhao Tiezhu, and Li Mengqi jumped down from their arenas and followed.

The five stood before the referee, waiting to draw.

Everyone in the crowd watched them nervously.

"Shit, who's going to get the bye?"

"My money's on Ye Xiao. He's always lucky."

"I'm betting on Li Yao. That kid's luck is off the charts today."

"Quiet down and watch!"

The referee brought out a tube holding five lots.

"Each lot has a name written on it. Whoever draws the one marked 'Bye' advances directly to the top three!"

"The other four will fight in pairs!"

With that, he held out the tube to the five of them.

Ye Xiao reached in first and drew a lot.

He glanced at it, then raised it without a change in expression.

It read—Zhao Tiezhu.

"Ye Xiao versus Zhao Tiezhu!"

Another stir ran through the crowd.

"Shit, Zhao Tiezhu's in trouble. He just finished fighting, and he's in such bad shape. Facing Ye Xiao now is like serving himself up on a platter!"

"Can't be helped. Bad luck."

"Ye Xiao's place in the top three is practically guaranteed."

Zhao Tiezhu went pale. He gritted his teeth but said nothing.

Yu Xuerou reached in second and drew a lot.

She glanced at it, then raised it, her expression calm.

It read—Li Mengqi.

"Yu Xuerou versus Li Mengqi!"

Li Mengqi's expression changed too. She was in even worse shape than Zhao Tiezhu, covered from head to toe in cuts, her Spiritual Power nearly spent. Against Yu Xuerou, she had almost no chance.

"Li Mengqi's in trouble too. How's she supposed to fight Yu Xuerou like that?"

"She might as well hand her the win."

"Does that mean Li Yao gets the bye?"

"Damn, I think it does..."

"That guy's luck really is..."

Li Yao took a deep breath, reached out, grasped the remaining lot, and pulled it free.

He looked down. Sure enough.

Two large words stood out on the lot—Bye!

"Holy shit! Yes!"

Li Yao's eyes lit up, and he could not help shouting.

"Good luck finally came my way! I got the bye! Hahahaha!"

The crowd exploded!

"Holy shit! Li Yao really got the bye!"

"That kid's way too lucky!"

"He gets to coast straight into the top three!"

"I'm jealous. I'm so damn jealous!"

"That's not fair! Why does he get the bye?"

"What do you mean, why? Luck is part of strength too!"

Ye Xiao glanced at Li Yao, his expression unchanged.

Yu Xuerou looked at him too and gave a slight nod without speaking.

Zhao Tiezhu and Li Mengqi stared at him with envy written all over their faces. They looked ready to snatch the lot from his hands.

The referee announced, "The draw is decided! Ye Xiao versus Zhao Tiezhu! Yu Xuerou versus Li Mengqi! Li Yao gets the bye and advances directly to the top three!"

Cheers and chatter rose from the crowd again.

"That Li Yao kid stepped in dog shit today!"

"If I were him, I'd be laughing myself to death!"

"His place in the top three is locked in!"

Li Yao tucked the lot into his pocket and grinned.

"A bye's great. Saves me a fight."

He turned toward Wang Lei, who stood below the arena, watching him with a face full of resentment.

Li Yao flashed him a smile. "See that? Your boss really is this lucky."

Wang Lei gritted his teeth and said nothing, but defiance filled his eyes.