Three Straight Wins, the Final Showdown Begins

In the square, Chu Bai's tireless figure, repeating the same drills until they almost seemed dull, struck the heart of every candidate like a silent hammer.

The discouragement and urge to retreat that Ji Li's breakthrough had stirred in them were gradually driven away by the young man's persistence.

It was true.

Unlike those who had begun thinking of giving up, the one truly facing Ji Li's mountain-like pressure was Chu Bai.

After all, they had already secured their places. Even if they met Ji Li in the Arena later, surrendering outright to preserve their strength would be nothing shameful, even before the watching crowd.

Who would fault someone at Qi Refining Third Layer for not daring to fight someone at Qi Refining Fourth Layer?

But Chu Bai was different.

He carried the honor of the freshmen and the record he had built by standing toe-to-toe with Ji Li through the first two rounds.

Now, facing a seemingly invincible foe who had broken through on the eve of battle, he neither complained nor gave up. He did not waver for even an instant.

He simply seized every last minute, every last second, desperately honing himself and searching for that sliver of a chance to win.

"That kind of resolve..."

Lü Qing drew a deep breath. Fighting spirit rekindled in his eyes, and his intention to merely go through the motions vanished. "I can't lose to a junior, either."

Even several candidates nearby who had still been debating whether to compete for a higher rank straightened up, eager to catch up.

Atop the high platform.

Judge Li watched the scene below and gently stroked his beard. Approval filled his eyes as he said slowly:

"That young man has promise."

How could he not have known that granting the White Ordination ahead