The Inner Academy Selection Tournament-Everyone Had Come to See Xiao Yan

Jia Nan Academy.

The Inner Academy Selection Tournament was underway in full swing.

On the competition stage, Dou Techniques of every color clashed and intertwined, bursting into brilliant flashes of light. Students from each class sat in their designated sections below, shouting themselves hoarse as they cheered on their classmates.

The place was packed with people and deafeningly noisy. The entire plaza was enveloped in an almost boiling atmosphere of excitement.

"There are quite a lot of people here to watch this year's selection tournament!" On the raised platform, Hu Gan gazed down at the densely packed students, surprise flickering across his aged face.

Although the Inner Academy Selection Tournament was the Outer Academy's most important annual event, the academy had never required students to attend. It was entirely up to them.

In previous years, filling half the stands with scattered spectators had already counted as lively. But this year, the entire seating area was packed, and even the aisles were full of people standing.

"Word that a freakishly talented student has appeared among the new students spread throughout the Outer Academy long ago. In my opinion, nine out of ten of these students came to see that prodigy," an Elder beside him said with a laugh.

Xiao Yan's talent had been the talk of the academy ever since he enrolled. Yet he rarely appeared in public, which only made him seem all the more mysterious.

The moment word got out that Xiao Yan would be taking part in this selection tournament, nearly the entire Outer Academy had been stirred into action. Everyone wanted to see with their own eyes what was so special about this legendary genius.

Did he have a nose and two eyes, just like an ordinary person?

"So that's why." Hu Gan nodded in sudden understanding, then remembered Xiao Yan's astonishing talent.

The smile on his old face was impossible to suppress. "That little fellow isn't just interesting to the students. Even I'm quite curious about him."

Over the years, he had heard no shortage of complaints from the Inner Academy Elders, who said that the students sent over from the Outer Academy were worse with every passing year.

Now that the Outer Academy had finally produced a prodigy like Xiao Yan, he could at last hold his head high. He wanted to see who would dare claim the students he recruited were poor quality.

Standing beside Hu Gan was a strikingly beautiful young woman dressed in a neat, practical outfit.

Hearing their conversation, her bright eyes lit up, curiosity piqued. "Grandpa, is this fellow named Xiao Yan really as amazing as you say?"

At her words, Hu Gan turned to look at his granddaughter. Seeing her rare display of curiosity, an indescribable thrill welled up in his heart.

His granddaughter was named Hu Jia. She excelled in every way, from talent to looks, but she had one troublesome flaw.

She had no interest in boys whatsoever, and was only interested in girls.

He had discovered this by accident earlier that year. Afterward, he had tried all sorts of ways, both direct and subtle, to change her, but with little success.

Now, to his astonishment, he had heard his granddaughter take the initiative to ask about a member of the opposite sex. Hu Gan felt tears welling in his eyes.

There was hope for his granddaughter after all.

He hurriedly gave Xiao Yan's talent, looks, and bearing an extravagant, glowing description.

In truth, he had only met Xiao Yan once. Aside from his talent and looks, which were indeed exceptional, everything else was made up on the spot, improvised with nothing but his silver tongue.

As expected, after hearing him out, Hu Jia developed a keen interest in Xiao Yan.

It just wasn't the sort of admiration a girl felt for a boy. She was excited because she wanted to fight Xiao Yan.

Hu Gan couldn't figure out what his granddaughter was thinking. But seeing that she had finally shown a hint of interest in the opposite sex, he considered the day a tremendous victory. In his good mood, even watching the matches became more enjoyable.

Grandfather and granddaughter stood side by side on the platform, watching the bouts below as they waited for Xiao Yan to appear.

In the stands reserved for Yellow Class Two, Ruo Lin had brought her students early and secured their seats.

Xiao Yu and Xue Ni sat on either side of her.

Xue Ni was as lively and cheerful as ever. Her round eyes roamed the competition grounds without pause, curious about everything.

Xiao Yu, however, looked somewhat aggrieved, her lips unconsciously pressed into a faint pout.

She hadn't seen Xiao Yan for over a month.

If she hadn't known how strong he was, she might have thought that fellow had died out there.

The thought of spending over a month alone in an empty courtyard made her feel inexplicably stifled.

Even though there was actually nothing between them.

"Mentor Ruo Lin, why hasn't Xiao Yan shown up yet? The selection tournament's been underway for so long." Xue Ni scanned the competition grounds again and again, but still couldn't find a trace of the mysterious genius from the stories. Unable to resist, she turned and asked.

She had never met Xiao Yan, and like everyone around her, she was curious about the legendary young man.

"I'm not sure either. That little fellow didn't even leave me a word before he left." Ruo Lin shook her head with a bitter smile.

Just thinking of Xiao Yan gave her a headache.

He had gone off to the Black-Corner Region by himself only a few days after enrolling, without even informing her, his mentor. She had found out from Xiao Yu.

Now the selection tournament was already more than halfway through, yet Xiao Yan was still nowhere to be seen. Ruo Lin couldn't help growing anxious.

If he didn't show up soon, the rules meant he would have to be counted as having forfeited.

Sure enough, the very thing they feared came to pass. Just then, the referee's loud voice rang out across the entire plaza:

"Tang Xin of Profound Class One versus Xiao Yan of Yellow Class Two!"

As soon as the words fell, the noisy plaza abruptly fell silent.

Countless gazes turned in unison toward the section where Yellow Class Two was seated, filled with anticipation and curiosity.

During this time, Xiao Yan's name had become known to everyone in the Outer Academy. At least half of the spectators who had come today were here specifically to see him.

Feeling the countless gazes directed their way, Ruo Lin's heart leapt into her throat. "Why hasn't that brat come back yet? It's almost his turn!"

Xiao Yu pressed her lips tightly together, her heart tightening too.

Could something have happened to Xiao Yan in the Black-Corner Region?

Hearing the referee's call, Tang Xin sprang onto the competition stage and landed steadily. He casually planted a long spear into the platform.

Folding his arms, he leaned against the spear shaft and closed his eyes as he waited.

The people in the Outer Academy had made Xiao Yan sound like some kind of legend, but Tang Xin had never believed those rumors, repeated until they were accepted as truth.

How strong could a new student be?

He refused to believe any of it.

Second after second passed, but the much-anticipated figure never appeared.

The whispers in the stands gradually turned into undisguised discussion.

"Why hasn't Xiao Yan come out yet? Could he be scared?"

"Looks like the rumors were wrong. Xiao Yan's probably all reputation and no substance..."

The discussion swelled, and soon there was no stopping it.

Xiao Yu's face flushed with anger. Several times she wanted to stand up and defend Xiao Yan, but how could one person's voice drown out a storm of doubts like this?

"Looks like Xiao Yan really is all reputation and no substance." Tang Xin shook his head, pulled out his spear, and turned to leave the stage.

"Grandpa, what's going on with this Xiao Yan?" Hu Jia asked, frowning as she turned to her grandfather.

Hu Gan was surprised too. He was just about to send someone to find out when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura rushing toward them at an astonishing speed.

He raised his brows and turned toward the horizon, his voice full of disbelief. "This aura... How is that possible?"