The referee then announced the start of the matches, and everyone took their places on their respective Martial Platforms. Ying Ming Hao's opponent was Xiao Yueleng of the Plain Maiden Sect.
Zhao Bufan vs. Lin Xiulan
Gu Xinghai vs. Xu Ran
Cai Dagui vs. Zhang Cheng
Qiu Yajing vs. Meng Dacheng
Wang Zhu vs. Liu Jingyuan
Ye Qingxuan vs. Ding Lei
Yang Fanyuan vs. Chen Xingxing
Gu Xingchen vs. Zhao Ning
Once both sides were ready, they exchanged brief but polite pleasantries.
Yet this courtesy was merely a formality, for everyone knew that an intensely fierce battle was about to unfold. Only the winners could advance to the top thirteen;
the losers would have to fall back to the second tier and take part in the brutal struggle for fourteenth through twenty-fifth place.
Although they would still have a chance to turn the tables and fight their way back toward the top later, everyone wanted to seize this precious opportunity firmly. None wished to let their halberds shatter and sink into the sand here.
"Ahem... Junior Sister Xiao, you can rest easy!
"We're practically half friends, after all, so of course I'll leave an opening in the net for you~ I promise I'll let you keep plenty of face!"
Ying Ming Hao lowered his voice and repeatedly winked at Xiao Yueleng, as though he did not consider her an opponent worth taking seriously at all.
Faced with such provocation and condescension, Xiao Yueleng felt utterly helpless. She was clearly two or three years older than Ying Ming Hao, yet this fellow had the gall to call her "Junior Sister"?
How outrageous!
Despite all her displeasure, however, Xiao Yueleng betrayed nothing on her face. Instead, she put on a perfectly measured expression of being overwhelmed by his favor and