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That evening, the council hall of the Chen residence blazed with light.
Jixiang spread the revised tournament schedule across the long central table and said gravely, "The tournament is now entering its middle and late stages. The hard battles have begun."
"According to the new matchups, our team will most likely face two top-ranked teams from other divisions over the next three rounds."
"As for the seven second-ranked academies, we've already faced Divine Wind, Thunderclap, and Qing Lin. We need to keep an eye on the remaining four as well."
Beside him, Yan Nan studied the schedule and added, "There are eight qualification spots. Unless something very unexpected happens, the situation should be largely settled by the end of the fourth round. We might even know who advances before then."
Ji Shuran offered a different observation. "There's another development worth watching."
"With the marked improvement in several academies from Fasinuo Province, I've clearly sensed from the viewing stand that the other provinces have sharply raised their assessment of us as a whole."
"The various forces have already begun paying much closer attention to our province's academies."
He paused briefly and looked around at everyone. "The changes this attention brings will likely affect the strategic choices of the other academies. Those under-the-table deals made to compete for benefits or block potential rivals are becoming more frequent. The undercurrents beneath the surface are growing turbulent."
Jixiang picked up the thread, his tone growing heavier. "Yes. And word has already begun circulating that the next tournament may add another eight spots in the finals. The empire expects to receive two or three of those new spots."
He tapped the tabletop with a fingertip. "As for how those spots will be distributed, rumor has it that the