An easy victory!

Wang Shan reacted swiftly. Unfortunately, with Zi Yan's strength rivaling that of a Dou Huang expert, even a casual strike carried power that could not be underestimated.

Although Wang Shan possessed Earth-Attribute Dou Qi, famed for its defensive strength, his Dou Qi Armor shattered like rotten wood before a crushing storm the instant it met the force Zi Yan unleashed.

In the briefest instant, the armor burst apart, and that savage force punched mercilessly through it, slamming into Wang Shan's chest.

"Aaaah-!"

A heart-rending scream of agony tore through the square.

Wang Shan's body flew like a kite with its string snapped, crashing down below the arena. He could not get up again; only the rapid rise and fall of his chest showed that he was still alive.

In the stands, everyone seemed to have choked on something as they stared at the arena, dumbstruck.

Seeing Wang Shan lying helpless on the ground, everyone swallowed involuntarily. What happened? How could such a cute, harmless-looking little girl be so powerful? And so ruthless?

Wang Shan was one of the few Da Dou Shi in the Outer Academy, a strong contender for the top five. Had he really lost that easily?

Everyone exchanged bewildered looks. Had the world changed? First Jiang Yun, and now Zi Yan-was the bar for geniuses this year really that high? Weren't we all in the same cohort? How did I not know?

"What brute strength. That was entirely the power of her physical body. Just what kind of Magical Beast is this girl?" On the raised platform, Wu Tianlang stared intently at Zi Yan, a trace of shock lingering in his eyes.

Even he fell slightly short of the strength Zi Yan had just displayed-and he was a Peak Dou Emperor!

At Wu Tianlang's question, Hu Gan shook his head. He did not know Zi Yan's origins either, only that she was some kind of terrifying Magical Beast.

Only then did the referee in the arena finally recover his senses. After confirming that Wang Shan's life was not in danger, he swallowed and stammered, "Yellow Tier Class Three... Zi Yan wins!"

Throughout it all, however, he never dared look at Zi Yan.

"Tch, boring!" Zi Yan pursed her lips and waved a hand listlessly. With a stamp of her foot, her petite body shot into the air before landing lightly beside Jiang Yun. She smiled at him.

For a moment, the two drew most of the crowd's attention. Their classmates around them watched with awe and curiosity.

"You hit him a little too hard," Jiang Yun said softly, looking at Zi Yan's adorable, delicately sculpted face.

"Hmph-who knew he couldn't take a hit!" Zi Yan muttered indignantly. She had barely used any strength! She had already held back!

"Not everyone has the physical strength of a Magical Beast." Jiang Yun rubbed her little head.

"But you're not that weak either, Xiao Yun!" Zi Yan shook her head, trying to dislodge that "hateful" hand. But with Jiang Yun's years of experience, how could he let her succeed? In the end, she could only begrudgingly let him ravage her hair.

Hearing her answer, Jiang Yun paused, then gave a wry smile. "You! You can't hold everyone else to my standards!"

For the past three years, Zi Yan had either been running wild in the Magical Beast Forest or practicing Dou Techniques at Jiang Yun's insistence. She had yet to adjust to the standards of "ordinary" geniuses.

"Hehe, got it!" Seeing Jiang Yun's helpless expression, Zi Yan grinned, showing her cute little canine teeth. She patted his shoulder and declared proudly, "My Xiao Yun really is the strongest."

Looking at her sweet, guileless manner, Jiang Yun could not help laughing, the warmth in his eyes impossible to hide.

Over the next few days, the tournament proceeded smoothly.

The matches remained one-on-one; Hu Gan did not arrange any sort of battle royale. He simply passed Zi Yan directly, without counting her among the fifty available places, and automatically awarded her first place in the selection.

Naturally, the contestants unanimously applauded this decision. Only Zi Yan was unhappy. She had just three great passions in life: eating, Jiang Yun, and fighting.

Now Hu Gan had outright forbidden one of her favorite pastimes. It was simply hateful! Unfortunately, she could not beat him, so she could only angrily down three large bottles of pills before her mood improved considerably.

Jiang Yun, by contrast, was not as lucky as Zi Yan. He dutifully fought his way through the "qualifying matches," though as an Eight-Star Great Dou Master, his combat strength far surpassed others at his level.

No matter who his opponent was, Jiang Yun swept them aside like rotten wood before a crushing storm. No one ever saw him use a second move.

This sent Jiang Yun's popularity in the Outer Academy soaring. After all, a genius with looks, strength, and outstanding talent was in demand anywhere.

That day, Jiang Yun faced his final opponent in the tournament, in the match that would decide second place. First place already belonged by default to Zi Yan, who sat in the stands eating pills one after another.

Facing the young man before him-Song Yun, the Outer Academy's foremost genius and a six-star Da Dou Shi-Jiang Yun remained relaxed.

Song Yun, on the other hand, stayed constantly on guard as though facing a formidable enemy. Jiang Yun's achievements over the past few days had thundered in his ears. The last three-star Da Dou Shi had lost to a single palm strike, revealing nothing of Jiang Yun's limits. At the very least, Song Yun knew he could not have done the same.

The same three old fellows were still watching from the stands.

Looking at the two confronting each other in the arena, Hu Gan asked curiously, "Just how strong do you think Jiang Yun really is?"

"At least on par with a Nine-Star Great Dou Master!" Wu Tianlang's tiger-like eyes widened slightly, a sharp gleam flashing through them.

Elder Li nodded beside him. Judging by Jiang Yun's earlier performances, he was indeed a genius, with strength that seemed as unfathomable as a bottomless abyss.

"Let's hope Song Yun can make that youngster reveal a little more of his strength!"

All three fixed their eyes on the arena, hoping to glimpse Jiang Yun's true limits. Their curiosity was simply unbearable.

And so...

Song Yun, you can do it!

"Begin!" the referee announced after seeing that both contestants were ready.

As his words fell, Song Yun drew his treasured sword. Bright yellow flames curled around its blade as he rushed toward Jiang Yun and thrust at his chest.

Jiang Yun's eyes flickered. Using Mystic Steps, he advanced instead of retreating, swiftly closing in and leaving a trail of afterimages across the arena. Watching Song Yun thrust his sword forward, Jiang Yun struck with his palm, intending to repeat his earlier trick and send his opponent off the stage.

But Song Yun had abundant combat experience. He swiftly changed his swordplay, turning the thrust into a slash. If it landed, he was certain Jiang Yun could forget about keeping that hand.

Unfortunately, Jiang Yun seemed not to notice. He raised his hand and chopped down, a crystalline white light flashing across his palm.

"What?" Song Yun stared in horror at Jiang Yun's seemingly reckless move, his momentum faltering slightly.

With sharp eyes and swift hands, Jiang Yun seized the opening. In a flash, a clang rang out as he caught Song Yun's sword, then followed through with a palm strike.

Thud-!

A dull impact sounded as Song Yun landed at the edge of the arena. Before he could rise, something whistled through the air.

Clang-!

A sword gleaming with cold light plunged straight into the ground beside him, barely ten centimeters from his head.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead. Looking at the figure calmly watching him from a distance, Song Yun felt fear stir in his heart. Was this really an opponent I could defeat?

Once that thought arose, he could no longer muster any fighting spirit. He lowered his head dejectedly and said hoarsely, "I lost!"

An uproar erupted-!

With Song Yun's concession, the contest for second place in the Inner Academy Selection Tournament came to an end. The top two were dark horses no one had anticipated, setting the spectators abuzz.

"Senior Jiang Yun is incredible! He beats everyone in one move. I bet no one even forced him to use thirty percent of his strength!"

"And Jiang Yun is always so calm and composed. He knows exactly how far to go, too. He already carries himself like a true expert at such a young age."

"I wonder if Senior Jiang Yun is engaged. I could..."

"Wait, aren't you all older than him? And didn't you enroll earlier?"

"So what? Learning has no limits, and whoever excels is the teacher! Doesn't Jiang Yun's strength earn him the title of senior?"

"...Fair point!"

As voices full of admiration rose, many new students looked at Jiang Yun, the focus of everyone's attention in the arena, and felt bold ambition swell in their hearts. A thought arose alongside it.

I could take his place!

Unaware that he had become the subject of his juniors' fantasies, Jiang Yun had already returned to his class.

The students of Yellow Tier Class Three cheered when Jiang Yun returned. We might not know Jiang Yun well, but we're still his classmates!

This was fate. To put it more grandly, this was a fortuitous opportunity!

Jiang Yun suddenly noticed that the students were looking at him differently, leaving him somewhat baffled.

Instructor Wu En, however, could barely contain himself, almost moved to tears. Even though he had already rated Jiang Yun and Zi Yan's strength highly, he had never imagined that the champion would come from his class, much less that his students would claim both of the top two places. They had truly made him look good!

"Mm, not a bad fight." As soon as Jiang Yun returned to his seat, he saw Zi Yan slowly rise until her eyes were level with his. She patted his shoulder and spoke with the air of an old veteran.

Jiang Yun's face darkened at once. He raised his hand and gave the top of her head a tap, neither too hard nor too soft.

Bonk-! Crisp and clear-by the sound of it, that was a fine melon!

"Ow-you actually dared hit me! I'll fight you!" Zi Yan cried out, clutching her red-marked forehead and shouting through gritted teeth. A moment later, she unleashed a fierce dragon's roar and lunged into Jiang Yun's arms, her two little hands precisely grabbing his cheeks.

Clearly, she was a repeat offender!

As the first- and second-place winners of the tournament, Zi Yan and Jiang Yun naturally attracted most of the attention. Yet their antics left everyone utterly astonished.

Was this the world of monstrous geniuses?

"Did you see anything?"

"No. That brat hides his strength well! Or perhaps Song Yun was too weak to force him to show his real strength."

"Fine, then. Let those fellows in the Inner Academy test his limits!"

"I refuse to believe he won't take even those fellows in the Inner Academy seriously!"

When their quiet discussion ended, Hu Gan rose and walked to the center of the arena. After an inspiring speech, that year's Inner Academy Selection Tournament concluded successfully.

He also instructed Jiang Yun and the others to visit his office the following day.

The next day.

In a spacious, brightly lit room, bookshelves stood in crisscrossing rows, filled with all manner of old books that lent the room a particularly scholarly air.

Five figures stood before a broad desk: Jiang Yun, Zi Yan, Liu Zh Cun, Ling Feng, and Su Quan, the top five in this year's Inner Academy Selection Tournament.

"Good. You are the most gifted students in this year's Outer Academy cohort. But remember, the Inner Academy is not like the Outer Academy. Everyone who enters it is a genius like you. Moreover, strength reigns supreme there. Whoever has the hardest fists gets the best conditions for cultivation. That is why students entering the Inner Academy generally band together. Those who don't rarely meet pleasant ends!"

Hu Gan looked at the five before him and nodded in satisfaction. Especially when his gaze fell on Jiang Yun and Zi Yan, he could not hide the delight in his eyes. Still, to foster a sense of arrogance in them, he spoke with a solemn expression.

"Won't the academy intervene?" Su Quan, one of the only two girls among the five, first frowned as though something had occurred to her, then asked.

"We cultivators should advance bravely and relentlessly. As such, the academy will only guarantee your lives, while encouraging competition and combat between students." Hu Gan patiently explained the Inner Academy's harshness to them.

Jia Nan Academy had always been committed to making its students experience the cruelty of the continent. Thus, it did not forbid sparring and contests between students. Over time, this had fostered a fierce atmosphere in which the strong enjoyed special privileges.

If you wanted a position above others, then cultivate with everything you had. Strength could give you everything.

Apart from Jiang Yun and Zi Yan, the other three all wore solemn expressions. They now realized how serious the situation was. In the Outer Academy, they had been top experts who commanded the wind and clouds, but in the Inner Academy, they would have to start from scratch.

"Hmph—if anyone dares mess with me or Xiao Yun, I'll smash them with one punch!"

A clear, domineering voice broke the solemn atmosphere. Hu Gan's expression stiffened slightly. Looking down, he saw Zi Yan nonchalantly waving her little fist.

But Hu Gan knew exactly how much terrifying power lay within that tiny fist.

Why had a freak like Zi Yan appeared in this year's incoming class?

"Ahem." To conceal his embarrassment, Hu Gan could only deploy a tactical cough.

Jiang Yun looked teasingly at the embarrassed Vice Dean Hu Gan and raised his hand to rub the top of Zi Yan's head. Mm... still just as silky.

"You placed in the top five of this tournament. According to academy rules, you may try your luck in the Library Pavilion." Left at a loss by Zi Yan, Hu Gan could only change the subject.

Hu Gan then walked to a black wall and released an invisible ripple with a wave of his hand. The wall opened, revealing a pitch-black passage.

Hu Gan stepped inside first. Jiang Yun took Zi Yan's hand and followed immediately, with the others entering one after another.

Large Luminous Pearls were embedded in the walls of the passage. Their faint glow was somewhat hazy, but for the group, that little light was already enough.