As the best Martial Arts High School in Qingshan City, Qingshan First High School's Training Ground was no smaller in scale than Linhai First High School's.
At this moment, the Training Ground was already abuzz with voices.
More than half of the spectator stands, which could accommodate over a thousand people, were filled, the vast majority of them students from various departments of Qingshan First High School.
They discussed things animatedly, their voices rising and falling one after another.
"Only Senior Tang will be competing later."
"Seriously? Why?"
"This... it's a little embarrassing to say, but apparently every member of our school team got beaten into the hospital by that Jiang Qingzhu from Linhai First High School this morning. Senior Tang is the only one left who can fight."
"You're full of crap. That Jiang Qingzhu is really that badass?!"
"He really isn't making it up. And it wasn't just the school team—the entire senior year martial arts department has more than half its students down! Haven't you noticed that section of the spectator stands is empty?"
"Holy shit? It really is!"
"Holy shit, then what the hell are we even fighting for?"
"Don't panic! Even if they have a Jiang Qingzhu, don't we still have Senior Tang holding the fort? Stay calm!"
"Is Senior Tang going to pull off another one-versus-seven this time? I remember she did exactly that during the Exchange Competition against Yushui City last time, right?"
"Now that you mention it, I'm getting a little excited. Senior Tang is truly skilled enough to be bold!"
"Exactly. Senior Tang is strong and beautiful. Wei Zhi really got lucky..."
"Wait, who's Wei Zhi? Why haven't I heard that Senior Tang is dating someone?"
"Unworthy as I am, that would be me."
"Aminos!"
"..."
The students in the spectator stands discussed things excitedly.
The time for the match drew closer and closer.
It was clear that Qingshan First High School's students were all confident that Tang Yao would soon take down seven opponents alone, as though it were already an established fact.
That was hardly surprising.
Tang Yao had been renowned throughout Qingshan City since childhood, and she had never suffered a single defeat in simulated battles.
Moreover, every one of her victories had been overwhelming.
There were even rumors that the girl had personally visited a dojo to challenge it offline, defeating a veteran master who had been at Second-Tier Peak for years head-on despite only being at Second-Tier Level Six!
There were many more absurd rumors like that, and most of them had evidence to back them up.
With so many layers of glory upon her, the students of Qingshan City naturally regarded this absurdly powerful Sword Dao genius as the white moonlight goddess in their hearts, even as the pillar supporting all of Qingshan First High School.
To them, as long as Tang Yao had not lost, Qingshan First High School had not failed!
From the elevated platform above them, several powerful auras faintly emanated.
Bright sunlight shone over the level Combat Stage.
Inside the pre-match lounge.
Ye Li paced before the weapon rack, his palm brushing over it before stopping on a pitch-black spear.
The weapon he was best at now was still the spear. Unfortunately, he did not have a suitable Spear Treasure Tool, so he could only make do with this utterly ordinary First-Tier spear for now.
He wondered whether the Treasure Tool Roulette could spin up a three-pointed double-edged blade, or perhaps the Ruyi Jingu Bang...
Ye Li's thoughts drifted.
He slowly drew out the pitch-black spear and gripped it in his hand. His entire aura immediately turned sharp.
With the match so close at hand, Ye Li had not used Cultivation Point Allocation on himself. He was still at Second-Tier Level One.
But that was no great concern.
It would not be too late to allocate points after the Exchange Competition ended.
Carrying the spear, Ye Li slowly walked out of the lounge and arrived at the preparation seats beneath the Combat Stage.
Perhaps because he had arrived early, Jiang Qingzhu was the only one currently seated in Linhai First High School's section.
"You're here."
Seeing him approach, Jiang Qingzhu immediately rose from her chair. "Have you chosen your weapon?"
"I can only say it'll do." Ye Li replied blandly.
Jiang Qingzhu thought for a moment. "My family has plenty of unused Spear Treasure Tools. They're all quite suitable for Second- or Third-Tier martial artists. Shall I bring one for you next time?"
What an outrageously rich thing to say. Would it kill the High Martial World to have one more rich second-generation kid...
Ye Li sat down in his seat and seemed to sigh. "Sure."
Jiang Qingzhu nodded lightly, withdrew her gaze, and closed her eyes to rest.
Soon afterward, the discussions about Tang Yao from the spectator stands continuously reached their ears.
Before long, they had heard the general picture.
Jiang Qingzhu opened her eyes and looked at Ye Li, who was lowering his head and wiping down his spear. "Tang Yao is very strong, and she has mastered many martial techniques. Even if I faced her, the odds would be stacked against me."
"You'll be the first to go up later. Be extremely careful of her slashes."
She keenly sensed the increasingly rapid beat of the young man's heart beneath his calm, still-water exterior.
Jiang Qingzhu naturally assumed that he was nervous. After all, they were fighting away from home, and he had been hearing tales of the enemy's heroic exploits nonstop. It was only natural for his heartbeat to quicken and for him to lose his composure.
In response, Ye Li merely nodded almost imperceptibly.
He truly had not expected it.
So Tang Yao actually possessed such prestige at Qingshan First High School.
In terms of prestige alone, Jiang Qingzhu was nowhere near her. Naturally, Tang Yao would yield more Malice Points as well...
What an unexpected delight.
The corners of Ye Li's lips lifted slightly.
"Ye Li."
Wang Yongfeng approached from not far away, followed by Yu Qianqian, Liu Yangde, and the others. "There are less than ten minutes left before the match. They'll be announcing the contestants soon. Hurry up and get ready."
Ye Li nodded, quietly rose to his feet, and entered the passageway leading to the arena.
At the same time, in Qingshan First High School's contestant preparation area.
Guidance teacher Xu Lihong was sweating profusely. Ye Li's pressure on him was simply too great.
Although he had great confidence in Tang Yao's strength, the thought of Jiang Qingzhu waiting in the opposing lineup still made him feel apprehensive.
Moreover, Xu Lihong had only learned moments ago that an elder from Qingshan Sword Pavilion and a Senior Teacher from Fengyun University had arrived at Qingshan First High School to watch this Exchange Competition.
The latter was fine. He had mainly come to see whether the two city-level Martial Arts High Schools had any promising talents this year, so he could extend an olive branch.
But that elder from Qingshan Sword Pavilion had come specifically to observe Tang Yao's performance.
If he saw Tang Yao lose in the very first match, he would undoubtedly question and become dissatisfied with Qingshan First High School's teaching ability.
When that happened, Xu Lihong, as the guidance teacher, would absolutely be held accountable.
At that thought, Xu Lihong's body began to tremble slightly.
Just then, the referee's resounding announcement rang out above the Training Ground:
"The fifth City-Level Exchange Competition officially begins!"
"The first match."
"Ye Li of Linhai First High School versus Tang Yao of Qingshan First High School!"
The instant his words fell, deafening cheers erupted from the spectator stands.
The sound pierced clouds and split stone as it soared into the heavens, displaying the girl's near-unmatched prestige at Qingshan First High School.
Xu Lihong took a deep breath and looked toward the beautiful young girl sitting with her eyes half-closed.
He asked the question every Qingshan First High School student wanted to ask at that moment:
"Can you win?"
Bzzzt—
A clear, arrogant sword cry suddenly rose from the ground and resounded through the entire Training Ground!
Amid countless cries of surprise.
Tang Yao opened her eyes and tucked her hands into her black-and-white robe, its sleeves fluttering.
"I will win."
Her voice was cool and casual.
Under the gaze of the masses and into the dazzling light, Tang Yao walked toward the entrance passage.
At that moment, she bore the hopes of over a thousand Qingshan First High School students upon her shoulders.
Though such pressure could crush an ordinary person, she, being different from the rest, had long grown accustomed to such expectations.
Amid the terrifying tide of sound, Tang Yao emerged from the passage and slowly stepped onto the Combat Stage.
Her bearing was calm and confident, her gaze incomparably sharp. Her whole person was like a sword standing tall in that place, making everything around her seem to have lost its edge.
Bzzzt—
As the white jade belt at her waist flashed faintly, a horizontal saber engraved with golden dragon patterns appeared in her palm.
Behind her were the cheering Qingshan students. Before her stood a handsome young man, leisurely and composed as he stepped onto the stage.
"That's impressive."
The surprise in the young man's voice was undisguised. "This is my first time encountering an opponent with such popularity."
"That only proves how ignorant and inexperienced you are."
"Also, there is something I hope you have not misunderstood." Tang Yao looked calmly at Ye Li. Her cherry-colored lips moved slightly as she teasingly repeated those words:
"You are the challenger!"
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