I Will Win! A Declaration of Victory Before the Battle!

Qingshan First High School, as the best martial arts high school in Qingshan City, has a training ground no smaller than Linhai First High School's.

At this moment, the training ground is already bustling with noise.

The spectator stands, capable of holding over a thousand people, are more than half full, with the vast majority being students from Qingshan First High School.

They are discussing amongst themselves, their voices rising and falling.

"Only Senior Tang will be competing later."

"Really? Why?"

"That... it's a bit embarrassing to say, but apparently, all our School Team members were sent to the hospital by that Jiang Qingzhu from Linhai First High School this morning. Only Senior Tang can still fight now."

"Are you kidding me? Is that Jiang Qingzhu that awesome?!"

"He's not kidding at all, and it's not just the School Team, more than half of the third-year students in the martial arts department are down! Didn't you see the spectator stands over there are empty?"

"Holy crap? It really is!"

"Holy crap, then what are we even fighting for?"

"Don't worry! Even if we have Jiang Qingzhu on the other side, we still have Senior Tang holding the fort, right? Stay calm!"

"Is Senior Tang going to do a one-vs-seven again this time? I remember she did that last time when we had an exchange competition with Yujiang City, right?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm getting a little excited. Senior Tang is truly skilled and daring!"

"Indeed, Senior Tang is strong and beautiful. That kid Wei Zhi is really lucky..."

"Wait, who's Wei Zhi? I haven't heard that Senior Tang is dating anyone?"

"Ahem, that would be me."

"Holy cow!"

"..."

The students in the spectator stands discussed excitedly.

The time for the competition drew closer and closer.

It was evident that the students of Qingshan First High School had great confidence in Tang Yao's upcoming one-vs-seven performance, as if it were a foregone conclusion.

This was understandable.

After all, Tang Yao had been famous in Qingshan City since childhood and had never lost a simulated match.

Moreover, all her victories were overwhelming.

There were even rumors that the young girl had once challenged a master offline, defeating an old master who had been at the peak of Second-Tier for many years with her Second-Tier Level Six cultivation!

There were many similar outrageous rumors, most of which had corroborating evidence.

With all these accolades, the students of Qingshan City naturally regarded this ridiculously strong sword genius as their goddess, their white moonlight, and even the backbone of Qingshan First High School.

To them, as long as Tang Yao hadn't lost, Qingshan First High School had not failed!

And on the high platform above them, several powerful auras could be faintly felt.

The clear sunlight shone on the flat combat stage.

Inside the pre-match resting room.

Ye Li paced in front of the weapon rack, his palm stroking it, then stopping on a jet-black spear.

His best weapon was still the spear, but unfortunately, he didn't have a suitable spear-type Treasure Tool, so he could only use this unremarkable First-Tier spear for now.

He wondered if he could roll a three-pointed, double-edged blade or a Ruyi Jingu Bang from the Treasure Tool Roulette...

Ye Li's thoughts wandered.

He slowly drew out the jet-black spear, holding it in his palm, and his entire demeanor instantly became sharp.

Due to the tight schedule before the competition, Ye Li had not allocated any Cultivation Points, and he was still at Second-Tier Level One.

However, it was no big deal.

It wouldn't be too late to allocate points after the exchange competition.

Ye Li, carrying his spear, slowly walked out of the resting room and came to the preparation area below the combat stage.

Perhaps because he arrived early, only Jiang Qingzhu was present at Linhai First High School's seating area.

"You're here."

Seeing him approach, Jiang Qingzhu immediately stood up from his chair. "Have you picked your weapon?"

"I can only say it's passable," Ye Li replied indifferently.

Jiang Qingzhu thought for a moment and said, "I have many spare spear Treasure Tools at home, all quite suitable for martial artists of the Second or Third Order. I'll bring you one next time, okay?"

What a boastful statement. Does the High Martial World really need another rich second-generation like me to die...?

Ye Li sat down in his seat, seemingly sighing, "Sure."

Jiang Qingzhu nodded lightly, withdrew his gaze, and closed his eyes to rest.

Afterward, discussions about Tang Yao in the spectator stands continuously reached the ears of the two.

They soon heard the gist of it.

Jiang Qingzhu opened her eyes and looked at Ye Li, who was lowering his head and wiping his spear. She said softly, "Tang Yao is very strong. She's proficient in many martial skills. Even if I were to face her, my chances of survival would be slim."

"You're going up first later, so be careful of her slashing attacks."

She keenly sensed the gradually quickening heartbeat beneath the boy's outwardly calm demeanor.

Jiang Qingzhu naturally assumed he was nervous. After all, it was an away game, and he kept hearing about the opponent's heroic deeds. It was inevitable for his heart to race and for him to lose his composure.

In response, Ye Li gave a barely perceptible nod.

He really hadn't expected this.

So, this Tang Yao was such a prestigious figure at Qingshan First High School.

In terms of prestige alone, Jiang Qingzhu couldn't compare to her at all. The Malice Points she'd generate would naturally be higher for Tang Yao...

This was truly an unexpected delight.

Ye Li's lips curved upward slightly.

"Ye Li."

Wang Yongfeng walked over from not far away, with Yu Qianqian, Liu Yangde, and others behind him. "There are less than ten minutes left until the match. They'll announce the participants soon, so hurry and get ready."

Ye Li nodded, quietly got up, and walked into the entrance tunnel.

Meanwhile, at the contestant preparation area of Qingshan First High School.

Guidance Teacher Xu Lihong was sweating profusely at this moment. Ye Li's presence put immense pressure on him.

Although he was confident in Tang Yao's strength, the thought of Jiang Qingzhu supporting the opposing team later still made him uneasy.

Moreover, Xu Lihong only found out just now.

An elder from the Qingshan Sword Pavilion and a Senior Teacher from Fengyun University had arrived at Qingshan First High School and intended to watch this Exchange Competition.

The latter was fine; they were mainly there to see if the two city-level Martial Arts High Schools had any promising talents to recruit.

But the elder from the Qingshan Sword Pavilion was specifically here to watch Tang Yao's performance.

If he saw Tang Yao lose in the first match, he would undoubtedly question and be dissatisfied with Qingshan First High School's teaching abilities.

At that time, Xu Lihong, as the Guidance Teacher, would definitely be held accountable.

Thinking of this, Xu Lihong's body trembled slightly.

Just then, the referee's loud announcement echoed through the air above the Training Ground:

"The Fifth City-Level Exchange Competition officially begins!"

"The first match."

"Linhai First High School's Ye Li versus Qingshan First High School's Tang Yao!"

As soon as the words fell, the spectator stands erupted in deafening cheers.

The sound pierced through the clouds and shot straight into the sky, showcasing the girl's near-peak prestige at Qingshan First High School.

Xu Lihong took a deep breath and looked at the beautiful, serene girl with her eyes slightly closed in her seat.

He asked the question that all the students of Qingshan First High School wanted to ask at that moment:

"Can you win?"

Buzzzzzzz!

A clear, arrogant sword cry instantly rose from the ground, resounding throughout the entire Training Ground!

Amidst countless gasps of astonishment.

Tang Yao opened her eyes, withdrew her hands into her black and white robe, her sleeves fluttering.

"I will win."

Her voice was cool and casual.

Tang Yao, under the gaze of thousands and bathed in brilliant light, walked towards the entrance tunnel.

At this moment, she carried the hopes of thousands of Qingshan First High School students on her shoulders.

Although such pressure could crush an ordinary person, she, being extraordinary, was long accustomed to such expectations.

Amidst this terrifying wave of sound, Tang Yao emerged from the tunnel and slowly ascended the Combat Stage.

Her posture was calm and confident, her gaze sharp and piercing. She stood like a sword rooted in place, making everything around her appear dull and lacking edge.

Buzzzzz--

As the white jade belt at her waist flashed, a saber engraved with golden dragon patterns appeared in her palm.

Behind her were the cheering Qingshan students, and before her stood a handsome young man with a relaxed demeanor, calmly taking the stage.

"Truly formidable."

The youth's surprise was unconcealed, "I've never encountered an opponent this popular before."

"That's because you're ignorant."

"Also, there's something I want you to get straight." Tang Yao looked at Ye Li with a calm gaze, her cherry-colored lips moved slightly, and she repeated the sentence with a playful tone:

"You're the challenger!"