Encirclement

Fang Lingxiu's watch during the latter half of the night passed without incident.

Over the next four days, the two of them cautiously hunted ferocious beasts and easily defeated three teams of students.

The sixth day.

"Watch out!"

Just as Fang Lingxiu cut down a Red-Haired Ferocious Ape with a single slash, Yang Lie suddenly shouted and stepped in front of her.

Whoosh!

An arrow shot toward Fang Lingxiu like lightning. It had been fired at the precise moment Fang Lingxiu relaxed after killing the Red-Haired Ferocious Ape; the timing was exceptionally accurate.

Yang Lie possessed the strength of an Essence Solidification Realm Blood Clan. His reaction speed was even faster than that of an Essence Solidification Realm Blood Clan. Channeling his true qi, he struck the arrow with his palm.

The arrow instantly pierced through Yang Lie's protective true qi and hit his right palm, barely breaking the skin and leaving a shallow wound.

Lu Fangfang, Luo Nianxiong, Ning Feiyan, and a burly, handsome youth holding a long spear emerged in the distance.

A tall, handsome youth with short brown hair appeared holding a longsword, accompanied by two men and two women. They blocked off Yang Lie and Fang Lingxiu's retreat.

"Ten against two! Interesting!!"

"What a pity! Those two are the most outstanding young talents in this competition!"

"They might have had a chance in a two-on-five, but against ten? They're doomed!"

"..."

The spectators in the Great Arena became excited as they watched the projection screen.

Zhao Feihe muttered to himself, "Looks like Old Qian's nephew can only go this far! Still, he and Fang Lingxiu are both good prospects. They have the potential to get into a First-Rate University and are worth the Zhao Family's investment and cultivation!"

Qian Ming was the director of the Public Security Bureau. He had countless matters to handle and also needed to train in martial arts, so he could only come on the first day to take a look and lend Yang Lie his support.

In the forest.

Fang Lingxiu's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Senior Sister, you actually gathered two teams to besiege just the two of us. Isn't that rather shameless?"

Fang Lingxiu's cultivation was profound and her martial skills exquisite. She had some confidence even against five opponents alone. But against the siege of ten experts at the same level, she had no confidence at all.

"Junior Sister Lingxiu, in a competition like this, forming alliances and playing factions against one another are the most basic tactics! Aside from martial cultivation, wisdom is also a form of strength! Surrender. If you get hurt here and lose several months of time, it'll be even harder for you to get into a First-Rate University in the future!"

Lu Fenfang smiled sweetly and continued trying to undermine Fang Lingxiu's will to fight.

Essence Solidification Realm cultivation was the foundation for getting into a First-Rate University, but even those with Essence Solidification Realm cultivation had to pass brutal examinations. Many would be eliminated before they could enter a First-Rate University.

The resources of a First-Rate University were completely different from those of ordinary universities. There was only one First-Rate University on all of Konghe Star; every other university was an ordinary one.

"Lingxiu!! Charge with me!! Help me block the hidden arrows, and leave everyone else to me!! We'll break through Senior Sister Lu's side first, then deal with the people behind us!!"

A cold glint flashed through Yang Lie's eyes. With a fierce shout, he gripped his saber and leaped toward Lu Fenfang's group of four.

The hesitation in Fang Lingxiu's eyes vanished in an instant. Looking at Yang Lie's back, she gathered her courage and charged forward after him.

"Come with me!"

The handsome brown-haired youth, Zhen Yuqiang, shouted and rushed toward Yang Lie and Fang Lingxiu. However, the five of them were not moving very quickly.

Although the top ten all received prize money in this competition, the prize for first place far exceeded the others. Furthermore, many headhunters from major corporations had come to evaluate the contestants. The better one performed and the higher one ranked, the better corporate sponsorship one could obtain.

The teams in this competition formed alliances and schemed against one another fiercely, but that was also permitted by the rules.

"Luo Nianxiong, stop Yang Lie! Wang Sen, Feiyan, the three of us will join forces to stop Lingxiu!!"

Lu Fenfang held a longsword as she swiftly gave orders, taking up her stance and waiting for the two to approach.

"Yang Lie, I heard you practice Snake Fist! Then I'll let you witness the superior martial art of Snake Fist—the Python Great Strength Fist!!"

A cold glint flashed through Luo Nianxiong's eyes. With a fierce roar, spiritual power boiled throughout his body. Like a terrifying giant python, he threw a punch accompanied by faint hissing sounds, blasting toward Yang Lie.

A cold glint flashed through Yang Lie's eyes as well. He stepped forward and unleashed Snake Fist against Luo Nianxiong.

"Too weak!! Let me teach you the essence of the Python Great Strength Fist!"

Luo Nianxiong laughed loudly. His right fist twisted around Yang Lie's right arm like a bizarre python, unleashing a python-like constricting force that viciously twisted against Yang Lie's arm.

The Python Great Strength Fist did not possess the terrifying Fire Strength of the Vermillion Bird Palm, but once mastered, it allowed both arms to twist and move freely like pythons. It could also constrict and crush an enemy's arms like a python. Overbearing and strange, it was highly effective at countering Yang Lie's Snake Fist.

Yang Lie felt his right arm sink slightly as an incomparably terrifying force tried to crush it. He immediately channeled the true qi and terrifying power within him, then gave a violent shake.

"How is that possible?"

Luo Nianxiong's expression changed drastically. It felt as though his right arm had locked down a ferocious beast of boundless strength. When that beast struggled, it nearly shattered his arm, forcing him to pull back at once.

Yang Lie took a step forward and drove his left fist straight into Luo Nianxiong's chest.

Bang!

Luo Nianxiong spat out a mouthful of blood. His chest caved in as he crashed to the ground.

Disbelief flashed through Lu Fenfang's eyes as she cried out, "Nianxiong!!"

Luo Nianxiong practiced the Python Great Strength Fist, and his martial art was extremely effective at countering Yang Lie's Snake Fist. Lu Fenfang simply could not believe that Luo Nianxiong had been defeated so quickly.

Whoosh!

An arrow flew in from afar toward Yang Lie's chest.

Yang Lie's pupils contracted slightly. Relying on his extraordinary reflexes, he struck the arrow with his palm and knocked it away.

Spear Stream Break!!

A sharp glint flashed through the eyes of the handsome youth holding the long spear, Chen Yuan. Channeling his true qi, he merged with his spear and viciously thrust at Yang Lie's flank.

Having just defeated Luo Nianxiong and knocked away the arrow, Yang Lie could only sidestep and twist his waist to evade Chen Yuan's attack.

Chen Yuan's spear stabbed into Yang Lie's side, but it felt as though it had struck a layer of beast hide with astonishing defense. The spearhead was deflected aside by a wave-like, twisting force.

A shallow wound appeared on Yang Lie's left abdomen. He immediately swung a backhand punch into Chen Yuan's body. Terrifying strength erupted in an instant, blasting Chen Yuan away.

Ning Feiyan's pretty face changed. With a flick of both hands, ten steel needles imbued with powerful true qi shot toward Yang Lie.