What!?
Upon hearing the names called, Duan Nianwei was momentarily stunned, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
When she saw that the person who came on stage was indeed her master, Lin Xuan, she was even more stunned.
Lin Xuan was also helpless.
It's quite a coincidence that out of so many people, I was chosen to be the master and apprentice in this battle.
He was helpless and speechless, but he couldn't back down, so he had no choice but to go on stage.
In this battle, Lin Xuan received far more attention than in all his previous battles combined.
But now, almost everyone who looks at him is mourning him.
"I remember, this Lin Xuan is quite powerful, isn't he? He defeated Han Ji with his cultivation at the Perfect Emperor Realm."
"Indeed, Han Ji is quite well-known in our academy. I never expected him to lose to him. It's just a pity that he's now facing the Sword Fairy."
Previously, Duan Nianwei's battle had attracted almost everyone's attention, so now, almost no one noticed that Lin Xuan had defeated the Venerable of the Golden Wing Alliance.
Even if someone notices and wants to speak up, it cannot quickly reach the ears of most people.
Basically, most people's impression of Lin Xuan is that he defeated Han Ji.
Even though many people witnessed his defeat of the Venerable with his Perfect Emperor Realm cultivation, the scene didn't leave a deep impression.
After all, there are far too many so-called prodigies in the Inner Three Institutes.
While Lin Xuan's One Sword strike that defeated Han Ji was not bad, it wasn't exactly amazing; at least, the students from the academy barely noticed it.
Now that Lin Xuan is facing off against the hottest Sword Fairy fairy, Duan Nianwei, who is widely regarded as a potential contender for the top spots in this year's academy competition, basically no one is optimistic about Lin Xuan's chances.
Even Ye Xian, whose impression of Lin Xuan had slightly changed, spoke up to offer advice.
"Junior brother, admit defeat. There's nothing shameful about conserving your strength now. If you win a few more matches, you'll still have a chance to advance to the second round."
When she spoke, she didn't notice the strange expression on Chang Ling'er's face beside her.
How could Chang Ling'er's expression not be strange?
She personally witnessed Duan Nianwei becoming Lin Xuan's disciple!
But... this is too shocking, and besides, she doesn't consider herself a gossip. Even if someone were to talk about it, it would have to be her junior brother who wanted to say it. What could she, an outsider, possibly say?
Therefore, Chang Ling'er did a very good job of keeping it a secret.
This resulted in Ye Xian, who was completely unaware of the situation, having only what she had seen with her own eyes regarding Lin Xuan.
Her statement is understandable.
After all, this Sword Fairy's previous performance was truly astonishing. For ordinary people, let alone being her opponent, it was unknown whether they could even withstand One Sword strike from her.
Moreover, she specializes in swordsmanship, Sword-Ray is astonishing. If one is not careful and gets hit by her One Sword, one will definitely be injured.
Although Ye Xian didn't have any feelings for this junior brother, she didn't want to see him get hurt.
This has nothing to do with anything else; it's simply the responsibility she should have as a normal senior student.
Just when everyone thought that Lin Xuan would definitely admit defeat, the Sword Fairy opposite him spoke first.
"I concede."
Duan Nianwei's words, like silver beads falling to the ground, were crisp and clear, yet they also stunned the entire arena.
But those who heard her words were shocked, their eyes widening and their mouths agape in disbelief.
For a moment, no one spoke; the entire arena was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone had anticipated that someone might concede defeat, but they never expected that the one to do so would not be Lin Xuan, but rather the Sword Fairy Duan Nianwei, whom they had high hopes for!
this?
Some people even shook their heads, wondering if they had misheard.
No matter how much they listened or looked, all they could see was that the person who had sheathed her sword and was preparing to step down was Duan Nianwei!
"This... ah?"
Everyone was bewildered.
Ye Xian, who had previously advised Lin Xuan to admit defeat, was even more dumbfounded.
Not only her, but Cang Lie next to her was equally bewildered, completely unable to understand what was going on.
Just now, Cang Lie was still calculating how he would deal with Duan Nianwei if he were to encounter her. He was not weak, but he would actually be in a bit of trouble if he met a sword cultivator like her.
Before he could figure it out, he heard Duan Nianwei's crisp and decisive voice admitting defeat.
No one expected that the dignified Sword Fairy, a prodigy of Sword Dao, would admit defeat so easily.
Moreover, the person she conceded defeat to was not one of the Ten Saints, nor a top genius in the academy, but a freshman from the Upper Academy whose cultivation was only at the Emperor Realm Peak. He was her junior brother who had just entered the academy and whom she did not think highly of.
Is that correct?
Why?!
The doubts in Cang Lie's heart were the doubts of everyone present, but no one could get a useful answer.
Seeing the puzzled looks on the faces of those around her, Chang Ling'er stuck out her tongue.
She knows what's going on, though.
"If these people knew that Duan Nianwei was my junior brother's disciple, I wonder if their eyes would pop out of their sockets in shock!"
"Admit defeat? Hmph~ Of course she has to admit defeat."
"There's no reason for a disciple to fight with his master."
Chang Ling'er thought to herself, feeling both secretly pleased with the feeling that only she knew the answer, and also somewhat puzzled.
Although she knew more than others.
However, to this day, she still doesn't know why Duan Nianwei wanted to become Lin Xuan's disciple. This question has remained unanswered since the day she witnessed it.
but...
"My junior brother is truly an eye-opener!"
Although she still couldn't figure out exactly what had happened, she had clearly witnessed Lin Xuan's effortless victory over his competitors before this.
Therefore, Chang Ling'er looked at this junior brother with new respect.
She finally discovered it.
My junior brother is quite mysterious.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed that the Sword Fairy would actually become her junior brother's disciple. She would have just thought that the person spreading such rumors must be crazy...
A top-tier sword cultivator prodigy of the Supreme Institute, someone who might even one day reach the Ten Saints realm, actually took a master who was at the same... no, a lower-level Perfect Emperor Realm cultivator than her...
This is more than just outrageous; it's beyond simple absurdity.
On the stage, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Duan Nianwei decisively stepped down.
In this battle, Lin Xuan was naturally victorious.
He was somewhat helpless as he stepped off the stage, shaking his head slightly, amidst the probing, puzzled, and skeptical gazes of the crowd, his heart filled with endless emotions.
His disciple was even more powerful than him; this was truly...
Duan Nianwei is already Venerable.
But he's still stuck at the peak of the Perfect Emperor Realm, which isn't good.
"It seems it's time for me to break through to a higher realm and seize the time to improve my cultivation."
Thinking this way, Lin Xuan's expression didn't change at all, and he didn't feel any pressure.
To be honest, he faced no bottlenecks in breaking through to the Thearch Realm. Having already integrated Thirty Great Dao, as long as he had enough Cultivation Resources, his cultivation level would rise rapidly, almost like drinking water.
Having thought this through, Lin Xuan already had a plan.
After the academy competition ends, he will challenge the Demon-Subduing Hall, claim the rewards, and raise his cultivation to Earth Venerable, or even... Heavenly Venerable!
Just as he was pondering this, the call to arms began again.
"Sixth Arena, Cang Lie of the Supreme Institute versus... of the Supreme Institute..."
" Lin Xuan!"