Translator: CinderTL
"Jiang Ye!"
As Jiang Ye surveyed the competition arena, a voice suddenly called out.
Moments later, several streaks of Flowing Light shot toward him.
"Shi Ting, Tang Wuji." Jiang Ye greeted them with a smile. "You're competing too?"
Tang Wuji was already familiar with Jiang Ye.
During Jiang Ye's first visit to White Dragon University, Tang Wuji had been his sparring partner.
"My teacher signed me up," Tang Wuji said, scratching his head. "I didn't really want to compete. There are so many Class A students here—I'm just going to get crushed."
Tang Wuji was only a B-tier student.
"It's good experience," Jiang Ye said with a laugh.
Beside them, Shi Ting blinked her beautiful eyes. "Jiang Ye, you've already reached the early stages of your third breakthrough. You must be among the strongest competitors here."
"What?!"
"Jiang Ye, you've already broken through three times?" Tang Wuji exclaimed in astonishment.
He had only just reached the peak of his second breakthrough. With normal training, it would take him at least another six months to achieve his third.
But Jiang Ye? He had already broken through three times?
At that moment, Tang Wuji had no idea that Jiang Ye was far beyond the early stages of the third breakthrough. If he knew Jiang Ye's true strength, his jaw would likely drop.
Jiang Ye didn't elaborate.
He turned to Shi Ting. "Shi Ting, how's your breakthrough going?"
"Mm," Shi Ting nodded. "I'm just a bit short of the third breakthrough."
"Still not at the third breakthrough?" Jiang Ye looked surprised.
"The third breakthrough isn't easy," Shi Ting said with a wry smile. "Breaking life's shackles requires repeated refinement."
"But..."
"The opportunities you gave me earlier have already helped me improve significantly," Shi Ting said with a smile. "They've shaved off at least a few months of arduous cultivation."
"Anyway, thank you again."
"We're fellow disciples. No need for thanks," Jiang Ye replied with a faint smile. "Let's go in."
"Alright."
The three transformed into a streak of Flowing Light and soared toward the arena ahead.
The competition battlefield spanned hundreds of meters in both length and width, with surrounding spectator stands capable of accommodating tens of thousands of viewers.
Meanwhile, in the spectator stands, Liu Wanxiao, Shen Changxi, Yun Qing'er, and Lin Yushu sat together.
The group felt somewhat restrained, surrounded by students from the ten great schools, their energy surging around them.
Liu Wanxiao and his companions were among the very few students from Penglai University present.
Suddenly, Lin Yushu pointed in a direction and exclaimed, "I see Jiang Ye! He's over there."
Hearing this, Liu Wanxiao, Shen Changxi, and the others turned to look.
Their primary reason for coming was to see Jiang Ye.
"Brother Jiang!" Liu Wanxiao stood up and called out loudly.
Whoosh! A streak of Flowing Light shot across the arena, heading straight toward them.
It was Jiang Ye.
"What are you guys doing here?" Jiang Ye landed beside their seats, his expression surprised.
"Hehe, we heard you were participating in the Ten Schools League," Liu Wanxiao said with a grin. "We came to watch you compete."
"Brother Jiang," Lin Yushu added with a smile, "I've finally broken through to the second breakthrough, putting us in the same major realm. How about a spar sometime?"
Jiang Ye chuckled in amusement.
Ever since Lin Yushu had achieved his second breakthrough, he'd been itching for a match.
"After the competition ends," Jiang Ye replied with a smile. "I'll spar with you then."
"Deal!" Lin Yushu's eyes lit up.
"Count me in too," Liu Wanxiao said with a grin. "I'm at the mid-second breakthrough now. I heard you're almost at the third breakthrough. Let's see how big the gap between us really is."
Jiang Ye agreed to all their challenges.
Just then, Shen Changxi's cool voice cut through the air: "Jiang Ye, I wish you success in the competition. Aim for the top ten."
"Aim for the top ten," Yun Qing'er echoed softly.
They both knew this was a competition among the ten great schools. Securing a spot in the top ten would be a remarkable achievement.
"...Thank you for your blessings," Jiang Ye said, his lips twitching slightly. He knew the girls meant well, but their words sounded more like a curse than encouragement.
A moment later, Jiang Ye bid farewell to his old friends and rejoined Shi Ting and Tang Wuji in the waiting area.
Here, he spotted several familiar faces.
"Su Haiyue, Lin Qing?" Jiang Ye glanced toward another section.
Two young women were seated there. Noticing his gaze, they nodded in acknowledgment.
"He really came!"
"I wonder how strong he's become," Su Haiyue murmured, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Sister Haiyue, I think he's even stronger than before," Lin Qing whispered.
"I can feel it too," Su Haiyue murmured, her eyes flickering slightly. "Could he be close to the mid-third breakthrough?"
In another dimly lit area of the spectator stands, a proud and rebellious young man with purple hair sat alone. Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he glanced in a particular direction.
"Jiang Ye? He's actually here?"
The purple-haired youth's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't he from Penglai University? Did he transfer to one of the ten great schools?"
If Jiang Ye had noticed this person, he would have recognized him as the genius he had fought in the final battle of the Twenty-Five School Genius Cup—Li Qi from Star River University!
"I've already reached the peak of the second breakthrough," Li Qi thought, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I wonder if I can finally avenge my previous defeat this time?"
"Jiang Ye is here."
At the highest point of the spectator stands, a dozen figures sat with an aura of profound power—the supervising teachers from the ten great schools. Qiu Cang, Huang Canglong, Mo Sheng, and others were among them.
From their vantage point, they could observe not only the freshman arena but also the arenas for the other six grade levels. However, at this moment, many of them were focused on the freshman arena.
"Old Qiu, do you really think Jiang Ye will win the championship so easily?" a red-robed woman asked, glancing at Qiu Cang. "I remember the strongest freshman genius from White Dragon University being Zhou Hong, right?"
She had fiery red hair and a shapely figure.
She exuded a mature charm.
"Ye Hongying, don't you know Old Qiu's style by now?" Mo Sheng chuckled. "He always exaggerates."
Ye Hongying was a distinguished professor from Star River University.
Despite her youthful appearance, she was actually over seventy years old.
Professors at the ten great schools typically reached at least the seventh breakthrough, granting them lifespans exceeding three hundred years.
For her, seventy was still considered middle age.
"Just wait and see," Qiu Cang said with a smile. "Jiang Ye's performance might surprise you all."
"Oh?" Ye Hongying glanced at him with a curious expression.
She could tell Qiu Cang wasn't exaggerating this time.
This meant the student named Jiang Ye might truly be extraordinary.
"Old Qiu, why don't you just tell them Jiang Ye's true cultivation level?" Huang Canglong's voice echoed in Qiu Cang's mind.
"No rush," Qiu Cang replied mentally, his smile widening. "A good show is best savored slowly."
A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes.
What would these teachers' reactions be when they finally learned Jiang Ye's true strength?
Few things piqued Qiu Cang's interest, but this occasion felt particularly special.
Time passed.
As participants and spectators continued to arrive, the arena soon teemed with a sea of people.
The atmosphere was tense but not chaotic.
The Ten Schools League had always been an internal competition among the ten great schools.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, outsiders like Liu Wanxiao and his group wouldn't have been allowed to observe. They were only here because of Jiang Ye's connections.
As the clock struck nine in the morning,
Clang! A resonant bell tolled, officially signaling the start of the competition.
Whoosh! A figure in black robes materialized above the center of the arena.
Qiu Cang was presiding over the freshman division of this year's Ten Schools League.
"The rules for this year's Ten Schools League are as follows," Qiu Cang announced. "Five hundred participating students will enter the Virtual Civilization Battlefield to eliminate enemies. The Virtual Civilization Battlefield is divided into ten stages."
"Passing eight stages qualifies you for the preliminary round."
"The final battle will be held immediately after the preliminary round," Qiu Cang's voice echoed across the arena.
Most of the freshman participants were hearing these rules for the first time and listened intently.
"Within the Virtual Civilization Battlefield, each stage cleared grants a reward."
"From the first stage to the tenth," Qiu Cang announced loudly, "the rewards range from D-Tier Opportunities to Upper B-Tier Opportunities."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The eyes of all five hundred participants lit up.
Upper B-Tier Opportunities?
Even for students from the ten great schools, these were treasures extremely difficult to obtain.
A single Upper B-Tier Opportunity was worth at least several months, if not half a year, of arduous cultivation!
"Upper B-Tier?" Jiang Ye grinned.
The organizers were indeed generous.
Even during his expedition to Ancient Star No. 7, he had only acquired three Upper B-Tier Opportunities.
Upper B-Tier Opportunities were exceedingly rare and precious.
"Alright," Qiu Cang declared, raising his voice. "Without further ado, I hereby announce the official commencement of the Ten Schools League!"
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
Five hundred virtual cockpits rose from the ground within the arena.
"All participants, enter the arena!" Qiu Cang commanded.
Without hesitation, the participants moved swiftly.
After all, this internal competition wasn't a global event like the Genius Cup.
Everything was kept simple.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Figures vanished from the waiting area.
Jiang Ye, Shi Ting, and Tang Wuji swiftly entered the arena and located their virtual cockpits.
Beep! Consciousness link established.
Entering!
"Who will claim the Upper B-Tier Opportunity?"
"There's only one Upper B-Tier Opportunity, and only the student with the best performance will get it."
"Su Haiyue? Chang Qixing? Or Zhou Hong?" The teachers buzzed with speculation.
Qiu Cang, returning to the audience stands, overheard their conversation and couldn't help but smile.
Upper B-Tier?
Sorry, but my student has probably already reserved it!
"Old Qiu, what are you smirking about?" a teacher asked curiously. "Do you think someone else has a chance?"
"Don't overthink it," Qiu Cang replied with a smile. "Look, the challenge has already begun."
He gestured toward the arena below.
Above the dueling arena, holographic screens flickered to life, displaying five hundred simultaneous perspectives—the views from each of the five hundred participating freshmen.
Virtual Civilization Battlefield.
Whoosh!
Jiang Ye opened his eyes to find himself in a vast, boundless land.
The sky was a hazy gray, and the earth stretched endlessly in every direction.
"Where am I?"
"This place... it's quite similar to the civilization battlefield in the Extreme Sea Star System," Jiang Ye observed, looking around.
He was alone.
It seemed he would have to clear this stage solo.
As Jiang Ye surveyed his surroundings, a line of striking red text materialized in the sky:
[First Stage]
The moment the words appeared,
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" Figures materialized before Jiang Ye, each radiating a powerful aura.
Notably, each figure bore a crimson brand between their eyebrows.
"The Fire Ember Civilization?" Jiang Ye exclaimed in surprise.
His opponents in the Virtual Civilization Battlefield were geniuses from the Fire Ember Civilization!
It seemed the ten great schools, and indeed the entire Blue Star Federation, had already designated the Fire Ember Civilization as their hypothetical enemy.
"Five opponents in total," Jiang Ye sensed. "All late-second breakthrough?"
A smile spread across his face.
In the next instant,
His long spear rose!
Boom! A terrifying spear beam streaked through the air, instantly piercing the bodies of the five Fire Ember geniuses. With devastating force, it tore them apart like dry leaves.
[First Stage Cleared]
[Second Stage]
This time, there were ten opponents, all also at the late-second breakthrough stage.
Jiang Ye swept them aside effortlessly.
[Third Stage]
Ten opponents: five at late-second breakthrough, five at peak-second breakthrough.
Still, he swept them aside.
[Fourth Stage]
Ten opponents, all at the peak of the second breakthrough.
In the audience stands, Liu Wanxiao, Lin Yushu, and others watched Jiang Ye's projected image intently.
"What?!"
"He swept through five late-second breakthrough opponents with a single spear strike?" Liu Wanxiao stared in disbelief.
"Jiang Ye...?"
"Has he already reached the third breakthrough?" Yun Qing'er and Shen Changxi exchanged equally astonished glances.
Lin Yushu, who had previously considered sparring with Jiang Ye, now paled at the thought.
"Still," Lin Yushu couldn't help but remark, "Brother Jiang's strength must be on par with the top contenders now, right?"
"Could he actually win the championship?"
Liu Wanxiao, Shen Changxi, and Yun Qing'er's eyes lit up with anticipation. They genuinely hoped Jiang Ye would claim victory.
In the highest tier of the audience stands:
"Jiang Ye's speed is astonishing."
"His kill rate rivals even Chang Qixing and Zhou Hong's," Ye Hongying finally admitted, her expression shifting to surprise.
She wasn't the only one.
Teachers from the other great schools had also begun to notice Jiang Ye's presence.
"Who is this student?"
"He's already cleared the fourth stage—no, the fifth! He's about to enter the sixth!"
"One-shotting five opponents nearing the third breakthrough with a single spear strike?"
"Incredible," the teachers marveled.
"He breezed through the sixth and seventh stages as well."
"Look! He's already at the eighth stage! This one has ten opponents nearing the third breakthrough and one at the early third breakthrough! He should slow down here."
"Hmm?"
"One spear to instantly kill three early-stage third breakthrough opponents? This is...?" The teachers began to show genuine surprise.
Amidst the roaring cheers from the audience, Jiang Ye had already entered the ninth stage.
Five early-stage third breakthrough opponents!
Moreover, all five were Dharma Manifestation-level geniuses, equivalent to B Class students at White Dragon University.
"Surely he'll pause here, right?"
"Impressive! Another sweeping spear strike."
"He's reached the tenth stage, the final one. Jiang Ye is the fastest to reach this point."
"In this stage, he'll face ten early-stage third breakthrough opponents, including one Fallen Star-Level Genius, equivalent to an Upper A-tier student from the ten great schools."
"This is the most challenging stage."
"Jiang Ye will likely be locked in a fierce battle for a while," the teachers murmured.
At that moment, not only the teachers but also the majority of the tens of thousands of spectators were focused on Jiang Ye.
The reason was simple: Jiang Ye's performance had been nothing short of dazzling!
On the screen, Jiang Ye clashed with his ten opponents.
Boom! One spear strike!
A sweeping arc of energy erupted.
Including the Fallen Star-Level Genius, all ten early-stage third breakthrough opponents were instantly reduced to bloody mist, annihilated without a trace.
"Another single spear strike?"
"How is this even possible?!" The senior professors from the ten great schools finally voiced their shock.
(End of the Chapter)
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