As the ice ball gradually approached, the menacing aura it carried grew stronger, and Xie Ming even used ice-element Dou Qi to tightly envelop himself.
Bang!
The ice ball and ice shield collided fiercely, and for a moment, ice shards flew, erupting in a dazzling white light. A series of crack, crack sounds of shattering echoed, followed by a loud bang.
After the ice energy dissipated, a large crater appeared on the entire arena, and Xie Ming, bleeding from his mouth and with many cuts from ice shards on his body, lay there barely clinging to life.
"Han Yue wins!"
After the Grand Elder announced the winner, the treatment team composed of Alchemists immediately stepped forward to provide medical attention.
"Senior Xie Ming, I apologize. It was my first time using it, so I was a bit rusty and didn't control it well."
Han Yue stood in the center of the arena, panting as she spoke.
"It's fine. This is a competition; injuries are inevitable."
Xie Ming, having recovered a little under the treatment team's care, waved his hand with difficulty.
"Brother Tian, Han Yue is already exhausted. Go bring her back."
Xun'er looked at Han Yue's weak appearance and said softly to Xiao Tian, who was beside her.
Xiao Tian looked at Xun'er in surprise, gently squeezed her hand, and then flashed toward the arena. Arriving beside Han Yue, he said, "Han Yue, eat this first."
Xiao Tian took out several fifth-grade Dou Qi recovery pills and fed them into her mouth.
"Ah!"
Han Yue, who was refining the pill's energy, suddenly let out an exclamation. She saw herself being directly carried horizontally by Xiao Tian, who then flew toward the high platform outside the arena.
The surrounding crowd immediately let out various murmurs of "hehe."
"Wow, Xiao Tian just picked up Han Yue and ran. She doesn't seem to resist at all. Their relationship is indeed not simple."
"That's Han Yue! The campus beauty of our Academy! How infuriating!"
"Exactly, how infuriating! Why is it Han Yue being carried by Xiao Tian and not me?"
The others heard this slightly coquettish voice, turned their heads, and upon seeing, thought, Excuse me, Your Highness Qiao Biluo.
The moment Han Yue was picked up by Xiao Tian, her heart instantly leaped into her throat. She didn't struggle, only stiffened slightly. Her bright eyes looked at Xiao Tian; their gazes met, and when she saw the tenderness in Xiao Tian's eyes, she inexplicably calmed down, comfortably lying in Xiao Tian's arms, as if his embrace was the safest place in the world.
Xiao Tian carried Han Yue back to the high platform and then gently put her down. Xun'er immediately came over to support Han Yue. When Han Yue saw Xun'er, a hint of embarrassment appeared on her face, but Xun'er shook her head at her.
Xiao Tian didn't interrupt the two of them. If he spoke at this moment, he would definitely be reprimanded by Xun'er. A smart person should choose to lower his presence at such a time.
With the help of the pills, Han Yue's complexion began to redden, and she and Xun'er were conversing in low voices. Although they were conversing, it looked more like Xun'er was teasing Han Yue, as Han Yue's face kept blushing slightly. If someone were to part her hair, they would see her ears, red enough to look cooked.
As the competition continued, the top eight were decided: Xiao Tian, Zi Yan, Lin Xiuya, Liu Qing, Xiao Yan, Yan Hao, Lin Yan, and Han Yue.
"Now that the top eight have been decided, the remaining five of you can challenge each other to determine the ninth and tenth places. Perhaps you might think you were just unlucky to get these rankings, but luck is also a form of strength. Good luck might turn misfortune into blessing or lead to immense opportunities."
The Grand Elder's old but powerful voice echoed in everyone's ears. After he finished speaking, the five previously eliminated individuals took the stage one by one. After a round of three battles, the two who emerged victorious were Di Mo and Qin Zhen.
Seeing that the ninth and tenth places had been chosen, the Grand Elder once again announced loudly, "The remaining eight will also determine their rankings through challenges, and the Inner Academy will provide pills for recovering injuries and Dou Qi. Each person only has two challenge opportunities."
—
Black-Corner Region, Maple City.
While Jia Nan Academy was in full swing with its competition, in the heart of Maple City, deep within a heavily guarded bamboo forest, there was a bamboo building. Inside, a man dressed in Alchemist robes sat cross-legged. This person was none other than the master of Maple City, the sixth-grade Alchemist of the Black-Corner Region, Han Feng.
A dark figure appeared mysteriously before Han Feng, kneeling on one knee, his voice hoarse but filled with deep respect. "Master, currently, the Gold and Silver Elders, Old Ban of the Earth Flame Gate, Yuan Yi, City Lord of the Eight-Fan Gate, and Yan Xiu of the Earth Flame Sect have all agreed to assist. As for that other old ghost, he has not yet agreed. It seems he wants to increase his compensation."
Han Feng listened to Han Beng's words, lowered his head in thought, and remembering that old ghost's greed, he softly gave Han Beng a few instructions.
"Your servant will go now." Han Beng, having received Han Feng's order, bowed slightly and retreated.
"Also, keep a close watch on Pure Heaven Divine Palace. I always feel they have issues, and we must be on guard."
Recalling that Pure Heaven Divine Palace had directly annihilated the Blood Sect, Han Feng had no choice but to be wary of Pure Heaven Divine Palace, lest he return to find his home gone. Originally, inviting those above would have been enough; adding that person was merely to seek a quick resolution and avoid complications.
"Yes, Master." Han Beng gradually retreated to the bamboo building's entrance and then disappeared.
—
Returning to the Inner Academy, upon hearing the Grand Elder's words, Zi Yan immediately couldn't resist challenging Xiao Tian. After battling for a while, Zi Yan realized that Xiao Tian's strength was greater than hers. She could only continuously rely on her mastery of space and her monstrous strength to constantly contend with Xiao Tian.
Eventually, Xiao Tian grew tired of it. He grabbed her twin ponytails, pulled her out of the void, and with a "Duang," smacked her on the head. Xiao Tian also realized something here: Zi Yan's head was a good head!
Afterward, Zi Yan could only sit on the challenge seat, feeling wronged and depressed, glaring fiercely at the others in the arena. She felt wronged because she was hit by Xiao Tian, and she was depressed because when she challenged anyone other than Xiao Tian, they all chose to concede.
The others: "Are you kidding? In your current state, you'd be crippled in minutes if you went on stage!"
As time passed, Liu Qing challenged Lin Xiuya. Both brought out all their trump cards, making it the most intense match of this session. In the end, Liu Qing's outcome was the same as in the previous session. By a single move, his Great Fissure Rock was defeated by Lin Xiuya's special sword qi.
Han Yue, relying on her own cultivation realm and the Falling Cold Star, defeated Lin Yan and Yan Hao.
As for Xiao Tian, no one challenged him except Zi Yan, nor did they dare to. Hadn't they seen the former strong ranking number one, the Brute Force King, being beaten like a child? That indicated Xiao Tian's strength far surpassed the Brute Force King, the former strong ranking number one.
And the recovered Liu Qing also received a challenge from Xiao Yan. The two had previously agreed to a battle.