The first round of the Elimination Rounds.
Shen Han's first opponent was a short-haired girl from No. 1 High School who looked shrewd and capable. The Sniff skill was activated:
Name: Wei Xiaoxia
Mental Energy: Warrior Seventh Rank
Special Ability: Water Element Rank B
Skill: Water Blade (Minor Achievement)
Shen Han didn't even have the interest to Copy it. Students of the same year generally only had one or two Martial Skill Special Abilities.
"You must be Shen Han, the one ranked first in Mental Energy. I didn't expect to run into you in the first round. However, I heard your Awakening Special Ability is only Rank F. I wonder if I can be your opponent. Be careful," Wei Xiaoxia decided to strike first, especially against the Lightning Element, which had explosive attack power. If the opponent seized the initiative, she might be blasted off the stage in a single move.
Shen Han actually had a good impression of this girl.
"Lightning Teleport—" Wei Xiaoxia's Water Blade had just shot toward Shen Han when she suddenly realized Shen Han had vanished from her sight. "How? How can the speed be so fast?"
"Thunder Rending Sky—" Strings of tiny electric arcs crackled less than 10 centimeters behind Wei Xiaoxia. Shen Han naturally had no interest in harming others.
"I lose," Wei Xiaoxia realized the gap in Cultivation levels and decisively chose to forfeit.
"No way, that was too fast."
"I just opened my bag of chips and it's already over."
Hearing the surrounding discussion, Wei Xiaoxia's expression remained normal, showing no embarrassment about losing.
"The first round of matches is highly random. Those paired with vastly different strength levels can usually resolve the issue within a few moves. Later on, when everyone's strength is similar, there will be more protracted battles."
"Look, Zhu Wenhan also used a single Fireball Shot to directly send his opponent off."
"These seeded contestants are truly too strong. If I went up there, I probably couldn't even take one move."
"They are students of the same year, how can the gap be so huge?"
Shen Han's opponent in the second round of the Elimination Rounds was a Rank B Special Ability student from his own school, who was also instantly defeated.
"This Shen Han indeed has some real strength, otherwise his Mental Energy wouldn't be ranked first."
"His strength should place him in the first echelon of seeded contestants. Getting into the top ten shouldn't be a problem."
"But he supposedly only has Rank F Special Ability talent."
"I think there must have been an issue with the test. Have you ever seen such a Heaven-Defying Rank F?"
"Exactly, his Rank F is too deceptive. Even Rank E isn't this fierce."
"He should be scheduled for a retest after the league ends. Right now, 99% of people don't believe he is only Rank F."
In the seating area of No. 5 High School, Lü Ziming, Zhu Yunzheng, Song Ziqing, and Wen Tingting had all advanced into the top 25.
Song Ziqing looked at Shen Han in the distance, her expression complicated. She had once thought the gap between them would widen due to the difference in their Awakening talent Ranks, but she hadn't expected Shen Han to reach this stage, or even go further than her. "Was I really wrong?"
Lü Ziming, however, looked indifferent toward the achievements of his former classmate. Although Lü Ziming's academic scores had always been in a league of their own at No. 5 High School, he had never developed arrogance, believing that this world relied on the martial arts track and practical combat. The tenacity and confidence he saw in Shen Han were qualities many lacked, and he had never looked down on him.
Wen Tingting, with her bright, wide eyes, was full of curiosity about this school-wide number one who surpassed her by over 100 points of Mental Energy.
"It looks like No. 5 High School is stable this time. We occupy 5 spots in the top 25, which is already reaching the average level."
"No. 1 High School and No. 2 High School are as fierce as ever. No. 1 High School advanced 10 people, No. 2 High School advanced 7 people. Third High School and No. 4 High School are truly miserable this year."
"Third High School advanced two people—the first time in many years. No. 4 High School is the most miserable, having been completely wiped out."
Principal Wang Siyuan was particularly happy; he hadn't expected No. 5 High School to finally shed its reputation as the bottom-ranked school. Principal Cheng Lina of No. 4 High School wore a gloomy expression, having not seen such results in years. The principal of Third High School was also extremely depressed; although they had advanced some students this year, two was truly a pitiful number.
"Look, the drawing for the third round of the Elimination Rounds has started."
"I wonder which lucky person will draw the bye."
"What does it matter if they draw it? The subsequent ranking matches are brutal. The inevitable beating will arrive, even if delayed."
"Contestant 25, Shen Han, gets a bye this round. The remaining 24 people will participate in the third round of the Elimination Rounds."
"Ah, seriously~, this guy's luck is genuinely good."
"However, even if he participated in the third round, as long as he didn't run into a seeded contestant from No. 1 High School or No. 2 High School, he would likely be fine."
Third Round of the Elimination Rounds.
Arena 1: Zhu Wenhan of No. 1 High School VS Lü Ziming of No. 5 High School
Arena 2: Li Mingxuan of No. 2 High School VS Zhu Yunzheng of No. 5 High School
Arena 3: Liu Jianhui of Third High School VS Song Ziqing of No. 5 High School
Arena 4: Wen Tingting of No. 5 High School VS ..."Wow—In this third round, three contestants from No. 5 High School immediately have to face the top seeded contestants from No. 1, No. 2, and Third High Schools. Their luck is terrible."
"The further along we go, the higher the probability of encountering a seeded contestant."
Arena 1: "I have a lot of hostility towards No. 5 High School. Are you going down yourself, or should I beat you down?" Zhu Wenhan was completely impolite.
Lü Ziming ignored him. Knowing the terror of Rank S Special Abilities, he secretly channeled energy to prepare his defense. He knew he wasn't Zhu Wenhan's opponent, but for the other side to try and finish the fight in a few moves was delusional.
"Golden Bell Body Protection, Activate—" Immediately afterward, a Flame Bomb flew towards his face. Lü Ziming secretly rejoiced that he had activated his defense early. Since he chose a Metal Element defense skill, he was slightly lacking in offense.
"Do you think this little bit of defense can stop me? Blazing Storm, rise~"
"Zhu Wenhan has already Cultivated this Blazing Storm to the Major Achievement Realm. Judging by the intensity of the flames, Lü Ziming is going to suffer," the audience below began discussing.
5 seconds later, Lü Ziming felt a slight heat around him.
10 seconds later, Lü Ziming realized that the Golden Bell Body Protection could only block immediate flame damage, but couldn't stop the surging heat.
30 seconds later, Lü Ziming felt his internal organs were burning. If this continued, his body would suffer serious problems.
"I forfeit!" There was no choice; the gap in strength was too large. Lü Ziming stopped before the ranking matches.
"Hmph, overestimating yourself!" Zhu Wenhan cast a provocative look toward Shen Han.
"Han-ge, it looks like this guy holds a grudge against you for snatching his title of Yang City's number one." Li Muhua, standing nearby, was also speechless.
On Arena 2, Li Mingxuan, the number one seed of No. 2 High School, was equally arrogant. Although he wasn't from a noble family, he had Awakened a Rank A Earth Element Special Ability, making his strength formidable. "Just forfeit. You have no chance."
"Oh, how would I know without trying?" Zhu Yunzheng, though from a noble family, lacked the arrogance typically associated with them, replying with a calm smile.
"Then I'll grant your wish. Fissure Shock~" Li Mingxuan slammed his palm onto the ground, triggering a powerful seismic wave. Zhu Yunzheng, who was channeling a Flame Bomb, had his skill casting immediately interrupted. The ensuing battle was a one-sided domination; the difference between Rank C Fire Element and Rank A Earth Element was too great.
"Alas, another contestant from No. 5 High School stopped before the ranking matches."
On the other arenas, Song Ziqing's Wood Element ran into another Rank A Fire Element user from No. 1 High School. Due to the innate Five Elements suppression, she was completely countered. Wen Tingting, however, defeated her opponent from No. 2 High School and successfully advanced to the ranking matches.
No. 5 High School directly lost three contestants in the third round of the Elimination Rounds, leaving only two spots in the top 13, which was considered a below-average performance.
"No. 1 High School advanced 6 people, No. 2 High School 3 people, and Third High School and No. 5 High School each advanced 2 people to the ranking matches. It seems No. 5 High School isn't last place this time."
"Whether they can surpass Third High School depends on whether they can successfully gain more points in the ranking matches. As for surpassing No. 1 High School and No. 2 High School, that's just wishful thinking."
"The third round of the Elimination Rounds has concluded. The remaining 13 students have one hour of rest time. Our ranking matches will begin in one hour."