The ice sphere descended.
With every metre it fell, the oppressive aura intensified. Xie Ming, enveloped in layers of ice-element Dou Qi, braced himself for impact.
BOOM——
The collision erupted—a cataclysm of ice and light.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
The sound of shattering echoed through the arena. Then—
CRASH.
The ice shield splintered. The ice sphere exploded. A blinding white radiance consumed the stage.
When the frozen mist finally dissipated, a massive crater scarred the arena floor.
And in its centre lay Xie Ming—blood trickling from his lips, countless shallow cuts from ice shards covering his body. Barely conscious.
"Senior Han Yue… wins."
Su Qian's announcement was calm. Matter-of-fact.
The Alchemy Department's medical team immediately rushed forward.
"Senior Xie Ming," Han Yue panted, steadying herself with her sword, "I apologize. That was my first time executing this technique in battle. I… haven't yet mastered controlled release."
Xie Ming, already receiving treatment, waved a weary hand.
"It's fine. This is a competition. Injuries are inevitable."
"Tian Ge."
Xun'er's voice was soft. Her gaze rested on Han Yue's exhausted figure.
"Senior Han Yue is already spent. Go bring her back."
Xiao Jietian turned to look at her.
Surprise flickered across his face. Then, gently, he squeezed her hand.
He descended toward the arena.
"Senior Han Yue."
He produced several fifth-grade Dou Qi recovery pills and fed them to her, one by one.
"Ah—!"
Han Yue's exclamation came not from the pills, but from the sudden sensation of being lifted off her feet.
He had carried her—horizontally, effortlessly—and was already ascending toward the high platform.
The arena erupted.
"Hehehe…" came the knowing murmurs. "Look at that—Xiao Jietian just scooped up Senior Han Yue and ran. And she's not even resisting!"
"That's Senior Han Yue! Our academy's ice queen! HOW DARE HE—!"
"Exactly! How dare he! Why is it her being carried by Senior Xiao Jietian and not me?!"
A pause.
Everyone turned toward the source of that slightly coquettish, slightly wistful voice.
One glance.
…Right. Your Highness Qiao Biluo. Of course.
Han Yue's heart had launched itself into her throat the moment she was lifted.
She did not struggle.
She barely even stiffened.
Her bright eyes fixed on Xiao Jietian's face. Their gazes met. She saw tenderness there—warm, unguarded.
And inexplicably, she calmed.
His arms…
They feel like the safest place in the world.
He carried her back to the high platform and set her down gently.
Xun'er immediately moved to support her.
Han Yue's face flushed with embarrassment the moment she met Xun'er's gaze. But Xun'er simply shook her head—a small, reassuring gesture.
It's fine.
Xiao Jietian wisely chose to lower his presence.
If I speak now, I'll definitely get pinched.
Silence is survival.
Under the effects of the recovery pills, colour gradually returned to Han Yue's cheeks. She and Xun'er conversed in low voices.
Or rather—Xun'er teased, and Han Yue blushed.
Again. And again.
If anyone had parted her silver hair, they would have seen her ears—crimson, nearly translucent, as though lightly steamed.
The competition continued.
The top eight were decided:
Xiao Jietian. Zi Yan. Lin Xiuya. Liu Qing. Xiao Yan. Yan Hao. Lin Yan. Han Yue.
"The top eight are now confirmed," Su Qian announced. "The remaining five contestants may challenge one another to determine the ninth and tenth ranks."
His aged voice carried across the silent plaza.
"Some of you may feel that luck alone kept you from advancing. But remember—luck is also a form of strength. Good fortune can turn calamity into blessing. It can open doors you never knew existed."
The five eliminated contestants stepped onto the stage.
Three battles.
Two emerged victorious.
Di Mo. Qin Zhen.
The ninth and tenth places were sealed.
"The remaining eight will now determine their rankings through challenges," Su Qian declared. "The Inner Academy will provide pills for recovery of both injuries and Dou Qi. Each contestant has two challenge opportunities."
Black-Corner Region. Maple City.
While the Inner Academy blazed with the fires of competition, deep within Maple City's heavily guarded bamboo forest, a man in alchemist robes sat cross-legged in a bamboo pavilion.
Han Feng.
A dark figure materialized before him, dropping to one knee.
"Master." The voice was hoarse, but steeped in reverence. "The Gold and Silver Elders have agreed. Old Ban of the Earth Flame Gate, Yuan Yi of the Eight Gates, and Yan Xiu of the Earth Flame Sect have all consented to assist."
A pause.
"But that old ghost… he has not yet agreed. It seems he wishes to increase his compensation."
Han Feng's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
He gave a few quiet instructions.
"Your servant shall go at once." Han Beng bowed and began to withdraw.
"One more thing."
Han Beng halted.
"Keep a close watch on Boundless Heavenly Hall." Han Feng's voice was cool. "I suspect they are not what they appear. We must be vigilant."
The Blood Sect had been annihilated—wiped from existence in a single night. Han Feng had no intention of returning from his campaign to find his own territory razed.
The forces he had already secured were sufficient. Adding that stubborn old ghost was merely a precaution—a desire for swift, clean resolution.
"Yes, Master."
Han Beng vanished.
Back to the Inner Academy.
The moment Su Qian finished speaking, Zi Yan shot up.
"Xiao Jietian! Challenge!"
She attacked immediately.
The battle that followed was fierce—ferocious, even. Zi Yan wielded her monstrous strength and her innate mastery of space. She tore through the air, appearing and vanishing, striking from impossible angles.
Xiao Jietian parried. Dodged. Endured.
Eventually, he grew tired of it.
His hand shot out, seized her twin ponytails, and pulled.
Zi Yan was yanked bodily from the void.
DUANG.
A crisp smack to the head.
…This is a good head, Xiao Jietian noted. A very satisfying percussive surface.
Afterward, Zi Yan sat in the challenger's seat, nursing her wounded pride.
She glared at the other contestants.
She was wronged—she had been hit.
She was depressed—everyone else she challenged simply… conceded.
Conceded!
The other contestants: Are you insane? You're in a rage-state right now. Getting on that stage is just asking to be crippled.
As the matches progressed:
Liu Qing challenged Lin Xiuya.
Both unleashed their full arsenals. It was the most intense battle of the tournament. In the end, Liu Qing fell by a single move—his Great Fissure Rock shattered by Lin Xiuya's unique Sword Qi.
The outcome unchanged from the previous tournament. But the gap had narrowed.
Han Yue, relying on her newly-consolidated peak Nine-Star cultivation and the Cold Starfall technique, defeated both Lin Yan and Yan Hao.
No one challenged Xiao Jietian.
Except Zi Yan. And look how that turned out.
If even the Brute Force Queen—the perennial first-rank—could be handled like a child, who would be foolish enough to step onto that stage?
The recovered Liu Qing received a challenge.
From Xiao Yan.
Their previously agreed-upon battle.