Best Young Master

By the time Ye Fan and his companions returned to the academy, the moon was already high above the willow trees, and the cold moonlight bathed the entire academy like water.

Within the academy, there were several sanctuaries for cultivation, all occupied by powerful disciples. Unless one could defeat them, they could never seize those places.

The strong remain strong!

At the Immortal Academy, the stronger the cultivator, the better cultivation resources they receive. Those who are weaker are gradually eliminated; it’s a ruthless competitive process.

To acquire better resources, one must cultivate furiously. When sufficiently confident, one should challenge disciples who occupy superior resources and possess greater strength. If victorious, they can replace them and seize more cultivation resources.

Especially the Dragon Tower, which is the subject of fierce competition among all powerful disciples of the Immortal Academy; even some elders cultivate in the Dragon Tower.

According to Yaling, this Dragon Tower is the symbol of the Immortal Martial Academy, akin to the Immortal Stele. Ordinary disciples can earn contribution points by completing tasks issued by the academy and use these points to exchange for cultivation time in the Dragon Tower.

Six Dragon Veins spew Essence Qi, converging under the Dragon Tower, making cultivation within the tower twice as effective.

How do those weaker disciples manage to challenge those stronger than themselves?

The main reason is earning contribution points to exchange for cultivation time in the Dragon Tower, accelerating their cultivation speed.

Only by doing this can they hope to challenge above their rank, something the academy encourages. It creates a sense of urgency for every disciple, making them reluctant to slack off since a challenge could come at any time. Defeat means losing their position and resources, an outcome they dread.

The next day, the Immortal Academy’s latest disciples’ ranking tournament commenced as scheduled.

Each new disciples’ ranking tournament is a grand event, with any academy disciple eligible to watch, meant to inspire them to work harder on cultivation!

The previous tournaments had many spectators, and this one is no exception. Even before the competition starts, many have arrived, seated at the spectator stands in front of the Martial Arts Arena, waiting for the event to begin.

This time, only thirty new disciples were recruited. Six perished outside the Ancient City in the Immortal Secret Realm, leaving only twenty-four.

With half an hour left before the ranking tournament, Ye Fan and the others arrived at the arena and were placed in the waiting area, preparing for the competition.

At this moment, distinguished individuals entered the VIP seats under the guidance of Deputy Dean Old Fox, Law Enforcement Elder Lan Yingfei, and others.

These people were helmsmen from various major forces, each a Heroic Lord, a Supreme Strongman who could shake regions with a mere stomp.

This time, many of the disciples participating in the Immortal Academy’s latest ranking tournament came from their sects or Holy Lands, capturing their attention naturally.

Among these notable figures, Ye Fan spotted the most unusual one at a glance.

He was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a head of messy black hair resembling a bird’s nest, his upper body bare, revealing bronze skin, draped in beast skin, reminiscent of Shi Ye.

"Wild Man, is that old man your Barbarian clan’s leader?" Hu Fei nudged Shi Ye with his elbow and asked softly.

"Yes, he’s my clan’s leader and also my grandfather." Shi Ye replied quietly.

"That old man is truly a formidable person!"

Hu Fei sighed. The Southern East Domain’s Barbarian tribes rarely interact with outsiders; they are very mysterious but immensely powerful, rivaling Holy Lands because they carry the War God’s bloodline.

"Today marks the opening of the Immortal Academy’s latest disciples’ ranking tournament, where twenty-four disciples will fiercely compete in the arena to determine their rankings!"

"On this grand occasion, the Immortal Academy welcomes guests from various domains; now, I solemnly introduce the distinguished guests watching today’s tournament..."

Once all Heroic Lords were seated, Lan Yingfei moved to the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, delivering the opening statement, followed by introducing the attending Heroic Lords, and finally announcing the start of the competition.

The Immortal Academy’s ranking tournament uses a round-robin format, where everyone competes against each participant, except themselves.

But... four individuals are exceptions!

They are Qi Tianlin, Zhou Zhaolong, Wu Jingtian, and Yue Chuan!

The academy, based on their overall performance in the Immortal Secret Realm over the past year, designated these four as seed players.

As seed players, they don’t have to participate in the round-robin, automatically securing the top four rankings.

The remaining twenty are split into two groups for round-robin matches, where winners earn one point and losers zero points. Ultimately, ranking is determined by points, then they challenge the top four for the ultimate championship.

The grouping isn’t random; the academy has arranged it so each participant’s opponent is similar in realm.

In the past year, Lan Yingfei has known each disciple’s strength thoroughly; initially, he had intended for Ye Fan to be a seed player—Ye Fan’s actual combat power could rival a Mid-stage Divine Power Realm strong person!

However, Dean Old Immortal did not agree. He said Ye Fan must earn his place by fighting, without any special treatment, as a means to temper Ye Fan’s mentality.

To make this tournament more exciting and viewable, the academy made an unusual decision—to have the four seed leaders compete first to secure the top four positions.

The other twenty, regardless of their score in the round-robin, can challenge any of the top four if they believe themselves capable of defeating them, claiming their position and vying for the championship.

The decision stirred a commotion; no tournament had ever been conducted so exceptionally. Normally, seed players only meet to compete for the championship at the end.

"Interesting!"

In the VIP seats, various Heroic Lords displayed anticipation on their faces. Such a tournament format was unprecedented. Could anyone, after establishing the top four, challenge them?

Next, the grouping commenced, and Ye Fan was placed in the first group. Besides Jin Changgeng and Shi Ye, Li Tianfeng and his loyal followers were also among the members. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Heh...!"

Upon learning he was grouped with Ye Fan, Li Tianfeng revealed a sinister smile, intending to defeat Ye Fan with powerful tactics to prove himself.

The others were also eager to try, hoping to defeat Ye Fan to prove they were stronger. After all, Ye Fan had previously created many miracles and broken many records; many viewed defeating him as their goal.

The matches between the four seeded players were decided by drawing lots. After announcing the rules, Elder Lan Yingfei glanced at the four and said, "Now, let’s draw lots!"

The match between the four was still a round-robin, with each battling one another, swapping opponents regardless of victory or defeat, and ranking based on points.

Qi Tianlin stepped onto the stage, drew a jade token from the box, and handed it to Elder Lan Yingfei, who then announced the event and opponents listed on the token.

First match: Qi Tianlin versus Yue Chuan; Second match: Zhou Zhaolong versus Wu Jingtian!

Upon announcing the event and opponents, the audience’s excitement visibly rose; a peak battle from the start meant it would be extremely thrilling.

This was an arrangement by the academy, allowing the strongest four to engage in a dragon-tiger struggle, heating up the atmosphere for the subsequent matches to proceed smoothly.

Ye Fan and the other twenty individuals also eagerly anticipated; these four could truly be considered absolute demons!

This was their first collision, perhaps revealing how large the gap was between them and themselves.

"Mr. Yue, please!"

After announcing the event and opponents, Qi Tianlin smiled and gestured to Yue Chuan to proceed, then walked confidently towards the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

Yue Chuan didn’t speak, but his eyes shone with determination, striding boldly to the center of the Martial Arts Arena. Even Qi Tianlin couldn’t suppress his confidence in victory.

"Stop at grace, no assassins are allowed, do not kill the opponent, do not deliberately cripple the opponent’s Dantian. Surrendering or suffering severe injury leads to defeat. Now step back; the match begins!"

Elder Lan Feiying separated the two, announced the match rules, then rose into the air to oversee the battle from above.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

As Lan Yingfei’s words fell, Yue Chuan quickly stepped forward three times, each step like a Divine Mountain descending, causing the Martial Arts Arena to tremble, lighting up all defensive formation patterns to prevent its destruction.

Simultaneously, a defensive shield formed around and above the arena to prevent the aftershocks of their battle from affecting the spectators.

Yue Chuan, a disciple of the Human Emperor Great Emperor, practiced the Emperor’s Mysterious Skill, with black hair draped over his shoulders, a burly stature, exuding supreme emperor elegance even while standing still.

Qi Tianlin refused to be outdone, his body shimmering with divine light, enveloped in nine-layered divine rings, like a deity descending, every move wielding immense power.

"Yue Chuan, a disciple of the Human Emperor Great Emperor, certainly mastered the Emperor’s Mysterious Skill; Qi’s demon has no chance!"

"Qi’s demon isn’t simple either; how many mortals are truly extraordinary? Although he hasn’t practiced the Emperor’s Mysterious Skill, he might practice another Supreme Mysterious Technique; not only those of the emperor are powerful. Moreover, the emperor left more than one mysterious skill; who can say Qi’s demon hasn’t trained in an emperor’s skill?"

"Regardless of whether Qi Tianlin knows the Emperor’s Mysterious Skill, he must go all out against the emperor’s disciple—this battle is destined to be a dragon-tiger fight!"

As people discussed, the two in the Martial Arts Arena were already exchanging blows.

Bang!

Qi Tianlin and Yue Chuan exchanged a palm strike, a tentative attack aiming to gauge each other’s strength.

However—

Even as a tentative attack, its power was terrifying, rampaging energy like a Heavenly Sword clashing on the defensive shield, producing booming sounds!

This Martial Arts Arena was sacrificially refined by a strong person nearing quasi-emperor status from the Immortal Academy, inscribed with his formations; not even a Venerable Realm strongman could break it. Though Qi Tianlin and Yue Chuan were powerful, breaking the arena’s defenses was impossible.

"Mr. Yue, show your ultimate technique, let me experience the Human Emperor Great Emperor’s skills!"

Qi Tianlin shouted loudly, his speed breaking limits, shadows pouncing on Yue Chuan, each indistinguishable as his true form.

"Great Wave!"

Yue Chuan softly exclaimed, finally wielding his divine skill. An ocean appeared before him, unleashing mountain-crushing force towards Qi Tianlin, swiftly smashing his illusions.

"Water Element Divine Power? Not bad! Watch me break your divine skill!"

Qi Tianlin shouted, divine power overwhelming like an ocean, countless earth-colored spears emerging before him, thrusting into the boundless sea, breaking through waves towards Yue Chuan.

"Earth Element Divine Power? Yue Chuan is in trouble now..."

Seeing this, many beneath the stage secretly pitied Yue Chuan.

Earth overcomes water in elemental conflicts; Yue Chuan is inherently weaker than Qi Tianlin, and with divine skills restrained, he has virtually no winning chance!

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