The next day, amidst anticipation and agonizing uncertainty, it finally arrived.
As the morning sun shines on the earth, the outer courtyard of the Eastern Wilderness Academy becomes lively again. Many students hurriedly finish their breakfast and rush to the arena to secure a good spot and find the best vantage point for watching the matches.
Under Qin Xin's repeated urging, Long Mu finally sauntered out of the room and reluctantly followed him toward the arena.
The square was now packed with people, seemingly even more lively than the day before. Some students had even started betting, offering odds on the ten students who would be able to enter the inner courtyard.
Qin Xin glanced at the list briefly and saw that Shi Shan, San Jie, Lin Jinglei, Jiang Xinghai, Xia Yue, and others were listed above it. However, he did not see his own name, as it seemed that no one believed he could make it into the top ten.
"It's one thing if I'm not included, but you're not included either. These people have terrible taste."
Longmu pursed his lips, feeling indignant on Qin Xin's behalf. If he hadn't been stopped, he probably would have overturned all those gambling stalls.
Since Long Mu was already eligible to enter the inner courtyard, his participation in this competition was merely for fun, so he was not included in the quota for this competition, making him a special case.
Jin Yuanbao and his friends arrived rather late due to their hangovers. When they saw Long Mu next to Qin Xin, they were all dumbfounded. Even Jin Yuanbao, who was usually quite extravagant, didn't dare to say much, because Long Mu would always threaten him with his little fist.
After a brief chat, Qin Xin went up to the high platform. Jin Yuanbao and the others were eliminated in the first round, and Mo Wen did not make it to the second round due to his injuries, so they could only watch the competition from the arena.
About half an hour later, the three deans and elders of the outer courtyard arrived one after another. Behind Jia Yan, the dean of the Weapon Martial Academy, Qin Xin also saw a familiar figure.
This person was none other than Ye Nian, the elder of the Sword and Martial Arts Class who helped Qin Xin enter the fourth level of the Spirit Forging Tower.
Upon seeing Qin Xin, Ye Nian nodded slightly, while Dean Jia Yan glanced at Qin Xin discreetly before walking onto the platform and slowly taking his seat.
The second day of the competition has officially begun.
"After yesterday's competition, only 41 students remain in the competition, so one person will receive a bye in the next draw."
"Of course, to be fair, let's give this bye to Longmu, since his strength is recognized by the students."
"Alright, everyone, come forward and draw lots."
Jia Yan's aged yet loud voice rang out from the high platform. Without consulting anyone else, he directly asked the remaining contestants to come forward and draw lots.
Upon hearing this, the students all stepped forward to draw lots. Only Long Mu glared angrily at Jia Yan, wishing he could pluck out his beard. Jia Yan had almost achieved mastery yesterday, and today he inexplicably advanced directly; his anger was palpable.
Number Five?
Looking at the red slip in his hand, Qin Xin frowned, somewhat puzzled, because his opponent was not Lin Jinglei, but a student from the Beast Martial Academy, ranked fourteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.
Upon reaching the high platform, Qin Xin noticed the gaze directed at him by Lin Jinglei. Lin Jinglei's eyes seemed to say that Qin Xin was not qualified to challenge him.
After looking at the draw numbers of Jiang Xinghai and the others, Qin Xin also noticed that the top ten on the Hidden Dragon Ranking seemed to be deliberately separated, with no top ten students meeting in two consecutive rounds of competition.
"That's interesting. It seems there are such benefits to being ranked high on the Hidden Dragon List."
Qin Xin sneered. Long Mu, standing to the side, looked at Qin Xin with a face full of doubt. He wanted to ask a question, but was interrupted by Jia Yan's voice.
"Number one... Number five."
Upon hearing Jia Yan's call, Qin Xin and the other ten people leaped down from the high platform and stepped into the arena.
Just as Qin Xin landed, a somewhat effeminate figure appeared before him, staring at Qin Xin with a hint of killing intent in her eyes.
"I really don't understand how Miss could be defeated by you."
Beneath that effeminate figure was a pale face that was somewhat frightening to look at. In her hand she held a sharp blade, and her scarlet tongue was constantly licking it.
Upon seeing the person before him, Qin Xin was somewhat puzzled, because in his memory, he had no connection with this person at all.
"It's a pity that you can't kill people on this arena, but I will cripple you!" A cold voice suddenly rang out.
"Why be so cruel, senior? We've never been enemies."
Seeing the imposing aura of the person before him, Qin Xin dared not be careless. Wanting to find out some information, he deliberately feigned weakness and spoke.
"My name is Ruan Cheng."
"A member of the Ruan clan?"
Upon hearing that somewhat cold voice, Qin Xin's eyes sharpened. He only knew that the Ruan clan had two direct descendants, one of whom, Ruan Yang, had been killed by him, while Ruan Yuan was in the inner courtyard.
Qin Xin naturally guessed that the young lady Ruan Cheng was referring to was Ruan Xiaoman, whom he had stabbed to death with a stick.
"I'm just following orders, so don't blame me. After I cripple you, I'll turn you into a human furnace and give you to the young lady. Perhaps she'll gradually devour your yang essence until she dies from exhaustion!"
A cold glint flashed in Ruan Cheng's narrow eyes. The dagger in his hand was somewhat blackened, and after being licked by his blood-red tongue, a faint dark red color flowed through it. This dagger was about half a foot long, and a beast crystal was inlaid on the hilt. It seemed to be a spirit weapon of good quality.
Qin Xin dared not be careless about the murderous intent hidden in Ruan Cheng's seemingly calm words, because he could sense that the dark red color on the dagger seemed to be highly poisonous.
"laugh!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Ruan Cheng, standing on the arena, with black energy faintly emanating from his five true acupoints, transformed into a blur as he thrust his dagger directly towards Qin Xin's dantian.
In the blink of an eye, Qin Xin dodged Ruan Cheng's sudden attack with an uncanny movement.
Because of his keen spiritual sense, Qin Xin knew that Ruan Yuan would launch a sneak attack as soon as he began to circulate his true energy, so he had already made preparations.
Ruan Cheng was somewhat surprised that Qin Xin had easily dodged his attack, but a cold smile suddenly flashed across his face. As he turned his dagger around, he took a light step and leaped up, thrusting the dagger directly downwards.
"bite!"
The dagger struck the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff in Qin Xin's hand, producing a metallic clang, and sparks flew as they clashed.
Unexpectedly, Ruan Cheng suddenly fell, using the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff to turn around, and stepped towards Qin Xin's abdomen with one foot. As Qin Xin blocked with one hand, Ruan Cheng made a feint, and the dagger in his hand flew out, turning into a dark red stream of light, and shot directly towards Qin Xin's head.
Faced with Ruan Cheng's ruthless combo, Qin Xin took light steps and quickly retreated. As the Nine Flames Battle Immortal Staff in his hand spun, the pale yellow flames transformed into a ring of fire, directly repelling the dagger.
Seeing the perilous situation on the field, Jin Yuanbao and the others were filled with worry. Even Xia Yue, Zhan Qingqi, Jiang Xinghai and the others were speechless as they watched the battle.
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