Xia Xiaoyi defeated Cheng Xi, thus becoming the new ninth expert of the West Academy.
Cheng Xi automatically dropped one place to become the tenth.
Lu Chuanpeng, on the other hand, was squeezed out of the top ten and became eleventh.
Next, many more people went to challenge the top ten cultivators, with the most challenging Xia Xiaoyi, as everyone thought she was the weakest.
But none of those who went to challenge her succeeded.
Many people were actually stronger than Xia Xiaoyi, but they were defeated by her without even realizing it. By the time they realized what was happening, Xia Xiaoyi's sword was already pointed at their necks, making them unable to move.
A senior female student ranked seventeenth in the West Courtyard, after being defeated by Xia Xiaoyi's sword, walked off the challenge platform in great anger, muttering, "How could this be? My strength is clearly greater than hers, how could I lose to her?"
Only cultivators on the Xuan Ranking could see Xia Xiaoyi's formidable abilities.
First of all, her speed is her biggest advantage; her unpredictable sword strikes make her impossible to defend against.
Secondly, her eyesight and hearing are far superior to those of ordinary people, allowing her to detect danger in advance and hear the sounds of the opponent's attack beforehand, and then make the most correct response strategy in the shortest possible time.
Third, she has a wealth of combat experience, and in this respect, she is much better than other trainees.
After all, he had been walking on the edge of life and death for many years. During his time at the Dragon and Phoenix Academy, he was walking on the edge of a knife every second. The slightest mistake would have meant certain death.
Under everyone's gaze, Xia Xiaoyi stepped down from the challenge platform and stood to Wang Hao's right. Imitating Yan Qin and Wang Hao, she crossed her arms and said, "Aren't you going to take on the challenge?"
Wang Hao nodded and said, "It's about time."
He then stepped onto the challenge stage and said, "I want to challenge Ji Changlong, who is in seventh place."
He was a senior student in the West Courtyard eight years ago. His cultivation had reached the peak of the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm four years ago. However, because he wanted to enter the intermediate-level ruins, he had not been able to break through his realm.
With Wang Hao's current strength, he could even contend with Si Jingjun, but there's no need for that; he only needs to be able to enter the intermediate-level ruins.
"Do you think Wang Hao has a chance of succeeding in the challenge?" asked a former student who was ranked in the top fifty.
Another student who had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining said, "If it weren't for Xia Xiaoyi's intervention, I might not have believed it. But even Xia Xiaoyi could defeat Cheng Xi, who was ranked eighth. Wang Hao's strength is above Xia Xiaoyi's, so he might have a chance to defeat Lu Chuanpeng."
"That's right! The new students are very talented, and their strength cannot be measured by cultivation level alone."
"This year's freshmen are too strong. They've only been in school for three months and they've already defeated the top ten students in the academy. How are we, the senior students who have been in the academy for several years, supposed to bear this?"
More and more students gathered below the challenge platform, and even the vice deans of the other three academies and the dean of the West Academy came over, standing not far away and gazing in the direction of the challenge platform. Clearly, they were also looking forward to this battle.
The better Wang Hao performs, the better it is for the Burning Lamp Academy, because it means that breathing techniques are no worse than martial arts.
Ji Changlong was a burly man with a broad back and a thick waist. His body was like an iron tower, and his whole body was covered with solid muscles. Although he was only twenty-five years old, his face was covered with a beard, making him look like a big, bearded man.
Holding a black iron rod, he climbed the steps and stood ten steps away from Wang Hao.
"boom!"
He slammed the iron rod down onto the ground, and the ground immediately made a loud noise and trembled violently.
Ji Changlong laughed and said, "Wang Hao, I know you are very talented, but you have only been in the academy for three months, yet you dare to challenge me. How much of a chance do you think you have?"
“Perfect,” Wang Hao said with a smile.
Ji Changlong said somewhat unhappily, "Shicheng, aren't you underestimating your senior brother a bit too much?"
Wang Hao said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "For a cultivator, once you choose to challenge an opponent, you must have the confidence to win. If you don't even have the confidence to win, then you've already lost half the battle before you've even started fighting."
Ji Changlong gave him an approving look and said, "Well said! But you've chosen the wrong opponent today. You're destined to lose to your senior brother. Let's fight! Let me see just how strong the top freshman really is!"
Wang Hao sensed a powerful energy fluctuation emanating from Ji Changlong, so he dared not underestimate his opponent and became even more cautious.
Those who make it into the top ten of the West Campus are all truly skilled, and a slight misstep could lead to defeat on the challenge stage.
Wang Hao slowly drew the Purple Cloud Sword, infusing the sword with pale yellow spiritual energy, which emitted invisible sword energy. The overflowing sword energy carved sword marks on the ground beneath his feet.
"Is this the initial stage of Sword Heart Clarity?"
Ji Changlong naturally knew Wang Hao's sword intent and dared not be careless. He then infused his spiritual energy into the tungsten star cold iron rod in his hand, which emitted a bone-chilling cold aura.
As he swung the iron rod with one hand, snowflakes appeared on the challenge platform, and a layer of white frost condensed on the ground, causing the temperature in the air to drop rapidly.
"Oh no, Ji Changlong has also been hiding his strength. He should be ranked at least fifth." Yan Qin began to worry about Wang Hao.
The headmaster of the West Courtyard narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled, saying, "I didn't expect Ji Changlong to have cultivated the Tai'a Cold Ice Technique to the eighth level. With his strength, he can already contend with those martial artists ranked lower on the Xuan Ranking."
The Vice Dean of the South Academy smiled and said, "Congratulations, Dean. The West Academy has gained another student at the Xuan Ranking level."
"Alas! It's such a pity for Wang Hao. If Ji Changlong hadn't broken through to the eighth level of the Tai'a Cold Ice Technique, he would still have a chance to win. But now, he has no chance at all," the Vice Dean of the East Academy said regretfully.
He appeared to be expressing regret, but in reality, he was sneering.
It was because of Wang Hao that the East Academy only ranked third this year. Naturally, the Vice Dean of the East Academy disliked Wang Hao. When he saw that Wang Hao was about to fail in his challenge, he couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.
The head of the West Academy smiled faintly and said, "It doesn't matter if he fails the challenge, he still has one more chance to challenge."
Wang Hao felt considerable pressure from Ji Changlong; this pressure could easily be described as a half-step Foundation Establishment level.
"Junior brother, take this blow from your senior brother first."
Ji Changlong roared, his voice booming like a great bell, deafening and transforming into a gust of wind that surged towards Wang Hao. He pushed off the ground with both feet, moving as fast as a giant ape, and in an instant, he was in front of Wang Hao.
He raised the stick with both hands and swung it down.
A chill swept over him. Wang Hao looked up and saw a huge shadow of a staff pressing down, as if an ice peak had collapsed.
Wang Hao did not intend to confront him head-on. He slightly bent his knees, lowered his body, and used the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow technique, flying as if riding the wind to reach behind Ji Changlong.
At the same time, he slashed out with his sword in a backhand motion.
"Good timing!"
Ji Changlong missed his target with his staff, laughed loudly, and immediately twisted his waist, swinging the staff behind him.
He was not only tall and imposing with incredible strength, but also had remarkably fast reaction speed, giving Wang Hao absolutely no chance.
If Xia Xiaoyi dared to challenge Ji Changlong, she would have no chance of winning and would likely be severely injured by Sikong Shu in one move.
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