There were one-thousand-eight-hundred students participating in the grand competition, divided into thirty battle platforms, with sixty people each platform, paired up to compete in elimination rounds.
After the first round, Lou Mu Yan continued to draw lots amongst the remaining students on this battle platform, and drew lot number eight.
Her performance earlier shocked many people, and the people in her group looked at her with faint fear.
The match just now actually didn’t mean much, after all, Lou Mu Yan’s opponent’s was rather weak. But because the image of her being trash was so deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, it caused this unexpected sensation.
Gu Yan Ran stood not far away, and seeing Lou Mu Yan win her first round so easily, her eyes that was initially calm revealed a trace of hostility.
Chi Yi Xuan had also been paying attention to Lou Mu Yan. Ever since he won, his gaze had been locked on to battle platform number twenty-six.
Seeing her competing relaxedly and with ease, her hair fluttering in the wind, and her appearance so beautiful and refined, his heart couldn’t help but beat like a drum. But it was just a momentary thing.
After the lot was drawn, Lou Mu Yan automatically ignored the incessant discussions below, walked to her seat and casually scanned the battles on the other platforms.
The ferocity level in the Earth Class was much more inferior to the Heaven Class, so apart from the few occasional battles that attracted many people’s attention, there wasn’t much popularity.
An hour later, the referee announced the second round of the eighth match.
There was no suspense in the battle, Lou Mu Yan soon ended the battle and won.
She continued to draw lots, continued to win, all the way until the last competition on platform number twenty-six.
Lou Mu Yan leapt onto the stage with a tap of her toe all the same. This time, her opponent was a pink-clothed woman named Yi Nuo who was rather attractive. She was in the same Earth Class as her, was also the strongest in their class, and was a highly regarded Sword Master.
It was just that the relationship between her and Yi Nuo was rather stiff, and they had numerous conflicts. This woman usually spoke badly about her behind her back, followed Gu Yan Ran in embarrassing her, not to mention she once even almost killed her.
“Lou Mu Yan, I’m not the trash that battled with you before.” There was disdain in Yi Nuo’s eyes, “Let me end your grand competition this time.”
Lou Mu Yan folded her arms, wearing a smile, yet not quite a smile, on her face, while there wasn’t much warmth in her eyes. Just how confident was this woman to be able to say these absolute words.
End her participation in the grand competition? What a joke.
Since they were matched, then it was perfect. She had always wanted to calculate the debt from this woman.
The favour of a meal must be repaid, while revenge must be taken on grievances as well. Her temperament was as such, knowing to whom she should show gratitude, and to whom she should resent.
“Watch what you’re saying, who ends who will only be known after a battle.” Lou Mu Yan didn’t bother to spend anymore words, turned her head to the referee on the battle stage and said: “Let’s start.”
Seeing that both of them were ready, the referee repeated the rules, then announced ‘the battle begins’.
Seeing Lou Mu Yan’s indifferent attitude towards her, as if she was insignificant, a feeling of discomfort rose in Yi Nuo’s heart. What right did this trash have to dislike her? She would definitely show Lou Mu Yan who’s stronger today, and let her know that Chi Yi Xuan wasn’t someone a trash like her could think about.
Yes, one of the reasons Yi Nuo often targeted Lou Mu Yan was because she adored Chi Yi Xuan, and she didn’t like seeing a woman like Lou Mu Yan who only got close to Chi Yi Xuan because of her family background. In her eyes, Lou Mu Yan liking Chi Yi Xuan was a sort of defilement.
“Accept your death!” Yi Nuo took out a silver longsword and channelled her Elemental Energy into it.
She leapt up and swung her sword in the air. The gleam of the sword that carried a thick, cold aura instantly turned into a blue sword aura and headed directly for Lou Mu Yan.
Lou Mu Yan could feel the blue sword aura carried the pressure of an Advanced-Phase Great Sword Master. It appeared that Yi Nuo trained her sword skill well, but it was a pity that her abilities were still lacking.
Such strength wasn’t even worthy for her to draw her own sword. She quickly formed a few hand-seals in front of her chest. With a flick of her slender hands, a flash of red that carried the fire Elemental Energy shot out, heading directly towards the blue sword aura.
[CHICHI!] In just an instant, the blue sword energy was completely submerged by the fire, and let out a few sizzling sounds in the air.
“What?” Yi Nuo never thought that Lou Mu Yan had such abilities. She put away the belittling in her heart and her face darkened—this trash should consider herself lucky for making her use all her powers.
“You’re able to make me use this skill, Lou Mu Yan, you’re very fortunate.” Yi Nuo huffed, her silver longsword incessantly swung in the air, then immediately following, the sword aura condensed into numerous blue petals and floated towards Lou Mu Yan.
“Sword Aura Condensation!” Yun Lan whispered on the audience seats, his brows deeply knitted, then looked at Yun Jin: “She’s a member of the Yi Clan?”
Sword Aura Condensation used to be the Yi Clan’s peerless skill trump card. A few hundred years ago, they had hopes of ranking amongst the Ten Distinguished Spirit Sword Clans, but because they offended a large force, they were suppressed miserably. Later, because the talents of the Clan were grew weaker and weaker, they gradually declined, and were now not even ranked in Yan’zhou Country.
This peerless skill, Sword Aura Condensation, was also lost a hundred years ago, but who would’ve thought it was unexpectedly used by this woman.
“Mm. She’s named Yi Nuo, is the granddaughter of the current patriarch of the Yi Clan, and also the most talented disciple of the Clan. That’s why she was sent to the Imperial Academy.”
There was worry in Yun Jin’s eyes, “I didn’t expect that she could use Sword Aura Condensation, no wonder she previously declared that she would take the only spot allocated to the Earth Class. So it turned out she had such a trump card.” He wondered if Lou Mu Yan could take this attack.
Yun Jin would participate in the Trials with the members of the Imperial Family, so he didn’t compete in the Academy’s selection for the Trials.
“Yan’er can handle it.” Unlike Yun Lan and Yun Jin’s worries, Lou Mu Bai’s indifferent eyes were stained with a layer of determination.
Seeing his younger sister’s complacent and calm appearance on the battle platform, Lou Mu Ting couldn’t help but believe she’d win. “Yan’er will definitely win.”
Xiao Zi Ang and Yun Luo exchanged glances. Where did the confidence in these two brothers come from? The reason why Sword Aura Condensation is called a peerless skill must have its reasons.
“I also believe in Lou Mu Yan.” Yun Lan pressed his lips together, staring at the battle platform, transfixed.
Yun Jin didn’t speak, but his clenched hands revealed he was not calm at this time.
Lou Mu Yan’s eyes revealed slight surprise. This woman’s sword skills weren’t bad, except the person using it was too weak. She didn’t even comprehend the key to this skill, yet she used it so confidently. Yi Nuo was too arrogant—an arrogant soldier was bound to be defeated.
She converted part of the Spiritual Energy within her into fire Elemental Energy, once again formed another Taoist Seal with her hands, then with a flick of her jade-like fingers, numerous life-like, fire lotuses hopped off her fingertips, as if blooming gorgeously like real ones.
The fire lotuses that floated in front of Lou Mu Yan were even more dazzling and eye-catching than the blue petals. Upon the release of the fire lotuses, the temperature around the battle platform rose steadily, shocking the people.
“What?” Ruan Yang, who sat on the raised platform, pushed himself up to his feet with his hands on the armrests and stared at Lou Mu Yan on the platform, “That little girl was this competent in using her fire Elemental Energy, not at all inferior to the Yi Clan’s Sword Aura Condensation.
“What a great seedling!” Then he slapped his thigh and looks sideways at Yuan Li, “She’s only at the Great Sword Master cultivation base, yet she was able to comprehend the fire attribute Elemental Energy to this stage—she was simply born to refine pills. I want this little girl.”
Ruan Li retracted the amazement in his eyes. The girl from the Lou Clan was constantly giving them surprises. Remembering the mysterious figure behind Lou Mu Yan who refined the Marrow Cleansing Pill, he couldn’t help but pour cold water on his younger brother1: “Another person has long accepted her as their disciple. You’re a step too late.”
Ruan Yang froze – that’s right! This girl had already become someone else’s disciple, and he was afraid that it would be difficult to accept him as a Master.
It was truly a pity—such a good seedling was dug out by another Alchemist. Which old thing had such sharp eyes?
“Aye!” Ruan Li sighed, but the fiery desire in his eyes that looked at Lou Mu Yan still hadn’t faded. It was rare to encounter such a talented seedling, he wouldn’t be reconciled if he didn’\\t at least try.
1burst his bubble. To extinguish his excitement by giving him some unfortunate facts.