As the middle-aged referee slowly walked onto the plaza, a thunderous wave of cheers erupted from the stands. The cheers gradually subsided as the referee lowered his hand. Surveying the crowd, he declared, "Ladies and gentlemen, after the initial round of eliminations yesterday, the original 300 contestants have been reduced to 174 today. At this pace, we should have fifty qualified candidates entering the inner academy by the end of the day." "Alright, the selection round has begun. All contestants whose names are called should quickly come up to the stage. Those who fail to do so within the designated time will be considered withdrawn." The referee didn't linger long—he briefly outlined the competition rules before slowly retreating to his judges' seat. At that moment, two names were announced from the seat. "Class Three, Luo Fu!" "Class Five, Goli!" Upon being called upon, two figures who had already been prepared swiftly darted down from the stands, landing steadily on the field, facing each other, their eyes blazing with sparks. Qi of distinct attributes surged powerfully from within them, flowing in rich, robust waves, enveloping their bodies and forming a perfect, flowing qi robe. Though these two athletes may not rank among the most prominent figures in the academy like Bai Shan and his peers, they still possess a certain level of recognition. As soon as they stepped onto the field, cheers erupted from the stands. Having qualified for the selection tournament and advanced to the second round, their standing in the outer academy of Gan-Can is certainly solid—among the mid-to-upper tier of strength. The two contestants were both from the Xuanyuan class. One embodied the agile, graceful wind-type attributes, while the other exuded a solid, steady earth-type presence. One emphasized swift maneuvers, the other focused on resilient defense. Given their comparable strength and attributes, the match was destined to remain tightly contested—and indeed, from the very outset, the wind-type student transformed into a streak of jade-like shadow, continuously darting and weaving around his opponent, leveraging his agility to deliver precise, sharp attacks aimed at vital points. Though his assaults were fierce, his opponent was no ordinary defender—his body remained as solid as a rock, grounded firmly on the earth, relying on the earth-type combat aura renowned for its enduring stamina and resilience. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that although he appeared to be under pressure, he effectively minimized the impact of every one of the wind-type student's powerful attacks. The intense back-and-forth battles on the field drew the attention of most spectators, with waves of cheers constantly merging and building into a thunderous roar that resonated continuously overhead. "That Luo Fu seems to have a strong chance..." Xiao Yan, leaning against his chair and watching the competitor who effortlessly absorbed every attack with minimal cost, smiled lightly. "He isn't being pressured by Goli, is he?" Xiao Yu murmured beside him. "Although Golli appears aggressive, sustained pressure will eventually exhaust his ki. Observing the color and quality of his ki, it seems his practiced technique is not particularly advanced. A less refined method simply cannot endure such prolonged exertion. In contrast, Luofu has remained largely stationary since the battle began, and each time his feet make contact with the opponent's attacks, they subtly tremble—as if channeling the force into the ground. Though this method appears somewhat clumsy, it effectively conserves significant amounts of ki. Therefore, unless Golli possesses a decisive strategy, his attacks will gradually weaken over the next thirty exchanges, culminating in his eventual defeat." Xun'er smiled and explained this clearly. Hearing Xun'er's detailed analysis, not only did Xiao Yu nod in agreement, but even Xiao Yan found himself momentarily astonished, glancing at her in surprise—because even he had not noticed such a thorough observation. "I wonder what level this girl has reached these past two years. Still, I'm certain she's at least as strong as I am...," thought Xiao Yan, somewhat helpless. He had originally believed his own progress over the past two years to be quite solid, only to find out that this girl was even more extraordinary. After all, the mysterious power behind Xun'er—so powerful that even the Elder of Herbs had to respect it—had to be taken into account. Thus, he settled down, confident that Xun'er's natural talent in cultivation was no weaker than his own. Moreover, since childhood, she had been trained in high-level techniques tailored specifically for her, and with rare herbs and medicinal pills always readily available, she never had to go through the trouble of gathering them herself—something he had always had to do. While Xiao Yan was pondering these thoughts, the tense battle on the field finally began to shift. The student named Goli, sensing the trouble that lay ahead, had initially launched a fierce assault, but after a while, decided to slow down his attacks. However, just as he reduced his pace, the one who had remained motionless like a turtle—Luofu—suddenly unleashed a sharp technique completely at odds with "Unmoved like a mountain, yet dynamic as thunder; with a single move, he defeats his opponent. Remarkable! Truly, the Gan'an Academy has cultivated such exceptional combat prowess among its students. It's no wonder that Master Rulin, when they were on leave, often expressed frustration, lamenting their underperformance. With such an outstanding training system, if it weren't for my teachers' private guidance, I suspect I would have struggled to keep pace with the academy's prodigies, relying solely on my own efforts." Upon observing the decisive move of Luofu, Xiao Yan shook his head in mild astonishment, marveling internally. After a moment of quiet reflection, he once again focused his attention on the field. Following the referee's announcement of Luofu's victory, the two competitors, now in markedly different moods, stepped out of the arena under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, while the next round of matches swiftly followed. This unceasing rhythm of competition kept the atmosphere on the surrounding stands at a constant peak, with the thunderous cheers and encouragement resonating so loudly they caused listeners' eardrums to ache. As his gaze swiftly swept across one match after another, Xiao Yan grew increasingly serious about the Cana College. This selection tournament broadly reflected the upper-tier strength of the college's outer academy. From the matches he observed, he could clearly discern that the Cana College had a truly effective training system—its students' combat styles were far from the rigid, conventional ones he had anticipated. Instead, they exhibited the composure and experience of seasoned veterans, with sharp, perceptive eyes and an unwavering willingness to deliver decisive blows when necessary. Such competitive encounters, inherently more demanding and risky, surpassed the typical exchange of drills between ordinary colleges. Nevertheless, true excellence could not emerge solely within a gentle, sheltered academic environment. Without substantial combat experience and a keen, unyielding eye for judgment, one could not truly be considered a strong contender. The Cana College's ability to cultivate such a dynamic atmosphere within its own ranks was indeed commendable. "Each year, the academy sends some students to undergo training in the Black Corner Region. Though this endeavor is extremely risky—often resulting in the loss of talented students—indeed, those who return successfully seem to undergo a transformation. This transformation is not merely evident in their strength, but more profoundly in the shift of their demeanor." The soft voice suddenly came from beside him. Xiao Yan turned to see it was Master Ruolin. "Huh?" Xiao Yan was momentarily startled, then nodded after a while, saying, "That explains it. The Black Corner Region truly is a naturally suited training ground. I never expected the senior leadership of the Ganavan Academy to have such boldness. It's a place that consumes its students—leaving nothing but bones behind." "Trainees heading to the Black Corner Domain may choose to go either individually or in groups. However, few opt for solo travel—mostly those who are highly confident in their own abilities. When choosing to travel in groups, the academy assigns one internal academy student to each team, who serves as a captain, guiding them through the harsh trials of the Black Corner Domain until they emerge alive. Master Ruo Lin, her eyes slightly dazed, spoke slowly, "White Mountain, Lu Mu, and the others have all previously entered the Black Corner Domain individually. Don't underestimate them." She raised an eyebrow, her gaze drifting toward White Mountain, surprised to learn that he too had once traversed the domain. While Xiao Yan and Master Ruo Lin were conversing quietly, the match at the venue gradually reached its conclusion. After the referee announced the winners, both a lightly injured and a severely injured contestant were assisted off the field. "Round thirty-eighth: Lu Mu from the Pharmacy Division versus Class Two, Huang Rank, Xiao Yan." A judge slowly rose from the officiating bench, surveyed the field, and then declared with a clear voice. As the judge's words settled, the bustling square fell momentarily silent, then instantly a wave of eyes turned sharply toward Xiao Yan. The gazes carried various tones—many of them clearly unkind. "It seems many are eager for you to stumble. After all, Lu Mu isn't comparable to Xiao Bing from yesterday. His strength ranks among the top ten across the entire outer academy. Moreover, as a pharmacist, he's said to command a potent flame that deals significant damage—quite formidable. You'll need to be cautious..." Observing the surrounding glances laced with envy and relief, Teacher Ruo Lin softly added. "Moreover, if we're to completely eliminate future incidents like the one last night at Baishan, your performance today is absolutely crucial." "Xiao Yan, go get 'em!" Xun'er smiled playfully. "Hey, don't let me down! If you lose to that pesky one, I'll look down on you." Xiao Yu waved her fist, issuing a warning. "Give it your all." Xiao Yan offered a gentle smile, slowly rising to his feet under everyone's watchful eyes. With a light tap of his foot on the stand, he drifted gracefully onto the plaza, his tall, upright posture forming a strikingly unusual image against the massive, imposing Xuanzhong Chi behind him. After the blue figure appeared, a tidal wave of cheers erupted from the stands in Lima, clearly indicating that many at Canaan Academy hoped that Lu Mu would successfully challenge and suppress the newly arrived yet exceptionally assertive Xiao Yan. "This match should truly allow Xiao Yan to showcase his full capabilities," White Shan remarked calmly, watching the two competitors. "Lu Mu isn't the same as Xu Bēng from yesterday—I'm eager to see just what it is about you, Xiao Yan, that enables you to stand beside Xun'er!" "Let's go, let's go! Ideally, both of them should end up half-disabled—then Xun'er won't have to suffer under Xiao Yan's relentless pressure. Otherwise, I'll have to step in myself," the red-clad girl at another stand said, glancing at today's most anticipated bout with a slight frown. Amid all the underlying expectations and intentions, this pivotal match for Xiao Yan's establishment of credibility was finally about to begin.