Today is destined to be the most vibrant day of the year at Cana College, as the internal selection finals—drawing the focused attention of every student—reach their most thrilling climax! Hugua, Bai Shan, Wu Hao, Xun'er, and Xiao Yan, who have already clearly demonstrated their astonishing strength over the past two days, will now engage in the most captivating showdown among the top five students of this year's external academy. Precisely because of this, the crowd gathered on the plaza today is nearly several times larger than that of the previous two days. These spectators are not solely composed of college students; many have come from the nearby city of Cana, drawn by word of mouth. As residents of Cana, they have long known that today marks the peak of the year's festivities at the college, and thus, they naturally won't miss this grand event. … When Xiao Yan and the others arrived outside the grand plaza, they were struck by the massive crowd nearly blocking the entrance, and found themselves at a loss. Eventually, thanks to Master Ruolin's connections, they managed to enter the plaza through a well-defended passage. After traversing a long, dark corridor and emerging at the far end of the tunnel, the sudden burst of loud noises—so intense and overwhelming—left Xiao Yan and the others dazed and disoriented. It took them several moments to regain their composure, and only then did they look up at the dense throngs of people surrounding the plaza, exchanging helpless smiles. The group then slowly ascended along the plaza's base and finally settled down at the seats where they had been stationed the previous two days, breathing a sigh of relief. Sitting in the chair, Xiao Yan quietly chatted with Xun'er beside him. Suddenly, he stopped speaking and turned his gaze toward a special passage in the plaza. There, Bai Shan, surrounded by a crowd like a star admired by its moon, was looking directly at them, catching Xiao Yan's gaze. A subtle cold smile appeared on his handsome face, and his lips slightly moved—though he didn't speak aloud, Xiao Yan clearly heard every word. "I want you to lose your dignity today!" A faint coldness passed through his dark eyes. Xiao Yan's face softened into a gentle smile. He slightly nodded to Bai Shan and then moved his lips as well: "I'll be waiting." "Xiao Yan, if you're going to fight Bai Shan, be careful. Though his temperament is indeed somewhat off-putting, his ability to stand out among the brilliant talents at the Cana College speaks volumes about his exceptional cultivation potential." "Xun had been closely observing Xiao Yan and naturally noticed the subtle rivalry between him and Bai Shan. She gently reminded him then. "Hmm." Xiao Yan nodded slightly, without disputing. He indeed held a sense of hostility and caution toward Bai Shan, yet this did not make him look down upon or dismiss him. Xun was right—without solid capabilities, even if one were stunningly attractive, one would absolutely fail to stand out in the prestigious, strength-based Cangnan Academy and rise as a leading figure of this year's generation. Soon after Bai Shan entered the plaza, the young girl in red also made her way in, drawing numerous glances from the audience as she approached. Regardless of how one might describe her, Hu Jia could certainly be considered a rare beauty. What truly captivated people, however, was her background—Vice Dean of Gan'an Academy. This position, wielding immense authority, was no less prestigious than the names of some of the leading power houses across the continent. Given Gan'an Academy's unique status, even top-tier Douzong cultivators dared not display undue arrogance before Hu Jia's grandfather, Hu Gan. After all, even without counting the countless cultivators who had graduated from Gan'an, the Academy's visible influence alone was sufficient to command respect and deter any overreach from the leading forces. Many at Gan'an Academy knew that securing Hu Jia would not only bring one the warmth and grace of a beloved companion, but also allow one to save at least a decade of hard work and effort. Few people doubted this statement, after all, as the grandfather of Huo Jia, serving as Vice Dean of the Cana College, possessed such influence! Though many were deeply intrigued by the allure, several self-proclaimed geniuses had attempted to court Huo Jia—yet none succeeded. On the contrary, they all returned battered and bruised. The red-robed girl, with her most resolute demeanor, intimidated the relentless pursuers so thoroughly that no one dared to approach her again without disturbance. Thus, to date, no male student at the Cana College had ever managed to win over this spirited young woman's heart. Observing the red-robed girl walking steadily toward the opposite side of the stands, Xiao Yan suddenly recalled what Professor Ruolin had mentioned—that she harbored a special interest in Xun'er. His expression grew slightly odd. After a moment, he shook his head and murmured, "Indeed, it's no surprise—she truly lives up to her reputation as the 'little demon girl,' with even her preferences so distinctively unique." "Nearly half an hour after Huajia's arrival, the crowd on the stands surrounding the plaza had finally grown so dense it was nearly overflowing—masses of heads stretched out as far as the eye could see, their bustling voices merging into a powerful, soaring roar. 'Ding!' As the azure sky brightened with the rising sun, a clear chime finally echoed across the plaza. The once-noisy crowd grew momentarily still, and countless pairs of eyes followed the sound of the chime, turning toward the vast expanse of the plaza." At the center of the grand plaza, where all eyes were focused, Vice Dean Hu Gàn slowly rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across the audience. His resonant voice, powerful and deep, echoed through the air like a rolling thunder: "Yesterday, the internal academy selection identified the final fifty candidates—each of them qualified to enter the academy for training. However, within the academy itself, there are clearly defined ranks. To secure better training conditions, one must strive to achieve the best possible results in this final competition. Every incremental improvement will greatly benefit you. Therefore, give it your all—strive to earn superior training opportunities!" Gàn glanced at the students, now visibly excited and animated, and smiled: "In past selection events, a round-robin format was traditionally used. This year, however, following discussions at the academy council, the format of the final round has been slightly adjusted." "Upon hearing Hu Qi's words, all the participants were momentarily stunned and turned their curious glances toward the center of the arena." Hu Qi smiled warmly and said, "Now, please have the first fifty participants enter the field." Xiao Yan and Xun'er exchanged a slight look of surprise—fifty people all gathering on a single plaza? Though many were still puzzled by Hu Qi's words, as soon as he finished speaking, figures began to swiftly move from the stands and gradually appeared on the plaza. As more and more figures joined the plaza, the atmosphere on the stands quickly intensified. When the elegant, graceful Bai Shan, dressed in white, and the vibrant, energetic red-clad girl Hu Jia appeared, the mood reached a peak, with a steady, thunderous wave of cheers rising from the crowd. "Let's go," Xiao Yan said, smiling lightly as he watched the gathering crowd. He stood up and smiled at Xun'er beside him. "Good luck!" By the side, Master Ruolin waved her fists cheerfully. "Yes," Xun'er nodded with a smile. The two of them leapt into the air, their feet lightly tapping the railing, tracing two graceful arcs through the air before gently settling into the field under the watchful eyes of countless spectators. As Xiao Yan and Xun'er entered, the already vibrant atmosphere surged even further. "This year, we're not going to have a series of round-robin matches. Instead, we'll have a dynamic, high-energy elimination tournament. The longer you endure through this battle, the higher your standing will be—conversely, the sooner you fall, the lower your rank. "Looking at the stream of participants entering one after another, Huqi smiled, "Within this plaza, whether you use any means—individual or team-based—what matters is that you survive the chaos and emerge intact. That is victory." "As Hudu's words fell into place, murmurs began to rise across the square, clearly indicating that the new format—different from previous years—had caught everyone off guard. 'After the match begins, each contestant is eliminated immediately upon their entry. We have someone specifically counting these eliminations. Therefore, as long as you can hold your ground through the chaos, your standing will likely improve significantly. In short, endurance is victory.' 'This elimination format is indeed quite interesting,' said Xiao Yan, his gaze slowly sweeping over the competitors. He and Xun'er stood side by side, and with a teasing glance, he settled on Bai Shan who stood a little distance away. 'Though, with this new setup, we've gained a considerable advantage. Since we can now team up, let's go ahead and clear out the others first.' 'Agreed.'" "As for Xiao Yan's proposal, Xun'er naturally wouldn't hesitate—she nodded gracefully and glanced around the arena, then suddenly said, 'In fact, this competition format offers tremendous advantages to Bai Shan, Hu Guajia, and Wu Hao. They all enjoy considerable reputations within the academy. I've observed the contestants here, and many of them have regular interactions with these three. So, when the mixed combat begins, they might just be able to rally a solid group of supporters.' 'Hm? I thought your standing within the academy was also quite strong—couldn't you gather some allies as well?' At this, Xun'er replied with a playful tone, 'Back in the past, there were indeed people who served as my admirers and protectors. But now that I've found my true match, why would anyone else come around?'" "...”Xiao Yan paused, then nodded with a sigh, saying, "Very well. Then it seems the final elimination round will come down to just us two. I'd wager that unless everyone on the field launches a coordinated assault on us, I'll be quite interested to see who has the strength to push us out of the way—Bai Shan? Wu Hao? Or Huo Jia?" Turning to the young man carrying a massive black ruler, slightly slender in build, and noting the confidence radiating from his refined features, Xun'er smiled gently—she admired that confidence in him. "No matter how turbulent the waves ahead, we'll face them together," she murmured softly, suddenly taking his hand.