Xiao Yan's sudden assault on the field caught everyone off guard, and since his attack was executed in the span of an instant, many spectators on the stands could only see a fleeting shadow pass by, followed by three deep thuds. Then, Bai Shan and his two companions each coughed up blood, retreating heavily and crashing against the stone walls. Staring at the three members of Bai Shan, who were struggling weakly against the stone wall, only to fall back each time without ever managing to rise, the entire arena fell silent. A series of almost stunned gazes fixed themselves on the tall, slender young man in the center of the field. At that very moment, countless spectators felt a deep chill seep through their very hearts—this seemingly cheerful and composed young man was, in fact, the most formidable of all. "Hehe, Xiao Yan is quite ruthless," the old man by the side stared intently at the black-robed young man on the stage, ignoring the副院长's helpless expression, and nodded, finally breaking his stiff demeanor to offer a rather ungraceful smile. "Director, shall we say this counts as a violation by Xiao Yan?" On the referees' bench, a middle-aged official smiled faintly, carefully asking the people at the podium, "If琥嘉 weren't on the field, I'd feel confident. But unfortunately, she's right there—being beaten particularly badly. Over at Cana College, this is actually the first time I've seen someone dare to defeat琥嘉 so thoroughly, not just because of her background, but because琥嘉 herself is such a beautiful girl. Though her personality is wild and unpredictable, her angelic face and divine figure have earned her a small but devoted following. When facing someone like her, many people in the college—even if they win—tend to hold back, showing some concession. Few, however, have ever been as bold and uncompromising as Xiao Yan, who doesn't hesitate or show any mercy at all." "The competition itself wasn't absolutely fair, so Xuanyin couldn't really be considered in violation—after all, we all clearly saw his strength." The vice dean waved his hand, sighed, and then turned his gaze toward Huojia on the field, thinking to himself, "Well, dear, this should count as a lesson. Under my protection these years, you've had it too easy. Having someone like Xuanyin to keep you in check has its benefits." On the field, Xuanyin exhaled deeply, ignoring the stunned silence of the crowd. He turned his head and locked eyes with the young girl in green robes scattered among the rubble. A warm, gentle smile spread across his usually composed face. With a subtle movement, he stepped into the shadows, appearing beside Xun'er, and gently wiped the traces of blood from her lips. "Are you all right?" "Just minor injuries." "Xun lightly smiled and her gaze drifted gently over Xiao Yan's form, before she bit her lips and smiled, "I didn't expect Xiao Yan brother to advance during the battle—it's truly surprising." Hearing this, Xiao Yan shook his head with a touch of resignation, patted Xun on the head, then turned his attention to the judges' bench, speaking clearly, "I wonder if the final selection match has finally concluded? If not, I'd still be happy to keep playing with these three of them." "Yes, yes, it's over, it's over!" A judge quickly stood up from the bench, eager to respond. The intensity and decisiveness Xiao Yan had displayed had far exceeded their expectations. Should he continue, it was uncertain whether Bai Shan's three contestants would even make it out of the arena alive. Each of them came with strong backing—should anything happen to them, it would certainly cause a significant stir. "The internal tournament selection has now concluded. After intense battles, the top five have been firmly established: Xiao Yan, Xiao Xun'er, Wu Hao, Hu Jia, and Bai Shan!" An elder judge stood up, scanned the arena with his gaze, and then announced loudly. As soon as his words settled, a thunderous wave of cheers erupted across the plaza. The sound surged like a flood, shaking the entire arena. Countless spectators rose from their seats, turning their eyes toward the young man and young woman standing alone amidst the scattered stones and ruins, filled with admiration and reverence. Xiao Yan had proven his true strength, declaring unequivocally who the strongest among the current cohort of Cana College was—and at the same time, he had affirmed that he, Xiao Yan, was worthy to stand beside Xun'er, a true daughter of the academy's elite. All of this rests upon strength and sheer force—within this academy, where strength reigns supreme, nothing is more convincing than this. Hearing the thunderous applause and cheers that filled the arena, Bai Shan, Hu Jia, and Wu Hao leaned against the stone wall, their faces slightly trembling, revealing the intense pain radiating through their bodies. Each of Xiao Yan's strikes had been delivered without mercy, and now the three had completely lost their combat capabilities. The injuries sustained would likely take seven to eight days to heal, if not longer. Taking deep, somewhat labored breaths, they raised their heads and turned their gaze toward the young man and the young woman among the scattered stones—their presence now firmly establishing them as the true stars of the scene. "This brute! He's been so heavy-handed—truly not a man!" Hu Bujia bit her full red lips, the once lively, cunning gaze now faintly tinged with a touch of vulnerability and moisture. For many years, this was the first time she had been outmatched by a man—someone whose age was nearly the same as her own—and it was deeply hard to accept for a woman so proud. "Xiao Yan, you are strong, but I believe I will surpass you!" Wu Hao gasped several times, clutching his chest, his pale face flushing with warmth. The earlier setbacks had not only failed to dampen his spirit but, rather, ignited a fierce determination within him. This resilience—rising stronger with each challenge—was almost a catalyst for greatness. It was no wonder the senior from the academy had mentioned that even the mysterious dean had stated: given ten years, as long as Wu Hao wasn't overwhelmed by his own aura of strength, he would surely become an exceptionally powerful figure. "This isn't the end! Today's humiliation—I will make you pay it back a hundredfold, White Shan!" Xiao Yan, you'll regret it! One day, I'll have you on your knees! A venomous glare flickered in his lowered eyes as Bai Shan clenched his fists tightly. Though his back was now immobile, the heavy blow Xiao Yan had delivered earlier had shattered several of his bones. Yet compared to the physical pain, it was the psychological blow—the crushing sense of defeat—that proved most unbearable. For the past two years, Bai Shan had been propelled to the forefront of the outer courtyard's spotlight through countless compliments and accolades. Today, however, under Xiao Yan's relentless, almost barbaric assault, that very status had crumbled into fragments. From now on, whenever people in the Gan Lan Academy spoke of Bai Shan, they would no longer look upon him with the deep respect and reverence he once commanded. Instead, there would always stand someone above him—someone whose presence commanded awe and admiration. For a man of such naturally proud demeanor, this situation was far more devastating than death itself. The stage of a celebrated genius, once ascended to, often brings a profound sense of disparity when it is finally abandoned—many people find it unbearable, succumbing to decline or psychological distortion. Xiao Yan himself nearly did so in his youth, and Bai Shan today is no exception. At this moment, Xiao Yan paid no attention to the varying emotions in the three hearts around him. All he knew was that with the inner academy pass now secured, his journey toward achieving the Flame of Destiny had grown closer. He even began to anticipate the transformative changes that would unfold should he successfully absorb the second unique flame. Master Yao had once mentioned that while the initial fusion of the first unique flame with the Burned Scroll was merely foundational, the successful integration of the second flame would result in a complete metamorphosis—something that would fundamentally reshape the individual. Xiao Yan looked forward to this sensation, for he sensed that this transformation might finally establish him as a true powerhouse. A true powerhouse—capable not only of avenging himself but also of protecting his loved ones! Instead of relying on the Elder's strength for every single matter, as he currently does! "The Fallen Heart Flame—that belongs to me!" With his fists slowly clenching, Xiao Yan felt an overwhelming surge of emotion. As soon as he secured it, he would truly qualify as a top-tier force on the continent. A young man, who had just been directing the herbalists' students to carry the injured away, suddenly turned and cast his gaze toward Xiao Yan. It was Lu Mu, the one who had lost to Xiao Yan the day before. "I'd certainly like to visit the Herbalism Department sometime," Xiao Yan smiled, his calm demeanor making it hard to believe the earlier intensity. Lu Mu nodded and turned, joining the herbalists' group as they exited the arena. "Let's go. The competition is over. Now we'll just wait for the inner courtyard's notice." Looking around at the scattered wreckage, Xiao Yan smiled at Xun'er. "Hm," Xun'er replied with a gentle nod, and the two slowly made their way out of the bustling square, under the watchful eyes of countless spectators. The most prestigious annual event, finally, came to a close with their departure.