The Arena, the most vibrant area within the Inner Courtyard, typically represents a stark contrast to the more serene atmosphere of the academies—being a slightly bloodier setting. Yet within the Inner Courtyard, these contrasts are not only embraced but also underscored by the astuteness of its leadership. Thanks to the Arena's presence, students graduating from here do not merely master the surface-level aspects of combat like students from other academies; instead, they are equipped to handle the rigors of life-or-death struggles, where they do not falter under pressure. Surrounded by the most turbulent regions of the continent, students lacking battlefield experience face dire consequences once they enter the Black Corner Domain. This reality is especially well understood by the Cathay Academy, which has experienced frequent conflicts with the Black Corner Domain year after year. In the arena, under the abundant supply of "thermal energy," countless trainees strive every day. While most are primarily driven by the thrill of combat and the desire for personal breakthroughs, the added reward gained alongside combat experience is something everyone eagerly seeks. Each day, the arena is typically packed with people—so crowded that it's hard to imagine anything but a sea of humanity. The constant roar of voices, even from a hundred meters outside, is clearly audible. Today is no exception: the arena is brimming with figures, stretching as far as the eye can see, with dark, dense heads forming a continuous wave. The clamor is so intense it seems like a magical cacophony, causing some less accustomed to the noise to experience a sudden headache. Within this vast arena, there are numerous sizable platforms, yet today, nearly half of the crowd has gathered outside one particular platform, their voices rising in a continuous wave of roaring cheers fueled by the rippling waves of ki generated from the fierce clashes between the two combatants. "Boss, knock him out!" "Let those new recruits see just how strong our 'White Clan' truly is!" On the stands outside the battle zone, several trainees wearing identical insignias, watching their leader dominate the fight, burst into loud laughter and shouted these rallying cries. Amid their shouts, many added thunderous, mocking laughter directed toward the large group of spectators on the opposite stand. Gazing across at the crowd on the opposite stand, one figure stood out— a young girl dressed in green. She was exceptionally beautiful, but what truly captivated the audience most was her serene, tranquil grace—like a lotus in stillness. It was precisely this combination of beauty and poise that drew so many spectators from across the arena into the heart of the action. Though their team was now clearly falling behind, the girl’s face remained calm, though a subtle concern lingered in the delicate arches of her brows. Behind her stood a group of trainees, all bearing identical badges on their chests. After hearing the laughter and derisive remarks from the opposing side, their faces had grown flushed with anger, yet due to the dire state of their own team, they could only hold back their outbursts. "Xun, it seems Wu Hao isn’t exactly Lu Cheng’s match—this one is simply too impetuous." By the side of the young green-robed girl, a vibrant and striking woman dressed in a crimson gown observed the figure in the center of the arena, who was now clearly shaken and disheveled. A faintly pale expression on her face gave way to a soft, wry smile as she turned to the green-robed girl. Xun nodded slightly, gently tightening her fingers, her clear eyes fixed on the scene for a long while, and spoke softly: "Although Wu Hao has recently reached the rank of Nine-Star Grand Battle Master, the gap in strength between them remains too vast. If things don't improve, I'll step in to take his place." "You're going to personally step in?" Hearing this, Huo Jia was momentarily surprised. Few people truly understood Xun's capabilities—no matter the circumstances, the young girl always remained composed and serene, as if her reserves were endless. "I can't let Xiao Yan brother return and see the Pan Gate treated with such scorn." Xun smiled gently, her voice soft yet carrying a subtle coldness: "White Cheng originally intended to leave him for Xiao Yan brother. But now... I fear I'll have to take him care of myself." Her words conveyed the ease with which she would handle White Cheng, a contender already at six-star Du-Ling level—something that would seem effortless to most. If a common person had said this, Hu Jia would certainly have scoffed. Yet, observing Xun's composed demeanor, no doubt arose, and she merely nodded slightly before turning her gaze toward the battlefield below. "Pan Gate? The faction established by Xiao Yan?" At a well-positioned vantage point in the arena, several figures leaned against the railing, watching the combat below. Upon hearing the announcement, one of them expressed mild surprise. "Yes," the speaker confirmed. "Pan Gate began as a group of new recruits. Now, after absorbing more members, it has grown to include quite a few seniors as well. The leader, of course, is Xiao Yan himself." The silvery hair gently swayed, its brilliant hue slightly blinding. Han Yue glanced at Lin Xiu'ya and the others, who looked somewhat surprised, and remarked, "Heh, this guy is quite a talent—only half a year in the Inner Courtyard, and already achieving such results." Lin Xiu'ya smiled and said, "However, judging from the current situation, it seems the 'Pán Gate' is falling behind. Though the new recruit's attack is fierce and carries a rare sense of decisive intensity, it still falls short of Bai Cheng's level. Still, considering that he's at the peak of Grand Combatant rank, managing to keep Bai Cheng on the defensive is no small feat." "Yesterday, we received some news—Li Qing seems to have sent someone to liaise with Bai Cheng. Originally, after Xiao Yan and Han Xian's herb-making competition, Bai Cheng had started to feel cautious. They'd been relatively peaceful until recently, but now, after meeting Li Qing's representatives, he's suddenly become so aggressive. There must be something going on here." Yan Hao's eyes suddenly caught a spot in the arena, his tone thoughtful. Though he appeared rugged on the outside, his mind was actually far more attentive than most. "Xiao Yan and Liu Qing have had conflicts?" Lin Xiu'ya asked, surprised. "Not exactly. Xiao Yan and Liu Fei have a few disagreements—do you not know how cautious and petty that woman can be?" Yan Hao said calmly, clearly showing his disdain for Liu Fei. "Heh, this looks like a good show. I think Xiao Yan isn't someone who easily takes being treated unfairly. Though his current strength is only a high-level Combatant, when he stands against him, even I feel a sense of caution—clearly, he's hiding something deep." Lin Xiu'ya chuckled, his arms resting on the railing, his gaze drifting toward where Yan Hao had originally looked—there, in the shade, a faint, indistinct figure stood, radiating a subtle, sharp aura that allowed Lin Xiu'ya and the others to recognize the person. Yan Hao also smiled, his expression seeming to carry a certain anticipation of the impending head-on clash. Han Yue, on the other hand, slightly furrowed her brows before finally sighing in resignation, and once again turned her gaze toward the intense battle unfolding on the field. "Boom!" Amid the low rumble, both figures stepped back, yet the white figure only retreated two paces before steadying himself, emitting a low, dull hum, his shoulders trembling as he expelled the internal energy. In contrast, the red figure fared much more poorly—continually retreating step by step, retreating seven or eight paces in total, and as he finally settled his footfall, a streak of crimson blood spilled from his lips, his breath becoming disordered and unstable, clearly suffering a significant internal injury. "Great job, elder brother!" As the red figure staggered back, bleeding, the crowd of White Clan members on the stands erupted into waves of cheers, quickly turning into waves of derisive shouts and taunts directed at the opposing "Pán Gate" members, leaving the Pán Gate representatives visibly flushed and embarrassed. "How presumptuous! A Nine-Star Grand Battle Master dares challenge me!" With the deep yellow lance held high and slanted toward the ground, the surrounding cheers roared like thunder. Bai Cheng gave a slight lift of his lips, coldly remarked, "To the true strong, your Pan Gate has always been nothing but a minor player—able to gather fire, what more can you achieve? No matter how much fire you collect, without strength, you're merely a large, plump sheep in others' eyes." "Hmph!" Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Wu Hao glared darkly at Bai Cheng, his eyes blazing with blood. His demeanor was that of a bloodthirsty beast, and under such intense gaze, even Bai Cheng felt a chill run through his body. The blood in his eyes flickered, and after a moment, as though making up his mind, Wu Hao wiped the blood from his lips with his palm, then slowly dabbed it onto the crimson great sword. As the blood seeped into the sword, subtle streaks of deeper red began to appear, and a strange, eerie flush of purple rose across his face. At sight of Wu Hao's strange maneuver, Bai Cheng furrowed his brow, his long spear trembling slightly as he pointed steadily toward him. Just as Wu Hao was preparing to further activate his final reserve, a graceful figure suddenly materialized before them, her hands—like flawless jade—gently brushing against his shoulder. Instantly, the turbulent force surging within him settled down. "Let me handle this," she said softly. Wu Hao was momentarily stunned, gazing at the slender, willow-leaf-like figure before him. He shook his head firmly and replied, "I can manage him!" Xun lightly glanced at Bai Cheng, then turned her gaze to Wu Hao, who remained resolute. Under the calm, steady gaze of the latter, Wu Hao faltered instantly, sighed, and murmured, "Be careful." "Why? Has the Pan Gate lost all its strength? Are we really going to rely on a girl? Where is Xiao Yan? Why has he vanished now, at this very moment? Is he afraid?" "Look at how effortlessly Xun has stepped into the arena," Bai Cheng remarked with a mocking smile. "We don't even need Xiao Yan to intervene." Xun spoke softly, as if completely unfazed, which surprised many on the stands. Her poised demeanor in the face of such strong competition only deepened the admiration of several spectators, though it also stirred a quiet resentment toward Xiao Yan, who had yet to make an appearance. After all, as a man, he was allowing the women to take the lead. "Are all the Panmen people this arrogant? This year's freshmen are the most difficult to work with in recent memory." Even Bai Cheng, who had been impressed by the young woman's grace and beauty, found himself growing increasingly frustrated. This time, however, Xun said nothing at all—her hands radiated a growing golden glow, the powerful energy emanating from them causing many in the audience to gasp in astonishment. Seeing the golden glow in Xuanyi's palm, Bai Cheng's face also flashed with astonishment, then a cold laugh escaped him as he raised his lance, thick, deep-yellow aura swirling upward. On the field, the golden and deep-yellow glows surged brilliantly. After a moment, two streaks of light swiftly darted across, finally bursting forth under the watchful eyes of all present, meeting instantly within the arena. Yet, as the crowd expected a fierce collision to erupt, a faint rumble of thunder began to echo throughout the stadium. At the very moment the thunder rolled, a sudden black silhouette emerged between the two converging light forms. The figure swiftly extended both arms like lightning, touching the shoulders of both combatants. First, a gentle force surged out, gently pushing Xuanyi back to the edge of the battlefield. Then, the hand that made contact with Bai Cheng suddenly erupted with powerful force, sending the latter staggering back, his legs retreating urgently. The emergence of the black silhouette and the retreat of Xun'er and Bai Cheng occurred in the span of an instant—most people merely felt their vision blur momentarily before gazing in astonishment at the two figures stepping back. "A certain arrogance is natural, but if Bai Cheng, the leader, finds it unbearable, he'll simply entertain you, Xiao Yan. To engage a woman directly would surely be a slight loss of dignity," a soft laugh suddenly rang out in the midst of the gathering. Everyone turned, their eyes swiftly shifting to the dark-robed figure who had appeared without any prior notice, now filled with bewilderment. On the field, the black silhouette swiftly solidified. The dark-robed figure raised his head slightly, revealing a refined, composed face with a gentle smile—yet beneath that smile, everyone could clearly perceive a touch of cold resolve. "Hmm... the real drama is about to begin..." At one spot in the arena, Lin Xiu'ya, leaning against the railing, suddenly brightened, his gaze instinctively drawn toward the shadowed area where a figure had just subtly straightened up, radiating a more pronounced and commanding presence.