Amidst the still, thick atmosphere, Liu Qing and his companions slowly stopped before Xiao Yan and the others. Liu Qing glanced at Xiao Yan, Lin Xiu'ya, and the rest, and said with a calm tone, "At last, I've met you. I've been waiting for quite some time." As for Liu Qing's words, Xiao Yan naturally didn't simply respond in a straightforward manner. Everyone from the inner courtyard knew that Liu Qing's main opponent was Lin Xiu'ya; aside from Zi Yan, the small prodigy who stood above them all, few others had ever earned Liu Qing's such deep attention—despite the fact that Yan Hao, ranked fourth, often showed no fear toward Liu Qing in daily interactions, there remained a subtle sense of respect and caution within him. "I hope this time your luck is better," Lin Xiu'ya replied with a gentle smile. Though his stature was nearly a full circle smaller than Liu Qing's, Lin Xiu'ya's unique presence ensured he never lost his composure before such a towering figure. Though their conversation was simple, it was filled with an unmistakable sharpness and tension—as long-time rivals, they were constantly measuring one another. When Li Qing had narrowly lost to Lin Xiu'ya in their first major clash, he had harbored a lingering sense of resentment. Yet, over the years, as his own strength surged, he had never sought out a match against Lin Xiu'ya. The reason? This proud man had been patiently waiting for precisely this moment. Back then, Lin Xiu'ya had defeated him in the Strong Ranks Grand Tournament. Now, Li Qing knew he had to win here. After ten years of relentless effort, Liu Qing had poured countless hours of sweat into this battle, enduring loneliness and savoring the monotony of cultivation alone. Amid their conversation, the atmosphere on the elevated platform was exceptionally still. Though those who reached the platform were all outstanding talents from the inner academy, even the most self-assured among them felt a measure of respect—whether acknowledged or not—for these two. Strength always mattered, and this principle held true throughout the entire Qi-based continent. Their gazes intertwined in the air, sparking tangible, tangible sparks as if charged with tangible energy. The tension between them was palpable, suggesting that a single disagreement might swiftly escalate into a full-blown confrontation. Of course, Xiao Yan didn't have much to worry about on this point. Neither of them was particularly impetuous. Although Li Qing appeared sturdy and solid, his ability to remain composed and patient since his defeat at the hands of Lin Xiu'ya—enduring all the way until today—clearly demonstrated his inner strength. Thus, it was rather unlikely that either of these calm and collected individuals would suddenly engage in a confrontation. As his gaze drifted, he suddenly noticed Li Fei, standing behind Li Qing, her face flushed with anger. Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, noticing that her eyes were fixed on Xun'er. Clearly, the public slap Xun'er had given her the previous day still left a strong impression on her memory. Yet, despite Liu Fei's fierce gaze, Xun'er seemed completely unaware, her beautiful eyes fixed solely on Xiao Yan's back. Just then, a gentle beam of warm golden sunlight fell upon her refined and delicate face, casting a golden glow over her features. Her long lashes trembled softly beneath the light, creating a dreamlike, hazy effect. Even Liu Fei, whose appearance was already quite distinguished, could not help but feel a subtle sense of envy at this scene. "His face slightly trembled, and after a moment of shifting his gaze, Yao Sheng finally fixed a cold stare upon Xiao Yan, taking slow, steady steps forward and smiling politely while his expression remained stiff. 'Xiao Yan,' he said, 'you'd better take better care of your own woman. Otherwise, you might end up suffering even more when the time comes.' Yao Sheng's words were clearly aimed directly at Xiao Yan. As a result, when he spoke, the faces of Wu Hao and Hu Jia, standing behind Xiao Yan, immediately turned pale and they glared at him in anger. Though Yao Sheng's pointed remarks caused a slight frown on Liu Qing's brow, he remained silent—clearly aware that Yao Sheng was stepping in to defend the slap that Liu Fei had received. As Liu Fei's cousin, Liu Qing knew he couldn't very well voice his objections. Glancing at Xun'er standing quietly behind Xiao Yan, Li Qing seemed to sense something, and thus stepped left, once again shielding Li Fei. Having witnessed Xun'er's near-spirit-like movements during the arena competition, he now dared not be overly careless. While a single instance of someone receiving a slap right under his watch might be considered a surprise, two such occurrences would likely raise questions about his capabilities. Raising his eyes slightly, Xiao Yan looked at Yao Sheng, whose face was cold, and then reached out, grasping Xun'er's delicate hand. He lifted his gaze to meet Yao Sheng's, offering a calm, gentle smile. "We can't fight here—when we meet in the competition, I'll make sure you get your justice." Beneath that smile lay an unmistakable chill. Caged by Xiao Yan, the golden glow subtly shimmering in Xun'er's palm swiftly faded. With a slightly furrowed brow, she said nothing, merely stepping back. Then, with a gentle glance toward Yao Sheng across the table, her smile carried a quiet coldness. Upon seeing Xun'er retreat, Li Qing finally exhaled a little, easing his breath—though his gaze remained firmly fixed on Xun'er's calm expression. Having learned from the previous incident, he wasn't certain whether she might rise again to strike. "Exactly. Having met during the competition, everything must be reclaimed—otherwise, the newer players might truly soar out of reach." Under Xiao Yan's cool smile, Yao Sheng nodded with a subtle, calculating intensity. "Enough. Let's cut the chatter." By the side, Li Qing furrowed his brows as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, and with a firm voice, he interrupted the growingly cold glares exchanged between the two, waving his hand toward Lin Xiuya and the others before turning to walk toward the seating area on the platform. "After the match, I'll see how much face you have left to strut around the inner courtyard. A newcomer who doesn't understand the rules—well, it'll take a good beating before they truly grasp what it means to follow them." As Yao Sheng passed by Xiao Yan, his face cold, he quietly added a sharp remark. Xiao Yan, his expression calm and unbothered, slowly lifted a cold smile as Yao Sheng turned away. Yao Sheng's repeated provocations had finally ignited the sharpness within him. "I hope we don't actually meet during the match—otherwise, I might just have to settle the score with him." Xiao Yan gently turned his head, speaking calmly and matter-of-factly. "Kill him. This arrogant fool is simply too pushy. Wu Hao waved his hand fiercely, cursing, while Hu Jia nodded repeatedly, clearly also dissatisfied with this effeminate fellow. "Hmm, I didn't know you two had been at odds," Lin Xiu崖 said, turning to smile at Xiao Yan with a teasing tone. "But that wasn't surprising at all. When Xun'er slapped Liu Fei right in front of everyone, Yao Sheng, eager to please her, naturally sought out trouble. And since he could rely on his status to avoid directly confronting a young woman, he naturally transferred his frustration onto you. From the way he looked at you earlier, if they'd met during the competition, I'm certain he wouldn't have spared a single move. "You'd better be careful—his qi has a peculiar quality. He specializes in water-based qi, reportedly having been bitten by a venomous creature known as the 'Bone-Weakening Shadow Scorpion' in the past. Instead of dying from the poison, he accidentally absorbed it into his own qi. During combat, his water qi flows smoothly and gently, allowing him to subtly infiltrate his opponent's body. If not promptly expelled, the poison can prove fatal within just one day." Lin Xiu'ya chuckled, unintentionally or perhaps deliberately, revealing quite a bit about Yao Sheng's true nature. Nodding silently, Xiao Yan bowed slightly and smiled lightly, "Thank you." Though protected by the Qinglian Earth-Heart Fire, Xiao Yan had no fear of Yao Sheng's toxin-laden qi. Still, Lin Xiu'ya's kindness was genuine, and he naturally felt grateful. "I've always had a grudge against that guy, but he's been quite respectable in front of me on a daily basis, so I haven't found a good excuse to pick on him. If you happen to meet him during the match, just give him an extra punch—on my behalf." Lin Xiu'ya said with a smile. Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, yet inwardly chuckled, "If it's just a minor bruising, wouldn't that be too easy for him?" For such a person of low standing, one had to tear fresh, blood-soaked wounds from him to truly make an impression that would last. After Li Qing and the others had departed, the atmosphere on the platform grew lively once again. As time passed, more and more people gathered on the platform, turning their gaze toward the lower level. Xiao Yan was amazed to find that the seats below had now been completely filled—crowds of people pressed closely together, their heads forming a dense, dark mass that made it hard to see clearly. "Ding—" Amid the bustling crowd, an ancient bell's chime suddenly rang out once more, echoing throughout the square. Under the weight of this chime, the surrounding noise gradually softened, eventually fading entirely. "Shh—" As the chime gently subsided, a sudden rush of wind swept across the sky. People looked up, only to catch fleeting, blurred silhouettes that vanished instantly. Then, lowering their gaze, they saw a group of over a dozen elderly figures materializing on the special elevated platform within the square. Su Qian stepped forward slowly, gently pressing his hands. At that moment, the only sounds heard throughout the square were the steady breaths of the crowd. His gaze swept slowly across the entire audience, finally settling on the young man in black robes leaning against the railing on the stage. A gentle, warm smile spread across his eyes, and his deep, resonant voice echoed clearly in the ears of every single person present. "Those ranked on the Strong List—enter the arena!" As soon as Su Qian finished speaking, figures on the stage began to move swiftly, their silhouettes gliding through the air in graceful arcs, landing in a scattered yet orderly fashion across the square. They raised their heads, gazing around at the countless faces, and a growing surge of passionate determination began to stir within them. The grand competition had finally begun!