Staring at Bai Cheng, still crashing into the walls with no sign of giving up, the entire arena fell silent. Even from a distance, the force of Xiao Yan's earlier punch had been felt by many—so powerful that they couldn't imagine what would happen if it struck them squarely. Could they still survive? On the field, Xiao Yan slowly straightened himself, his tightly clenched fists trembling slightly, a thin trail of blood dripping from his fingertips. Though the impact had been fierce and had caused some discomfort in his arms, it was still far less severe than the nearly ninety percent of the force that Bai Cheng had endured. Raising his head, he scanned the faces of the spectators on the grandstand, then cleared his throat before finally turning his gaze toward Su Qian on the judges' bench. Feeling the intensity of Xiao Yan's gaze, Su Qian glanced at Bai Cheng below, still stubbornly refusing to give up, and shook his head with a wry smile. Having taken such a severe blow, even if Bai Cheng managed to survive this round, he would surely bear lasting injuries. And for that, Su Qian could only sigh—since Bai Cheng's attacks on Xiao Yan had been nearly fatal throughout, this outcome was indeed somewhat deserved. He exchanged glances with a few of the senior elders beside him, then waved toward the instructors maintaining safety in the arena. Instantly, two of them moved swiftly, lifting the motionless Bai Cheng from the ground. "Cough," Su Qian said, turning his gaze to Xiao Yan, and then spoke with greater emphasis, "Xiao Yan has won this match. However, I hope that in future competitions, everyone won't need to resort to such heavy measures. Those whose tactics prove overly aggressive will be disqualified." Su Qian's words clearly carried a warning tone. After all, the students who entered the "Strong List" were nearly all outstanding among the inner academy—such talent was a significant loss if they made a mistake. Moreover, several of these students came from strong family backgrounds. While those backgrounds held little influence within the academy itself, once a student encountered difficulties, their family networks would certainly be displeased, and they might come to the academy to complain and cause a scene—adding to the hassle. After muttering a complaint, Liu Fei turned to Yao Sheng, who had been intently watching Xiao Xin. A moment of surprise crossed Yao Sheng's face, and then he nodded with a sardonic smile, saying, "Don't worry, Fei. As long as we meet, I'll certainly fight for your justice." "You shouldn't underestimate Xiao Xin. If you don't, you'll end up like Bai Cheng—sinking in the mud. The azure flame armor he displayed earlier was remarkably defensive." Liu Qing furrowed his brows and spoke seriously. Yao Sheng nodded in agreement, though a coldness and disdain remained in his expression. Gazing at Xiao Yan's face, Xun'er exhaled a sigh of relief upon seeing the growing flush of color spread across his cheeks. Shifting her gaze to the arena where the next match was about to begin, she murmured, "I never expected Bai Cheng to possess such capabilities. That blood-soaked ground split—likely at least a mid-tier Yuan stage technique." "Indeed, and that secret method for enhancing one's strength isn't something common. He has it too—quite unexpected." Xiao Yan nodded, stirring his lips in agreement. "Heh, Bai Cheng and Bai Shan both come from well-connected families. While their lineage isn't among the most prominent on the continent, it certainly ranks as a second-tier power. Even compared to the top three families of the Jia Ma Empire, they might still fall slightly short. This secret method—most likely passed down through generations within their family." Xun'er smiled. Xiao Yan nodded slightly. Within this inner courtyard, due to special customs, no one could display any sense of superiority—after all, one could never be sure that a randomly selected individual didn't have a substantial power behind them. "Then it seems I might still be the most isolated and under-resourced," Xiao Yan suddenly chuckled, self-mocking to himself. He had few connections; the Xiao family in the Jima Empire not only lacked significant influence but, in fact, had recently been driven to near extinction after falling out with the Yunlan Sect, surviving only by sheer grit. His only real strength lay in himself. "Xiao Yan, alone, is more valuable than any faction. A fifth-rank alchemy master commands respect—even a Duke-level combatant must smile and greet him. Who would dare claim you are isolated?" The delicate little hand gently held Xiao Yan's, and Xun smiled softly. Hearing this, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then smiled carelessly. He had completely forgotten his most important identity. He gently tapped Xun'er's head and joked, "After all, even a fifth-rank alchemy specialist might not count for much in the eyes of the powerful factions behind Xun'er." "But Xiao Yan is still young," Xun'er smiled. "Fifth-rank alchemists of his age are quite rare across the continent." Xiao Yan chuckled, then folded his legs neatly on the spacious chair and slowly closed his eyes, settling his mind and restoring his body, which had grown weary from excessive exertion. Gazing quietly at Xiao Yan's calm face, Xun'er murmured to herself, "Brother Xiao Yan, I believe that when we meet again, you will truly become a powerful warrior..." Staring at Wu Hao, who returned to the platform with clearly unfulfilled expectations, Xiao Yan shook his head, feeling both amused and helpless. This man seemed content merely to have won a match, yet still wasn't satisfied—was he truly going to have to exhaust himself as Xiao Yan had, only to feel truly pleased? Standing up, Liu Qing moved forward slowly, and with each step, the commanding aura within him grew more profound, even causing those nearby to feel their breath grow heavier. Gazing at the broad, admired silhouette ahead, Liu Fei's eyes shimmered with admiration. Since childhood, she had never seen Liu Qing yield or show deference to any opponent—even to Lin Xiu'ya, a prodigy of exceptional talent, he only felt a sense of cautious respect. Of course... she naturally excluded Zi Yan, as the little girl didn't quite belong to the mainstream. As she thought this, Liu Fei suddenly glanced sideways at Xue Yan, her lips curling into a sharp, slightly condescending smile. "No matter how hard you try, in your cousin's eyes, you're still just a mere clown! Xiao Yan naturally had no idea what Liu Fei was thinking, and even if he did, he would likely not take it seriously—verbal explanations would only be pale attempts at justification; only through direct confrontation would a truly decisive outcome be revealed. Leaning against his chair, Xiao Yan's gaze remained fixed on Liu Qing, who was slowly advancing. Aside from other matters, he genuinely held this man in high regard, describing him simply as possessing unmatched, commanding presence. Xiao Yan mused that if given time to grow, few would dispute that this individual possessed both the potential and the talent to become a towering force, dominating one region of the Qi Continent in the future. "Boom!" Standing by the railing, Liu Qing stepped firmly onto the ground, his body suddenly descending like a solid iron tower from the sky, crashing with tremendous impact onto the field. The rigid floor cracked instantly beneath him, shattering into fine dust, with cracks spreading rapidly across the surface. Standing straight, Liu Qing folded his arms across his chest, his dark, heavy spear reflecting a cold, sharp gleam under the sunlight. This imposing appearance, combined with his commanding presence, would surely overwhelm any opponent lacking mental fortitude—perhaps even causing them to surrender without fighting. Observing Liu Qing's commanding aura, Xiao Yan smiled gently, a warm surge of battle fervor rising in his dark eyes. Among his peers of similar age, only Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing truly commanded his respect and seriousness. "Indeed, a solid opponent."