Li Qing's match today was undoubtedly one of the few truly outstanding performances among all the games. However, given his level of ability, such a strong showing was not particularly surprising. Following Li Qing, several other strong contenders stepped onto the stage, with none more prominent than Lin Xiu'ya's appearance. Yet his match proved both amusing and somewhat disappointing, as his opponent never appeared—under the pressure of facing one of the strongest players on the roster, Lin Xiu'ya simply chose to concede and retire. As a result, he became the most straightforwardly advancing player, which slightly disappointed Li Qing and others who had hoped to gauge Lin Xiu'ya's true capabilities. The twenty-five matches of the first day stretched from morning well into the evening, finally concluding under the lingering eyes of countless spectators who were still in awe. Though some contestants didn't perform at their peak, it was clear that the "Strong Ranks" tournament was the highest-level event within the academy—the intense, head-to-head clashes were enough to leave others breathless. Moreover, everyone knew that the most thrilling battles weren't in today's elimination rounds, but rather in the matches of the second and third days. After today's eliminations, only twenty-five contestants remained. While some might have been lucky, the fact that all of them had made it this far meant that none were truly average. The intensity and excitement of these later battles naturally surpassed that of the first-day matches. Thus, all the spectators left with a sense of lingering excitement and anticipation, eagerly awaiting the even more spectacular encounters of the following days. ... As night fell, the inner courtyard, having endured a day of bustling activity and intense energy, finally settled into quiet. Scattered lights dotted across the vast space, standing out vividly against the towering mountains and cliffs. In a tranquil room, soft moonlight poured through the windows, gently illuminating Xiao Yan, who sat cross-legged on his bed. His eyes were closed, breathing steadily and deeply. Fine streams of energy flowed in with each breath, steadily entering his body and being refined, gradually contributing subtle yet essential elements to his ongoing cultivation journey. The practice lasted nearly two hours. Xiao Yan's eyes flickered slightly, then slowly opened. With a deep breath he had held for a while, he exhaled it out. As the breath escaped, a gentle glow appeared on his face—the pallor caused by his intense daytime battles completely dissolving. Feeling the Qi within him surge once more, Xiao Yan smiled slightly. White Cheng's desperate attempt to give up his chances of victory after all, would surely fall short—thanks to the remarkable effects of his Burned Decree, combined with various pills, recovery in a short time wouldn't be much of a challenge, provided he wasn't truly severely injured. "The match tomorrow is likely to be even more dangerous than today," Xiao Yan mused softly. All those who had made it into the top twenty-five, aside from a few like Wu Hao, were genuine powerhouses—significantly stronger than White Cheng. "Though Li Qing's massive splitting claw strike is truly formidable. If the battle truly begins, I'm not sure my Ba Ji Bong will even keep up." Gently tightening his fingers, Xiao Yan sighed. Though both techniques were of the same high-level, mid-stage rank, he had only practiced Ba Ji Bong for less than three years, while Li Qing had refined it for nearly two decades—how could he possibly compete? Moreover, Liu Qing himself was far stronger than him, and with that great crackling claw of the split coffin, Xiao Yan truly had no choice but to temporarily retreat. His eyes flickered slightly, then suddenly grew sharper. With a fierce determination, he muttered to himself, "Well, who cares? No matter who he meets, he must give it his all. I absolutely have to secure one of the top ten spots!" Ling Ying nodded reluctantly, saying nothing further. With a twist of her body, she became a shadow and vanished into the darkness. As if she hadn't sensed the elder's departure, the young woman remained statue-still by the window, her eyes full of sentiment, gazing through the glass at a room some distance away—there, a faint glow of light lingered. That night, many were awake. ... The next day, arriving gradually amid the eager anticipation of countless people. As the first rays of morning light spilled across the sky, the quiet inner courtyard once again erupted into lively activity. After a simple breakfast, the students gathered in groups and rushed toward the plaza. Within just two hours, the vast plaza was swiftly filled, echoing with the same vibrant clamor as the day before, rising in a chorus of varied voices. Half an hour after arrival, the senior elders began to take their seats. Once the Grand Elder Su Qian assumed his place, the second day's competition was officially announced. "Since twenty-five contestants remain after yesterday's eliminations, a redraw of the draws is necessary." Su Qian's quiet laughter echoed clearly in the ears of every person in the arena. "However, with only one contestant left over, there will be twelve matches today, and the final remaining contestant will advance unconditionally." Su Qian's words stirred a ripple among the spectators on the stands—unconditional advancement? That seemed rather straightforward. Wouldn't a lucky few directly enter the top thirteen? "Hmm, this unconditional advancement must be highly appealing to many. Yet, for fairness, after discussion among our elders, this spot will be awarded to Zi Yan." Su Qian smiled. As Su Qian finished speaking, another wave of commotion erupted on the stands, yet on the elevated platform where the contestant stood, everyone merely nodded slightly—there was no surprise at all that this little monster would advance. In fact, assigning her this spot would be fortunate, as it would allow them to avoid encountering her in this round. "Look," Su Qian gestured, and commanded. As soon as his voice fell, two figures leapt swiftly from the dais, their powerful presence instantly filling the arena. Xiang Yan's gaze remained fixed on the field, listening to Wu Hao's description beside him, gaining a slight understanding of the two combatants—ranked twenty on the "Strong List" and twenty-two respectively, quite comparable, both possessing formidable skills and promising an intense contest. "The match begins!" Su Qian's calm voice ignited the tension like a spark setting off a powder keg, instantly exploding the charged atmosphere in the arena. From the very start, there was little warm-up—the two fighters launched into immediate, fierce head-on clashes. As their robust qi streams collided, explosive bursts of qi surged through the air, forming waves that swept outward, like a gale. Focusing intently on the match unfolding in the arena, Xiao Yan gave a slight nod. Indeed, the students who had reached this stage all possessed solid abilities—compared to yesterday, their overall strength had nearly risen a notch. "Hey, Xiao Yan," a familiar voice suddenly resonated beside him as a hand gently tapped his shoulder. Turning with mild curiosity, Xiao Yan glanced at Lin Yan behind him, who looked rather nervous. "What's up? You weren't heading over to prepare for your next match—what brings you here?" "Heh, I'm only doing this for your benefit. Your number is seven, right?" Lin Yan settled himself beside Xiao Yan with a cheerful smile. "Yes," Xiao Yan nodded, still slightly puzzled. "It seems you haven't hidden your number much. Originally, your opponent was ranked twenty-fourth, but since that person was also from Liu Qing's faction, his number was swapped to Yao Sheng." "Lin Yan spread his hands and said, 'So your opponent has been replaced by Yao Sheng. From the way he's acting, it seems he intends to give you a good lesson during the match.' 'Oh?' Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, surprised, 'Doesn't changing the number violate the rules?' 'The match numbers for the second round haven't even been announced yet. Most players keep their numbers tightly secured—no one reveals theirs as casually as you have.' Lin Yan gave a slight scoff, then pulled out a bamboo stick from his pocket and held it out toward Xiao Yan with a smile. 'Why don't we switch? My opponent is a player ranked 19th—he's solid, but not as strong as Yao Sheng, so it should be a much easier match for me.' Watching Lin Yan's actions, Xiao Yan felt touched and offered a gentle smile, gently pushing the bamboo stick back. 'In fact, I've always had a grudge against that player. Since he's chosen to come directly at me, if I were to retreat, wouldn't that look rather foolish?' 'Do you have confidence in this? That player's current strength might well place him among the top fifteen of the strong contenders "Seeing Xiao Yan refuse, Lin Yan said nothing, merely furrowed his brow. Xiao Yan smiled and patted Lin Yan's shoulder, then turned to gaze toward the other side of the platform. There, Yao Sheng, with his gentle and composed demeanor, was also looking in that direction. The two sets of eyes met—cold, with a touch of disdain and challenge."