Xiao Yan's calm voice echoed throughout the square, causing the murmurs that had filled the arena to suddenly cease. A series of目光, brimming with various emotions, continuously shifted between the tall, upright figure and Yao Sheng, who stood pale, disheveled, and visibly shaken outside. Silence held for a moment before a clear, crisp applause broke out, followed by a ripple effect—steady, resonant clapping that surged through the crowd, rising like a wave and reaching toward the sky. As the thunderous applause filled the air, Xiao Yan lifted his head and looked toward Xun'er's position. There, she smiled warmly, her hands gracefully tapping out a beautiful rhythm of applause—the very first sound to rise had come from her. Smiling gently at Xu, Xiao Yan turned his gaze toward the direction where Liu Qing and the others stood. When Liu Qing met Xiao Yan's eyes, he gave a subtle nod with his chin before gently shifting his gaze. As for Liu Fei, who was gritting her teeth and constantly muttering complaints, she was completely overlooked by Xiao Yan. "Xiao Yan wins this match!" Su Qian rose from his seat on the judges' platform, smiling, and surveyed the entire arena before slowly declaring. With Su Qian's announcement, the applause that had already filled the hall grew even more vibrant. In the eyes of those watching the black-robed young man, a clear sense of respect and admiration was evident—Xiao Yan's demonstrated strength had fully won their admiration throughout his journey. Glancing once more at Yao Sheng, whose face was ashen, Xiao Yan's purple cloud wings gently trembled, lifting him off the ground. He swiftly soared to the elevated platform, and as his shoulders shook slightly, the wings rapidly retracted. Amidst a wave of admiration from the onlookers, he vanished into the crowd. "Xiao Yan, truly outstanding! Now, what can that man do to challenge you?" Wu Hao beamed with delight, giving Xiao Yan a solid punch. The earlier battle had been nothing short of thrilling—his heart had raced back and forth countless times throughout the match. "I didn't expect you to possess such a rare flight technique," Hu Jia remarked, turning to Xiao Yan's back with genuine admiration. Xiao Yan smiled, his gaze shifting to the young woman in front of him, whose eyes held a gentle smile and warmth. "Heh, Xiao Yan, congratulations! By defeating Yao Sheng, you've essentially secured a spot among the top ten." A bright, resonant laugh echoed behind him. Xiao Yan turned to see Lin Xiu'ya and his party approaching. "It's just good fortune, really. If it hadn't been for that black water domain countering his perfectly timed attack, I doubt I'd have stood a chance at winning." Xiao Yan shook his head, smiling. "You have a flight technique—his black water domain won't do much against you." Lin Xiu'ya glanced subtly at Xiao Yan's back, murmuring his admiration. "Still, by defeating Yao Sheng, you've dampened the momentum of Liu Qing's faction. From now on, I suspect no one will dare to underestimate you anymore." Lin Xiu'ya's gaze drifted toward Liu Qing and his companions across the field, where he offered a teasing smile. "All I really wanted was to make it into the top ten. Whether I end up first or tenth makes little difference to me." Xiao Yan smiled, not wanting to get involved in the rivalry between Lin Xiu'ya and Liu Qing. He had joined the Strong Rank Competition merely to secure a spot among the top ten and gain entry qualification to the Tian Fen Qi Tower's lower levels. Since both first and tenth positions were within reach, securing a tenth place would be sufficient. Lin Xiu'ya smiled, picking up the subtle meaning in Xiao Yan's words and thus letting the topic drop. He then said, "Hehe, after the competition concludes, we might still make a trip deep into the mountains. If you're interested, feel free to join us—there will be significant benefits for you." Upon hearing Lin Xiu'ya once again mention the "Earth-Core Body-Quenching Milk," Xiao Yan's heart jumped slightly, though his expression remained calm. He casually replied, "We'll see then. Though that creature is quite formidable—securing it might not be easy." "For now, let's just give it a try. You know how precious that thing is." Lin Xiu'ya sighed, though he knew the chances of success were slim—he still wouldn't give up. Xiao Yan nodded vaguely, exchanged a few casual words with Lin, then found himself drawn away by the increasingly intense battle unfolding on the field. The matches that followed Xiao Yan remained thrilling and perilous. Even with the keen eyes of Xiao Yan and his companions, they found themselves频频 nodding in approval. The contestants who had reached this stage were nearly all outstanding talents among the Inner Courtyard, and their battles naturally carried an exhilarating, breathless energy. In the subsequent battles, Xiao Yan also witnessed Lin Yan's performances. After completely expelling the fire toxin from within, Lin Yan's strength had clearly improved significantly. According to Xiao Yan's assessment, at present, Lin Yan's sheer实力 might well place him among the top five of the strong ranks. In this match, his opponent ranked nineteenth on the strong list, yet Xiao Yan found the contest surprisingly effortless—within just twenty rounds, he completely overwhelmed the opponent, who was forced to concede defeat. Shortly after Lin Yan's appearance, two of Xiao Yan's most highly regarded opponents also stepped onto the stage: Liu Qing and Lin Xiu'ya. These two stars of the Inner Academy stood in stark contrast to Xiao Yan's current reputation, even when compared to their achievements. As the focal point of the entire event, their appearances immediately captured everyone's attention, and the roaring cheers erupted once again, filling the arena with an even more intense clamor. Li Qing made his appearance first. His opponent ranked eleventh on the strength list, with a power level of eight-star Du Ling—already a top-tier standing within the Inner Academy. Yet, from the slightly pained expression on the latter's face upon his entrance, it seemed clear that he still felt deeply disappointed to have been matched against Li Qing. The ensuing battle did not surprise Xiao Yan all that much. From the very beginning, Liu Qing's overwhelmingly dominant presence had tightly enveloped his opponent, his massive hand-like arms leaving trails of residual shadows with every strike. Each attack seemed to flow as if guided by celestial horses, leaving no discernible trace—so swift and fluid that even as his opponent fought with every ounce of strength, wounds continued to appear across his body. This relentless pressure persisted for nearly ten minutes until, suddenly, Liu Qing erupted with a surge of terrifying speed. When the spectators regained their composure, they found Liu Qing's hand firmly pressed against his opponent's throat. Feeling the crisp breeze emanating from his throat, the top-ten strength contender could only gracefully raise his hand and concede. Watching the battle that had settled its outcome within less than ten minutes, every spectator on the stands sighed and shook their heads. Indeed, a truly outstanding presence among the top three of the strength rankings—though Li Qing's opponent was also rated at the eight-star Du Ling level, seemingly comparable to Li Qing's peak Du Ling—there remained a gap so vast it resembled a chasm between heaven and earth, one that even less experienced observers could immediately perceive. On the elevated platform, Xiao Yan gazed down at Li Qing in the arena and couldn't help but exhale in admiration. By now, the tournament had reached its second round, yet Li Qing had never drawn upon his legendary Cracking-Mountains Spear. With only his hands and arms, he had already compelled numerous strong contenders to fall back in silence—such prowess was truly formidable. "Li Qing has nearly taken his first step into the Battle King realm—though still not quite on par with true Battle King strength, he's far stronger than an ordinary Battle Spirit." At Li Qing's side, Xun'er lowered her beautiful eyes, speaking softly, "And Lin Xiu'ya, I'd wager, is about the same level." Li Qing nodded slightly, sighed, "Indeed, both are quite strong. Aside from Zi Yan, I can't think of anyone in the inner academy who could contain either of them." As he spoke, Li Qing suddenly turned his gaze directly upon Xun'er, smiling, "Do you think Xun'er can handle it?" Xun'er's fine, long lashes fluttered gently, playfully asking, "What do you think, Li Qing?" Staring at the graceful, smiling girl before him, Li Qing felt a sudden sense of dizziness—how long had it been since he'd last seen her shine so brightly? She had both the qualifications and the strength, yet she willingly remained quietly behind, doing small, unremarkable things for him. Gently tracing her cheek as his hand moved over the softly flushed hue of Xun'er's face, Xiao Yan sighed, "Little one, I know you have a strong talent for cultivation—this has always been true since you were young. Though you haven't truly stepped into the spotlight much, I can still sense it. Your current strength is likely stronger than mine. At the Gan Nan Academy, especially since I've arrived, you've almost completely hidden your brilliance. I don't want you to suppress yourself for me. On the contrary, I truly appreciate your radiance—when you shine, I find the motivation to keep striving." A graceful young girl stood upright, her silvery hair loosely tied with a pale purple ribbon. At that moment, the gentle smile that had always graced her face gradually deepened into a dignified, poised confidence—an aura entirely distinct from Li Fei’s self-important arrogance, one rooted instead in genuine self-assurance. Men who exude confidence are inherently compelling, and women who radiate such confidence possess an equally unmatched, captivating charm, evident in the suddenly intense glances surrounding them. Observing the familiar expression now blooming on Xun'er's face, Xiao Yan's own countenance softened into a warm smile, and he gently nodded. "When that competition concludes, I'd like to see the most radiant Xun'er."