Snow was still falling from the sky, but it had greatly lessened from before. The entire fighting stage had been swept clean of snow, and a snow cover was put up to prevent snow from falling around.
Those people with cultivation had no need to fear the cold. But as for those physically weak aristocrats, they wore warm mink silk clothing, drank hot tea on one side and had a burning brazier on the other, so they weren't feeling the chill either.
Violet and Victoria could be found sitting amongst the audiences as they waited for the start of the matches. Thanks to Erza, the relationship between the two ladies was getting better. They were still rivals, but they had learned to tolerate each other more nowadays.
"You think Ling Men will win or will it be Erza?" Victoria casually mumbled as she ate pine nuts. In her opinion, the main event of the tournament was the showdown between Erza and Ling Men. As for Lance, Paul, and Qi Long, they were a bit less exciting.
"This is hard to say. When Ling Men was at the early stage of Knight Realm, he was comparable to a mid level Knight. Now, he had definitely grown stronger. As for Erza, I truly have no idea as she kept giving us a surprise. Sometimes, I could not even recognize her."
Victoria nodded. She was also aware of the change in her niece. The girl became much colder since the incident few months ago.
"Felicia and George are truly much worse. Luckily, we have Erza and Lance to represent the clan." Victoria sighed.
"Mm? The principal has arrived." Victoria put down her pine nuts. At the entrance of the arena, a line of people filed in. The one at the front wearing white was the principal. As the snowflakes fluttered down, none of them touched his body; they simply flew away before getting too close.
Behind the principal was Madam Olivia and Sir Adam, and behind them were Erza, Ling Men, and the rest of the participants.
Seeing Erza appear, the atmosphere of the entire arena began to suddenly boil over. Since seven years ago, Erza had managed to create miracles over and over again. Her accumulated popularity even surpassed that of Lance, despite the fact that he was two years older than her.
To most of the first year students and her male fans, Erza was their absolute idol. She was their rising sun, dazzlingly splendid. She was a very beautiful and promising girl who came from a great clan. There was no other girl in her grade who could stand as her equal.
There were many young aristocrat boys who dropped all sense of modesty and waved at Erza as they shouted out loud their affections. Erza just smiled at them and quickly turned her focus back to the upcoming fights.
As the hour approached, more and more people began to arrive in the arena. Among them was Yu Fei, who just recently left her room. She was also in great grief when she heard that Beel was dead. She fell sick and could only study from the notes her friends brought to her. It seemed like her condition was getting better.
This caused the fatty to be surprised. "Yu Fei, you finally come out! I was so lonely."
Yu Fei smiled and said nothing. She inadvertently glanced at the audience, her eyes stopping on Erza for a moment before moving past her.
Yu Fei naturally knew the fact that Erza was there with Beel in his last moments. She had rushed to ask Erza about Beel as soon as she heard that Erza was awake. However, what she heard destroyed every last bit of her hope. Erza secretly informed her that their enemy was actually a true devil at the peak of King Realm.
Regardless how she tried to convince herself, Yu Fei knew that it was really impossible for a young boy like Beel to be able to survive against a true devil from legend. In addition, if Beel was still alive, why did he not come back to the academy?
"Yu Fei, who are you looking for?" The fatty asked on the side with a curious look.
"Nothing, I'm just looking around." Yu Fei shook her head and lightly smiled.
With a quarter of an hour left until the start of the tournament, Reynold and Alexander also appeared. Today, Alexander had put on a gown emblazoned with a Kirin. He wore snow boots and was surrounded by many young ladies. He could be described as being in very high-spirit.
When the people of the first household arrived, there wasn't an announcement. This was because amongst those present today, there were many important people; too many to count. There were the heads and elders of large and small aristocratic families, the nobility, counts, and even two of the Ten Great Generals.
After Alexander arrived, he glanced at Ling Men, nodding at him with a smile before he went to sit down at his own seat. It seemed like his relationship with Ling Men was quite good.
Deep inside his heart, Alexander wished for Ling Men to beat both Erza and Lance. It would reduce their halos and helped to secure some supports for him inside the clan. Nowadays, Lance and Erza prestiges had surpassed his, and it was not a good thing for him.
Next, the people of Menzel Clan arrived and Bella was seen amongst them. As Bella appeared, she instantly attracted the wandering lustful gaze of every single aristocratic junior. Although these juniors clearly knew that they would never reach the level of Bella, they inevitably sent out peeking glances.
At this time, the Elder who oversaw the tournament stood up after seeing the time. He said, "We shall begin drawing the lots."
The tournament was conducted via group battles where each group contained around 100 students. In total, there would be eight group battles where there could only be one winner from each group.
The winners would then fight in the quarterfinals, then in the semifinals, and lastly in the final to be the champion.
Erza placed her hand in the drawing box and fished out a jade tablet. On the jade tablet, it was written 'first group'. The deacon responsible for registering the competition numbers wrote Erza's number on the notice board.
Finally, everyone had drawn their lots.
Elsa and Linda were on the second group, while Qi Long and Qi Di were on the seventh group. Yu Fei, Lisa and Lance ended up in the third group, whereas Paul was on the fourth group.
Ling Men drew out a tablet which was written 'fifth group', while Mozart would be fighting in the sixth match.
After the schedule had been posted on the notice board, the enthusiasm of the audience reached a feverish pitch. Erza was fighting in the first round; this was what they had all been waiting for!
In a distant corner of the fighting stage, a boy was looking at the zealous audience. He coldly laughed.
Ling Men glanced at the boy, noticing his expression. He asked with a smile, "Lang Bin, are you dissatisfied?"
"Why don't you take a look at the audience? Is there even a single one that favours me? I don't think that any of them even know my name," The boy called Lang Bin said with a sneer.
Lang Bin was a fifth year student. He was 17 years old this year and his cultivation had reached the early stage of Knight Realm. Hopefully, if everything went as expected, he would breakthrough to the the middle stage before he was 20 years old. Although he admitted that his cultivation speed was far slower than Erza, in terms of combat strength, he didn't believe he was any worse.
Who wasn't a talent here? Erza might be the most talented student in the academy. But she had not matured yet. Talent was a talent. It was a future prospect. At present time, Lang Bin believed that he had what it took to defeat her.
Ling Men also sneered, echoing his opinion. "It's normal for these people not to have heard of you. After all, you aren't people of Black Snow City; why would the academy publicize your achievements? These fools and misinformed losers are waiting for Erza to crush you beneath her boot. You need to show these people just who you are."
"I may not roll over her, but at least I won't lose! Both of us are at the early stage of Knight Realm, and my true battle efficiency is higher than normal practitioners at the same level. Why would they think that I will lose so easily? What a joke! In fact, if I could wait for an opportunity while other students are attacking her, then my chance will be even higher."
Lang Bin came from the Lang Family, a martial cultivation family that was one of the four great martial families that existed on the edge of Black Snow Empire. Anyone that came from one of these four great families was born with inherent superiority and a loftily arrogant attitude. Not to mention that Lang Bin was one of the most outstanding young disciples of the Lang Family.
Young people often were full of spirit and vigour; there was no way that Lang Bin would willingly be placed underneath someone else. He was currently ranked at the third place amongst the fifth year students.
"Once the competition starts and you go on stage, make sure you eliminate Erza. Then we'll see what sort of expression these bunch of fools will have."
Soon, everyone in the first group battle was standing on the stage. Erza was already holding the Heavenly Flame Sword, waiting for the start of the group fight.
Lang Bin billowed with a formidable aura as he walked on stage. He looked at Erza and sneered, "Little girl, I've heard many things about you. In the Black Snow City, you are a genius only seen once in a thousand years. But this so-called 'Black Snow City' only consists of some pampered youths from big clans; the four great martial cultivation families that surround Black Snow Empire are not included!"
"Our four great martial cultivation families have a thousand years of history! We have legacies that you cannot begin to imagine! And we have been involved with many skirmishes on the borders, unlike you pampered youth in the capital!"
The four great martial cultivation families lived at the frontier of Black Snow Empire; occupying their own areas. Truly, they had an inheritance that stretched back almost a thousand years. Despite the fact the Empire was focused on Magic, there were also martial experts throughout the Black Snow Empire.
"Oh? The four families already have a legacy of 1000 years? Erza merrily smiled, then shook her head. A family with just a thousand years of history could be considered as having a deep heritage? That was really a waste of a so-called thousand year history.
Lang Bin saw Erza's smiling face and knew that she was refuting his claims. He suddenly burned with anger. "Little girl, since you look down on my four great martial cultivation families, well then, I will let you experience the ancestral blade of Lang Family!"
Lang Bin wasn't sure who was stronger between him and Erza, but after seeing Erza underestimated him, his confidence of winning shot up by several points.
"Just you wait girl, I will make you pay for your rampant arrogance. I will defeat you within 20 moves. I want to see just what sort of expression your adoring audience will have!" As Lang Bin thought this, the treasure long sword in his hand immediately began to congeal with thick essence. This was a king-grade treasure sword, and was also considered at the pinnacle of its rank.
At this moment, the Elder who was acting as referee loudly announced the rules of the competition.
"You may use any treasure; there is no limit to the grade. If you willingly admit defeat or are lying injured on the ground, then you will automatically forfeit! You cannot kill the opposite party, and you cannot intentionally cripple them. The competition starts now!"