Two days later, everyone from the four academies came to the competition venue in Yaoyang City.
Since the Grand Four-City Contest was held every three years, Yaoyang City had already prepared the venue.
At this moment, everyone filed into the huge competition field constructed in the center of Yaoyang City. Even the children of nobles like Jovic who had seen such big scenes before couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
The competition field was divided into the east and west sections. The east side was for the Tier 2 students, while the west side was for the Tier 3 students.
Li Jiye and the others glanced at their surroundings and saw a total of 16 pillars that looked to be purely made of stones separating the two areas.
Sunlight streaked into every corner of the venue through the crystal window at the top. The already glamorous viewing platform now looked even more impressive under the daylight.
Jovic explained to the Tier 2 students beside him.
Most of the people in the spectator stands were extremely wealthy. A ticket for the Grand Four-City Contest was as high as a thousand gold coins for one day, which wasn't an amount that ordinary people could afford.
"The fighting rules of Tiers 2 and 3 students are similar. Yaoyang City's officials will randomly select members from the four academies to form a group. Three years ago, I was fortunate enough to visit with my father…"
"The competition is divided into four groups, A-B-C-D. Polar Star Academy ranked second three years ago, so we were second-to-last to draw lots. All the competitors here are the strongest Tier 2 martial artists from their academies. Good luck with the drawing of lots later." Jovic turned to Li Jiye and Selmore after explaining to them.
Although the three of them held different rankings in the internal qualifying competition, they were still recognized as the top 3 in Polar Star Academy. Thus, they were the symbol of hope for the students of Polar Star Academy.
Not long after, everyone saw the representative of Mante Academy, dressed in an off-white short lining, walk up to the center of the ring to take a few paper tickets.
"Pay attention to the crystal element on top of the ring. There will be information on where each participant of an academy will be grouped written there."
Jovic reached out to point at the crystal stone directly above the ring. Looking up, Li Jiye saw the crystal stone flash once, and a string of names appeared in the next second.
"Next, the students of Vegas Academy…"
After the leader wearing a bright yellow coat took out a few tickets, some information appeared on the crystal stone, which made Selmore take a deep breath.
"Group D is indeed tough… It includes the second and third place of Mante and Vegas Academy. If anyone is unlucky enough to get into that group, I'm afraid it'll be a hard fight from the very beginning…"
Li Jiye nodded grimly.
"There's no interval between the first and second battles, which means that the competition isn't just testing the students' combat effectiveness, but their physical strength as well. In that case, it's indeed too tiring for ordinary people to fight the best students of the two academies continually…"
Right after he spoke, the Polar Star Academy's teacher finished drawing lots. Along with the flash of light from the crystal, several names were immediately reflected on it.
"Oh my God…"
Li Jiye would be the leader of Group D.
Selmore and Jovic cast sympathetic glances at him.
"You've been put in the 'group of death' right away… Li Jiye, you better pray hard for yourself…"
Li Jiye's mouth twitched. He never expected himself to be the "lucky" student on the team.
"Look, North Sea Academy is also drawing lots now…!" Selmore narrowed his eyes slightly. He was very looking forward to being grouped with Cang Jie, whom he had bumped into yesterday. However, the crystal lit up and showed Cang Jie's name in Group D, the group of death. "Li Jiye! You can't fall short! Whatever you do, you have to get rid of that bastard for me first!"
All four academies had finished drawing lots by this time. Polar Star Academy's teacher returned to the Tier 2 students with a grim expression.
"Li Jiye, as you can see, most of the students in Group D are in the top 3 of their respective academies. Although you're the champion among the Tier 2 students in our academy, you've only just been promoted to Tier 2 advanced-level. If you're not confident about it, don't overexert yourself!"
Li Jiye nodded and clenched his fists secretly. Although Daphne and the teacher in front of him had repeatedly told him not to overexert himself, the unwillingness to admit defeat was now quietly creeping up on him.
His goal was to be number one. How could he possibly shrink back in the first battle?
Not long after, according to their assigned teams, Li Jiye slowly came to a group of students from the four academies. With the starting sound of the horn, the first battle began!
"The first battle of Group D… Li Jiye of Polar Star Academy against… Cang Jie from North Sea Academy! Both competitors come up on stage!"
The crystal flashed, and in the next second, the names of Li Jiye and Cang Jie appeared together on it. At that moment, Selmore and Jovic, who were standing in their own groups, immediately prayed for Li Jiye.
Li Jiye had been the one to warn them against Cang Jie in the first place. It was unexpected that his first battle would be against such a powerful opponent.
Li Jiye was truly unlucky.
Li Jiye was also a little surprised. Although he knew that he had been assigned to the group of death and that a big battle was inevitable, he still didn't expect to encounter such a powerful enemy in the first battle.
Cang Jie spoke rudely while staring at Li Jiye, "Oh? It's you… Hehe. What are you going to do? Do you want to admit defeat right away? You might be able to play the second game in a while. Anyway, the competition goes on a points system. If you're lucky, you might even move forward—"
But before he finished speaking, Li Jiye had jumped onto the ring. "Come up on stage, what are you waiting for? Are you afraid?"
Cang Jie sneered coldly. A black mist emerged from his body, and he flew onto the ring in the next second. "I only need ten seconds to beat you."
Li Jiye looked at the other party's extended fingers and smirked. "You can try."
Before they exchanged any moves, an inexplicable aura was already manifest between them. The referee on the ring cleared his throat and flew back a few steps.
"Grand Four-City Contest, the first battle of the Tier 2 students… begins!"
Turquoise brilliance rose immediately, and Li Jiye's feet flashed brightly. All of a sudden, his figure disappeared from the ring.