"Hisss!"
First, there was silence, then a collective gasp swept through the scene.
Everyone was stunned by what they saw!
"Am I seeing things? Did Xiu Yan retreat?"
"My goodness, is Lin Xiu a transformed Magic Beast? His strength is immense!"
No one expected that Xiu Yan, who appeared larger, stronger, and more imposing, would actually be inferior to Lin Xiu in a test of strength.
"Mentor, Mentor, the junior brother defeated Xiu Yan head-on! He defeated Xiu Yan!"
Qin Zhi excitedly shook Huo Lan's shoulders.
"I saw it."
Huo Lan snapped out of it, showing no surprise like the others.
Because he remembered the experiences of sparring with Lin Xiu over the past year, and as Lin Xiu's strength grew, his own strength had always been considerable.
Even later on, he found himself being suppressed by Lin Xiu.
However,
Huo Lan himself was only a Dou Grandmaster, so he wasn't clear on just how strong Lin Xiu's strength really was.
And at this moment, seeing Xiu Yan actually lose in a test of strength,
Huo Lan finally had a clear understanding.
He turned his head, seeing the figure preparing to slip away, and he grabbed Ge Mu by the neck, "The match isn't over yet. Where are you going? Keep commentating. I quite enjoy listening."
Facing Huo Lan's smiling gaze, Ge Mu's expression turned as unpleasant as if he had eaten something foul.
With Xiu Yan's greatest advantage gone, facing the agile Lin Xiu, it was only a matter of time before he lost.
On the other side,
Around the arena, Leng Bai's complexion turned as gray as his hair.
The smile vanished from his face.
There was no trace of regret or envy.
All that remained was fear!
"It's a good thing he didn't draw me. Otherwise, as Su Xiao said, I would have regretted it too late."
Leng Bai murmured inwardly.
Because he didn't have Xiu Yan's defensive advantage, facing the agile Lin Xiu, he didn't know beforehand just how strong Lin Xiu's strength was. He was afraid he would be injured in their first encounter.
At this moment, watching Xiu Yan's figure with blood pouring from his right arm, Leng Bai could only feel pity.
It's tragic! Too tragic!
"Hu Gan, investigate! We must investigate!" Old Huo suddenly sounded serious.
Hu Gan glanced at him, tilting his head. "Investigate what?"
"This kid Lin Xiu might be a Magic Beast in human form. In just over a year, not only did he go from being a Dou Practitioner to breaking through to a Dou Grandmaster, but his strength far exceeds those of the same level."
Old Huo's surprised expression had not completely faded from his face.
He hadn't expected Lin Xiu's strength to be this great, erupting just now.
According to his perception, it was absolutely not inferior to that of a 9 Star Dou Grandmaster physique.
And Lin Xiu was just a 1 Star Dou Grandmaster.
To have such a physique, he must be a Magic Beast.
"Enough with the astonishment. Whether he's human or a Magic Beast, I understand better than you do." Hu Gan thought it was something important, but lost interest as soon as he heard it.
Did he really think he hadn't paid attention to anything during that long time by the lake?
The match was not yet over.
Xiu Yan's expression at this moment was extremely serious and solemn.
"Two years! I've prepared for two whole years. I won't easily admit defeat!"
Xiu Yan seemed to be communicating with Lin Xiu, yet also giving himself psychological suggestions.
Grayish-white Dou Qi covered his right arm as Xiu Yan, simply holding his injuries, charged towards Lin Xiu.
"He's only a 1 Star Dou Grandmaster. In terms of Dou Qi saturation in the body, he definitely can't match me. I'm a 4 Star Dou Grandmaster. Moreover, considering his numerous previous battles, there's no way he hasn't expended energy!"
Xiu Yan analyzed the strengths and weaknesses between himself and Lin Xiu, quickly finding the direction of the battle.
When direct confrontation yielded no advantage, Xiu Yan decided to use his realm superiority to wear down Lin Xiu.
This match was about securing a spot in the library, something he couldn't afford to give up.
However,
Would Lin Xiu let him have his way?
He unleashed the Whirlwind Strike and the Nine Heavens Thunder Slash in succession.
The howling wind swayed Xiu Yan's figure, making it difficult for him to defend.
Thunderbolt-like lightning snakes roamed, continuously smashing into Xiu Yan, accelerating his Dou Qi consumption.
The petrified skin on his body was obviously caused by a Dou Technique, and maintaining it undoubtedly came at a price.
For a moment,
On the arena, as if enduring a thunderous baptism, the wind roared, and lightning crackled and thundered.
!
After a long while, the dust settled on the arena, and the noise faded away.
The wind blew away the dust, revealing Lin Xiu standing on the platform.
At his feet, Xiu Yan was charred all over, his skin cracked, blood flowing from his wounds.
"Elder, announce the result, we're about to exceed the time limit."
Turning slowly, Lin Xiu looked at the elder referee.
Reminded, the elder referee snapped out of his astonishment, looked at Lin Xiu as if he were a monster, and then announced the result.
"I declare, in this match, Lin Xiu is the winner!"
As the words fell,
The scene fell into silence, then erupted into an uproar, reaching the sky.
"He really won?"
"Wow, that's Xiu Yan, Senior Brother. So many tough guys in the Black-Corner Region would tremble at his name, yet he lost to a junior who's been at the school for only a year?"
"Is that the point? Lin Xiu being able to take two items from the library is what's truly enviable!"
Even the students present, including Su Xiao and Leng Bai, who had secured spots in the top fifty and top five, respectively, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy when they looked at Lin Xiu.
"Huo Lan, congratulations! This is the first time in the Academy's history that a student has been able to take two items from the library. You've struck gold."
A mentor congratulated Huo Lan.
Huo Lan was elated, his smile reaching his ears. "Thank you. Speaking of which, this wouldn't have been possible without Ge Mu. If it weren't for his publicity, there wouldn't have been so many challenges against Lin Xiu, and he wouldn't have had this opportunity."
Beside him, Ge Mu's face turned pale, his expression stiff.
Huo Lan's words pierced him like arrows to the heart.
Under normal circumstances, the Academy would never allow a student to take two items from the library.
But this time, Lin Xiu was first challenged by multiple people, putting him at a disadvantage. Secondly, Leng Bai and others had tacitly agreed that Lin Xiu wasn't strong, accepting his proposal.
It was one mistake after another that ultimately led to Lin Xiu becoming the biggest winner.
On the elevated platform,
The elders were also discussing Lin Xiu's performance.
Initially, everyone had high hopes for Su Xiao in this cohort, but unexpectedly, Lin Xiu turned out to be the biggest winner.
He was a dark horse that defied everyone's expectations.
"Hu Gan, there's a plot!" Old Huo said.
"Get lost! How can Lin Xiu's victory still be a plot?" Hu Gan felt like hitting someone.
For thousands of years, the tradition at Jia Nan Academy had always been one chance for each person to retrieve treasures from the library. Now, it was breaking new ground with him.
"I suspect you deliberately gave Lin Xiu opportunities. Come clean, have you been considering him as a son-in-law for a long time? Why else would you treat him so well?" Old Huo said.
First, there was the gift of the Black Rank Mid-Level Dou Technique, then two Black Rank Low-Level Dou Techniques. Now, it was two chances to retrieve treasures from the library.
What is the library?
It's considered the core of Jia Nan Academy, where there are plenty of Earth Rank Qi Methods, Dou Techniques, and various precious treasures.
Any item taken from there and placed in the empire would be enough to cause chaos!
"Go away." Hu Gan couldn't be bothered to explain, thinking that this old guy really dared to think so. Who in the Academy didn't know the style of his granddaughter?
After the intra-academy selection tournament concluded, Hu Gan left the square directly.
As he walked, Old Huo's words flashed through his mind several times, "This kid is indeed quite outstanding. If he could pair up with Hu Jia, it would save me some worries. But that girl... Her mind is entirely focused on Xiao Xun'er."
...
As the competition ended, the buzz at the Academy didn't cease. Lin Xiu, rising to the inner court after just a year of practice, became the biggest winner and was constantly discussed by people.
Even the new students this year regarded him as their idol and wanted to learn from him.
And this was already three days after the competition.
Lin Xiu received a message and came to the Headmaster's office, where he met Su Xiao, Leng Bai, and another girl named Li Yan.
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