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Chapter 102: Xiao Ze Gets Lucky with a Bye! Zi Yan Wins Without a Fight!
The next day, Xiao Ze and his companions returned to the central square.
The atmosphere in the square was even more lively than yesterday.
Supporters of different top-ranking contestants were engaged in heated debates, arguing fiercely about whose supporter was stronger.
Xiao Ze couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.
The audience below seemed to be more concerned about how strong you really were than the students on stage, engaging in heated debates and arguments.
However, there were two individuals who were indisputably the focus of attention.
Naturally, they were Xiao Ze and Zi Yan, who had both delivered outstanding performances in yesterday's matches.
When Xiao Ze appeared, the arguing crowd paused, their eyes filled with admiration and awe, watching him ascend to the high platform.
"There are twelve matches today, and one contestant will receive a bye."
"According to the draw, whoever draws the thirteenth number will receive a bye and advance to the next round."
The Grand Elder's voice echoed throughout the arena, and the other top-ranking students had no objections.
After all, luck often represents strength to some extent.
Since both Xiao Ze and Zi Yan possessed overwhelming strength, the elders couldn't simply decide to give both of them byes.
So, they left it to luck!
They started the draw with the first-ranked contestant.
Zi Yan glanced back at Xiao Ze with a somewhat annoyed expression.
"I'm going to defeat my opponent faster than you today!"
After speaking, Zi Yan directly reached into the box and drew a bamboo stick, number six.
"Haha, maybe I'll be lucky enough to draw number thirteen and get a bye," Xiao Ze joked, not minding teasing the still somewhat childish Zi Yan.
Hearing Xiao Ze's words, Zi Yan's expression changed slightly.
What if this guy actually draws number thirteen?
With that thought in mind, Zi Yan couldn't help but widen her bright eyes and stare intently at the process of Xiao Ze drawing his bamboo stick.
Xiao Ze noticed Zi Yan staring at him like a child and inwardly chuckled.
He extended his hand and pulled out a bamboo stick from the box.
When he saw the colorless bamboo stick in his hand, Xiao Ze was stunned.
It really was number thirteen!
Although he had some good fortune in the library, it was rare to have such luck in a competition like this, actually getting a bye.
"Hey! You're not cheating, are you?" Zi Yan asked bluntly.
Xiao Ze showed her the number thirteen stick in his hand, shrugged, and said with a smile, "Don't be ridiculous... Sorry, looks like I got a bye. Our match will have to wait until the next round."
Zi Yan gritted her silver-white teeth and glared fiercely at Xiao Ze.
But she didn't actually have any intention of fighting him.
As she had said when she first met Xiao Ze, she actually found him quite likable, and from their interactions earlier, she felt that Xiao Ze was pretty decent.
At least unlike the other people in the academy who were afraid of her and wanted to run away as soon as they saw her, she could chat and laugh with him.
The other top-ranking students breathed a sigh of relief.
It was fine if Xiao Ze got a bye.
Even if he didn't, he had the absolute strength to advance to the next round.
But now they started worrying about whether they might draw the same number as Zi Yan.
Seeing Xiao Ze and Zi Yan chatting and laughing together surprised them.
Since when did this brute force king become so easygoing?
Just then, from somewhere in the lineup, came a painful scream.
"Ah! Why am I so unlucky!"
It was Qin Kai, holding a red bamboo stick in his hand, revealing the number six!
Seeing this scene, everyone couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
After all, Qin Kai was in the top ten of the rankings. If he hadn't unluckily encountered Zi Yan, he would have definitely qualified to compete for the Origin Flame Heart Forging Body!
But even in the top ten, facing Zi Yan was like a roll of the dice.
And judging by Zi Yan's ferocity in her attacks yesterday, everyone couldn't help but sweat for him.
Xiao Xuner and Xiao Yixian took their turns drawing.
Seeing that they didn't draw each other, they smiled at each other.
Soon, as the Grand Elder drew number six, Zi Yan leisurely climbed onto the high platform, her fists clenched, eager to try.
Zi Yan had already thought it through with her clever little mind.
Since she couldn't compete today, she would compete with Xiao Ze from yesterday!
As long as she defeated her opponent faster than Xiao Ze did yesterday, she would still count it as a win!
Feeling proud of herself, Zi Yan waited impatiently for her opponent to appear.
"Where's the person? Hey, old man, hurry up and urge them!" Zi Yan casually said to the elder in the center of the arena.
The elder rolled his eyes, not wanting to deal with this rude monster.
Despite being equally powerful, it was more comfortable for people to interact with Xiao Ze, that little guy.
He ignored Zi Yan but still shouted towards the audience below.
"Please, contestants, come up to the stage quickly! If you delay any longer, you'll be declared the loser!"
At this moment, a weak voice came from the audience below.
"Elder, Qin Kai suddenly fell ill and has gone back..."
Hearing this, the elder understood that Qin Kai was temporarily avoiding the competition.
After all, seeing Zi Yan clenching her fists, it was clear that the upcoming battle would be even more brutal than yesterday's.
"Contestant Qin Kai forfeits! Zi Yan wins!"
Hearing the elder's verdict, Zi Yan walked off the stage with a disgruntled expression.
Although Qin Kai didn't even step onto the stage and surrendered directly, it still seemed like he wasn't as good as Xiao Ze.
After all, Xiao Ze got a bye!
He didn't even have to compete!
Comparing himself to Xiao Ze, it felt like there was no comparison!
Watching Zi Yan walk down the stage with one foot in front of the other, the elder couldn't help but shake his head.
Truly a terrifying monster in human form!
The strength of this platform could withstand high-intensity combat qi impacts.
Now, Zi Yan's little short legs could leave deep footprints with just one step.
The first match of the second round ended in a dramatic fashion.
Leaving many of the audience feeling a bit bored, especially since Xiao Ze got a bye, depriving the two strongest contestants of another chance to compete.
Now they could only watch the others and see if they could produce equally exciting battles.
After the first round of elimination matches, the remaining top-ranking students were all extremely powerful in various aspects, making it a fierce competition.
Unless there was a significant gap in rankings, the battles were all very intense.
It kept the audience thoroughly entertained!
Xiao Xuner and Xiao Yixian both drew opponents ranked in the top fifteen, with a huge gap in strength.
Just when the audience thought Xiao Xuner and Xiao Yixian had reached their limits, they replicated yesterday's scenario, defeating their opponents swiftly and decisively!
This completely ignited the enthusiasm of all the spectators!
Beating a stronger opponent is always the most thrilling tale.
Although Xiao Xuner and Xiao Yixian were both in the initial stage of Dou Ling, one had an extraordinary background while the other had a poisonous body.
With such means, and going all out, it was not impossible to challenge beyond their level.
At present, everyone was a Dou Ling, so cross-level challenges were even easier.
When Xiao Xuner and Xiao Yixian returned to Xiao Ze's side one after the other, everyone was astonished to discover that these three freshmen had forcefully entered the third round!
And tomorrow's top ten competition would be extremely dependent on luck.
It was very likely that neither Xiao Xuner nor Xiao Yixian would draw the same number as Zi Yan.
In other words, in this internal ranking competition, the top ten positions might be occupied by three freshmen.
This was probably a very rare occurrence in the history of the entire inner courtyard!
(The end of this chapter)
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