Dove
Sam is outside of his dorm sitting meditation at the dawn of the Tournament Day.
It is going to start exactly at the noon and the first round of the tournament is the selection of the Academy candidates. Each academy should select ten candidates amongst themselves and send them out for the competition between the academies.
Sam of course is part of the examination.
He stayed there in meditation as he waited for noon and soon it is noon.
When he went to the testing site, the elder in charge started announcing the order of the duels. Sam's name was also announced, but no one bothered to fight with him. Everyone he faced forfeited. It is to the point that he went to finals without even raising a finger.
He didn't seem surprised though, this is how it is in general. The Open tournaments are a clear indication of strength and no one would want to go against the guy who obviously ranked first in it. Of course, some times second.