Chapter 176

As the fiery blaze subsided and the once magnificent arena lay in ruins before the audience, they collectively gasped, their shock undiminished.

Yao Yan stood exhausted on one side of the burnt land while Wu Hao lay unconscious on the other side with his bare upper body. The flames had burnt his red-black robe to ash, and his chest was scorched, bleeding.

An old man with a slightly pale face was standing between two people. He was the deputy headmaster of the outer academy, and he took matters into his own hands. Fortunately, Hu Gan intervened in time to save Wu Hao's life. Wu Hao was not yet capable of withstanding Yao Yan's incomplete technique. 

After wiping off the sweat from his forehead, Hu Gan, one of the esteemed judges of the competition, looked deeply at Yao Yan and declared him the winner. As soon as he appeared, Hu Gan felt a strong spiritual energy above his own emanating from Yao Yan. Following this, another judge, responsible for the safety of the participants, came forward and took Wu Hao away for immediate medical treatment, a clear indication of the seriousness of the injuries sustained in the battle.

Hu Gan returned to his seat, and the competition continued in an orderly manner, but he no longer paid attention to it. 

"There is no doubt about it; it was a heavenly flame," Old Hu spoke suddenly beside Hu Gan.

Hu Gan looked at his slightly blackened palm and nodded. His palm got injured when he intervened and stopped Yao Yan's attack from causing further destruction. It's worth noting that Hu Gan is a peak Dou Emperor, and even an incomplete dou technique from Yao Yan caused him some harm.

How did he deduce that the dou technique was incomplete? Hu Gan would answer in one word: intuition—a skill honed over years of observing and participating in battles.

"One after another, they have given us old men many surprises," Hu Gan glanced at Xiao Ning's figure from the corner of his eyes. 

Old Hu, the head of the alchemy department, did not notice the slight change in his expression; his eyes were glued on Yao Yan, and he kept nodding occasionally. 

"It would be a pity if the alchemy department missed that child, Yao Yan." Clearly, Old Hu had taken a liking to Yao Yan's heavenly fire. 

In response, Hu Gan nodded absently; he did not concern himself with such trivial matters. His mind was preoccupied with the lingering spiritual strength around Yao Yan. He couldn't help but wonder if Yao Yan's arrival would bring harmony or chaos to the inner academy. 

"Let's leave it to those old guys in the inner academy," Hu Gan rubbed his temples and muttered. 

...

As Yao Yan made his way back to the stands, he quickly scanned the crowd for Gu Xun Er. Spotting her, he made his way to his seat and nodded in greeting. After swallowing a recovery pill, he sat cross-legged, looking serene and focused. Meanwhile, Gu Xun Er stood guard, her sharp eyes scanning the area for any potential threats or distractions that could disturb Yao Yan's concentration.

Xiao Ning remained completely unaffected by Yao Yan and Gu Xun Er's actions. He watched Yao Yan combine two different flames with a calm and collected demeanor, demonstrating his unwavering confidence and superiority.

Xiao Ning then leaned back, closed his eyes and rested. He wasn't interested in the remaining matches; moreover, Xiao Ning relaxed a little with a Half-Saint Old Li protecting him in the dark. 

...

The qualifying competition unfolded with a seamless blend of skill, strength, and ingenuity. The air crackled with anticipation and excitement as the outer academy participants poured their hearts into the challenge, each vying for a coveted spot in the inner academy. The competition, spanning two days, felt like a fleeting moment as every contestant was fully immersed in the thrill of the battle.

After a rigorous selection process, only the most exceptional students were chosen for the final round. These fifty students possess remarkable potential and strength, making them stand out from the rest. However, the competition remains fierce, as only the top five students will be granted admission to the highly prestigious inner academy. In the end, fifty outstanding students with high potential and strength were selected for the final round. Only the top five would be admitted to the inner academy among these fifty outer academy students. 

...

Today, Jia Nan City was uncharacteristically quiet. Very few people could be seen walking the streets, and most shops were closed. Everyone had gone to the outer academy to watch the final battle of the qualifying competition. The stadium was jam-packed with spectators, and finding a place to stand was almost impossible. Even the students themselves had underestimated the intensity of the competition this year.

The stadium was noisy, and the crowd cheered occasionally after famous students like Gu Xun Er, Hu Jia, Wu Hao, Bai Shan, Xiao Ning, and Yao Yan arrived. Of the top fifty students, the top five were most likely to be chosen from the above six. 

Not long after, the judges arrived, and in the most central position sat Hu Gan, the deputy headmaster of the outer academy, Old Hu, representative of the alchemy department, and two other unknown dou emperor rank strongmen. 

Hu Gan glanced around, nodded with satisfaction, and under countless pairs of eyes, he stood up, "Silence." 

The noisy stadium fell silent immediately, and everyone stared at him, waiting for him to speak. 

"We have made a decision to change the format for selecting the top five students from the fifty that have been selected. Instead of the usual competition this year, all fifty students will compete in a single brawl. The last five students standing in the arena will be declared the winners."

"The only rule is not to kill anyone; apart from that, everything else is allowed." Hu Gan's amplified voice with dou qi resounded throughout the stadium. 

The stadium erupted in applause as he finished speaking, particularly in response to the revised evaluation format.