https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-198-Individual-Tournament-Begins/13507223/
Chapter 199: Ruthless Competition!
Chapter 199: Ruthless Competition! (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Lin Qi heard familiar voices ringing in his ears.
Turning his head, he saw Jiang Tao standing to his left, his bronze-skinned face as striking as ever. Beside him were Guan Shan, Guo Heng, Wang Qiufeng, Chen Zichuan, and others.
“Bro Qi!” they greeted him.
“Bro Qi, you finally made it!”
“Bro Qi, let me explain—we’re in the Freshman Competition’s virtual spectator stands. From here, we can clearly see the battles in the arena!” Jiang Tao grinned, gesturing around.
Zhou Xi Yin, standing to his right, added, “We’re in the Azure Firmament Six Colleges section. Each academy has its own designated area.”
Lin Qi nodded, scanning the crowd. Around him sat students from all six colleges of Azure Firmament. As he passed, many waved enthusiastically.
He glanced toward other academies’ sections, though distance blurred their faces. Only vague silhouettes remained visible.
As casual conversation filled the air, the clock struck nine—the competition’s scheduled start time.
“Beep!!”
A cascade of golden light particles gathered above the arena, solidifying into a tenfold enlarged projection of Deputy Principal Xu Wenji. His voice boomed, rich and resonant, reaching every corner.
“Welcome to the Freshman Competition Individual Tournament!”
“If the Disaster Beast Hunting Competition tests your survival against beasts, this tournament tests genius against genius. This is the art of martial cultivation, the pinnacle of competition.
“There are no limits here—only victory. Your Vital Energy Stat, martial techniques, and physical body will perfectly mirror reality. Strength defines strength; weakness, weakness.
“Don’t hold back for fear of injuring opponents. Unleash your full power, eliminate your rivals, and claim victory!”
A roar of excitement erupted from the crowd. Unlike the Scarlet Realm simulations, where everyone’s stats were balanced, this tournament stripped all restrictions, pitting raw ability against raw ability.
Lin Qi mused, This virtual world’s perfect—it lets me fight full-out without worrying about killing anyone. In real life, I’d be too scared of snapping someone’s neck like a Disaster Beast.
“The first round begins with 8,991 competitors. Only 900 will advance to the second round, earning a reward of 500,000 Crimson Heaven Points (Xia Kingdom Currency)!
“These points won’t just go to the strongest—surviving long enough to scrape through might earn you the prize too. For students from modest backgrounds, this is a life-changing sum!” Xu Wenji announced, drawing gasps of greed from the crowd.
“Now, I declare the Freshman Competition Individual Tournament officially begun! All competitors, enter the arena—fight with everything you’ve got!!”
Xu Wenji’s voice thundered.
In an instant, scarlet light pillars erupted from the stands, swallowing the competitors. Across the 20,000-square-meter arena, nearly 9,000 beams descended, materializing the contestants. Each stood bathed in light, selecting armor and weapons while studying their opponents.
The stands fell eerily empty, save for the academy heads scattered among the crowd. Lin Qi caught several intense gazes—future rivals watching him.
[30-second countdown initiated!]
[3… 2… 1…]
[Battle commenced!!]
The arena’s emotionless AI voice announced the start.
“Kill!!”
“Whoosh!!”
Chaos erupted. Blades clashed, killing intent suffused the air, and the arena became a battlefield of geniuses.
Jiang Tao, clad in silver armor, swung his battle saber with roots-like stability. His defensive whirlwind deflected attacks, while his counterstrikes dropped opponents within moments.
“Spurt~ Spurt~”
Within minutes, several fell to his blade. Though Sixth Institute students avoided fighting each other, they ruthlessly targeted outsiders.
Even within Azure Firmament University, disparities were stark. Jiang Tao noted, These opponents are too weak—none can withstand a single strike.
Lin Qi watched the holographic scoreboard from the stands.
[Survivors: 8,601/8,991]
Over 300 eliminated in under a minute. Light pillars returned to the stands as students dropped out. Even Sixth Institute lost many.
“Saw a flash, and I was dead—no time to react!”
“Same! I swung once, and that was it. How’s there such a gap between us Azure Firmament students?”
[Survivors: 8,002/8,991]
[Survivors: 7,500/8,991]
[Survivors: 3,008/8,991]
Ten minutes in, only 3,000 remained. Lin Qi spotted familiar faces from Azure Firmament Six Colleges, locked in desperate combat. The battlefield was pure chaos—every man an enemy.
“Spurt~ Spurt~”
Half an hour later, the first round ended.
[First Round Concluded!]
The 900 survivors returned to the stands. The scoreboard updated:
[Advancers: 99 (Sixth Institute)]
Divided into nine sections, the screen displayed each academy’s advancement count. Azure Firmament Six Colleges held steady, but Jiang Tao noted, “First Institute had over 200 advancees! Third Courtyard managed 135!”
Lin Qi’s expression darkened. The numbers exposed stark power gaps. Weakest, Seventh Hall had only 40.
Jiang Tao shuddered, If Huo Wanyang and Ao Feng hadn’t withdrawn, we’d have no chance against them.
“Congratulations to the 900 advancing!” Xu Wenji announced. “To those eliminated—don’t despair. The journey continues.
“Now, the second round begins—900 for 90 spots!”
The arena divided into nine groups of 100. Only 10 per group would advance, each earning 1,000,000 Xia Kingdom Coins.
“Randomizing first-round academy heads now!”
A status panel materialized, displaying 100 names. Jiang Tao’s flashed among them.
…
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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