The moment Xiao Yun won the match with a single move again, the entire arena fell into stunned silence—then erupted into thunderous applause.
The students of Class Four of the Black Tier leapt to their feet with cheers, their pride and excitement echoing throughout the stands.
Xiao Yun calmly retracted his spear and descended from the platform at a leisurely pace.
"Junior Xiao Yun, thank you for showing mercy," Fang Wen called out from behind him, clutching his chest with the help of two supporters as he stood up shakily.
"Of course," Xiao Yun replied coolly without turning back. "After all, friendship comes first, competition second, right? You should get that chest injury checked out though—wouldn't want it affecting your next match." He waved a hand dismissively, clearly not taking the matter too seriously.
On the elder's platform, one of the seated old men, white-haired and bearded, turned toward Elder Huo with a faint smile and a trace of envy.
"Compassionate and humble... Huo, you've taken in a fine disciple."
Although the inner court selection tournament was designed to identify top talents for advanced training, the academy elders, while tolerant of students getting injured, certainly didn't want to see anyone die in the process. Xiao Yun's restraint—only using the blast wave of his attack to knock Fang Wen out of the ring rather than outright injuring him—was commendable and won the elders' approval.
"Hmph, don't get smug with me," Elder Huo replied with a snort, shooting a glare at the complimenting elder. "A disciple's talent is only one part of it. It also depends on the master's guidance!"
"Huo, don't be so touchy," the other elder, Hu Qian, said calmly. "I'm simply stating the facts. If Xiao Yun had been my disciple—with my peak Dou Emperor strength—he'd have already broken through to the Dou Spirit level instead of still being a Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster."
Elder Huo narrowed his eyes. "Strength has nothing to do with teaching! Sure, I'm a Dou King, but I'm also a Tier 5 alchemist. Can you teach him alchemy if he'd been your disciple?"
"Even so," Hu Qian said with a grin, "he wouldn't still be a mere Dou Grandmaster under my tutelage."
"Hah! That's because I split my time between training him in combat and in alchemy. Don't forget—Xiao Yun isn't even ten yet, and he's already a Tier 3 alchemist. He even has a 20% success rate at refining Tier 4 pills! That's far more valuable than just brute-forcing a breakthrough to Dou Spirit."
"Still a Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster."
"Jealousy doesn't suit you, old man. No matter what you say, Xiao Yun is my disciple."
"…Hmph."
As the two elders bickered, Xiao Yun returned to the viewing platform, only to find his teacher and Vice Dean Hu Qian practically at each other's throats. Off to the side, a little girl was covering her ears, pretending not to hear their childish squabble.
"Brother Xiao Yun, you're back!" the girl shouted, immediately running up to him with sparkling eyes.
"You were amazing! Even a senior at the Dou Grandmaster level couldn't withstand a single strike from you!"
Xiao Yun raised an eyebrow. "Hu Jia, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be training?"
The little girl—Hu Jia—was none other than Vice Dean Hu Qian's granddaughter, the unofficial princess of Jia Nan Academy.
About a year ago, when Elder Huo had brought Xiao Yun to pay a visit to Hu Qian, Hu Jia had just broken through to Six Dou Qi. Full of youthful enthusiasm, she'd challenged Xiao Yun to a sparring match... and had been flattened in one move. Naturally, she'd run off crying to her grandfather.
But since then, Hu Jia had become Xiao Yun's number one fan, constantly clinging to him and trying to tag along. Xiao Yun found her persistent presence exhausting.
Six or seven years old was that particularly chaotic age where even in a world of mighty cultivators, children were still children—annoying as ever.
"I just wanted to see you fight, that's all!" Hu Jia pouted. "But I have been training! I broke through to Seven Dou Qi today! I'm still way behind you, but I'm trying!"
Xiao Yun nodded silently and didn't say more. He turned toward Elder Huo, with Hu Jia sulking but still sticking close behind him like a shadow.
"Teacher, do I have any more matches today?"
"None." Elder Huo opened his mouth, but Hu Qian beat him to it with a chuckle.
"Today's rounds will determine the top fifty. The final five will be decided tomorrow—and that won't be easy. Most of your opponents will be Dou Grandmaster or stronger. Go rest and prepare."
"Hmph, for once the old geezer's right," Elder Huo muttered, but then added more sternly, "Rest well. And tomorrow, make sure you bring home first place! Show them what you're made of!"
"Yes, Teacher. Vice Dean Hu," Xiao Yun bowed politely. Since the Vice Dean had personally said there were no more matches, it meant he really was done for the day—no need to worry about surprise announcements.
He turned and left the stage with calm composure.
The next day...
The inner court selection tournament came to a close.
Spanning three days, the first two rounds had determined the top fifty students qualified to enter the inner court. The weakest among them was still a Seven-Star Dou Master—formidable by any standard.
The final day was not some chaotic free-for-all. Vice Dean Hu Qian opted for a more structured, round-based format. Victory would go to the one who accumulated the most wins by the end.
For Xiao Yun, that was hardly a challenge.
Armed with a specially forged magic core weapon crafted by Elder Huo, fortified by a year and a half of real combat experience in the academy's law enforcement unit, and backed by his Seven-Star Dou Grandmaster strength, Xiao Yun could even spar with a Dou Spirit if needed—let alone a group of Dou Grandmaster.
As expected, once Xiao Yun stepped onto the stage, he was like a king defending his throne, defeating opponent after opponent without pause.
Finally, with a sweep of his spear, he sent his last challenger flying. He glanced around the arena—of the four platforms, he was the only one still standing.
A white-bearded elder stood and surveyed the field, then announced loudly, "The selection tournament has concluded! After fierce battles, the top five have emerged—Xiao Yun, Wang Hongjing, Gongsun Sibao, Ye Zhengfan, and Fang Wen!"
As soon as his voice faded, the arena erupted like a tidal wave. Cheers and applause thundered across the square, shaking the very foundations. People leapt to their feet, craning their necks to get a glimpse of the boy on the central stage. Their eyes were full of awe, envy—and more than a little fear.
Because at the peak of the crowd's admiration stood one person.
A boy under ten years old, who had outshone every other prodigy present to seize the championship. That kind of brilliance demanded reverence.
Xiao Yun stood quietly at the center of the platform, expression unreadable. But slowly, a faint smile tugged at his lips—the smile of a victor.
And under the watchful eyes of thousands, he stepped down from the roaring arena, leaving behind the echo of triumph.
Thus, the most prestigious annual tournament came to a close—its final note struck by the footsteps of a boy walking quietly off the stage.