73: Chapter 73, 10 Grand Challengers

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, slipping away quietly amidst the eager anticipation and surging undercurrents of countless New Students.

This morning, the Martial Arts Field behind Qinglan University was already bustling with noise.

Unlike the sparse figures of the previous three days, the area around the venue was packed with people today—not only were there eager-to-fight first-year New Students, but also a large number of senior students wearing uniforms from different grades, stopping to watch.

Second and third-year seniors stood on the high stands or leaned against the rune-inscribed stone pillars at the edge of the field, their faces filled with the amusement of onlookers, occasionally commenting on the movements of the New Students in the arena.

"Did you hear? The top ten of the New Student Ranking are going to defend their arenas this time, and even the top-ranked student can be challenged. The Principal is really making a big move."

"It's mainly because that Zhang Wen is too eye-catching. With an SSS-Rank Talent, he overshadowed Zhao Ya and the others the moment he arrived, and there are quite a few who aren't convinced."

"I bet Zhao Ya can pull him down. Crimson Flame Dancer is nearly invincible at the same Realm, not to mention she has the backing of the Zhao family."

The discussions rose and fell, but they all revolved around the upcoming arena competition and that one name—Zhang Wen.

When the hour of the dragon arrived, the ten Profound Iron arenas in the center of the Martial Arts Field simultaneously lit up with runic light, dividing the venue into ten independent combat spaces.

The Principal's figure appeared above the main arena, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, and the noise instantly subsided.

"The New Student Arena Competition begins now." His voice was loud and resonant, enhanced by spiritual power, clearly reaching everyone's ears. "First, I invite the current top ten students on the ranking list to ascend their respective arenas."

As his voice fell, the Spirit Gathering Crystal ranking list shone brightly, and ten names lit up in succession, turning into streams of light that shot toward their corresponding arenas.

When the first name lit up, a collective gasp swept through the entire field—

"First Arena, Zhang Wen, SSS-Rank Talent: Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder!"

A golden stream of light landed on the number one main arena, and Zhang Wen's figure appeared upon it.

He wore a simple cyan school uniform, his posture straight and tall. Facing the countless gazes from below, his expression was calm and ripple-free.

But the words "SSS-Rank" and "Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder" exploded in the crowd like a thunderclap.

"It really is SSS-Rank! There haven't been many since the school was founded, right?"

"Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder... that sounds terrifying. Is it a talent related to lightning?"

"No wonder he could overshadow Zhao Ya; this talent Rank is simply not on the same level!"

Amidst the exclamations, the second name lit up, its light slightly less intense but still dazzling:

"Second Arena, Zhao Ya, SS-Rank Talent: Crimson Flame Dancer!"

A red figure landed on the second arena. Zhao Ya wore a red outfit with her long hair tied up, her eyes as sharp as flames. As she stepped onto the stage, she specifically glanced at Zhang Wen on the main arena, the corners of her mouth curling into a curve of determination.

"Third Arena, Ji Changkong, SS-Rank Talent: Son of the Harsh Winter!"

On the third arena, a youth dressed in white walked out slowly. A faint chill seemed to linger around him, and his eyes were as cold as ice; it was Ji Changkong.

After stepping onto the stage, he closed his eyes, appearing to be regulating his breath, completely indifferent to the surrounding gazes.

"Fourth Arena, Qin Huang, S-Rank Talent: Thousand Jin Stalwart Body!"

On the fourth arena, a burly man landed. His muscles were knotted, and standing there, he was like a small hill. When he grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, he carried an air of fierce bravery.

"Fifth Arena, Feng Yingcai, S-Rank Talent: Wind Whisperer!"

Feng Yingcai appeared on the fifth arena, his gaze fixed tightly on Zhang Wen on the main arena. His face bore undisguised hostility, and a breeze even stirred around him, clearly eager for the upcoming challenge.

"Sixth Arena, Wu Xuan, A-Rank Talent: Profound Iron Bones!"

"Seventh Arena, Bai Wushuang, S-Rank Talent: Celestial Radiance Holy Body!"

"Eighth Arena, Han Hao, S-Rank Talent: Sword Heart Clarity!"

"Ninth Arena, Ding Siyi, S-Rank Talent: Crimson Pearl Immortal Fire!"

"Tenth Arena, Zhou Mo, S-Rank Talent: Deep Sea Profound Water!"

As each name and talent was revealed, the remaining arenas were occupied by their respective masters one after another.

When Ding Siyi stepped onto the ninth arena, she looked up at Zhang Wen on the main arena. Their gazes met briefly in the air, and she nodded gently, her eyes filled with encouragement.

All ten arena defenders were on stage, and the light on the Spirit Gathering Crystal ranking list gradually subsided.

The Principal's voice sounded again: "Defenders are in position. Next, the challenge begins. The rules remain unchanged: the winner stays on the arena, and the loser is eliminated. You may challenge any arena. Now—"

He waved his arm, his voice rising sharply: "The challenge, begins!"

The moment his voice fell, the entire Martial Arts Field seemed to have its fuse ignited.

Countless New Students' eyes burned with fighting spirit, their gazes scanning back and forth between the ten arenas, searching for their targets. And all gazes, more or less, could not avoid that most dazzling number one main arena—and the youth on the arena who possessed an SSS-Rank Talent.

A storm belonging to the New Students had officially begun.

Just as the Principal finished speaking, before the clamor of the Martial Arts Field had fully erupted, a slightly hurried figure leaped out from the crowd and landed steadily on the challenge platform at the edge of the main arena.

"I, Wang Lin, challenge the first arena, Zhang Wen!"

The voice was not loud, but it was like a stone thrown into boiling oil, instantly freezing the gazes of the entire crowd—no one expected that the first challenger to make a move would directly target the top-ranked Zhang Wen!

The crowd looked in the direction of the voice and saw that Wang Lin was stout, standing there like a short, sturdy rock. The Spirit Gathering Crystal lit up with a Shimmer when he ascended the stage: A-Rank Talent, Rock Solid Body.

"It's actually Rock Solid Body? I know this Wang Lin. He is at the Peak of the Initial Blooming Realm, and his Physical Body strength can Rank in the top twenty among the New Students. He's as hard as iron!"

"Is he crazy? Even if he's unconvinced, he shouldn't touch the SSS-Rank Zhang Wen right off the bat!"

"Maybe he wants to make a name for himself? Even if he loses, being able to last a few moves under Zhang Wen would be enough to brag about."

Amidst the discussions, Wang Lin clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He was clearly somewhat nervous, but his eyes revealed a streak of stubbornness: "Zhang Wen, do you dare to accept?"

Zhang Wen walked out slowly from the arena, his gaze falling calmly upon him: "Yes."

One word, simple and crisp.

The referee quickly stepped forward, checked the status of both, and retreated to the edge of the arena: "The challenge begins!"

"Hah!" Wang Lin gave a low shout and launched the first attack. With his Rock Solid Body talent running at full power, a yellowish-brown halo appeared around his body, and his skin seemed to be covered with a layer of fine stone patterns. He stomped his feet heavily, rushing toward Zhang Wen with a dull roar, his fists clenched tightly, clearly intending to rely on his Physical Body to clash head-on.

Just at the moment his fist was about to strike, Zhang Wen moved.

He parted his feet slightly and stomped fiercely—

"Tremor Step Treading Thunder Marks!"

An invisible air wave exploded from the center of his feet. The runic patterns on the arena were actually shaken into a Shimmer by this step, and a pale purple lightning mark, invisible to the naked eye, spread along the platform surface, so fast that it left no time to react. Wang Lin only felt a numbness under his feet as a violent current surged up his lower leg from his soles, and his movements were instantly delayed by a fraction.

It was in this split second of delay that Zhang Wen had already closed in on his side.