162: Chapter 162 Round Robin Tournament!!

The interests at stake behind this were simply too vast, worth them going all out and standing ready for battle!

And among the competitions for all four grade levels,

the contests for the freshman year were the most brutal and carried the highest weight!

According to the tournament rules, the rankings from all four grade levels collectively determined the final overall score and resource allocation.

Among these, the ranking for the freshmen carried a staggering weight of 5%!

What did this mean?

It meant that if a martial arts university could secure first place in the freshman year, even if its other three grades ranked dead last, the educational resources it would receive this year would still be among the highest tier!

The reason was simple: freshmen were New Students, representing the school's fresh blood and future potential;

freshmen students were mostly still on campus, best reflecting the school's teaching and nurturing capabilities;

Furthermore, freshmen students would stay at the martial arts university the longest, offering the highest return on investment!

Therefore, the freshman year's performance most directly reflected a martial arts university's educational standard and future potential, and its weight was naturally set the highest.

In this bloody quagmire of the losers' bracket, powerful martial arts universities, relying on their team members' tenacious will and outstanding performances, forcefully carved out a path of survival.

Simultaneously, several names left a deep impression on all spectators due to their ruthless, merciless fighting styles and formidable strength.

Longhua Martial University, Liu Ruyan: Despite her left shoulder injury having just healed, she displayed formidable dominance in the losers' bracket through her indomitable will and the sharp, chilling 'Ice Soul Cold Light Sword'.

Her fighting style, trading injury for a kill, cold and resolute, was terrifying.

Beiyue Martial University's Stone Meng, the Mountain-Cleaving Axe, fought with unparalleled ferocity. His massive axe, heavy and powerful, seemed capable of splitting mountains, its momentum awe-inspiring.

Modu Jiaotong University, Chen Hanshan: As the top figure of Jiaotong University,

his strength was profound and hidden. In the losers' bracket, he finally revealed the composure and power befitting an ace, his fist techniques fierce and his aura imposing.

These individuals' fighting styles were increasingly ruthless, decisive, and merciless!

For victory, they employed almost every means possible, vividly showcasing the unyielding, courageous, and relentless spirit of a martial artist.

...

December 29th, evening.

With the conclusion of the final losers' bracket play-in match, the eight slots from the losers' bracket that could ultimately advance to the final Grand Round-Robin Tournament were finally all decided.

Qin Yan's smart bracelet received the final list sent by the school.

He glanced at it, seeing the names of Longhua Martial University and Modu Jiaotong University prominently listed, and wasn't particularly surprised.

Given these two schools' heritage and strength, fighting their way out of the losers' bracket was to be expected.

He put down the long spear in his hand and summoned his status panel:

[Level: Second Grade Peak]

[Bone Forging: lower limb bones (62), upper limb bones (64), trunk bones (51), skull (15)]

[Qi and Blood: 523 Ka]

[spirit: 62 Hz]

[Martial Skill: Nine Revolutions Golden Body Spear, Eighth Revolution (68%)]

[Spear Technique: Fourth Stage (1%)]

[Alchemy: First-Grade Alchemist (34%)]

(Second-Grade Alchemist: Unlocks at 7 Hz spirit)

[Skill Points: points]

[Note: Effort yields rewards]

"Already tempered 15 skull bones... only 14 bones left until complete Body Bone Forging Perfection. Qi and blood has also reached 523 Ka..."

The steady improvement in his strength filled him with satisfaction, but a trace of regret inevitably surfaced.

"A pity... time is still too tight."

He sighed softly, "If I could have just one more week, I'm absolutely confident I could finish tempering the skull!"

By then, his Qi and Blood would reach the theoretical limit of the Second Grade Realm, giving him much more confidence when facing the formidable enemies in the final stage.

However, the tournament waits for no one. Tomorrow, the final Grand Round-Robin Tournament would commence.

...

December 30th.

The central Martial Arts Arena of Modu University of Martial Arts was a sea of roaring voices, the sound waves almost lifting the dome.

The final Grand Round-Robin Tournament would take place today.

Twenty martial arts universities would determine their final rankings within a single day, the atmosphere tense and fervent.

Within Modu University of Martial Arts's preparation area, the atmosphere was comparatively solemn.

Instructor Fang Yan stood before the team members, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over each young and resolute face.

"Qin Yan, Youyou, Leng Feng," his focus landed on the three core mainstays,

"The round-robin schedule is dense, the intensity extreme.

Two of you three need to stay in reserve for the final push, taking turns on stage and resting alternately.

The reserve team members are responsible for the vanguard, for attrition and probing."

"Based on my observations these past few days, with the strength you three possess, as long as the arrangements are reasonable and you take turns fighting,

you are enough to sweep through the lineup of any martial arts university except for Jingdu University of Martial Arts!"

"Therefore, I have only one requirement for you—conserve your stamina!"

Fang Yan's voice was resolute, "Our sole opponent in this tournament is Jingdu University of Martial Arts!

I do not want to see any one of you unable to fight at the critical moment when we clash head-on with Jingdu University of Martial Arts to decide the championship, due to exhaustion or severe injury!"

Jingdu University of Martial Arts, this old rival on par with Modu University of Martial Arts, had also hidden their strength extremely well this time!

So far, they had only sent out one regular team member to fight.

His strength assessment was roughly slightly inferior to Qin Yan's, but a bit stronger than Leng Feng's.

The remaining four main members, including their captain, had yet to take the stage.

Their strength remained a mystery, full of unknowns and variables.

Facing such an inscrutable opponent, Fang Yan had to maintain the utmost vigilance!

The rules of the Grand Round-Robin Tournament were extremely brutal, requiring consecutive matches against the other nineteen martial arts universities.

This meant nineteen consecutive high-intensity clashes within a single day!

If they relied solely on Qin Yan to constantly take the stage and hold the line in the early stages,

no matter how strong he was, he would absolutely be worn down to exhaustion on the arena.

"Understood!"

Qin Yan, Lu Youyou, and Leng Feng responded in unison, their eyes firm.

Meanwhile, within the preparation areas of other martial arts universities, instructors were also nervously conducting final tactical arrangements and pep talks. The air was thick with the heavy atmosphere of impending battle.

...

As the bell signaling the official start of the competition rang, representatives from each school once again took the stage to draw lots, determining their first-round opponents for today's round-robin matches.

After the draw, each school gave their teams some brief final instructions.

Soon, brutal battles erupted simultaneously on all ten arenas!

"Boom!" "Clang!" "Thud!"

The sounds of weapons clashing, Qi and Blood erupting, roars, and grunts were incessant.

On the arenas, spear force coiled like dragons, staff shadows loomed like mountains, saber auras split the air, and sword light flashed brilliantly!

Various special-effect energies and forces erupted, collided, and annihilated in a frenzy!

The skin of martial university prodigies glowed with various colors representing different Body Tempering techniques.

Like moving light sources, they shimmered and crisscrossed on the arenas!