218: Finals begin

It was only after the two groups of people left that Xia Qi relaxed.

“I need to find a way to get rid of them.”

There were quite a few people loitering in this vicinity, and it wasn't a secret place.

They all had legitimate reasons to be here and weren't near the residence.

If they were forced away, it would, firstly, alert the enemy and disrupt General Hu’s plan.

Secondly, it would damage the image of the Academy and Dragon Country, and the Sakura Country people would certainly exaggerate it.

“What’s wrong, Xia Qi?”

Yun Qingyue asked, puzzled by Xia Qi’s strange behavior.

“Nothing, just be careful lately. There are people monitoring outside.”

Yun Qingyue pondered Xia Qi’s words for a moment, then nodded.

Yu Qiu, who was nearby, also heard it and immediately nodded in agreement.

Xia Qi immediately went to wash up; he had been sweating for so long from fighting today.

After washing, Xia Qi lay on the bed, not wanting to move an inch.

After a while, Yun Qingyue brought over a basin of water for his feet.

“Xia Qi, who are those people outside?”

“None of them are good people. I can’t really say much more.”

Yun Qingyue didn't press further. After washing Xia Qi’s feet, she left.

Xia Qi lay on the bed and immediately fell asleep.

The next two days were unusually calm.

Xia Qi understood that this was the calm before the storm.

No action now meant their ambitions were even greater.

The Professional Competition was quickly approaching its climax, with the strongest individuals from various countries coming to participate.

Of course, competitors were limited to those level fifty and below, and there was an age restriction.

Above level fifty, that was a major watershed.

The outstanding individuals among them were the mainstays of a country.

Xia Qi was also preparing, having his senior investigate the profiles of every opponent.

He needed to pay special attention to those Sakura Country competitors.

Xia Qi was confident in one-on-one combat, but his opponents might not think the same way.

Knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory in every battle.

At the very least, he needed to know who his opponents were.

Because they came from several major competition zones, collecting information required some effort.

Xia Qi spent the rest of his time studying these materials.

The three women didn't disturb him, simply watching from the side.

When the competition truly began, the four immediately arrived at the plaza.

The plaza was bustling with people.

After three days of waiting, everyone’s emotions were released at this moment.

Excitement, anticipation, exhilaration.

As soon as he reached the plaza, Xia Qi felt several hostile gazes from the shadows.

There was Sikong from West Wind Academy, and also those warriors from Sakura Country.

A staff member smiled at Xia Qi, but there was a hint of coldness in that smile.

“Silence!”

A deep, solemn voice suppressed the clamor, and everyone quieted down.

“Today, the finals of the team competition will be held.”

“All qualified competitors, please come onto the stage and enter the teleportation array.”

“You will be sent to the final competition venue to conduct your ultimate battle.”

After bidding farewell to the three women, Xia Qi walked onto the stage.

In addition to the competitors who had already qualified, a revival match had been held over the past three days.

Some teams had returned to the competition, and Xia Qi also saw familiar teams among them.

West Wind Academy!

Feeling Xia Qi’s gaze, the West Wind Academy team members somewhat averted their eyes.

They were no match for Xia Qi at all and could only hope not to encounter him again in the finals.

If they met Xia Qi again, should they fight or not?

Fighting would only lead to more humiliation.

Not fighting would also cause West Wind Academy to lose face.

However, Xia Qi didn't pay attention to them.

Even if they met again, Xia Qi wouldn't target them.

Of course, that was if they were sensible.

If they acted like before, Xia Qi wouldn't mind putting on another show in the finals.

After everyone entered the teleportation array, driven by an evaporative force, the teleportation array activated.

All competitors were enveloped in light, then disappeared from their original positions.

When the teleportation was complete, Xia Qi had arrived on a barren plain, and in front of him stood his opponents for this round.

“It seems this is the venue for the finals. It’s better than an arena for demonstrating team strength.”

Although the arena before was large in scope.

It still had limitations, and some people’s abilities couldn't be fully utilized.

Here, they could unleash their full potential.

In front of Xia Qi stood five people.

Before he could even clearly see their appearances, they began to move.

Instantly, everyone moved in different directions.

This was a team without support, also a five-person squad.

Xia Qi immediately drew his sword; anyone who reached the finals was no simple opponent.

A burly man, wielding a giant axe, descended from the sky.

Xia Qi immediately retreated, and the burly man struck the ground directly.

With a boom, a large pit appeared in the ground.

It was at this moment that a person, wielding dual blades, charged towards Xia Qi.

Their speed was extremely fast, arriving beside Xia Qi in the blink of an eye.

Xia Qi immediately used an ice wall to block, and the opponent, unable to dodge in time, crashed into it directly.

Xia Qi immediately swung the sword in his hand, sending the assassin flying with one strike.

At this moment, two other people also arrived beside Xia Qi.

These were two fighters, attacking from two directions.

Their goal was to entangle Xia Qi and create opportunities for the others.

Once a fighter got close, it would be difficult to escape.

Spells were the Close Combat fighters’ weakness, but close-quarters combat was also their strength.

Even warriors, once engaged in close combat with them, would find themselves restrained.

Xia Qi glanced at the two and immediately cast lightning.

At the same time, two large ice cones materialized.

Both attacks simultaneously struck the two, immediately repelling them.

“Where did the other person go?”

These four posed no threat to Xia Qi.

He was not only a mage but also a swordsman.

Even in close combat, he would not be inferior in the slightest.

However, the disappearance of this fifth person immediately put Xia Qi on alert.

Biu!

A crisp sound, accompanied by a whoosh of air, came.

A bullet emitting a red light flew rapidly towards Xia Qi.

Xia Qi immediately blocked with his sword, and the two collided, emitting a crisp sound.

“Still a little off.”

In the distance, a sniper immediately got up and changed his position.

Xia Qi looked in the direction the bullet came from but didn't see the opponent.

It seemed this open terrain gave the opponent an opportunity to use ultra-long-range attacks.

Based on the previous attack, the opponent was probably already a thousand meters away.

And the attacks of these four just now were to create opportunities and time for him.

The four attracted Xia Qi’s attention, making him unaware that the fifth person had disappeared from his sight.

It seemed this team was indeed much trickier.

The attack just now had considerable power; it was probably the main output of this team.

Xia Qi originally wanted to directly pursue the sniper, but the other four had already charged over.

There was no other way; Xia Qi could only engage them first.