20: lone survivor tactic

"Brother."

Zuo Zhu tightly grabbed Zuo Zhengqing's arm, her voice carrying a hint of pleading.

Zuo Zhengqing turned to glance at his sister, who was shaking her head at him. His gaze shifted from Duan Tiancheng and finally settled on the calm-eyed Lin Yan, his tone cold.

"I hope your strength is as tough as your mouth."

After saying this, he turned and left immediately.

Several people from Magic Martial University glared fiercely at Lin Yan, Xue Cheng, and Lian Chuan before following him.

"You..." Jing Pengtian looked at Zuo Zhu, his Face full of disbelief.

Why on earth would you help that kid?!

Just because he kicked you in the chest?

Then what about me, who chased after you for three years in high School?

Facing his gaze, Zuo Zhu chose to ignore him directly.

She lifted her pretty Face slightly, stole a glance at Lin Yan, and immediately lowered her head again.

A trace of regret flashed in Jing Anxiang's eyes.

"Hahaha."

"As expected of the Young King!"

"Let's go, Old Duan."

He led the group from Anyi University away.

What a pity, what a pity.

Lin Yan watched them leave reluctantly.

Over the past few days.

He had already figured out the System's criteria.

The scale of the scene accounted for a certain proportion, followed by the opponent's level, the influence of the battle, and so on.

Regardless.

The most important thing was to take action!

Just talking trash like this wouldn't work.

This was a violent System.

And this Grade 2, Level 8 Zuo Zhengqing, along with the others from Magic Martial University, were excellent targets.

That's right, it wasn't Grade 2, Level 7 as Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan had said, but Level 8.

Such a good opportunity to harvest the overbearing charge values was missed just like that.

Don't novels always write about how mentally challenged these Family scions are?

Did he open the wrong script?

And what's with that girl?

I kicked you, hey!

You could still hold your brother back after that?

Was I too light-handed last time?

Duan Tiancheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He looked at Lin Yan and paused.

Wait!

What's with that look of regret on your Face, kid?

"Hmph!"

"Consider him lucky he ran fast."

Lian Chuan clenched his fists.

"Otherwise, I'd have beaten them to death."

Xue Cheng's expression was cold.

"Let's go."

"When we meet in the Grand Competition, just beat them to death."

Lin Yan's tone was calm.

"Yeah."

"Cheng Zi and I have been unable to stand them for a long time."

Wait!

Duan Tiancheng looked at the three walking toward the elevator.

Are you three brothers bandits?

Where does your confidence come from? Do you even have the strength?

He led the group from Haotian University to follow.

Yuan Cheng and the others, who were following obediently, glanced at each other.

Too arrogant.

Before the Grand Competition even started, they had already offended Magic Martial, one of The Four Great Ones.

They hadn't even dared to speak under Zuo Zhengqing's intense pressure earlier.

This is the Young King?

The group entered the elevator in silence.

Duan Tiancheng glanced at the people heading to their respective rooms, his gaze shifting to Lin Yan's back.

"Come to my room for a moment."

Lin Yan didn't even turn his head.

"Cheng Zi and Chuan Zi are with me."

"No time."

He's going to preach again.

Like hell I'm going.

You...!

Duan Tiancheng's breath hitched.

This kid.

His eyes were helpless.

If the path is too smooth, things are bound to go wrong... The night passed in silence.

Early the next morning.

At the hotel entrance.

"Old Duan."

"Good luck."

"Hahaha!"

"We're heading out first."

Duan Tiancheng watched Anyi University's large bus depart, his Face grim.

"Brother Yan!"

"See you this afternoon!"

Lin Yan nodded.

"See you this afternoon."

He watched as Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan boarded the Magic Martial University shuttle.

Several Magic Martial freshmen he had seen yesterday walked past slowly, their expressions mocking.

"Good luck."

"In this afternoon's Knockout Rounds at the Main Arena, I hope we don't fail to see our great Young King."

"Hahaha!"

Lin Yan's expression remained calm from beginning to end.

"Wash your dog necks clean!"

The group looked angry.

"Hmph."

But none of them said anything more.

Go ahead and be arrogant!

Keep being arrogant!

Let's see how you embarrass yourself in front of the whole country later.

Zuo Zhengqing's cold eyes swept a glance through the car window.

"Is this the Lin Yan you mentioned yesterday?"

An interested voice came from beside him.

A rather handsome youth looked out the car window.

The number two figure among Magic Martial University's freshmen, Gong Ren.

Zuo Zhengqing didn't even turn his head.

"Yeah."

Gong Ren withdrew his gaze.

"To be able to make our Young Master Zuo suffer a setback, interesting."

Zuo Zhengqing's tone was indifferent.

"Just an arrogant person who thinks an Acquired Awakening allows him to challenge our level."

"If I hadn't given Face to Duan Tiancheng yesterday."

"I would have long since made him Face reality."

"Talent doesn't represent everything."

And that sister of his, who had been obedient since childhood—what was with her yesterday?

He wanted to stand up for her, yet she actually hindered him.

Gong Ren smiled.

Just as Zuo Zhengqing said.

In this era, although talent is important, it's not the only thing.

One must have resources, and even more so, a background.

There are plenty of geniuses who die young.

And even more geniuses who run out of steam.

The Magic Martial University shuttle drove away.

The Haotian University shuttle arrived.

After boarding, Duan Tiancheng glanced at everyone and spoke in a deep voice.

"Everyone should already know the results of last night's draw."

The group of School Leaders looked solemn.

Yuan Cheng and the others lowered their heads slightly, their expressions bitter.

Luck was truly against them.

Only Lin Yan still had an expression as if his mind were wandering in the clouds.

"That's right."

"We are in the same Audition venue as Jiangwu University and Chuanwu University."

Dammit.

Duan Tiancheng cursed inwardly.

Ten Audition venues.

For Jiangwu and Chuanwu, those two rivals, to be drawn together is already a once-in-a-century occurrence.

Why the hell were they put in there too?

I clearly bathed and burned incense yesterday.

All the rituals were performed perfectly.

F*ck.

"Although this opening is very unfavorable for us."

"But don't feel pressured."

"Given the grudge between Jiangwu and Chuanwu, they will definitely come to blows."

"As long as we find the right timing and opportunity, there's still a chance."

As he said this.

Even Duan Tiancheng felt he lacked confidence.

Audition rules.

Each venue has twenty rings, with twenty people advancing.

Each advancing contestant must fight on the ring until only one person remains.

Just thinking about the pressure is suffocating.

Now, the only hope is to pin everything on that kid.

With his strength, if he plays it a bit safe, the chances are still quite good.

His gaze shifted to Lin Yan, who was quietly admiring the scenery outside the window, and his mouth twitched.

Damn!

As a principal, I'm here every day motivating everyone, and it turns out you haven't listened to a single word, have you?

*Slap!*

Duan Tiancheng slapped the head of the Vice Principal, who was clapping.

"You do it!"

Then he plopped down into his seat.

Huh?

The Vice Principal was stunned.

Do what?

Although he didn't understand, he had a trick.

"Alright."

He turned and patted Brother Quan on the shoulder.

"Little Quan, you do it."

Huh?

Brother Quan was bewildered.

What am I supposed to do?

At that moment.

A faint voice rang out inside the shuttle.

"In these Audition rules, there should be a way to help others advance, right?"

Help?

What help?

Everyone's gaze turned toward Lin Yan, who had turned his head.

Duan Tiancheng, who had been listening intently, his eyes flickered.

Good kid!

He discovered the unspoken rules of the Auditions so quickly.

He stood up again.

"Yes."

"All participants from one School board the same ring."

"When the two hours are almost up, leave one person to advance!"

"This is an unspoken rule that has always existed in the Grand Competition."

"The purpose is also to demonstrate a School's ability to unite."

"But generally, unless absolutely necessary, no one does this."

"Because this tactic has a very cruel name."

"The Lone Seed Tactic."

The shuttle suddenly went silent.

Yuan Cheng and the others glanced at each other.

They soon understood what this meant.

They glanced at Lin Yan and gritted their teeth.

"Principal!"

"For the School's honor."

"We are willing to help Student Lin Yan secure an advancement spot."

Duan Tiancheng sighed inwardly.

This was why he clearly knew but hadn't said anything.

He was the principal; it wasn't appropriate for him to suggest it.

The same went for the School Leaders.

But if a student asked.

They could answer.

This is what makes a qualified teacher—being fair and just to the School's students.

Lin Yan looked back out the window and said nothing.

Doing all this... he just thought that a flashy move would probably result in a higher index than a boring advancement judgment.