27: Straight into the Round of 16

Everyone in front of the various arenas looked up.

The personnel in the spectator stands of each school also narrowed their eyes slightly.

A change in the rules?

The referee panel's voice continued.

"The number of qualifiers from the group stage remains unchanged."

"It's still the top eight by points who advance."

"However."

"The top scorer in each group advances directly to the top 16."

Oh?

Everyone raised an eyebrow.

Group first place, straight to the top 16.

Their gazes, intentionally or not, swept over a few individuals within the various arenas, a gleam of light flashing in their eyes.

This must be a special convenient passage opened just for them.

It's actually quite reasonable.

For those top-ranked on the seeded players list, participating in the top 64 matches really holds no suspense.

It also gives others one more path.

The strong should have the treatment befitting the strong.

Acceptable.

A smile appeared on Lin Yan's face.

He could leave after finishing his fight later.

"Any questions?"

The referee panel asked the competitors.

Silence.

Clearly.

Everyone supported this rule change.

"Good."

"Then..."

At that moment.

A faint voice rang out.

"I have a request."

Whoosh—!

Several million pairs of eyes in the entire venue and all the viewers watching the live stream simultaneously looked at the black-clothed figure in front of Arena A.

Lin Yan.

What was he planning?

The referee panel spoke.

"Speak."

In the spectator stands, Duan Tiancheng rubbed the space between his eyebrows.

Stirring up trouble.

This kid was about to stir up trouble again.

Lin Yan wore a smile.

"Everyone's time is precious."

"I won't bother taking turns getting on the arena here."

"I'll just fight all 24 of them at once, settle it in one go."

The referee panel's expressions froze.

The audience in the venue and those watching the live stream burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

"Truly our Young King, just as arrogant as ever!"

"Look at the referees' expressions, he just overloaded their CPUs, didn't he?"

"How could it not overload?"

"The Freshman Grand Competition has continued for so many years, and no one has ever made such an 'unreasonable' request during the group stage."

"Only Lin Yan."

"Can't be helped, he truly has the strength for it."

"The kings road is all about picking the biggest fights; he fought one against twenty during the preliminaries too."

"He's strong, he deserves to be arrogant."

The referee panel discussed in low voices.

This kid.

The rule change was originally for the few of you.

Now look.

You're directly escalating things, wanting to take on the whole group at once, is that it?

And 'time is precious'.

Which one of us looks like we're short on time?

The faces of the 24 people in Group A's arena turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Especially the members of The Four Great Ones among them, who felt even more indignant.

So what if you're strong?

One against twenty-four, why don't you just fly up to the heavens!

Damn it.

The referee panel better not agree.

If they agree, they would have no choice but to... forfeit directly.

Gu Chen in front of Group C curled the corner of his mouth.

Interesting.

"Referees."

"I have the same request."

The hesitant referee panel's expressions froze once more.

Another one.

Why are the competitors in this year's Grand Competition so difficult to manage!

"Hahaha."

"Gu Chen has joined in too!"

"Hard to hold back."

"They'll probably have to agree."

"Who would have thought."

"The serious group stage atmosphere has directly turned into a comedy."

"Can't be helped."

"These two lords truly have the strength for it."

"Speaking of which."

"What about Zuo Zhengqing in second place, and the ones behind him, Ning Lingyao, Ye Congshuang, Gong Ren?"

"Will they all challenge their entire groups?"

"That should be quite a spectacle."

"Indeed."

Group B Arena.

Zuo Zhengqing's eyes only hesitated for an instant.

"Referees."

"I also hope to finish earlier."

If that Lin Yan dares, why shouldn't he!

If they're going to show off, then let's all show off!

"Hah!"

"Here it comes, here it comes!"

"Zuo Zhengqing has joined in too!"

"They're all young Prodigies, no reason to back down!"

The referee panel's eyes were helpless.

Then what more was there to say.

"Agreed."

"Are there any other competitors in the remaining arena groups with this request?"

"A reminder."

"If the challenge fails, you will be directly ranked last in your group."

Facing numerous gazes.

Ning Lingyao and Ye Congshuang did not hesitate in the slightest.

"Me!"

Gong Ren from Group H rubbed his nose.

"I'll join in too."

The audience cheered.

"Spectacular! Spectacular!"

"The top six seeded players have all spoken!"

"Which groups still have no one speaking up?"

"D and F!"

"These two groups have seeded playe..."

"Me!"

A cold, stern voice came from the middle of Group D.

"And me!"

A loud voice simultaneously came from Group F.

Huh?

Everyone's expressions paused.

Even the referee panel cast surprised glances.

"Who are these two?"

"Look at their uniforms, they're from Magic Martial University."

"Found them."

"Xue Cheng, Lian Chuan."

"Their rankings aren't high."

"They're clearly getting carried away."

"The faces of several people in their groups with slightly higher rankings darkened."

"There's a good show to watch."

These two... Zuo Zhengqing and Gong Ren frowned slightly.

Gu Chen's eyes held a thoughtful look.

Lin Yan's expression remained calm.

He had already checked the personnel in those two groups earlier.

With those two guys' invincible strength at the second stage, eighth level, it shouldn't be a problem.

The referee panel withdrew their gazes.

Since they made their choice, they would bear the consequences themselves.

"Agreed."

"Competitors, step onto the arena."

Lin Yan took a step.

But he had only just taken half a step.

"I forfeit!"

"Forfeit!"

"I forfeit too!"

A chorus of forfeit cries erupted from Group A.

"Pfft!"

"Hahaha!"

All the spectators were amused.

"Wise!"

"This is called knowing what's good for you."

"Rather than risk getting crippled on the arena, it's better to set their sights on the remaining qualification spots."

It wasn't just Group A.

Over at Gu Chen's Group C.

A chorus of forfeit cries also sounded simultaneously.

Zuo Zhengqing, who had stepped onto the arena, had a gloomy face.

The expressions of Ning Lingyao and Ye Congshuang on the other two arenas also weren't too good.

What's the meaning of this?

Forget about Gu Chen's group.

You forfeit against Lin Yan too.

So you're not afraid of us, is that it?

They had all overlooked one blind spot.

Just this morning.

Lin Yan already had a solid record of one against twenty.

So while these people also feared them.

They weren't *that* afraid.

Only Gong Ren, Xue Cheng, and Lian Chuan showed no change in expression.

Xue Cheng and the other one aside.

Gong Ren's ranking was originally behind theirs, and there were also some experts from The Four Great Ones in his group, so naturally, they wouldn't be scared.

They were even already discussing how to coordinate a Siege (siege/group attack).

The referee panel rubbed the space between their eyebrows.

What a disaster.

"Lin Yan from Group A, Gu Chen from Group C, group first place, advance to the top 16."

"Both groups begin the rotational arena point battles."

Seems a bit too fast.

Lin Yan glanced at the other arenas preparing for major battles, then looked at the System as he walked towards the Competitor Passageway.

[An Overlord naturally subdues others without fighting. The Host intimidated his group, easily advancing to the top 16. domineering index: two stars. charge value: 40%]

His steps halted, and a smile appeared on his face.

So even this kind of indirect action could be considered an Overbearing event.

That's fine then.

He thought he wouldn't get any charge value this time.

Total 112% now, not bad.

"Make way."

"Quickly clear a spot."

Duan Tiancheng kept shouting.

"Come."

"Sit here."

Like serving a Buddha, he carefully ushered Lin Yan to sit beside him, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

Look.

Under so many gazes, his expression remains as calm as still water.

What excellent troublemaking quality.