29: Step on the sword hilt

"Hello, everyone."

"Welcome to Day Two of the Dragon Nation's Freshman Grand Competition in the year 888 of the New Calendar."

"That is to say, today."

"The strongest freshman of the first year of this golden age will be decided right here."

"Will it be our top college entrance exam scorer, Gu Chen, the second-ranked Magic Martial's Zuo Zhengqing, or perhaps the Young King, Lin Yan?"

"We shall wait and see."

The lounge, which was crowded with people yesterday afternoon,

was now somewhat empty.

Eight figures stood in three small groups, looking down at the fiercely contested round of sixty-four matches below.

"Brother Yan."

"Those two from your school are really lucky; they both made it into the top sixty-four."

Lin Yan smiled.

"All thanks to you two taking care of them yesterday."

"But that's as far as it goes."

Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan smiled along without saying anything.

At this point,

with fewer and fewer people left, they had a good grasp of their opponents' strength.

So, the progress of the Grand Competition became faster and faster.

In just over an hour,

the other eight contestants for the round of sixteen were already decided.

"Let's go."

"It's our turn now!"

Lin Yan turned around.

Finish early, leave early... The referee panel exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

"Quarter-finals."

"Begin."

"Haotian! Haotian! Charge forward!!"

Lin Yan stood quietly on the arena.

Across from him,

a youth held a battle saber, his eyes tense.

To be honest,

reaching the top sixteen had already met his personal goal, and he had thought about forfeiting directly for the next round.

But after seeing the match-up list, he couldn't resist the temptation of sharing the stage with his idol.

So, he came up.

"What's going on with Lin Yan?"

"Gu Chen has already defeated his opponent, but he's still not moving."

"Does he know that fair-skinned, clean-cut young man across from him?"

Lin Yan, who hadn't even taken out his heavenly emperor halberd, was puzzled.

Why wasn't this guy making a Move?

He wanted to warm up a bit.

Since that's the case,

then let's just finish it directly.

Lin Yan stepped forward.

His body instantly left afterimages.

A sharp fist wind rushed towards the youth's face.

The youth's expression changed.

"Wait!"

He threw away the battle saber in his hand.

"I just want to take a photo with you!!!"

Boom——!

A gust of wind stirred his short hair.

The youth glanced at the fist almost touching his forehead and swallowed hard.

A wry, amused expression appeared on Lin Yan's face.

"Come on then."

He retracted his fist.

The youth's face lit up with joy.

Click! Click! Click!

"Yan Wang, you must win the championship!"

After this flurry of unexpected actions, he directly jumped down from the arena.

"Lin Yan, advances."

The referee signaled with his eyes.

Lin Yan jumped down from the arena, a hint of bewilderment in his eyes.

Yan Wang? Flame King?

When did he get such a nickname?

The birth of the quarter-finalists was extremely fast.

The audience had obviously anticipated this.

There was no helping it.

Their overwhelming strength in sweeping their groups destined these eight to be the main characters of this Grand Competition.

"Half an hour rest..."

Before the referee panel's announcement could finish,

"I have a suggestion."

"How about we just fight directly?"

Lin Yan swept his gaze over the several contestants whose auras were calm.

The referee panel's expressions froze.

Damn it, you're at it again!

"Pfft!"

"Hahaha!"

"Really can't hold it in."

"Yan Wang and his hot temper."

"He always seems to be in a hurry."

The audience roared with laughter.

"He understands live streaming."

"Knowing we were just getting bored, he jumps right into the action."

The referee panel asked helplessly.

"Do any of the other contestants have objections?"

No one spoke.

The few contestants were already eager and ready.

The referee panel didn't dawdle either.

"Upper bracket."

"Lin Yan vs. Zuo Zhengqing."

"Lower bracket."

"Gu Chen vs. Gong Ren."

"Contestants, please take the arena."

The audience sat up slightly straighter.

"Here it comes."

"No surprises on Gu Chen's side; Gong Ren is no match for him."

"It all depends on Lin Yan and Zuo Zhengqing."

"An absolutely spectacular match."

"Seed number two versus seed number three."

"One of them is definitely falling in the quarter-finals."

"Just thinking about it is thrilling."

Lin Yan and Zuo Zhengqing stepped onto the arena simultaneously.

In the spectator stands,

Jing Pengtian clenched his fist.

Brother Qing, beat him to death!

Zuo Zhu's gaze shifted back and forth between the two, and she bit her lip.

What to do?

How about you just forfeit, brother?

Duan Tiancheng's eyes were full of anticipation.

If he didn't know that Lin Yan had broken through again, he wouldn't think much of it.

But now that he knew,

he just wanted to say:

Kid,

get past this hurdle,

and what's left is that Gu Chen.

His expression froze.

Wait!

What's with this kid?

Under the gaze of thousands,

Bingbing, the live commentator, spoke rapidly.

"We can see."

"Zuo Zhengqing has stepped onto the arena holding his treasured sword."

"Audiences familiar with him know."

"During the college entrance exam when he faced Gu Chen, he had the same look."

"Clearly."

"He takes this match very seriously."

"Now."

"Looking at Lin Yan's side."

"He stands quietly, his eyes calm."

"His hands are in his..."

Bingbing's expression paused.

"Hands in his pockets?"

"No way! Bro!"

"Yan Wang is way too arrogant!"

"Hands in his pockets, what kind of Move is that?"

"Zuo Zhengqing is holding a spirit weapon."

"Where's Yan Wang's Square Sky Halberd? Take it out!"

"Don't be careless, this is Zuo Zhengqing we're talking about."

What does he mean by this?

A slight chill flickered in Zuo Zhengqing's eyes.

Looking down on me?

The referee scanned both of them.

"Contestants, get ready."

Zuo Zhengqing's right hand slowly moved towards his sword hilt.

Lin Yan remained with his hands in his pockets, his gaze calm.

"Begin!"

As the sound fell,

Zuo Zhengqing's eyes instantly turned sharp.

No matter what you're trying to do,

today, you will definitely fall.

His right hand pressed the sword hilt, about to draw it.

Bang——!

A violent sound erupted from the arena.

What!

Zuo Zhengqing's expression changed slightly.

So fast!!

Clang——!

Tap——!

Two sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

The first, the sword being drawn from its scabbard.

The second, the sword being sheathed back.

"You...!"

Zuo Zhengqing stared at the calm eyes mere inches away, his furious gaze tinged with shock.

"Whoa~!"

Both the audience inside the venue and those watching the livestream gasped in unison, leaning forward involuntarily.

In their eyes,

they only saw Lin Yan take one explosive step and instantly appear in front of Zuo Zhengqing, who was drawing his sword.

And then,

Zuo Zhengqing had just drawn his sword halfway when Lin Yan stepped on it, forcing it back in.

The scene now presented before them was exactly that.

Lin Yan still had his hands in his pockets, his left foot planted on the ground to steady himself, his right foot firmly planted on the hilt of the treasured sword held in Zuo Zhengqing's right hand.

"Crazy!"

"That's absolutely insane!"

"Damn!"

Lian Chuan below the arena waved his arms excitedly.

"Brother Yan is awesome!!"

What method could be more simple, brutal, and utterly demoralizing than this?

"Zuo Zhengqing, draw your sword!"

Xue Cheng's face was also flushed red.

Brother Yan is so strong!!

Ning Lingyao and Ye Congshuang, also waiting for their matches, changed their expressions.

He's this strong?

Was he holding back during the preliminaries?