57: Martial Arts Ranking Competition

Magic Martial University, Fringe Villa No. 4.

"Lin Yan has arrived."

Gong Ren spoke softly.

As those four words fell,

the hearts of the three different people in the living room trembled simultaneously.

"Mm."

Zuo Zhengqing squeezed his fists and gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment.

Zuo Zhu looked out the window toward Fringe Villa No. 1, biting her lip lightly.

Jing Pengtian's gaze swept over the others, a flash of complexity in his eyes.

He was about to see that soul-crushing big shot again.

Feeling the atmosphere turn heavy instantly, Gong Ren gave a light cough.

*Cough...*

"He was already in Villa No. 1, so if he wants to fight tomorrow, he'll have to start from the Outer Perimeter villas."

"We don't need to worry about him too much."

Silence. Only silence followed.

No one knew how much time had passed.

Zuo Zhu spoke softly.

"Then... can he fight his way into the Core villas?"

The three men turned their heads slightly.

Zuo Zhengqing, who knew his sister best, keenly captured the anticipation deep in her eyes.

He squeezed his fists again.

It was just as the Family had said.

His little sister had very likely fallen for that kid.

Gong Ren shook his head.

"How could that be possible?"

"No matter how ridiculous he is, there's a limit."

"At the very most, let's say his cultivation broke through to the ninth level of the Third Realm, and add his terrifying ability to fight above his rank."

"In my opinion,"

"the highest he can reach is around 45th on the martial ranking list, which would be the last few houses of the Outer Perimeter villas."

He paused.

"And all of this is based on the premise that he has a ninth-level Third Realm cultivation, which has an almost zero probability."

"You have to understand, the further along your cultivation is, the harder it is to break through."

"The whole country already reached a conclusion about how he managed to break through so many levels in a few days back then."

"It was the accumulated volume from his Acquired Awakening."

"I'm making this judgment based on that as well."

"By now, that reserve of his must have been used up."

Zuo Zhengqing nodded slightly.

"Gong Ren's assessment is very objective."

Zuo Zhu seemed not to have heard him, whispering softly to herself.

"He hits so hard; Sister Yi will definitely be seriously injured by him."

"But it should be fine."

"After all, it's a Heavenly Extreme Family; they have plenty of healing medicine."

Wait, no!

Gong Ren's mouth hung slightly open.

So after all that analysis I just did, you didn't listen to a single word, did you?

Zuo Zhengqing's heart stung as he clenched his fists for the third time.

He suddenly thought about how he might have to face Lin Yan's handsome face at Family dinners in the future.

"Big Brother-in-law, I hit a bit too hard last time."

"Try drawing your sword again this time; I promise I'll let you pull it out."

No way!!

I must find a way to nip this in the bud!

"Cough... um..."

Jing Pengtian spoke up cautiously.

"I remember that King Rank battle that shook Magic City half a month ago."

"Someone saw Lin Yan on that street."

"Is it possible..."

"...that we should raise the estimated value of his cultivation a bit?"

"Fourth Realm?"

Zuo Zhengqing whipped his head around.

"Impossible!"

Gong Ren glanced at him.

"That incident has already been investigated."

"You don't know the inside story, and it's not our place to say."

"Lin Yan was only there because he was having New Year's Eve dinner with Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan."

The Dark Cultist Throne appeared.

The Black Ice Chief Commander repelled them.

Although the reason for the battle was unknown,

judging from the observations made by the Family elders after reaching the scene, the fluctuations were all from clashes between high-ranks and Heavenly Extremes. It had absolutely nothing to do with Lin Yan.

To take it a step further, even if the Dark Cultist Throne had come for Lin Yan, he would have been taken away immediately.

In a battle of that level, would he even dare to watch from the sidelines?

The Jing Family was just a second-rate Family; they didn't even know what Black Ice and Dark Cultists were, so how could they understand what happened that day?

Jing Pengtian gave a sheepish laugh.

"I was just speaking off the top of my head."

"Don't take it seriously."

He had heard his father, who happened to be nearby that day, come back and say he saw a blurred young figure with four pulses of light flashing away, which was very likely Lin Yan.

Anyway, he had said what he needed to say.

At worst, he'd just be proven wrong and crushed again.

It didn't matter.

He was already used to it.

He had come here with a 'salted fish' slacker mentality anyway.

Thinking of this,

Jing Pengtian glanced at the three of them.

Forget Zuo Zhu.

But you two are also just 'salted fish' compared to those on the martial ranking list, yet here you are worrying about others... Fringe Villa No. 1.

"Oh."

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow.

"So,"

"this so-called Freshman Grand Competition is basically just a house-grabbing game?"

Lian Chuan nodded.

"That's pretty much it, Brother Yan."

"The fifty villas in the Core, Inner Circle, and Outer Perimeter are originally the residences for the fifty people on the school's martial ranking list."

"Only the twenty-odd Fringe villas were newly built for this Spirit Pool event."

Xue Cheng added,

"The Battle for the martial ranking list is an old tradition at Magic Martial."

"It happens once every three months."

"And it lasts for three days each time."

"It's essentially like a quarterly exam."

Lin Yan nodded.

"Understood."

He stood up and stretched lazily.

"Then let's find a place to grab a bite."

"We'll have to start working early tomorrow morning."

Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan looked at each other.

"Let's go to that place from last time."

"You didn't even get to eat then, Brother Yan."

"It's fine, anywhere works."

The three of them walked out of the villa.

"By the way, Brother Yan."

"What's your current cultivation level?"

"Not high, just sixth level of the Fourth Realm."

"Oh, wait, what?!"

...The start of the semester for universities nationwide was the same. The top sixty-four of the Freshman Grand Competition and the screened Prodigies from various schools all arrived at the one of The Four Great Ones belonging to their respective regions on the same day.

Of course,

Magic Martial University, where Lin Yan was, was the place where most eyes were focused.

Many people wanted to see what kind of strength that terrifying Yama from the Freshman Grand Competition would have after the winter break.

They wondered if he could already show his edge as the leader of the Golden Age in front of the graduating Prodigies of The Four Great Ones.

Time passed amidst various expectations.

The next morning, at eight o'clock.

*Dong... Dong...*

At Magic Martial University, the bell rang loudly.

Everyone looked toward the landmark building, the Martial Pavilion.

"martial ranking list, open!"

Ping Cang, the president of Magic Martial University, stood atop the Martial Pavilion with a solemn expression.

*Boom!*

A golden, glittering ranking list crashed down outside the Martial Pavilion.

"Outer Perimeter Arenas, activate!"

In front of the twenty Outer Perimeter villas,

twenty arenas suddenly appeared.

"The competition begins!!"

"Roar!"

The densely packed Magic Martial University students who had been kept outside could no longer wait and charged frantically toward the Martial Ranking villa area.

*Beep beep...*

Fringe Villa No. 1.

A figure walked out of the gate, stretching lazily.

"Brother Yan!"

Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan immediately looked up.

Lin Yan glanced at the list hanging high outside the Martial Pavilion, a smile playing on his lips.

As expected of Magic Martial, one of the Dragon Country's Four Great Ones.

Just this atmosphere alone is enough to get one excited.

"Let's get to work!"

He stepped toward the Outer Perimeter villas.

"You got it!"

Xue Cheng and Lian Chuan followed immediately.

The sounds of doors opening echoed from the Fringe villas simultaneously.

Figures walked out one after another, looking at the three retreating backs.

Coincidentally,

they all chose to step forward and follow.

"The word has been put out,"

Gong Ren said.

"No matter which villa he chooses to take down,"

"someone will be there to teach him a lesson."

Zuo Zhengqing glanced out of the corner of his eye at Zuo Zhu, who was about to approach.

"Mm."

He didn't say anything more.