Chapter 116: Sweeping
On the circular stone steps.
Jiang Jian sat cross-legged on the ground, raised his head, and gazed at the holographic giant screen.
“Some combat teams are indeed very strong.”
Several small screens had high popularity, drawing immense attention, and were placed at the very top of the holographic giant screen.
Hanjiang Team, Invincible Team.
Both were the top-tier combat teams within Hanjiang Prefecture.
Meanwhile, the Exorcism Team, the Class Dismissed Team, and others were Level 4 Talent teams.
Slightly weaker than the other two, but they still had massive support.
In contrast, Linjiang Prefecture.
Only four combat teams possessed Level 4 Talent.
Each team had only one Level 4 Talent member.
The foundational disparity between the two prefectures was glaringly obvious.
“Combat team matches carry a very high weight.”
At the highest ledge of the Water Cliff, on the prefectural office’s exclusive balcony, someone sighed, “It’s a pity—we have little hope.”
“We can only watch the second- and third-year teams’ performances now.”
Along the balcony’s edge, luxurious seats were tightly packed in a single row.
Prefectural officials watched the matches while whispering to each other, all wearing expressions of regret.
From the perspective of the Linjiang Prefectural Office.
The first-year combat team matches had already been lost.
Suddenly.
A prefectural official frowned, swiped his identity device, and checked the surveillance feed.
His gaze landed on the circular stone steps in Zone 9.
“Why is he alone?”
The official looked puzzled and opened Jiang Jian’s profile.
The next second.
The official’s pupils contracted. “Jiang Jian’s combat team has only himself as a member?”
“And he already won his first round!”
He immediately pulled up the replay and carefully watched the recorded battle.
“Send someone!”
A few seconds later, the official’s expression was a mix of shock and complexity as he softly ordered.
Someone immediately approached: “Deputy Prefect.”
The Deputy Prefect’s expression turned solemn. He tapped his identity device. “You have ten minutes to get me all background information on this student!”
“Yes.”
The man bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Zone 9.
The large circular stone steps.
“First round, concluded.”
“Second round: ten thousand combat teams advance to one thousand.”
“Remaining preparation time: 300 seconds.”
As all battle scenes on the holographic giant screen ended.
The cold voice came again from the identity device.
Around Jiang Jian, the wide stone steps had far fewer people.
Many bore wounds, large and small.
“Hurry and recover!”
“Give me a healing spell!”
“Help me restore my Qi!”
“Quickly meditate, or you won’t have time!”
Many scrambled frantically to restore their condition.
Between the first and second rounds.
The preparation time was short.
It heavily tested combat team composition and members’ cultivation foundations.
Meanwhile.
The detailed rules for the second round appeared on the identity device.
“Water Cliff’s Edge: arena fully open!”
“Ten thousand combat teams collect Water Spirits to compete for points!”
“The holographic giant screen will display the real-time point leaderboard!”
“After three hours.”
“The top one thousand by points advance!”
“The rest will be ranked by team point totals, and eliminated!”
……
The notification ended.
The remaining tens of thousands of freshmen, upon seeing the rules, erupted in uproar!
“How come the second round is about collecting Water Spirits?!”
“We’re done!”
“Under these rules, one misstep means being swarmed and instantly eliminated!”
“This is too hard!”
“Out of ten thousand combat teams, only the top one thousand advance?”
“Only elite teams can advance!”
……
Combat teams with weaker strength wore grim expressions.
More teams began carefully discussing and strategizing.
“Remaining preparation time: 10 seconds.”
“Enter the Step Array immediately.”
“Teleportation locations are random.”
As time neared, the notification sounded again.
The great Water Cliff array had fully activated.
Jiang Jian, holding Hanguang, stepped into the Step Array.
“Second round, now begins!”
The cold voice echoed above the Water Cliff.
Ten thousand Step Arrays rose into the air atop the massive circular stone steps.
Like streaks of light, they crossed through the sky.
Scattered across different locations on the Water Cliff’s Edge.
“Water Spirits collected: 0.”
The identity device clearly notified him.
Jiang Jian stepped out of the Step Array; the array behind him dissolved into light.
“Here, at the forest’s edge.”
Jiang Jian raised his head, glanced at the map, and instantly confirmed his location.
The holographic giant screen displayed a vast map.
Within it.
There were forests, cliffs, seawater, and land.
The complete holographic map of the Water Cliff’s Edge.
On the map.
Ten thousand bright dots spread across it, constantly moving rapidly.
Each dot represented a combat team.
Besides the combat teams.
There were tens of thousands of deep blue dots, fixed in place.
Each deep blue dot was a Water Spirit!
“One hundred meters ahead, there’s a Water Spirit.”
Jiang Jian scanned the map, memorizing the Water Spirit distribution.
The surrounding Qi surged, propelling him forward.
"Water spirits collected: 1."
Jiang Jian stopped walking, his identity device emitting a faint glow.
A few seconds later, the water spirit rose from the ground and floated behind Jiang Jian.
Meanwhile.
On the map, the light dot representing Jiang Jian grew slightly darker.
"This is too slow."
Jiang Jian frowned.
The next instant.
He lifted his gaze.
He looked toward the light dots near him, darkening rapidly.
This meant.
These combat teams were collecting water spirits at breakneck speed.
"That light dot is brighter."
Jiang Jian spotted his target and moved left.
A strong wind began to rise.
From deep within the forest came a rustling sound.
"Twelve already!"
The girl exhaled, secured another water spirit, tossed it behind her, her face beaming with joy.
Around her, several others were also gathering water spirits.
But the water spirits they collected also floated behind the girl.
In every combat team, the captain was the keeper of the points.
BOOM!
A brilliant white sword light slammed directly into her!
The girl had no time to react—she flew backward like a puppet with severed strings!
Cracks of shattered light appeared; her sturdy life-protection barrier exploded into fragments!
The next instant, she was engulfed by the Xingti Array and teleported away.
The twelve water spirits behind her remained where they were!
Jiang Jian landed and activated his identity device.
A moment passed.
Twelve water spirits now floated behind Jiang Jian.
"Water spirits collected: 13."
Seeing this.
Several others nearby were enraged, eyes blazing!
"Where's Man Man?"
"She was eliminated!"
"They stole our water spirits!"
"Die!"
Their eyes turned blood-red; they leapt into the air and charged toward Jiang Jian!
Jiang Jian lightly swept his dark robe sleeve; hundreds of tiny sword qi surged upward.
Qingshuang Sword Array!
Countless fine sword lights lashed violently against the group!
CRACK!
Four life-protection barriers exploded in rapid succession!
This combat team was immediately eliminated!
Jiang Jian did not pause, glancing at the map.
He continued toward his next target.
The direction he headed had an extremely dense concentration of light dots.
Roughly speaking, at least a dozen combat teams!
"Let's split these water spirits evenly among us."
On the lake shore, one captain surveyed the area and spoke gravely.
Here was a clear lake.
Around the pavilion in the water floated hundreds of water spirits!
Another captain spoke up: "I agree."
"Agreed."
"I have no objections."
Words were spoken.
But not a single combat team dared to approach the pavilion first.
Whoever collected first would become the target of all.
"I'll go first!"
A few seconds later, a captain boldly declared, leading his team onto the stone bridge.
The pavilion stood at the center of the lake.
Four stone bridges led to it.
The other combat teams watched coldly, motionless.
"Collection successful!"
"Collection successful!"
Alert tones rang out continuously.
The captain’s face lit up with joy; he stood up, about to speak.
Multiple magical attacks struck from different directions at once!
CRACK!
The captain spat blood from the corner of his mouth, knelt halfway, face pale: "You broke your word!"
A sharp water arrow struck his leg squarely, shattering his shinbone!
No one answered him.
Dozens of combat teams plunged into chaos in an instant!
Roars echoed across the surroundings.
The previously calm lake qi became wildly turbulent!
Suddenly.
A white sword light, stretching several meters long, tore through several large trees and slashed straight into the crowd!
BOOM!
The sword qi was icy and razor-sharp.
It shattered numerous defensive techniques and slammed into several students!
CRACK!
CRACK!
The shattering sounds of life-protection barriers rang out one after another!
Most of the sword qi’s damage was absorbed by the life-protection barriers, causing them to shatter completely!
And when the life-protection barrier shattered, it meant elimination.
The Xingti Array descended, sweeping several together and hurling them away!
(End of Chapter)
End of Chapter
