Chapter 103: The New King Xu Jingming! The Academy

Xu Jingming hadn't even stepped down from the arena when he heard Song Qiuyun's voice ring out.

Immediately, a fragrant breeze swept over, and Song Qiuyun, clad in a fitted light ink-colored battle suit, leapt lightly onto the arena.

"You... you're also challenging me?"

Li Chengzhi, still dazed, was utterly stunned.

Yes, maybe I'm arrogant.

But I only made provocative gestures toward Xu Jingming—how did I end up drawing you in too?

Li Chengzhi hadn't recovered his wits, but the other freshmen below the arena had already sensed something odd.

Their gazes kept flicking back and forth between Xu Jingming and Song Qiuyun.

Something's up! There's definitely something going on between these two!

Especially some of the male students, seeing Song Qiuyun standing beside Xu Jingming.

Deep inside, they were seething with envy, teeth grinding so hard they felt like they'd shatter.

Yet to the surface, they could only offer Xu Jingming harmonious, friendly glances.

The precedent was right there—they couldn't afford to be careless...

"He hasn't recovered yet. Take it easy."

Xu Jingming wasn't particularly surprised by Song Qiuyun's sudden appearance.

He'd figured it out—she was a battle fanatic...

"Don't worry, I've got control. Go down. I'll handle this."

On Song Qiuyun's lovely face burned an excited battle spirit.

Challenging Li Chengzhi was partly because his provocative gestures had annoyed her.

But also, she wanted to find an opponent of equal rank and have a real fight.

After all, this guy Xu Jingming was too monstrous.

Fighting him gave not a single shred of combat joy—only one-sided abuse.

And everyone else was too weak, so she'd come to Li Chengzhi.

Opposite her, Li Chengzhi, his entire body charred black from electricity, finally snapped back to awareness.

Holy crap, you two are playing tag with me?

But now his whole body ached, his skin scorched to at least eighty percent done.

Though his own formidable physique meant such injuries would heal in four or five days.

But he definitely couldn't fight now.

Song Qiuyun naturally noticed Li Chengzhi's poor condition, and smiled faintly:

"Don't worry—I'll fight you in an hour. Use this time to see a tutor from the Support Academy for treatment."

In the second phase of the Freshman Competition's free challenge matches, it's possible for one person to be challenged consecutively.

To prevent exploitation, the challenged are allowed to restore to full strength before the next challenge begins.

The Support Academy has at least six-rank tutors with healing abilities.

For injuries like this, they can be fully healed in under two minutes.

"Eva, is it permitted for tutors to treat students during the second phase of the Freshman Competition?"

To be safe, Song Qiuyun still confirmed.

"Yes." Eva nodded, her expression sweetly clueless.

As Qinghai Province's top-ranked student, Li Chengzhi had been knocked senseless by Xu Jingming.

But he knew Song Qiuyun was the same as him—Second Rank Lower Tier.

Once he recovered, who won or lost was still uncertain!

So, after a deep breath, Li Chengzhi replied:

"Fine. In an hour, I'll fight you!"

"Eva, take me for treatment."

Medical staff who had been waiting nearby rushed forward and carried the severely injured Li Chengzhi away.

With no major battle left to watch, the surrounding freshmen dispersed.

Song Qiuyun likewise leapt down from the arena.

Striding forward with her round, long legs, she came beside Xu Jingming, a mischievous smile on her face:

"Done. Just watch how I beat him up."

Xu Jingming smiled wryly at that.

He silently mourned for three seconds for the charred Li Chengzhi on the stretcher.

Having fought both Song Qiuyun and Li Chengzhi, he could clearly sense Song Qiuyun was stronger.

Li Chengzhi might have greater physical resilience, but he wielded a greatsword, and his sword technique proficiency was only intermediate.

But Song Qiuyun wielded a massive halberd, and her halberd technique reached advanced proficiency!

In close combat, Song Qiuyun was definitely stronger.

Moreover, Song Qiuyun mastered magical combat techniques—something Li Chengzhi couldn't match.

Xu Jingming could already picture the scene of Li Chengzhi being brutally beaten by Song Qiuyun.

Sure enough, when an hour passed,

Li Chengzhi, restored to full strength, stepped onto the arena with full confidence to face Song Qiuyun.

He was met with Song Qiuyun's one-sided domination!

His exquisite halberd techniques and endless light-based combat arts left him utterly overwhelmed.

Thus, in just ten minutes, Li Chengzhi was defeated again!

"The winner of this match is Song Qiuyun!"

Accompanied by the voice of the AI Eva.

Below the arena, the new students erupted once more in heated discussion.

"Song Qiuyun, who cultivates both physical and magical arts, is indeed stronger."

"Li Chengzhi's enhancement-type ability is inherently disadvantaged against natural-type abilities."

"Come to think of it, he's really unlucky—just got beaten up, healed up, and now he's been crushed into serious injury again."

"......"

The new students stared at the blood-soaked figure on the arena with strange expressions.

They had expected Li Chengzhi, who displayed astonishing power in the first round, to be this year's rookie king.

But no one anticipated that his peak came the moment he stepped onto the stage, followed by two consecutive crushing defeats.

Of course,

they knew it wasn't that Li Chengzhi wasn't strong enough—it was just that his two opponents were truly monstrous.

"Hey, why don't those two fight each other?"

Watching the distant figures of Xu Jingming and Song Qiuyun leaving together, one new student asked in confusion.

"Obviously, have you ever seen a couple who enjoy fighting each other? Besides, do you think Song Qiuyun can beat Xu Jingming?"

The new student beside him rolled his eyes.

"Oh right!"

The new student who had spoken earlier suddenly understood, nodding vigorously.

As the strongest first and second-place finishers,

Xu Jingming and Song Qiuyun, after fighting Li Chengzhi, fell into a state of idleness.

Meanwhile, Liu Wentao and Qi Dongxia were extremely busy—either challenging others or being challenged by them.

And all one hundred arenas on the field remained nearly perpetually full.

Thus, time swiftly passed.

At six p. m., four hours later, the second phase of the rookie competition officially ended.

All new students lined up in order according to their newly confirmed rankings on Field No. 3.

Xu Jingming, the strongest rookie and the rookie king, naturally stood at the very front of the line.

Behind him stood the slender, graceful Song Qiuyun.

The third place remained Li Chengzhi.

Notably, having seen Li Chengzhi defeated twice in a row, both times suffering serious injuries,

several of the top ten new students challenged him.

Li Chengzhi, already seething with suppressed rage, saw someone daring to come to him voluntarily.

He responded without mercy, crushing the challenger into serious injury and finally venting his anger.

Additionally, Qi Dongxia's ranking rose by twenty-six places, while Liu Wentao's ranking dropped to thirty-ninth.

Lei Zhou, who had previously challenged Xu Jingming, ultimately secured ninth place, proving his strength.

"Free challenge matches concluded—the rookie competition is officially over!"

From the podium, Dean Sun's gentle voice rang out:

"Your evaluation permissions and credit rewards have been issued—check the school's official website to view them.

The battle attire and cultivation resources for the top ten will be delivered to your dormitories tonight; please check for them.

The rookie competition is over, regardless of whether you're satisfied with your ranking.

Your evaluation permissions will not be changed again until the year-end assessment.

Additionally, the new student courses will officially begin in two days; please check your schedule and do not miss class."

After a brief summary, Dean Sun paused, then announced:

"The rookie competition is over—now begins the college selection!

I represent the Element College and will first state our admission criteria.

Our college admits only students with elemental abilities, or natural abilities of the lightning, ice, light, or dark elements.

Here, you will have the chance to explore the essence of elemental abilities and witness their most extreme power!

Welcome everyone to choose our college!"

Just this single criterion—elemental abilities—would eliminate a large number of applicants.

In fact, such ability users can eventually achieve the same level as mages in online games.

From afar, they can unleash their abilities to inflict massive damage upon ferocious beasts.

Many new students greatly yearned for roles like this "mage."

Unfortunately, among the thousand-plus new students, those with elemental abilities likely numbered less than one-third.

After the Element College finished, it was the Weapon College's turn.

Since Director Yang Zhentian was absent, a slender, light-footed young woman stepped forward:

"I am Zhou Hui, deputy director of the Weapon College. Our college aims to combine abilities with weapons to unleash even greater power!

In our college, you will witness the most extreme training methods and the most brutal weapon cultivation techniques!

Of course, to unleash the power of weapons, a powerful physique is indispensable.

Therefore, our college also cultivates the strongest physiques!"

The Weapon Academy primarily trains ability-users in close-quarters combat.

And the Weapon Academy has the most students among the five academies of Magic City Ability University!

Nearly half of the entire school's students come from the Weapon Academy.

And as Vice Dean Zhou Hui said, the Weapon Academy's teaching methods are extremely harsh and extreme.

Otherwise, Dean Yang Zhentian would not have earned himself the nickname "Yang King of Hell."

After the Element Academy and the Weapon Academy had each announced their academy's teaching philosophy.

The dean of the Tactics Academy, Long Ke, also stepped forward right after:

"Our Tactics Academy aims to cultivate tactical talents who command operations.

Ability-users with psychic-type abilities may choose our academy.

Of course, those with other ability types who consider themselves quick-witted may likewise choose our academy.

But let me state in advance—our academy's courses demand very high thinking ability.

If you cannot keep up with the course progress later, you are responsible for the consequences."

Unlike the deans and vice deans of the Element Academy and the Weapon Academy.

This dean of the Tactics Academy, Long Ke, did not radiate any overwhelmingly powerful aura.

Yet not a single person dared to look down on him.

After all.

At the same rank, a tactical commander is far more precious than a combat-type ability-user.

And to be able to hold a position as dean of the Tactics Academy at Magic City Ability University.

This Long Ke was naturally no simple figure either.

Not only did he possess an A-rank psychic-type ability, reaching the mid-stage of seventh rank.

He had also repeatedly commanded operations on the front lines, leading battle groups to annihilate beast hordes numbering up to a million.