Chapter 318: The Grand Tournament Begins, Zhao Tianxing

"Who are you!"

Thunder King furrowed his brows, stared at Su Yu, and said in a deep voice.

Su Yu gave a faint smile, revealing his snow‑white teeth.

"Su Yu of Qianlong Academy, coming now isn't too late, right?"

The words rang out, and a wave of murmurs rippled through the entire arena.

"Hiss! Su Yu actually came; isn't he afraid the lie will be exposed?"

"Indeed, Su Yu showed up; does that mean the story of Su Yu defeating Chu Hong is true, and we were misled?"

Some of the previously wavering spectators felt their hearts sway the instant they saw Su Yu appear.

To them, Su Yu's appearance meant the prior rumors had been shattered.

Su Yu is the best proof.

At the Jingwu Academy.

A young man gazed lightly at Su Yu.

"Is that really Su Yu..."

Beside the youth sat several Jingwu Academy students.

Moreover, it seemed as if there were hierarchical divisions.

The speaking youth sat at the front, with many Jingwu Academy students behind him.

Someone like Liu Yuan could only rank fourth among the Jingwu Academy students.

It should be noted that Liu Yuan is a Half Moon‑realm strongman; in other academies he would surely contend for first or second place, yet in the ever‑top Jingwu Academy he is merely fourth.

Liu Yuan sneered.

"Senior Brother Zhou, this Su Yu isn't worth your attention, is he? He's just a charlatan, leaning on the Slay Dragon King; otherwise a mere Star Peak could make the top ten, right?"

The youth who spoke earlier turned out to be Zhou Yuanqing.

He is also the number one on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, a Full Moon Peak strongman!

Zhou Yuanqing wore a blue robe, looking like an ancient young master, his gaze exceedingly calm.

As clear as a tranquil lake.

Zhou Yuanqing gave Su Yu a deep look and said lightly,

"Don't forget, this guy was already a Star Peak in his freshman year; give him three more years and the Great Sun Grand Master title will be more than enough!"

"If you offend him, there'll be no good fruit for you in the future!"

Liu Yuan's complexion stiffened as he suddenly realized that Su Yu is only a freshman now.

For a moment, Liu Yuan became somewhat terrified.

At this moment, Yi Zhongtian's laughter rang out.

"What are you afraid of? He's just a Slay Dragon King. One day he's a student of our Jingwu, his whole life he'll be a Jingwu student. If Su Yu dares to trouble you, that's like making the whole Jingwu oppose me!"

Yi Zhongtian spoke with resonant vigor.

Hearing this, Liu Yuan's complexion slightly improved.

His eyes, like poisonous snakes, fixed rigidly on Su Yu atop the wine gourd.

"Su Yu... I will expose your true form!"

Modu Academy.

Zhao Wei crossed his legs, his gaze teasing as he looked at Su Yu.

"I didn't expect him to actually show up; looks like Su Yu does have some skill!"

Behind Zhao Wei, a Modu Academy student sneered,

"Brother Zhao, so what if Su Yu shows up? He's just a Star Ancestor Master; I really don't believe he can defeat a Half Moon strongman!"

"Stupid!"

Zhao Wei barked low, his eyes maliciously fixed on the youth who had spoken earlier, and snorted coldly.

"The public is that foolish; are you equally stupid? Su Yu daring to appear already says a lot!"

After Zhao Wei's roar, the youth who had spoken turned pale instantly and said weakly,

"Brother Zhao, I realize my mistake."

At that moment, Zhao Wei turned his head and said calmly,

"He's still a disciple of the Slay Dragon King; the Three‑Seal King title isn't idle talk. In about ten years, he'll likely become a Four‑Seal King."

Not only Jingwu Academy, but Modu Academy as well.

Zǔlóng Academy, the First Military Academy, and some Heavenly Pride members from Yunduan Academy all turned their gazes toward Su Yu above the firmament.

Some were full of curiosity, others of disdain.

Some… were filled with jealousy.

At Qianlong Academy, Zhang Xiaobai and others leapt up as Su Yu appeared.

"Hahaha, that Su Yu guy finally showed up; now I'll see what those people have left to say!"

Zhang Xiaobai laughed loudly, as if all the gloom vanished cleanly with Su Yu's arrival.

Even the proud Chu Hong couldn't help a smile on his cold face when Su Yu emerged.

Xiang Shaoyun patted his chest and said to Zhao Tianxing,

"That guy finally came; old man, I thought you were deceiving us, but I didn't expect you to tell the truth."

Zhao Tianxing's mouth twitched slightly.

To be honest, what he said before was indeed false.

Everything was to let them prepare with peace of mind.

The news sent by Li Zhangsheng was the one that had been transmitted on the jade tablet not long ago.

If Li Zhangsheng's news hadn't arrived, Zhao Tianxing truly wouldn't have known what to do then.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem, as the principal of Qianlong Academy, could I possibly be lying to you?"

"Really?" Xiang Shaoyun looked at Zhao Tianxing skeptically, "You used to lie to me even less!"

"Get lost!"

Zhao Tianxing roared, and with one slap sent Xiang Shaoyun crashing into the wall, a blow that couldn't be undone.

Wu Ling'er watched Su Yu's figure, and a faint ripple flickered in her beautiful eyes.

Tang Nian Bing sat in his seat, covering his chest, and let out a long sigh.

"That guy finally arrived. I almost thought he wouldn't make it," I, the old lady, said.

Above the heavens, the Thunder King stared at Su Yu, frowned, then his ears twitched slightly, and his brows relaxed.

"Alright, go in!"

Having said that, he sent Su Yu and Li Zhangsheng to the location of Qianlong Academy.

In the audience, countless eyes fixed on Su Yu.

"It seems Qianlong Academy isn't a fraud after all; Su Yu has arrived, and it's a fact that Su Yu defeated Chu Hong."

"Hiss, in my whole life I've never seen a Star Ancestor Master defeat a Half Moon‑realm strongman; now my eyes are opened."

Many people said excitedly.

But some still snorted coldly.

"Hmph, what does Su Yu's arrival change? Does his coming prove he truly has that strength? Until we see Su Yu's real power, all this remains a question mark!"

"That's true; even though Su Yu is here, it might not be that Qianlong Academy, under pressure, deliberately brought him. As long as Su Yu doesn't act, others can't tell."

"Eh, hearing you say that, it does seem so. Su Yu is here, but his strength hasn't been displayed. In that case, could it still be false?"

"Whether it's true or not, we'll know when Su Yu makes a move. Anyway, I've never heard of a Star Ancestor Master defeating a Half Moon‑realm strongman; no one on the Ten Thousand Tribes Continent has ever done it."

Many people looked at Su Yu and said disdainfully.

It gradually affected the other spectators.

Suddenly, the gaze toward Qianlong Academy became suspicious again.

Most people are like that; when a story is repeated enough, it naturally becomes fact.

But they never investigate whether it's truly so.

"Silence!"

The Thunder King looked at the noisy scene below and bellowed low.

That voice was wrapped in waves of heaven‑and‑earth power, a faint pressure spreading outward.

With just that one sound, the entire arena fell silent.

Seeing that, the Thunder King nodded in satisfaction.

"I announce that the Academy Grand Tournament officially begins!"

With the Thunder King's voice, cheers rose from the audience.

"Wuhu, it's finally started. Three years ago I didn't get a seat; this time I can finally watch it live!"

"Indeed, watching online was just not enough; now I can finally see our Human Race's grand event with my own eyes."

Many people said excitedly.

The Thunder King stood proudly between heaven and earth, his voice like thunder sounding again.

"Now, I will announce the rules!"

In an instant, the whole venue fell silent again.

"The Academy Grand Tournament is divided into three zones: the Third‑Tier Academy zone, the Second‑Tier Academy zone, and the First‑Tier Academy zone!"

"The top of the Third‑Tier Academy may challenge the bottom of the previous Second‑Tier Academy; if successful, they become a Second‑Tier Academy."

"Then the Second‑Tier Academy competition occurs; similarly, the first place may challenge the bottom of the previous First‑Tier Academy, and upon success, proceeds to the Grand Tournament."

"After the First‑Tier Academy Grand Tournament, the champion may challenge the previous Five‑Academy, but may not skip levels!"

"Additionally, an academy that finishes last in the same‑level competition for five consecutive sessions drops directly in rank, continuing to the next lower tier."

When the last sentence was spoken, many eyes fell on Qianlong Academy's position.

Because Qianlong Academy has been at the bottom of the First‑Tier Academy Grand Tournament for four consecutive years.

The entire Daxia's martial academies were divided into Third‑Tier, Second‑Tier, First‑Tier, and the Five‑Academy.

In plain terms, only the first place of each tier can qualify to challenge a higher academy, thereby improving its own ranking.

Inside Qianlong Academy, Zhao Tianxing and Li Zhangsheng took a deep breath and looked at Su Yu and the others, saying.

"Everyone, whether Qianlong Academy can retain its First‑Tier position this time depends on you!"

Zhao Tianxing gave a deep look at several people.

Su Yu and the others smiled faintly, stood up, and bowed to Zhao Tianxing.

"Don't worry, Principal, the glory of Qianlong Academy will be reforged by us!"

The crowd smiled faintly, their faces radiating confident gazes.

Looking at the crowd, Zhao Tianxing's face couldn't help but break into a smile.

"Well done!"

Soon, inside the gymnasium, academies emerged one by by; these were Daxia's Third‑Tier academies, not very renowned within Daxia.

But they excel in sheer numbers.

Zhao Tianxing ignored those Third‑Tier academies, focusing his gaze on Su Yu, his spirit‑soul power radiating outward.

In an instant, Zhao Tianxing's pupils suddenly contracted.

Because in his perception, Su Yu's cultivation had shockingly reached the late Half Moon stage!