Seeing another bloodline warrior among the arriving students, Chu Yan was taken aback. From what he knew, bloodline warriors were exceptionally rare, even in major cities. For him, the awakening of his bloodline was a result of the system's influence, but for others, achieving such a feat was akin to reaching the heavens.
"I thought I was the only one keeping a low profile, but it seems this girl is even more extraordinary than anyone I've seen before," Chu Yan thought, his brow furrowing.
Meanwhile, on the second floor, a special area was reserved for distinguished guests such as principals, City Lords, and head examiners from each school. In simple terms, entry to this zone was restricted to Martial Master experts and above.
"It seems this year's competition is quite lively. Let's see... Ah, there are many students at the Second-Layer Martial Artist level—this is an improvement over last year!" remarked the Head Examiner from No. 1 High as he scanned the hall.
"Always so cheerful, aren't you, Old Hu? You're pleased because a genius like Mu Hai has emerged under your watch," Elder Zhou responded with a hint of annoyance.
"Aren't you the same, Old Zhou? I've heard that No. 2 High has produced a genius named Chu Yan. And there's also a student named Lin Chen, who is slightly less impressive but still noteworthy," said Wang Fei, the Head Examiner of No. 6 High, with a touch of sarcasm.
"Hahaha, of course, I'm pleased. The arrival of Mu Hai has certainly been beneficial for me. Speaking of Chu Yan, didn't this student defeat one of your own with a single blow, Principal Jian?" Hu Yan, the Head Examiner of No. 1 High, remarked as he turned his gaze toward the principal's zone.
"Ha... ha... I suppose my student still needs more training. But of course, I have other students who are stronger than Liu Wuxiang," Zhang Jian said with a strained smile.
'Damn it, If you monsters want to chat among yourselves, why drag me into this?' Zhang Jian thought bitterly. Although he was a Martial Master himself, he was only at the early stage, while the Head Examiners were all at the Peak stage of Martial Master.
"Oh, it seems No. 5 still have strong students, I guess." said Hu Yan with a laugh.
As the conversation continued, the door to the special room suddenly creaked open. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the space, commanding immediate attention from everyone present.
The figure who entered exuded a majestic aura, so commanding that it pressed upon everyone present despite his deliberate effort to restrain it. As he walked in, all the guests, regardless of their status, rose to their feet and greeted him respectfully.
"Greetings, Chief!"
"Welcome, Chief!"
This person is Chief Of Federation's White River Branch, Jin Wei. The reason why all these people respected him not because of his position, but his strength. The reason why there is no power struggle in White River City entirely because of this person.
There was only one reason for this: his cultivation had reached the Martial Grandmaster Realm! Such an existence was considered powerful, even in major cities. While Martial Masters could easily demolish buildings, a Martial Grandmaster's power was so immense that it could effortlessly obliterate everything within hundreds of meters.
After Jin Wei seated, his waved his hand with a smile," Don't be too polite. Please sit down."
Hearing this, all guests also returned to their seat. The room was silent. After a few moment, Jin Wei said to his secretary, "We can start the competition now."
The secretary replied, "Understood."
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As the last group of students took their place, the man on the stage raised his hand, calling for silence. The murmurs among the students died down immediately, all attention focused on the stage. He began to speak, his voice amplified by the stadium's sound system, clear and authoritative.
"Welcome, students of White River City, to the Martial Arts Ranking Competition!" he began, his tone both formal and enthusiastic. "I am Zhou Teng, the official in charge of overseeing this event. It is my honor to welcome the best and brightest of our city's youth, gathered here to compete for glory, honor, and the chance to represent White River City for future Hundred City Battle."
He paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "Now, let us begin with a formal introduction of the schools and their representatives."
As he spoke, a large screen behind him flickered to life, displaying the names of the schools and their chosen five.
The students listened intently, their focus locked on Zhou Teng as he continued. "Let me first introduce the representatives from each school. From No. 1 High School: Ming He, Xu Cheng, Su Yan, Ye Ruxue, and Mu Hai." The crowd murmured in recognition as the students from No. 1 High nodded in acknowledgment, their reputations as the city's finest already well-known.
"From No. 2 High School: Chu Yan, Li Fui, Lin Chen, Ouyang Feng, and Su Ming." Zhou Teng's voice carried weight as he mentioned No. 2 High, the school known for its strong contenders this year, particularly the rising star, Chu Yan.
The introductions continued in this manner, each school's representatives appearing on the screen in turn. From No. 3 High School to No. 13 High School, each group was shown, some brimming with confidence, others more reserved but no less determined.
After the introductions, Zhou Teng paused, allowing the gravity of the gathering to settle in. The top students from each school exchanged glances, measuring each other with their eyes, silently acknowledging the competition ahead.
"The rules of the competition are simple," Zhou Teng continued, his voice firm. "This competition will be conducted in three stages, each designed to test your martial skills, strategic thinking, and combat prowess."
He raised a hand, signaling the beginning of his explanation. "Stage One is the Individual Battle Royale. All competitors will be randomly placed in the arena, and the objective is simple: survive and eliminate as many opponents as possible within the time limit. Points will be awarded based on the number of opponents defeated and the duration you remain in the fight."
"The second stage is the Team Battle, where you will compete alongside your fellow schoolmates against another school. This stage will test your ability to work as a team, and your school's overall performance will influence your individual ranking."
"The final stage is the Ranking Tournament. The top sixteen competitors from the first two stages will enter a knockout tournament to determine the final ranking. The winner of this stage will be crowned the champion of White River City and will lead our delegation in the Hundred City Battle."
"The ranking will be based on a combination of your performance across all three stages," Zhou Teng added. "Each point you earn will be crucial in determining your final standing. The number one student will represent White River City in the Hundred City Battle, a competition where the best of the best from across Rockfall State will face off. The stakes are high—those who reach the top ranks in the Hundred City Battle can be directly recruited as special students in Star Military University, the number one university in our state!"