The atmosphere in the grandstands was boiling with excitement.
As Chu Bai’s crimson figure became the first to set foot on the mist-shrouded mountain peak shown in the Water Mirror, the crowd erupted with gasps and cheers.
The first-year students in their green robes were especially ecstatic, jumping and cheering as if they themselves had won first place.
"Chu Bai’s in the lead again! He’ll probably secure first place in this round, too!"
"So fast! How much time has even passed? He didn’t just sweep the mountainside, he’s already staking his claim on the peak!"
"Oh my god, look! What is he doing? That’s... that’s a Tiger Demon at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation!"
"Hunting a Great Demon on purpose? That’s... that’s insane! He’s only at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation. It’s unbelievable!"
A chorus of praise and sharp intakes of breath filled the air. All eyes were glued to the largest Water Mirror, everyone terrified of missing a single spectacular moment.
However, amidst the jubilant atmosphere, Zhou Changkong, seated among the instructors, had his brow deeply furrowed. His hands gripped the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Far from looking pleased, his expression was grave.
"Old Zhou, look! The kid’s left everyone in the dust again."
The loud-voiced Instructor Lei beside him pointed at the Water Mirror, grinning from ear to ear. "Last round, that kid Ji Li was leading the pack. Now the tables have turned, and our little first-year is the one stealing the show."
With that, he turned to his old friend, only to see the worried look on Zhou Changkong’s face. He paused, confused. "I mean, Old Zhou, things are going great. What could you possibly be worried about?"
"I’m worried..."
Zhou Changkong took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving the boy battling the Tiger Demon in the mirror. "The tree that stands out from the forest," he said grimly, "is sure to be felled by the wind."
"Chu Bai is exceptionally talented, but he’s only been at the academy for a year. His foundation is still shallow, and he doesn’t know any of the second or third-year veterans. You could say he’s all alone."
"Especially... look over there."
Zhou Changkong pointed to another Water Mirror. On it, a menacing-looking team of seventeen, led by Chem Wangming, was marching toward the summit.
"People are already ganging up, and their intentions are clear: they’re here to eliminate the strongest contenders. If they run into each other, a clash is inevitable."
"Based on Chu Bai’s performance so far, as long as he plays it safe, he’s a shoo-in for the top ten in the next round, even if his score is a bit lower this time. His advantage from the first round is that significant."
"But if that group targets him and he gets eliminated early..."
Zhou Changkong sighed, his voice thick with worry. "Then all his hard work will have been for nothing."
Hearing this, the cheerful Instructor Lei couldn’t help but frown, his smile vanishing.
He was right.
The situation was complex. Chem Wangming’s squad had a full seventeen members, all of them battle-hardened veterans.
Besides them, most of the other participants were also in groups of two or three, watching each other’s backs.
To make matters worse, most of them were third-years. Even if they weren’t well-acquainted, there was a certain camaraderie among them from being in the same year.
If they ran into each other, they could probably negotiate based on that shared bond, or even join forces temporarily.
But Chu Bai...
A first-year upstart who had come out of nowhere, holding three enviable Upper Grade Dharma Artifacts.
He was basically a walking target.
If he really ran into that wolf pack of an Alliance Army, how could he possibly win when he was so outnumbered?
However, just as the two instructors were fraught with worry, the image in the Water Mirror suddenly shifted.
BOOM!
In the mirror, the moment Chu Bai suppressed the Tiger Demon with the Essence-Bearing Tripod, he didn’t choose the safe option of whittling it down from a distance. Instead, he made an incredibly bold decision.
He abandoned all defense, opting to trade injury for injury!
The Tiger Demon’s final counterattack was ferocious. Despite being suppressed, it still managed to slash Chu Bai’s left shoulder with its tattered Fire Wings, sending up a spray of blood.
But Chu Bai seemed to feel no pain. He used the force of the blow to launch himself forward, hurtling into the Tiger Demon’s chest like a golden meteor.
Formless Cloud Hand: Broken Gold!
CRUNCH!
With a sickening thud, Chu Bai’s glowing golden palm plunged into the Tiger Demon’s head like a hot knife through butter, shattering its thick skull and instantly turning its brain to mush!
A Great Demon at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, killed instantly!
"What a move!"
Seeing this, Instructor Lei slapped his thigh. The worry on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by sheer delight and admiration.
"Old Zhou, look, this kid’s combat instincts are simply terrifying!"
"If he’d chosen to slowly wear down the Tiger Demon, it would have been safer, sure, but it would’ve taken too long. He would’ve been a sitting duck for anyone who came along to steal his kill."
"Trading injury for injury, going for a quick and decisive battle... he’s paying the smallest price for the greatest reward!"
Instructor Lei watched the boy in the mirror. He was injured, yes, but the Evil Qi radiating from him had only grown more terrifying. He spoke with conviction:
"Old Zhou, you don’t need to worry."
"I’m sure that wasn’t an impulsive move. He’s building up an advantage."
"With enough Evil Qi empowering him... if that alliance really dares to come after him, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll come out on top!"
Chu Bai stood beside the Tiger Demon’s massive corpse, allowing the streams of Evil Qi—so dense they were almost purple—to pour into his body like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea.

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