Battle Through the Heavens: Beauties Abound Starting with Yunlan and Her Disciples

140: Section 140The rules of the martial combat were simple yet cruel. All students ranked in the top fifty for overall scores would simultaneously enter the Outer Academy’s largest Central Training Ground for a massive free-for-all melee with no rules or restrictions! This would continue until only one person or one team remained on the field.

This unique examination was not only a brutal test of each student’s individual comprehensive strength but also a trial of their popularity and emotional intelligence.

In such a chaotic battlefield, a student who was usually well-liked and had many friends could often gain a massive advantage by forming alliances and playing politics.

At this moment, the area surrounding the massive Central Training Ground was already packed with a sea of people, crowded to the point of being impassable by students and instructors who had come to watch.

Sunlight spilled onto the pristine white snow, reflecting a dazzling glare. Fifty candidates who had successfully passed the written exam and were about to step onto the battlefield were currently gathered at the entrance, waiting for the competition to officially begin.

”Look! Look over there! The one in the school uniform... that’s Yun Xiancheng, right?!” ”Oh my god... He... he really is... so good-looking!”

”Wow... I’d only heard rumors before about how heavenly his looks were. Seeing him today, I finally understand...”

When Yun Xiancheng slowly walked into the candidate area, surrounded by a group of charming and beautiful Young ladies, the ordinary Jia Nan Academy students around them—regardless of gender—all let out gasps of amazement and infatuation.

Regarding Yun Xiancheng, this mysterious ”legendary figure,” although no one dared to spread rumors behind his back anymore due to Bai Shan’s tragic end...

...the students’ interest in his enigmatic background and his world-shaking beauty only increased. However, because Yun Xiancheng usually lived in seclusion and rarely appeared in public, he spent most of his time in their own...

...small Class Two teaching area.

Therefore, for the vast majority of students, this was the first time they truly saw this legendary figure up close in their public view.

His long hair was as black as ink, tied up simply with a jade hairpin, with a few unruly strands gently brushing against his smooth, full forehead in the breeze. A faint, gentle smile that seemed capable of embracing everything graced his face, and his eyes were as clear as a newborn’s, yet...

...deep as if they contained the stars of the entire universe.

He stood there so quietly, saying nothing, yet he seemed to form a world of his own, drawing all the light and all the gazes around him...

...unreasonably toward himself.

”Preposterous! This guy! What does he think this Promotion Exam is?! Isn’t he being a bit too flashy and arrogant?!” Of course, where there was amazement and infatuation, there was naturally jealousy and anger.

Other students who held themselves in high regard focused more on what Yun Xiancheng and the others were currently doing. Then, without exception, they were all turned red-eyed and pale-faced with rage.

”He... he actually... actually brought a whole set of tables and chairs into the Training Ground’s competition area?!”

”Outrageous! Look at him and those women around him! They’re actually sitting there drinking tea and chatting?! Is... is this an outing?! This is not the attitude a candidate should have at all!”

On the edge of the tense and solemn preparation area, Yun Xiancheng had actually brought out a set of tables and chairs crafted from precious Golden Silk Nanmu wood.

He was currently sitting leisurely in a Grandmaster chair, holding a cup of steaming fragrant tea, chatting and laughing with the group of girls around him who were also impossibly beautiful.

He talked and laughed freely, occasionally pouring tea for them with intimacy.

That relaxed and carefree appearance didn’t look like he was facing an important exam concerning his future at all; instead, it looked more like a leisurely tea party with his beautiful ladies on a sunny afternoon.

What made them even more angry and bewildered was that the surrounding proctors, and even the Vice Dean and Elders responsible for presiding over the event, all seemed to act as if they hadn’t seen such blatant disregard for exam discipline, completely ignoring it and letting it happen!

Was there no justice left?! Was there no law?!

However, unlike those indignant ordinary students, the truly powerful, insightful, and top-tier students on the field all showed incredibly solemn expressions when they looked at Yun Xiancheng.

They couldn’t see through him.

They simply couldn’t see the gap between themselves and that young man sitting in the chair with a gentle smile. It felt like an ant on the ground looking up at a divine dragon in the ninth heaven.

You know he is incredibly powerful, you know he is unfathomable, but you can never understand just how powerful he has become.

That massive, despair-inducing sense of disparity originating from the very level of their existence pressed down on them so hard they could barely breathe. *Gulp.*

Hu Jia swallowed hard in nervousness. She was currently sitting right beside Yun Xiancheng, her bright eyes not daring to look directly at him, only stealing glances at his side profile, which looked almost unrealistically handsome in the sunlight.

She watched his long, well-defined fingers pick up a small Purple clay teapot to refill her empty white porcelain cup with hot tea.

Hu Jia felt her heart start to pound uncontrollably again. *No, no... I’m still too nervous...*

*What Xun’er and the others said about taking the initiative, creating opportunities... about actively pursuing Yun Xiancheng... as expected, that’s still too difficult for me, isn’t it?*

*I... I have no idea what to do at all!*

The young lady was distressed, her brows tightly knit, looking incredibly frail from this angle.

288 Jia Nan Academy Promotion Exam

”Hu Jia, don’t be nervous.”

A warm, gentle voice suddenly sounded by her ear.

Yun Xiancheng seemed to have noticed her body trembling like a little rabbit. He turned his head and gave her a reassuring, gentle smile, softly comforting her:

”Relax, it’s just a small exam. With us here, we will undoubtedly rank among the best without any suspense.” Hearing his gentle comfort, Hu Jia’s heart warmed, but her cheeks grew even redder.

”I... I’m not nervous because of the exam!” she shouted inwardly with some embarrassment. Of course, she couldn’t possibly say those words out loud.

She just lowered her head and let out an ”mm” quieter than a mosquito’s buzz. Then, gathering the greatest courage of her life, she used the motion of picking up her teacup to quietly and imperceptibly move her chair a centimeter or two closer to Yun Xiancheng.

This small movement of hers naturally did not escape Yun Xiancheng’s eyes.

Seeing this, the smile at the corner of Yun Xiancheng’s mouth became even more gentle. He didn’t expose her, nor did he stop her; instead, he also tilted his body slightly, moving imperceptibly closer to her position.

This tiny bit of distance caused the atmosphere between them to instantly become somewhat ambiguous. *Did he... did he notice? He definitely noticed, right?!*

When Hu Jia finally realized that her little girlish thoughts had long been seen through by him, a massive wave of shame instantly rushed from her heart to the top of her head!

The young lady’s face, already flushed from nervousness, suddenly turned as red as a ripe apple, and even her neck was stained with a touching shade of pink.

She wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into right away!

”Pfft,” ”Heehee.”

The Young ladies nearby took in the whole scene and covered their mouths with their hands, letting out knowing, mischievous chuckles.

”Oh my, it seems our little Jiajia is finally starting to see the light,” Xiao Mei winked and teased in a low voice. ”Mm, it’s a good start,” Nalan Yanran also nodded elegantly in agreement.

”It’s just that the progress is a bit slow. At this rate, by the time she actually gathers the courage to confess, I expect the children my husband and I have will already be able to”

run errands.”

”Hey! You two! Stop talking!” Hearing their teasing, Hu Jia was both embarrassed and angry, and she couldn’t help but look back and glare at them.

”Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you,” Xiao Yan said with a smile, waving her hand at her. Then she turned to look at Nalan Yanran, a hint of eager fighting spirit appearing on her face.

”Senior Sister Yan Ran, I see those guys around us seem very dissatisfied. Every one of them has eyes like knives. I expect as soon as the competition starts, they’ll team up to besiege us.”

”So what? They are just a bunch of rabble. How dare they bark so arrogantly in front of us?” Nalan Yanran elegantly picked up her teacup and gently blew on the floating tea leaves. Her tone was flat, yet filled with powerful self-confidence.

”Then how about this, Senior Sister Yan Ran?” Xiao Yan stood up, the xuan heavy ruler in her hand flashing with a cold, icy light under the sun. ”In a moment, you and I will go together and play with them. Let the two of us fight these so-called ’academy heroes’ together, how about it?”

Hearing this, Nalan Yanran nodded slowly, a proud curve hooking the corner of her mouth. ”That works. As for the other sisters, just sit here peacefully, drink tea, and watch the show with Husband. There’s no need for any of you to lift a finger.”

The conversation between the two of them wasn’t hidden at all. Their voices weren’t loud, but they were enough for the surrounding students, who were listening intently and monitoring every move here, to hear clearly.

”Preposterous! This is arrogance to the extreme!”

”She... what did they say? The two of them want to challenge all the rest of us?!” ”They look down on people too much! Do they really think they are invincible in the world?!”

The surrounding spectator stands and the examinee area instantly erupted like a ladle of cold water being poured into hot oil! Everyone was completely enraged by Xiao Yan and Nalan

Yan Ran’s contemptuous remarks!

”Even if that Bai Shan is a piece of trash who was easily crippled by them! We still have Wu Hao, the captain of the Law Enforcement Team, here! And so many long-famed experts! Why do they dare to speak such big words!”

”That’s right! Everyone, listen to me! For this round, all of us must unite! Let’s strike together first and clear these arrogant fellows out of the arena! Let them know that we, the students of Jia Nan Academy, are not to be humiliated at will!”

A member of the Law Enforcement Team who held quite a bit of prestige among the students raised his arm and called out, immediately receiving a response from the vast majority of the examinees. For a time, public indignation was aroused, and everyone locked their hostile gazes onto the small group of ’outliers’ including Yun Xiancheng.

Of course, there were also a few clear-headed and meticulous people who were not blinded by anger at this moment. ”Everyone, calm down first... I think things might not be that simple.”

”Don’t forget, back then, Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei were able to easily pierce and heavily injure Bai Shan with a combined sword strike! That kind of combat power is simply not something

that can be measured by common sense!”

”And these two in front of us... although I heard they skipped school for two years, since they dare to say such words, their strength surely won’t be much worse than Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei’s back then, right?”

Although his analysis was well-founded, it appeared insignificant before the surging public opinion already blinded by anger and jealousy, and was quickly drowned out by the rising sounds of condemnation.

Just as the tense and confrontational atmosphere on the Training Ground was about to reach its peak.

A loud and majestic voice, like a sudden clap of thunder, resounded throughout the Training Ground. ”Ahem! Alright! Everyone, quiet down for this old man!”

Vice Dean Hu Gan of the Outer Academy had stood up on the high platform in the center of the Training Ground at some unknown point. His gaze was like lightning as he slowly scanned the crowd of students below, who were red-faced with excitement.

When his gaze fell upon the intimate seating arrangement where his own daughter and Yun Xiancheng were sitting very close together, a very satisfied and gratified smile flashed imperceptibly across his serious, square face.

Not bad, not bad! This emotional progress is even faster than I imagined! Good! Very good!

His current mood could be said to be quite excellent. Thus, he cleared his throat and, without any further delay, immediately used his loud voice infused with powerful Dou Qi to formally announce:

”I announce! The Jia Nan Academy Outer Court’s annual year-end promotion examination, the martial combat phase—officially begins!!”

”There is only one rule! And that is, there are no rules! Until the end, those who can still stand on this Training Ground, whether as an individual or in the form of a team, will be the undisputed—number one of this Promotion Exam!”

Chapter 289: Defeating the Heroes While the Tea is Warm

”Darlings, I have poured hot tea for you. Go and return quickly.” Yun Xiancheng poured two cups of hot tea and said to Ran and Xiao Yan.

”Alright, just watch our performance!” Xiao Yan and Yan Ran rose and dropped into the crowd.

There was basically no suspense in the development of the battle, especially after Xiao Yan summoned the Green Lotus Core Flame.

An incredibly massive lotus flower, condensed from pure green flames, bloomed in the Training Ground. A heatwave swept through the entire arena.

Over a dozen Outer Academy disciples were blasted out of the arena by the blooming lotus, falling miserably to the ground.

They looked at the lotus with faces full of terror. ”How can it be this strong? This is impossible!” one person shouted.

The surrounding students were also shocked; they hadn’t expected Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to be so powerful.

Too amazing, right!? And their cooperation was equally terrifying; Nalan Yanran was seen dancing within the fire lotus.

The fierce astral winds cut deep, shocking gashes into the hard Blue-steel Stone slabs on the ground.

Flames and gales, destruction and agility—these two completely different powers were now merged together in an almost perfect and inconceivable manner.

That scorching high temperature, which seemed capable of igniting even the soul, burnt the surrounding air until it rippled.

Meanwhile, that sharp-as-a-knife, bone-chilling wind made everyone within it feel as if their skin was being flayed alive. A symphony of ice and fire, a waltz of death, was being magnificently performed on this snow-covered Training Ground.

The core disciples of the Jia Nan Academy Outer Court who could pass through layers of selection to finally stand on this year-end assessment ground.

Most of them possessed the strength of a peak Dou Master, and a small handful of exceptionally gifted elites had even stepped across the threshold of a Great Dou Master. They were the most top-tier and elite existences among the thousands of students in the entire Outer Academy.

However, at this moment, these favored children of heaven, who usually held their heads high and received endless praise and pursuit.

When facing that slowly rotating green fire lotus filled with the aura of destruction, they appeared so small and vulnerable.

The elite squad of the Law Enforcement Team, led by the Outer Academy’s Law Enforcement Team Captain, Wu Hao, was currently bearing the brunt of the most terrifying pressure. ”All Law Enforcement Team members! Listen to my command! Form the Black Tortoise Guardian Array! Hold the line!!”

Wu Hao’s eyes were nearly splitting as he roared hoarsely. His face, which was usually resolute and steady, was now filled with shock and disbelief.

As one of the strongest geniuses of the Outer Academy who was once as famous as Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei, and now a Six-star Great Dou Master, he had never imagined that one day he would be forced into such a pathetic state without even being able to touch the corner of his opponent’s clothes!

Over a dozen core members of the Law Enforcement Team immediately grit their teeth upon hearing the command, pushing the meager Dou Qi left in their bodies to the limit without reservation!

An earthy yellow, incredibly heavy Dou Qi light erupted from their bodies, condensing in front of them into a massive energy shield that looked as if it were composed of Black Tortoise shells!

However, all of this was in vain.

The slowly rotating green lotus petals merely gave a gentle shake, and a wave of green fire mixed with pale green wind blades came whistling forth like a bursting flood!

”Boom—!!!!”

Amidst the deafening roar, that ’Black Tortoise Guardian Array’ which the Law Enforcement Team had placed all their hopes on couldn’t even last for a single breath.

Like glass struck by a sledgehammer, it let out a crisp wail and was instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks before shattering with a bang! ”Pfft—!”

The array was broken, and all the Law Enforcement Team members, including Wu Hao, were struck as if by a heavy blow, simultaneously spitting out a large mouthful of fresh blood.

Their bodies were like kites with broken strings, sent flying high by the violent shockwave and slamming heavily into the snow dozens of meters away, unconscious.

And this was only the beginning.

That massive green lotus seemed to possess its own life and will.

With every rotation, it would stir up a lotus-shaped firestorm, mercilessly sweeping the examinees who were still

struggling to hold on out of the arena one by one.