C20 Second Round!

Lin Xuan was blissfully unaware that he had given Lin Hai quite the scare.

At that moment, he was intently studying the attribute panel before him.

Having made it into the top ten and secured the first-place ranking, he had caused quite a buzz among the crowd.

In doing so, he had also racked up a substantial number of energy points.

A broad grin spread across Lin Xuan's face.

"Lin Xuan, what's got you so cheerful?" Lin Shiyun asked in her soft voice.

"We've both made it into the top ten; we're going to the Drifting Cloud Sect together," Lin Xuan responded, his smile unwavering.

Lin Shiyun nodded, her smile undiminished, and the two of them shared a light-hearted exchange.

Yet, Lin Xuan failed to notice the lingering shadow of concern in the depths of Lin Shiyun's eyes.

The leaders of the four major powers reacted to the news with varying expressions.

The Lin Family members were overjoyed, their faces beaming with delight.

The representatives of the other three powers, however, wore grave expressions.

Four of the top ten were Lin Family disciples—a fact that did not bode well for the Zhang family of the City Lord's Mansion.

What could this imply?

A heavy weight settled on the hearts of the three other major powers' leaders, too apprehensive to speculate further.

Up on the dais, Zhao Quxin, the Drifting Cloud Sect's envoy, occupied the central seat of honor, flanked by City Lord Zhang Wenyong and Green Jade City's preeminent warrior, Lin Qiyuan.

The elders of the remaining two powers were seated slightly apart.

"We've certainly found an impressive talent this time," Zhao Quxin remarked, his eyes on Lin Xuan as he nodded in approval.

Lin Qiyuan shared the sentiment, his face breaking into a smile as he gave a subtle nod.

Beside them, Zhang Wenyong and the other two elders' smiles wavered—they sensed trouble brewing.

Even Zhao Quxin recognized Lin Xuan's potential.

Their gazes lingered on Lin Xuan, seated in the stands, as they pondered the implications.

Nevertheless, Zhang Wenyong managed to muster a semblance of a smile, clinging to the hope afforded by his secret weapon.

The commotion on the field eventually subsided.

Zhang Ping returned to the stage, his voice ringing out clearly as he resumed the proceedings.

The tournament presses on, and now we're heading into the second round: the knockout stage, where the top three contenders will emerge.

Victory means advancement; defeat spells elimination, until the final three stand tall.

The roster remains a collaborative decision by the leadership of the four major powers, ensuring fairness reigns supreme.

Let the battles commence!

First up, Chen Yu versus Wu Cheng!"

His words hung in the air, and a hush fell over the crowd.

All eyes were riveted to the stage, anticipation crackling in the atmosphere.

This was no ordinary bout; it was a clash among the top ten. The least of the contestants boasted a cultivation base at the pinnacle of the Ninth Level of Body Refining Stage, promising a spectacle far more thrilling than the previous scoring rounds.

And leading the charge was Chen Yu, the Chen family's premier prodigy.

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

In no time, both competitors ascended the stage.

Chen Yu, the Chen family's brightest star, had once been hailed as the top genius among Green Jade City's elite four.

Now, he had ascended to the Enlightenment Stage.

Fresh from his breakthrough, his aura was yet to fully settle.

But the Enlightenment Stage was leagues beyond the Ninth Level of Body Refining Stage.

Wu Cheng, the Wu family's second genius and another of Green Jade City's celebrated talents, had reached the zenith of the Ninth Level of Body Refining Stage.

With the signal from referee Zhang Ping, the duel erupted.

The audience was captivated.

Indeed, this match outshone the prior scoring rounds in both excitement and intensity.

But it was a short-lived affair.

Chen Yu's innate superiority was undeniable.

Wu Cheng stood no chance.

Within a mere ten moves, he was blasted from the stage.

Chen Yu triumphed, securing his spot in the top five.

"Next up, Zhang Hee versus Chen Zhong!"

Zhang Ping's voice rang out.

Shortly thereafter, Zhang Hee claimed victory.

"Coming up, Lin Xuan versus Lin Shiyun!"

Zhang Ping declared once more.

Instantly, all eyes shifted to Lin Xuan in the stands.

Lin Xuan and Lin Shiyun, Green Jade City's beloved couple, had long been betrothed.

To everyone's surprise, the second round pitted two unexpected opponents against each other.

Many were curious to see how Lin Xuan would handle the challenge.

Soon enough, both contenders made their way to the arena.

"Begin the match!" Zhang Ping declared, his voice resonating as he observed them.

"I concede!" Lin Shiyun suddenly announced.

Hand in hand, the pair then descended from the arena and walked towards the stands, leaving the crowd murmuring in disbelief.

At a loss for words, the onlookers watched as Zhang Ping, with a look of resignation, declared the outcome.

"Lin Xuan wins and advances to the top five!"

Within a mere ten minutes, the finalists were determined: Lin Xuan, Lin Yun, Zhang Hee, Wu Qilee, and Chen Yu, with the Lin Family maintaining their lead.

"Next up, Zhang Hee faces Lin Yun!" Zhang Ping proclaimed.

The announcement electrified the audience. This showdown featured two of Green Jade City's original top four prodigies, promising to be far more thrilling than any bout before.

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

Shortly thereafter, the two competitors stepped into the arena. At Zhang Ping's signal, an intense battle ensued.

Both were in the early stages of the Enlightenment Stage, with nearly identical cultivation levels and comparable talents. As they clashed, it appeared they were evenly matched, captivating everyone watching. The fight was exhilarating.

Yet, Zhang Hee, once the foremost among the four geniuses, held a slight edge in talent over Lin Yun. Lin Xuan's meteoric rise had put significant pressure on the City Lord's Mansion, which in turn increased its support for Zhang Hee, allowing him to open one more acupuncture point than Lin Yun.

With time, Zhang Hee slowly but surely began to dominate.

Twenty minutes in, Zhang Hee sent Lin Yun flying from the arena, securing his victory and a place in the top three. Cheers erupted from the stands.

With a beaming smile, Zhang Ping announced the result.

Zhang Hee's victory over Lin Yun signified a win for the Zhang family in their rivalry with the Lin family.

Now, it was Lin Xuan's moment.

Should Zhang Hee manage to defeat Lin Xuan, the Zhang family might just reclaim their pinnacle status.

Zhang He understood the situation well. As he caught his breath with deep gasps, he shot a challenging look toward Lin Xuan.

Up in the stands, Lin Xuan let out a scoff. He had no interest in entertaining such provocations.

For him, the contest was a walk in the park.

He was simply there to collect energy points.

Zhang He's challenge was of no consequence to him.

The commotion in the arena subsided after a short while.

Once Zhang He exited the stage, a disheartened Lin Yun slunk back to the stands.

Zhang Ping resumed his announcements, "Up next, Lin Xuan will face Wu Qilee!"

His words were met with a surge of noise from the crowd, which quickly settled back into silence.