C10 Phasewalk!

Zhang Nan stepped out of the inn and was immediately relieved to spot Murong Wan and Murong Le nearby. He approached them with a sense of ease.

Murong Le noticed Zhang Nan's labored breathing and inquired, "Did you have a confrontation with Faang Tong?"

"No," Zhang Nan replied, shaking his head. "I had just left Faang Tong's room when I was ensnared by a Phantasm Trap. I have no idea who set it."

"You managed to break out of the Phantasm Trap?" Murong Le asked, his surprise evident.

"Yes, it wasn't particularly complex. Perhaps I just stumbled upon the core of the formation. Once that's broken, the Phantasm Trap falls apart, doesn't it?" Zhang Nan explained.

Murong Le nodded in understanding and advised, "Stay inside for the time being. Sunhaven is in turmoil, with people from all over due to the Grand Tournament of the Hundred Academies. It's a massive event, and with participants from hundreds of academies present, you'll be safest on campus."

With that, Murong Le led them swiftly back to the academy.

Once back at the academy, Zhang Nan hesitated before turning to Murong Le and asking, "Dean, could you help me unlock this?" He handed over the Prismatic Shard he was holding.

Murong Le examined the Prismatic Shard with astonishment. "Zhang Nan, where did you find this gem? It likely conceals a skill or martial technique."

Zhang Nan nodded and admitted, "I purchased it from a street vendor, but I can't open it; my genuine energy isn't sufficient."

Murong Le chuckled. "You've stumbled upon quite the bargain. Let me help you with it." He then channeled his genuine energy into the Prismatic Shard, which immediately glowed but remained intact.

"Hmm?" Murong Le was taken aback by the shard's resilience. Despite the substantial amount of genuine energy he had infused, there was no sign of it shattering.

"It seems you've really found yourself a treasure," he remarked before increasing his genuine energy output once more.

With a crisp "crack," the Prismatic Shard finally split open.

Murong Le handed the fractured Prismatic Shard to Zhang Nan, instructing, "Take a look for yourself when you get back. Just channel your genuine energy into the crack."

Zhang Nan nodded and hurried back to his room.

He set the Prismatic Shard on the table and infused it with his genuine energy.

"Phasewalk, a top-grade Black Rank skill that, when mastered to Great Completion, rivals an Earthly technique."

Zhang Nan studied the skill before him, reciting its description.

For the next two days, Zhang Nan remained in his dorm, diligently studying Phasewalk.

On the morning of the third day, Zhang Nan made his way to the square.

By then, the square was bustling with people.

Murong Le ascended the stage and announced robustly, "The Grand Tournament of the Hundred Academies begins today. The ten competitors, please ascend the stage."

Zhang Nan and the others promptly stepped onto the platform.

Among them was Murong Wan. Zhang Nan harbored doubts about her abilities; considering past events, it seemed unlikely that Murong Wan should represent the academy. Ultimately, Zhang Nan attributed her participation to Murong Le's influence.

After the ten emerged, Murong Le beamed, "You are the pride of our academy. I trust you will achieve excellent results on our behalf. Now, let us head to the Central Arena, the venue for our competition."

Zhang Nan and his peers followed Murong Le swiftly to the Central Arena.

Upon arrival, Zhang Nan was awestruck. The Azure Academy seemed vast to him, but the Central Arena was on another scale entirely, capable of accommodating at least three Azure Academies.

By now, the arena was surrounded by individuals from various academies.

As the Azure Academy contingent arrived, they were met with scornful looks from the others, who were displeased that Sunhaven, a lesser-known city, was hosting the Grand Tournament of the Hundred Academies.

Sensing the contempt, the Azure Academy group, Zhang Nan included, felt their tempers flare, with some barely restraining themselves from confrontation.

"Did you catch those looks from the crowd? Annoying, right? If you want to make them look away, you've got to beat them, mentally and completely."

Murong Le noticed the restlessness in some of the group and chuckled before speaking.

"Dean Murong, why are you so late? We've been waiting for quite a while."

A middle-aged man approached Murong Le, greeting him with a warm smile.

Murong Le raised an eyebrow at the sight of the man but quickly replaced it with a smile. "Dean, you've come out to find me as well?"

Murong Wan sidled up to Zhang Nan and murmured, "That's the Dean of Charkzed Academy. They're our neighbors, always stirring up trouble for Azure Academy, and he often challenges my father too."

Zhang Nan nodded in understanding; he was somewhat familiar with Charkzed Academy.

"Zhang Nan, there you are! I've been searching for you for ages. I was starting to think you wouldn't show up."

Zhang Nan turned towards the voice and saw Faang Tong.

"Why is Faang Tong so eager to lose?" he asked with a smirk.

"Hmph, we'll see who ends up losing," Faang Tong retorted before turning on his heel and walking away.

Before long, all the competitors had made their way into the arena.

Murong Le stepped onto the stage and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Murong Le, Dean of Azure Academy. It's a pleasure to host the Grand Tournament of the Hundred Academies here in Sunhaven, especially with the presence of our esteemed colleagues from Asden Academy. I'm thrilled to declare the competition open and wish you all the best of luck."

With that, Murong Le descended from the podium as ten Azure Academy guards ascended with large boxes in hand. Nearly a thousand participants formed an orderly line and proceeded onto the stage.

"What's going on here?" Zhang Nan inquired, gesturing towards the crowd.

"Weren't you paying attention in class? It's been said that the Grand Tournament of the Hundred Academies determines the matchups by drawing lots. The lots are color-coded: green and purple. Each green will face off against a purple, and so on. There are five stages in total, and battles will take place simultaneously on all of them."

Murong Wan spoke with a sense of resignation.

After listening, Zhang Nan nodded, then muttered under his breath, "Did you mention that? When was that? I don't seem to recall."

Murong Wan took Zhang Nan by the arm and led him straight to the drawing station, where she drew lots for both of them.

Zhang Nan examined his lot, marked with the number three hundred in purple, while Murong Wan's was two hundred in purple.

He glanced around at the others and remarked, "It's going to be a while before it's my turn to fight. Can I head back to my dorm now?"

"No, you can't go. We'll just have to wait," she replied.