Evan Chu had become the center of attention in this year's Family Tournament, and his performance today was the hot topic of everyone's conversation.
Many disciples in Group Three were filled with resentment—eliminated before they could even compete. Such a result was hard to accept.
If blame must be placed, it could only be on their own bad luck for being sorted into Group Three—where Evan Chu, that total monster, was waiting.
The matches continued with tense intensity, and because of Evan Chu, the pressure on disciples in other groups only increased.
To have slain a ninth‑level Xuanwu expert—there was no doubt that first place already belonged to him.
But Evan Chu was keenly aware of his current situation. If he had to face Wolf Liu right now, he would definitely lose.
He could no longer use the seventh form of the Windchaser Sword Codex, and his stellar force was nearly depleted. He was basically a paper tiger—good for scaring people, but little else.
Soon, all the matches in every group came to an end. Some were happy, some were disappointed.
Competition is always cruel—without absolute strength, your only fate is elimination.
At that moment, Jenny Sima—the host of the Family Tournament—stepped down from the VIP dais.
"Now that the matches in each group have ended, we'll begin the second round of elimination. Due to special circumstances in Group Three, Evan Chu will continue to advance directly, while the first‑place winners from the other groups will move forward as well."
Jenny Sima's words meant that everyone numbered 300 to 399 was eliminated—except for Evan Chu, number 354.
The first‑place winners from the previous three groups were clearly unhappy, but dared not voice their anger. Their resentment toward Evan Chu only deepened.
Now, only ninety contestants remained on the arena—each one the top of their group, and far stronger than before. The matches were about to get much more exciting.
Evan Chu stepped onto the platform, then stepped down again—he didn't need to compete at all. In other words, he was already guaranteed a top‑ten spot.
"Evan Chu, wait! I have something to ask you!" Jenny Sima's voice suddenly called out from behind him.
"She's calling me? What could she want? She won't ask about my martial arts, will she? If she does, how should I handle it?" Evan Chu worried to himself.
Jenny Sima was the City Lord's daughter and a first‑level Earth Martial Realm cultivator. Evan Chu naturally didn't dare offend her.
He stopped, turned, and smiled. "I wonder what the beautiful Miss Sima wants with me?"
"Come with me to the City Lord's Mansion. I have something to ask you," Jenny Sima said, not explaining further and simply motioning for Evan Chu to follow.
Hearing those words, Evan Chu felt uneasy. If Jenny Sima harbored ill intent and coveted his martial arts, entering the City Lord's Mansion might mean he would never come out again.
Seeing Evan Chu hesitate, Jenny Sima laughed. "You're too timid. I mean you no harm, and I'm not interested in your martial arts. If I'm not mistaken, your technique is a mid‑grade Profound‑tier martial art.
But I can tell you, I also cultivate a mid‑grade Profound‑tier martial art. Does that clear things up for you?"
Evan Chu nodded, half believing, half doubting. "Please lead the way, Miss Sima."
Though the two didn't speak loudly, those nearby could still hear every word.
A mid‑grade Profound‑tier martial art—this was the highest‑level technique in Flowing Cloud City. No one expected that kid to possess something like that.
Judging by Jenny Sima's attitude, it was obvious she wanted to recruit him. Offending someone like her was absolutely out of the question.
To offend him was to offend the City Lord's Mansion—any fool knew what that would mean.
In an instant, anyone who had held a grudge against Evan Chu or wanted to steal his martial arts thought better of it. It was best not to provoke him.
Jenny Sima walked ahead, her interest in the Family Tournament already fading. With someone as heaven‑defying as Evan Chu, that was enough.
Walking inside the City Lord's Mansion felt like entering a maze compared to his own family's estate—it was countless times larger.
After walking for nearly the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Jenny Sima finally stopped. "So, what do you think?"
Her words were strange, but her voice was pleasant—like a songbird singing.
"It's huge—much bigger than I imagined. And beautiful, more beautiful than I expected!" Evan Chu replied expressionlessly.
"Haha! You really are interesting. Are you truly only at the fifth level of the Xuanwu Realm?" Jenny Sima laughed, then began to probe.
Evan Chu realized Jenny Sima was finally getting to her real purpose. He glanced around and noticed a nearby pavilion, then smiled. "Let's sit in that pavilion and talk."
As he spoke, Evan Chu felt a strange impulse inside—he knew it was his Pure Yang Qi acting up.
"Alright. I hope you'll be honest with me." Jenny Sima still wore a smile, but Evan Chu couldn't see her face clearly because of her veil.
Inside the pavilion was a stone table with a tea set. Evan Chu poured himself a cup and drank it down in one go.
"Good tea! Now, tell me your real purpose. I don't believe you brought me here just to show off the scenery."
Jenny Sima watched Evan Chu's every move, then poured herself a cup of tea. "Is your goal in joining the Family Tournament to enter Heavenly Dragon Academy?"
"That's right. It's the best way to make a name for myself. If I'm not mistaken, Miss Sima, you're also a student at Heavenly Dragon Academy, aren't you?" At this moment, Evan Chu felt a wave of heat inside, his gaze locked onto Jenny's impressive figure.
"I'm an inner disciple. I came back specifically to select entrants for Heavenly Dragon Academy—or, you could say, my own disciples."
"What do you mean?" Evan Chu was a little confused. She could personally choose disciples?
"You still haven't told me your true realm."
"Fifth level of the Xuanwu Realm!" Evan Chu didn't hide it. Although his stellar force was immense, he truly hadn't broken through to the sixth level yet.
Jenny Sima looked at Evan Chu in surprise. When she first saw his registration as fifth‑level Xuanwu, she hadn't paid much attention.
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But when she saw him fighting nine opponents at once, she became interested—especially since two of those disciples were also fifth‑level Xuanwu.
To be able to kill several of them effortlessly while under attack from nine people, and remain unharmed—that was what truly caught her attention.
When Evan Chu fought the referee, she was even more eager to see his real strength.
If he could withstand five moves from that referee, it meant he was qualified to enter Heavenly Dragon Academy.
If the referee had tried to harm Evan Chu, she would have stopped him immediately.
But as their fight grew more intense, she forgot to intervene. What shocked her most was that Evan actually killed the referee—she was left speechless.
At Heavenly Dragon Academy, once you've reached the Earth Martial Realm, you can recruit your own students. Jenny Sima had met that requirement, which was why she treated Evan Chu so favorably.
Evan Chu, of course, knew nothing of this. The Pure Yang Qi inside him was running wild, the heat growing stronger—he was struggling to keep it under control.
It was only now that Jenny Sima noticed the genius across from her was staring straight at her chest.
She felt a mix of shyness and anger. No one had ever dared look at her like this before.
Evan Chu was completely unaware. Sweat began to bead on his forehead, his face growing uglier by the moment—he looked like he was about to lose control.
"Miss Sima, please leave quickly—I can't hold myself back much longer."
"What's going on?" Jenny Sima barely finished her question before Evan Chu's eyes turned blood‑red. He suddenly sprang to his feet, like a wild beast in heat, and lunged straight at her...
(PS: Just got back from the hospital, writing in a daze—please forgive any mistakes, dear readers!)