Chapter 55: The Fair and Impartial Inner Courtyard Selection Tournament

Outside the Canaan Academy stood two bustling settlements nestled right against the institution: Canaan City and Peace Town.

The recruitment team touched down in Canaan City, which lay closer to the academy.

Watching the flock of griffins take flight into the sky, Instructor Xiwen distributed contribution points to the senior students who had assisted with the recruitment and dismissed them. Only then did she walk over to the forty-nine chattering and excitedly debating newcomers.

She gently clapped her hands to produce a crisp sound, drawing the attention of all the new students toward her.

"New students, as you can see, right behind us is the Canaan Academy. However, before we step foot inside, there is a small matter to attend to—assigning your classes."

"Normally, the newcomers recruited by an instructor are placed under that instructor's direct charge. You are quite lucky, and so am I. Just last year, I was promoted to a Xuan-tier instructor. So, congratulations, from now on you are students of my Xuan-tier Class Nine. I suppose no one would choose to give up a Xuan-tier class to be reassigned to a Huang-tier class, right?"

The crowd of newcomers chuckled and shook their heads in unison.

Although they were not yet entirely clear on the distinction between a Xuan-tier class and a Huang-tier class, just the sound of it gave them the distinct impression that a Xuan-tier class was definitely superior.

Instructor Xiwen nodded with satisfaction, then turned her gaze toward Chen Xiao.

"Special students receive special treatment. Students with A-grade potential or higher have the right to freely choose their class. However, within the outer academy, the Xuan-tier classes are already the best. There is practically no difference between Class One and Class Nine. With about a month remaining until this year's inner academy selection trials, I will temporarily assign you to Class Nine for now. What do you think?"

"That's fine," Chen Xiao answered readily.

To him, the outer academy was merely a stepping stone, and all the instructors possessed only the strength of Great Dou Shi anyway. Going to any class made no difference.

"That's settled then. Rest assured, once I get you all settled in shortly, I will go see the Vice-Headmaster. I imagine the outcome won't disappoint you. I'm riding on your coattails this year and will receive a substantial reward. Whenever you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me. Official business or personal, I will do my utmost."

Instructor Xiwen promised with a serious expression.

Though her own strength and status might not allow her to offer massive assistance, showing the right attitude was what mattered most; one shouldn't take advantage and still act ungrateful.

After speaking briefly, Instructor Xiwen led the forty-nine individuals into the academy.

Immediately afterward, she personally guided everyone to view their assigned dormitories as well as the location of Xuan-tier Class Nine.

Along the way, she continuously briefed the newcomers on various precautions and rules they needed to heed within the outer academy.

She was a deeply responsible instructor.

It was not until nightfall, after Instructor Xiwen announced the time for tomorrow morning's class assembly and dismissed them, that the youths and maidens finally headed toward their dormitories in groups of threes and fives.

...

The first night in Canaan passed without incident.

The next day, following a tedious entrance ceremony, the newcomers officially began their cultivation journey within the outer academy.

Simultaneously, Instructor Xiwen brought Chen Xiao some good news.

Chen Xiao's request to participate in the inner academy selection trials had been granted by Vice-Headmaster Hu Gan.

"When the Vice-Headmaster learned about you, he smiled rather craftily... and said he wanted to give the inner academy's First Elder a wonderful surprise. You can focus entirely on your cultivation from now on. While the outer academy might not offer much help in boosting your strength directly, accumulating more knowledge is beneficial without any harm."

"I understand. Thank you, Instructor."

Chen Xiao nodded in gratitude.

Throughout the following month, Chen Xiao lived the life of an ordinary, unassuming newcomer.

He cultivated, attended classes, and adapted to academy life.

Because he had very little time left in the outer academy, Chen Xiao had no intention of joining the Enforcers.

As for the Alchemist Department, he didn't even bother looking its way.

Just like that, a month flew by rapidly.

It was worth mentioning that during this period, through Chen Xiao's continuous medicinal baths, the Earth Core Body-Abluting Milk he had obtained from his previous advance procurement was completely exhausted.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiao's strength had also reached the peak of the Four-Star Dou Ling, leaving him just a hair's breadth away from the Five-Star level.

...

A new day dawned.

The inner academy selection tournament, anticipated by all outer academy students, finally raised its curtain.

In the center of the vast plaza, a gigantic arena standing one meter tall had been erected.

This way, even when the surrounding area was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, the students could still view the entire panoramic scene on the stage from the outer rings.

At high noon, Vice-Headmaster Hu Gan, draped in a flamboyant red robe, ascended the arena. After briefly mentioning restrictions such as forbidding fatal strikes during combat and prohibiting pills that temporarily boosted strength, he loudly announced:

"This year's inner academy selection tournament now begins!"

"Roar!"

The students cheered passionately, their voices shaking the heavens.

amid the uproar, Hu Gan leaped away from the arena to observe from a high vantage point, while a stern-faced middle-aged referee replaced the spot he had just vacated.

"The rules of the inner academy selection tournament are optimized and refined by the outer academy every year to ensure greater fairness and impartiality while maintaining efficiency. Following discussions among the Vice-Headmaster and other senior figures, this year's tournament will adopt a knockout format."

"After preliminary screening, a total of four hundred and one students will compete this year for the fifty-one spots to enter the inner academy. You will vie for the final fifty-one through three rounds of knockout matches, with one person receiving a bye in each round."

Hearing these rules, murmurs of doubt gradually arose among the crowd below.

Doesn't this mean that as long as one's luck is good enough, it might even be possible to secure qualification for the inner academy without fighting a single match?

Although the probability was extremely slim, it still existed theoretically.

"Do not worry. As I stated a moment ago, in this year's inner academy selection tournament, we uphold only three principles: Fairness! Fairness! And absolute fairness!"

"After the final fifty-one are decided, if any participant harbors reservations about the results, they may issue a challenge. As long as you can defeat your opponent, you can take their place."

At these words, many people nodded silently.

No rule is absolutely flawless. Being able to add a challenge stage to this tournament was already enough to satisfy them thoroughly.

If someone still failed to seize a spot under these conditions, they would have nothing left to say.

"Inside this wooden box are the names of all participants. I will now draw lots to determine your opponents for the first round of the knockouts."

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the middle-aged referee produced a wooden box with only a circular hole left at the top.

Reaching his hand inside, he quickly drew two slips of paper at random.

"First match: Tian Zhipeng from Huang-tier Class Five versus Qiu Tianyou from Huang-tier Class Nine. Please take the stage."

With the announcement delivered, he reached into the box once more and drew two more slips.

"Second match: Bai Bin from Xuan-tier Class Three versus Hou Nianzhen from Huang-tier Class Four. Please prepare yourselves."

"..."

The first round of the knockout stage could only be described as a mixed bag.

Out of the total two hundred matches, the vast majority were one-sided routs, and quite a few unfortunate souls were eliminated in a single move.

Only in a dozen or so matches were the two opponents evenly matched, trading blows for several minutes without a clear victor.

Yet, even with such a rapid pace, by the time all two hundred matches concluded, dusk had already fallen.

And that final lucky person who received a bye was finally revealed at this moment.

"The final one..."

"From Xuan-tier Class Nine, Chen Xiao, gets a bye!"

Hearing this name, those in the dark were filled with envy. Although they would still have to rely on hard strength later on, advancing to the second round so effortlessly was certainly comfortable.

Conversely, the people from Xuan-tier Class Nine, along with those who had caught wind of certain rumors during this period, felt entirely unsurprised by the result, considering it nothing less than fitting!