As the Grand Elder of the Martial Academy announced, the faces of the disciples turned grim. However, they all knew that decisions made by the higher-ups were beyond their control.
Jian Kaicheng and Wu Wuji, among others, maintained a tacit understanding and did not inquire about what had happened to Li Xuan within the River of Time. After all, if even they, who couldn't sense anything, didn't need to probe further.
"Li Xuan, well done!" Jian Thirteen and the others, not overthinking things, excitedly surrounded Li Xuan. Securing the first victory significantly eased the pressure on the Sword Sect.
"It was just good luck," Li Xuan replied with a wry smile, his gaze then shifting to the Grand Elder of the Martial Academy on the high platform.
With the first round concluded, the next event was the team battle. According to the original plan, the second round was to take place within the River of Time. However, given the unforeseen circumstances of the first round, it was likely that the location for the second round would also change.
"The second round, a team battle, will now be held on this Martial God Plaza. You will have fifteen minutes to adjust. The competition will begin after fifteen minutes!"
Indeed, the Grand Elder of the Martial Academy surveyed everyone before speaking loudly.
"To actively appear is truly a stroke of luck. However, I hope your luck continues in this second round." Wu Haotian glanced at Li Xuan, who was surrounded by Jian Thirteen and others, and closed his eyes to adjust.
Soon, the fifteen minutes passed.
*Phew.*
As everyone's eyes fluttered open, the atmosphere in the arena immediately turned tense and murderous.
"All disciples, enter the arena." The Grand Elder of the Martial Academy looked at the participating disciples from both sides and then waved his hand, causing a barrier to appear.
Li Xuan and the others moved at the command, swiftly darting into the barrier.
The participating disciples from both sides stood facing each other. Once their gazes locked, they adopted their fighting stances. Unsurprisingly, only Li Xuan and Wu Haotian remained stationary.
"Why aren't you attacking?" Seeing Li Xuan's stillness, Wu Haotian frowned slightly and spoke.
Li Xuan smiled upon hearing this and asked, "Then why aren't you attacking?"
Wu Haotian chuckled and replied, "If I attack, this match will be over."
"You are certainly brimming with confidence." Li Xuan shook his head slightly, his aura instantly surging.
Li Xuan had encountered opponents who exuded such confidence before. However, comparatively speaking, Wu Haotian indeed had the right to speak so boldly.
"Dong Qianshan, Wan Juan Shu, Jiu Ge, Po Jun, Xin Jian, Sha Lei, Qing Xiao, Zhu Que, Tian Zhan!"
Li Xuan directly activated ten flying swords, and with a single thought, all of them slashed towards Wu Haotian in unison.
Seeing Li Xuan unleash ten flying swords at the outset, Wu Haotian's eyelids twitched, and he instantly took a step forward. At this moment, Wu Haotian also realized that the level of these ten flying swords was not weak. Being able to simultaneously control ten flying swords indicated that Li Xuan was not as simple as he appeared.
"Break!"
As Wu Haotian unleashed a punch, the very heavens and earth seemed to change color. Like a mountain, an invincible aura pressed down.
*Whoosh!*
Just as the ten flying swords were about to make direct contact, Li Xuan's lips curved slightly as he pointed at the sky.
In the next instant, the ten flying swords vanished from their positions. When they reappeared, they were precisely behind a Martial Academy disciple who was locked in combat with a Sword Sect disciple.
"You!" Wu Haotian realized what was happening, but it was too late.
*Boom!*
Caught off guard by the sudden ambush of the ten flying swords, the Martial Academy disciple, Zu Kuang, had no time to react. With a rumbling sound, Zu Kuang's body was sent flying.
The Sword Sect disciple, Nong Jian Yuan, who was engaged in battle, nodded in acknowledgment to Li Xuan and then swiftly moved towards another pair of combatants.
Wu Haotian's brow furrowed deeply at this sight, clearly grasping Li Xuan's intention. If Li Xuan were allowed to continue with such ambushes, even if the Martial Academy disciples were on guard, they would fight hesitantly. Over time, defeat would be inevitable.
"It seems I can't hold back any longer." Wu Haotian took a deep breath, his aura instantly rising to its peak.
"Wu Dong Qian Kun!" Wu Haotian's mind moved, and a long spear suddenly appeared in his hand. With a flick of the spear tip, it instantly lunged towards Li Xuan.
The spear moved like a dragon, and the surrounding heaven and earth seemed to be drawn into Wu Haotian's movements. Like a colossal dragon, it surged towards Li Xuan.
Judging by the spectacle, it was evident that he intended to eliminate Li Xuan directly.
Li Xuan's expression turned solemn upon seeing this. The ten flying swords instantly began to rotate rapidly in a circular formation around him.
"Wan Jian Gui Zong!"
Sword energy erupted around Li Xuan's body, and terrifying sword intent merged into the ten flying swords.
"Slash!"
The sword intent condensed by the ten flying swords, like a fierce tiger, fearlessly charged towards the approaching dragon.
*Boom!*
The dragon and tiger clashed. The moment they collided, the heavens and earth trembled and then stilled.
This exchange was a draw, evenly matched!
Even some of the disciples engaged in nearby battles were affected and repelled hundreds of meters away.
"If my eyes don't deceive me, these ten flying swords should be relics left behind by your Sword Sect's Ancestor. I didn't expect that to this day, a disciple would have subdued them and be able to wield them all," Wu Wuji, with his sharp vision, identified the anomaly and stated.
Jian Kaicheng did not deny it and nodded, "These ten flying swords are indeed relics left by our Ancestor. If no one could obtain them, they would only be left to gather dust in the mountains. If I'm not mistaken, your Martial Academy's Wu Haotian has likely already stepped into the True Martial realm, has he not?"
Although Wu Haotian had not yet unleashed the full power of the True Martial realm, his movements already contained its essence. Otherwise, Li Xuan's recent strike would not have been so easily blocked by Wu Haotian.
"With the appearance of a destined individual, if our Martial Academy doesn't have a disciple to carry the banner, we might be submerged in this contest," Wu Wuji chuckled and remarked.
Jian Kaicheng nodded in agreement. If not for Li Xuan's emergence, the Sword Sect's banner carrier would likely have been Jian Thirteen. However, compared to Wu Haotian, Jian Thirteen undeniably lacked the foundational strength.
"It seems that if I don't go all out, I won't be able to suppress him." Wu Haotian glanced at Li Xuan, his eyes hardening with resolve.
Li Xuan's expression was also grave. This was the first time he had encountered an opponent of the same rank who could match him evenly. Although Li Xuan had not used his full power or trump cards, he believed Wu Haotian had also held back.
However, Li Xuan was not worried. After all, one disciple from the Martial Academy had already been eliminated. If this situation persisted, the Martial Academy would undoubtedly lose.
Observing Wu Haotian's expression and the subtle shift in the surrounding aura, Li Xuan instantly sensed it.
This Wu Haotian was about to unleash his full power.