"Brother Li, what was your record?" Jian Chi arrived at the Wen Ding Plaza, looking at Li Xuan with a smile.
"I suppose I won all three rounds," Li Xuan replied with a slight smile. Jian Chi had clearly passed the second stage of the assessment with his recent victory.
"Brother Li, you truly are a monster. I'm curious who it was that met you," Jian Chi said, a look of no surprise on his face, followed by a wry smile.
"Mmm, Liu Zixin from the Glazed Holy Land, Jun Bieli from the Azure Wolf Sect, and Cai Jianhao from the Soaring Cloud Holy Land," Li Xuan mused.
Jian Chi blinked, looking at Li Xuan in disbelief. "Brother Li, you defeated all three of them?"
"Liu Zixin and Jun Bieli surrendered directly. Cai Jianhao from the Soaring Cloud Holy Land surrendered after one move," Li Xuan nodded.
"Holy crap!" Jian Chi couldn't help but swear. Those three were not weak, and he hadn't expected them to lose to Li Xuan like this. But thinking of Li Xuan's monstrous nature, Jian Chi felt deep sympathy for those three.
When a prodigy meets the ultimate prodigy, it's a tragedy.
"By the way, Brother Li, what exactly is your relationship with Miss Yue Fuyao?" Jian Chi asked curiously after a moment of thought.
Li Xuan paused, then thought seriously. "She's the first friend I made. Mmm, a very good one."
"Brother Li, I've discovered a problem," Jian Chi said, his expression turning serious.
Li Xuan looked at Jian Chi with curiosity.
Jian Chi immediately spoke, "Brother Li, haven't you noticed that Miss Yue Fuyao treats you differently than she treats others?"
Li Xuan frowned slightly. "She's my friend, and there doesn't seem to be any problem with that."
"Uh... Brother Li, I'm glad I know you. Otherwise, I would think you're a flirtatious young master. Can't you see the love in Miss Yue Fuyao's eyes when she looks at you?" Jian Chi said, sounding disappointed.
"Love..." Li Xuan was startled, and Yue Fuyao's image flashed in his mind.
Seeing Li Xuan lost in thought, Jian Chi pressed on. "Let me put it this way, if you saw Miss Yue Fuyao hugging someone else, would you feel uncomfortable?"
Li Xuan blinked and nodded truthfully.
"Heh heh, it seems Miss Yue Fuyao is also in Brother Li's heart. Brother Li, do you occasionally think of Miss Yue Fuyao? And when you think of her, do you feel very happy?" Jian Chi burst into laughter.
Li Xuan's expression gradually brightened.
"So, this is love."
Li Xuan collected his thoughts and his gaze shifted, instantly spotting Yue Fuyao not far away. As if sensing him, Yue Fuyao also looked up and quickly met Li Xuan's eyes.
For a moment, they looked at each other. Everything was left unsaid.
"Brother Li has finally opened his eyes," Jian Chi said with a knowing smile, looking at Li Xuan and Yue Fuyao.
"The second stage assessment is over!"
Just then, Xuan Kong's voice suddenly rang out. Li Xuan and the others immediately looked up at Xuan Kong in the air, filled with curiosity about the third stage's ranking matches.
"The third stage, ranking matches."
"All current participants may choose any ranking on the Top Hundred Prodigies list. If there is any objection to a chosen ranking, the participant may challenge the holder of that rank. A successful challenge allows the challenger to claim the rank and then challenge the holder of a higher rank. If the challenge fails, the participant must choose a lower-ranked holder to challenge."
"Three consecutive failed challenges result in elimination."
After Xuan Kong finished speaking, a hundred seats materialized in the air. The seats were empty, shimmering with golden light, signifying their prestigious status.
Looking at the hundred seats, the participants in Wen Ding Plaza showed expressions of fervor. However, their moods quickly turned solemn. Ten thousand people competing for a hundred spots was bound to be an intense battle. Moreover, no one could guarantee they could consistently defeat opponents, and choosing a high rank would undoubtedly create immense trouble for themselves.
"Everyone, begin."
Xuan Kong finished speaking and his figure gradually vanished. The participants, however, remained still, no one stepping forward to make a choice. After all, there were still ten thousand participants, and rashly claiming a spot would make them a target for many.
"Fine, since no one is choosing, I'll be the first bird to stick my neck out." After five minutes of waiting, a figure slowly emerged. Li Xuan recognized him as Nie Feng from the Azure Wolf Sect.
Nie Feng's strength was at the early stage of the Martial God realm. With him stepping forward, no one spoke. However, everyone watched Nie Feng, clearly waiting to see which rank he would choose.
Boom!
With a swift movement, Nie Feng's figure landed on the fiftieth seat. Clearly, Nie Feng was being cautious, as there were many participants. Directly choosing a high rank would undoubtedly make him a target. The fiftieth position was right in the middle of the hundred, serving as a connection point and leaving him opportunities.
"Nie Feng is quite cautious," Li Xuan remarked with a smile, then his gaze shifted to another person who had emerged. Li Xuan didn't know this person, but his aura was comparable to Nie Feng's.
Soon, this individual directly took the fifty-first seat.
Following Nie Feng and the man's choices, some of the stronger participants began to make their selections.
In a short while, seats fifty-two through one hundred were all occupied. However, the top fifty positions remained vacant. Everyone knew that even if they occupied one of those top spots now, they wouldn't be able to hold onto it without absolute strength.
"Are these guys really this cautious?" Li Xuan felt a bit speechless. Achieving a certain position indeed depended on one's strength. But if they lacked the confidence to even make a choice, how could they go far on this path?
Li Xuan shook his head and then shot towards the sky.
"Oh, Li Xuan is making a move." Many people in the crowd hadn't made a choice yet, and seeing Li Xuan emerge, they became curious.
As this person spoke, everyone's gaze turned to Li Xuan. Many were aware of Li Xuan's strength, but his choice of rank piqued their curiosity.
Boom!
With a beam of golden light soaring into the sky, Li Xuan sat down.
Upon seeing this, everyone's pupils constricted, their faces filled with astonishment.
Li Xuan had actually taken the first seat!