Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

"I just want to remind Captain Li that those who manipulate time will eventually be devoured by time itself."

"You'd better watch yourself."

After saying that, she didn't look at Li Yuan again, turned around, her skirt fluttering, and left silently.

Watching her retreating figure, Li Yuan frowned slightly. Just who was this Leng Ning Shuang?

Did she genuinely sense the power of time within herself, or was she bluffing him?

It seems that these three academies are full of hidden talents and should not be underestimated. I must not underestimate them.

Of course, he was not afraid at all. He would meet force with force and water with water. He was determined to make a name for himself in this league.

All the talented people in the world, take a look at the splendor of my Divine Martial Academy!

The next day, the sky was clear and bright.

The area in front of the Shenwu Academy's Tianyan Stage was already packed with people. Students from the four academies, teachers, and some of the nobles and renowned cultivators from Chang'an City who were granted permission to enter and watch the ceremony made the stands extremely crowded.

At the center of the Tianyan Stage, Su Wenyuan, the dean of Shenwu Academy, stood in a purple robe, exuding an elegant and refined air.

"The Four Academies League—Great Tang Divine Martial Arts, Heavenly Strategy, Myriad Phenomena, and Great Void—begins today!"

"This year's league consists of three stages to test the students' cultivation, character, and wisdom."

"The first challenge, the Martial Arts Competition, is a ring competition to test individual cultivation, martial arts skills, and combat ability. Each of the four academies sends five members to fight in pairs. One point is awarded for each victory. After three rounds, the team with the highest total score will be the champion of the first challenge."

"The second challenge is the Trial of the Mind in the Mist, which takes place in the misty forest behind the academy. It simulates a situation where demons kidnap hostages, testing the students' courage, wisdom, on-the-spot decision-making and teamwork skills."

"The third challenge is to seek truth in the secret realm. Open the Little Mysterious Heaven Secret Realm of my Divine Martial Academy. Inside there are demonic beasts and spiritual materials, as well as relics and opportunities. It is fraught with danger."

"Each team enters the area and has three days to complete it. The winner is determined by the quantity and value of the spiritual items they obtain from the secret realm. This challenge comprehensively tests the students' cultivation, knowledge, survival and teamwork skills, and even their luck."

"The team with the highest total score across the three rounds will be the overall champion of this year's Four Colleges League."

After the rules were announced, the entire venue erupted in cheers. The competition, rescue challenge, and secret realm exploration progressed in stages, taking into account everything from individuals to teams, from apparent strength to comprehensive qualities.

"Now, the first round, the martial arts competition, begins with the drawing of lots!"

A huge lottery tube was carried up to a high platform, where the team leaders of each college came forward to draw lots.

Team captains Li Yuan, Zhao Lingyun, Wen Ruoxu, and Lei Lie shared the stage, their eyes meeting, sparks flying in the air.

Final draw results: In the first round, Shenwu will face Tiance, and Wanxiang will face Taixu.

Back in their own preparation area, Liu Hongyan briefly analyzed the information of the five team members from Tian Ce Academy.

Zhao Lingyun, needless to say, is a late-stage cultivator in the Mind-Seeking Realm and a powerful attacker. The other four, one man and three women, are all in the early to mid-stages of the Mind-Seeking Realm, each with their own strengths. In particular, a girl wielding two short halberds and a tall, thin man with unpredictable movements need to be paid special attention to.

"The tournament consists of three rounds, with two players competing in each round, and two matches taking place simultaneously."

Li Yuan began to arrange tactics, "To play it safe, we need to use strategies to ensure we get at least four points and aim for five."

"Tian Ji's horse racing strategy?" Chu Yunhe raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly." Li Yuan nodded. "Use our inferior horses to defeat their superior horses, and use our superior horses to easily defeat their middle-class horses."

"By using our medium-sized horses against their inferior horses, we can lose at most two races. If our medium-sized horses perform exceptionally well, we might even lose a point."

"Then... who will be the inferior horse?" Shen Lian asked meaningfully.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

"I'll do it." A clear voice rang out; it was Yu Ling'er.

She gripped the short stick tightly and said with a grin, "In terms of cultivation, I'm the weakest. Losing to Zhao Lingyun isn't shameful!"

"If we're lucky, we might be able to wear him down and create an opportunity for the senior students who come on later."

She spoke casually, but everyone knows how much courage it takes to choose to face an invincible enemy. It's not just about winning or losing, but also about testing the trainees' mentality.

Of the five, Yu Ling'er's greatest strength is her optimistic attitude.

Ji Fanghua glanced at Yu Ling'er silently and was touched to see that her smile was relaxed and there was no sign of reluctance.

Honestly, she knew she could never bring herself to sacrifice herself... Remembering what Li Yuan had said before, about entrusting one's back to teammates, she couldn't help but lower her head and ponder.

So this is what it means to take responsibility among teammates?

Li Yuan nodded: "Alright, Ling'er, you'll go first, facing Zhao Lingyun. Remember, safety first, don't fight head-on, focus on hit-and-run tactics to wear him down, and probe his strengths and weaknesses."

"clear."

Yu Ling'er nodded with a smile.

"In the other match," Li Yuan looked at the information in his hand, "the Tian Ce's representative should be Han Feng, the Cloud Piercing Spear. His spear technique is sharp and swift, and he excels at mid-range suppression. As for our side..."

"I'll do it." Chu Yunhe lazily raised his hand. "I can also use a gun, so I'll take this opportunity to learn about the Tian Ce army's marksmanship."

Chu Yunhe's cultivation level is at the mid-stage of the Questioning Mind Realm, and his spear technique is exquisite. He has a high chance of winning against Han Feng.

"Shen Lian, your cultivation is solid, your combat experience is rich, and your observation skills are strong."

Li Yuan looked at Shen Lian and said, "In the second round, if the opponent sends out that ghostly figure Sun Miao with his strange movements, you will deal with him. Use stillness to control movement and break his speed. If it is someone else, just act according to the situation."

"Okay," Shen Lian replied.

"Junior Sister Ji, your moves are unpredictable and suitable for surprise attacks. As a surprise weapon in the third round, we'll see how things go at that time."

Ji Fanghua nodded silently.

"As for me," Li Yuan glanced at his teammates, "I will play in the second or third round depending on the situation, and strive to secure the victory."

With the tactics agreed upon, everyone felt at ease.

Soon, the first round matchups were announced: East Arena, Shenwu Yu Ling'er vs. Tian Ce Zhao Lingyun; West Arena, Shenwu Chu Yunhe vs. Tian Ce Han Feng.

The matchup announcement caused an uproar in the stadium.

"Yu Ling'er versus Zhao Lingyun? Isn't that just giving away points?"

"What is Shenwu doing? Is he planning to forfeit a match?"

"Not necessarily. Look at the other match, Chu Yunhe versus Han Feng. With Chu Yunhe's strength, Shenwu has a sure win."

"Tian Ji's horse racing strategy!"

"Shenwu has a clever plan!"

There was a lot of discussion in the stands. On the Tian Ce Academy side, when Zhao Lingyun saw that his opponent was Yu Ling'er, he couldn't help but frown slightly. He obviously did not expect the Shenwu Association to arrange its troops in this way.

He originally wanted to fight Li Yuan, or at the very least, face Chu Yunhe or Shen Lian.

However, even gaining an extra point is a good thing for him. It doesn't matter who the opponent is; what matters is the victory.

Two arenas, fighting simultaneously.

On the East Arena, Yu Ling'er tightened her grip on the short stick in her hand, looking at Zhao Lingyun, who stood opposite her with his hands behind his back, his aura as heavy and imposing as a mountain, without any fear.

With a sharp cry, she launched the first attack, her short stick leaving afterimages as she struck, jabbed, swept, and flicked, her moves agile and swift, targeting Zhao Lingyun's vital points, attempting to gain the upper hand with speed.

Even knowing she would lose, she would never be perfunctory and would still give it her all.

Zhao Lingyun's eyes were indifferent. He moved his feet slightly and used his hands to pat and brush away Yu Ling'er's storm-like attacks one by one.

His movements seemed slow, yet he always managed to strike first and accurately intercept Yu Ling'er's staff attacks. Each collision caused Yu Ling'er's arms to go numb and her blood to surge.

The gap is obvious.