Chapter 603

Chapter 603: Battle Between the Top Eight

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Eight dazzling pillars of light soared into the sky, piercing through the clouds, clearly visible within a hundred miles.

Eight beams of red, green, black and yellow light intertwined, painting a spectacular scene.

Everyone was staring closely at the eight pillars of light and soon the sound of exclamations rang through the air with excited anticipation, one after another.

Mu Chen lifted his gaze to the sky amid the commotion, his glance fixing onto the other red beam of light. He then glanced downwards and his gaze landed on a team wearing green robes.

Liu Qingyun stood leading the team. He stared straight at Mu Chen and his team with his hands clasped behind his back.

Mu Chen’s opponent this time was the team from the Azure Sky Spiritual Academy.

“Phew.”

Shen Cangsheng and the other team members heaved a sigh of relief, as they were glad not to have encountered Wen Qingxuan and Wu Ling in the first round. After all, they were friendly with each other and they did not want to see either team eliminated in the first round.

As for the team from the Azure Sky Spiritual Academy, they could be considered allies with Ji Xuan and hence, also their enemies. Now that they would encounter each other, they could teach them a good lesson.

Shen Cangsheng could still recall how Liu Qingyun helped Ji Xuan threaten Mu Chen in the elimination tournament earlier and if Mu Chen had not been proficient, things would have ended disastrously.

Mu Chen looked away from Liu Qingyun and glanced towards the allocation of opponents. He was momentarily stunned when he realized that Ji Xuan’s opponent would be Wen Busheng’s team from the Invincible Spiritual Academy.

Among the top eight teams, the Invincible Spiritual Academy was considered to be the weakest and generally speaking, Spiritual Academies of such a weak caliber would not have teams that could make it to the top eight. However, Wen Busheng accomplished this. No matter the results, he would be deemed as the pride and glory of the Invincible Spiritual Academy.

Mu Chen glanced towards Wen Busheng and found the man had a neutral expression, not lamenting his unlucky encounter with such a tough opponent as Ji Xuan.

At this moment, Mu Chen could not help him and could only silently wish him good luck in his heart.

Wen Qingxuan’s opponent was the team from the Nine Cauldrons Spiritual Academy led by Fang Yun, who had been previously defeated by Luo Li.

The last group of opponents, however, astonished Mu Chen. The two teams that would be facing each other were Wu Ling from the Martial Spiritual Academy and Xie Tianhe from the Blood Divine Academy.

Mu Chen did not have a favorable impression towards Xie Tianhe, instead having murderous intent towards him, because Xie was clearly coming for Luo Li.

Xie Tianhe had always been an unsettling character and he did not reveal his true strength in the elimination tournament. However, he easily entered the top eight, proving his immense power.

Similarly, Wu Ling was also no slouch and like Xie, also had not exposed his true capabilities in the elimination tournament, instead opting to hide them.

Now that these two teams which had chosen to conceal their true power would clash, no one could seem to predict what would happen.

“How unlucky we encountered Ji Xuan first.” Wen Busheng’s teammate, who stood behind him, lamented with a frown.

“It is already a feat that we made it into the top eight.” Wen Busheng smiled, staring straight at Ji Xuan. His eyes held no trace of fear in them but instead a tinge of desire for combat.

“We just have to try our best in the upcoming battle. We made it so far after going through so much, we have to make the Invincible Spiritual Academy proud, don’t we?”

Upon seeing Wen Busheng’s composed demeanor, his four team members gradually calmed down and grinned. Indeed, the fact that the Invincible Spiritual Academy could enter the top eight already surpassed everyone’s expectations. No matter if they won or lost, they had already accomplished a great feat. Either way, they just had to do their best.

“Well, let us see how strong the team from the Saint Spiritual Academy is then!”

…

“Well, here’s Luo Li’s defeated opponent.”

Wen Qingxuan glanced casually at Fang Yun, her red lips twisting into a scoff. She then looked towards the four pretty girls behind her and remarked, “Don’t let me down. If you fail, don’t blame me for being ruthless when we return to the Million Phoenix Spiritual Academy!”

She extended her palm and clenched it. The originally fierce expression had a playful effect on her beautiful face.

“Hehe, we understand.” Le’Er and Pin’Er smiled sweetly like flowers in bloom, charming the hearts of those around them.

However, Fang Yun’s team was dreading facing them and even Fang Yun had a downcast expression. He felt very pressured because facing an opponent the likes of Wen Qingxuan was highly daunting.

…

“Blood Divine Academy, is it…”

Wu Ling narrowed his eyes at the team clad in crimson robes, contemplation flitting across his delicate features. He couldn’t explain why, but Xie Tianhe gave him a dangerous impression that he was not to be trifled with.

“These fellows are more than what they seem to be,” Wu Yingying remarked solemnly, standing behind Wu Ling. The Martial Spiritual Academy had undergone a regrouping at the critical moment, explaining Wu Yingying’s presence.

Wu Ling nodded, snapping his slender fingers lightly, his face serene. “I will deal with Xie Tianhe. All of you just have to perform to your usual standards and try not to make mistakes.”

Wu Yingying and the three other team members nodded in assent.

…

While the eight teams on the golden stairs were subtly sizing each other up, others among the Spiritual Academies were also murmuring and whispering to each other, although no one could easily draw a conclusion.

Although the top eight each had their individual ranking in the elimination tournament, it was clear that it was a mere elimination phase. These ace teams need not reveal all their cards from the get-go, and hence, the first position in the elimination tournament was not guaranteed to clinch the overall championship.

The scenario in which the last ranking team in the elimination phase surpassed all expectations to clinch the overall championship was extremely rare in previous Spiritual Academy Competitions.

However, in any case, the final match would be absolutely thrilling. In these four groups, everyone was curious which teams could make it to the top four.

In the sky, the five Chiefs had differing expressions when they saw how the teams were assigned. No one seemed to be too worried, however, as they were confident in their own Academy’s team.

“Since the allocation of teams has been completed, the eight teams may enter the stage,” Chief Tian Sheng stated calmly and with a wave of his hand, the massive golden battle stage below suddenly split apart into four golden platforms nearly 10,000 feet across.

Every platform further divided into five sections. The battle stage glistened with gold light, as if it were formed out of gold and impossibly sturdy.

“In this match where four out of eight teams will advance into the next stage, we will adopt a seven-point system. In every team, so long as one member is defeated, the opponent will obtain a point. If the captain is defeated, the opponent will obtain three points, adding up to seven points in total. The teams who obtain more points will be eligible to enter the top four positions.”

“A seven-point system… The captain is actually worth three points.”

Mu Chen was taken aback, as the captain alone accounted for almost half of the total points. The importance of the captain was apparent, as they just had to defeat their opponent’s captain to determine a high probability of victory. That was unless the other four members were all defeated.

“Are we all clear?” In the sky, Chief Tian Sheng looked over everyone, as he reiterated slowly.

The eight teams nodded.

“If so, get onto the stage then,” Chief Tian Sheng commanded with a wave of his hand.

Whoosh!

The eight teams stormed in and in a flash, many exhilarated stares locked onto the four massive golden battle stages.

Mu Chen and his team of four appeared at the golden battle stage on the far left.

“Let me deal with Liu Qingyun.” Mu Chen glanced at Luo Li, Shen Cangsheng and his other teammates.

After regrouping, his team was no less inferior to any of the other teams in the top eight. The presence of Luo Li, in fact, made them even stronger. However, due to the seven-point system where the captain accounted for the largest proportion of points, this resulted in a number of unknown variables. Once the captain was defeated, then the team had basically lost.

Thus, Mu Chen had to deal with Liu Qingyun, since he was the strongest on the opponent’s team. Although he was clear that Liu Qingyun was no slouch, at this moment he was fearless, no matter who he was facing.

“Be careful.” Luo Li nodded slightly and reminded him. Liu Qingyun was not one to be trifled with, since he was a genius from the Wind Spirit Clan. A clan with a long history was not easy to deal with.

Mu Chen nodded.

Seeing this, Luo Li and the other three members did not comment further and made their moves, appearing on the other four battle stages.

Mu Chen stood alone on the huge golden battle stage, beyond which was an endless sea of people and overwhelming cheers that were rolling in like the tide.

The atmosphere of this space was palpable with tension and anticipation.

Phew.

As if affected by the tense atmosphere, Mu Chen inhaled deeply, his blood circulating in a frenzy. His dark eyes surged like tumultuous waves with the desire for combat.

Swoosh!

The sound of something piercing through the wind rang in the air, as a green figure appeared on the vast golden battle stage like a specter. Liu Qingyun placed a hand behind his back as he directed a nonchalant gaze towards Mu Chen, before smiling faintly.

“Mu Chen, I have come to stop you.”