Chapter 21

There is no break between the breakout round and the 64-strong advancement round.

However, the news of Xu Xiaoshou's killing had fermented overnight and spread throughout almost the entire outer academy.

For the vast majority of people, their original focus was only on the top ten figures on the风云榜 (Feng Yun List). Now, Xu Xiaoshou, as a dark horse, had forcefully entered their field of vision.

The next day at noon, the advancement round began.

Unlike the breakout round, from this moment on, the Outen Platform no longer had eighteen separate stages but one main stage for consecutive battles.

This was what everyone had been looking forward to.

Heaven knows how many people regretted missing the historical moment of the first kill in the outer academy while watching other matches yesterday.

The audience seats were packed with people, and the voices were deafening.

"Here they come, here they come. After waiting so long, we finally have this moment."

"Ha, who isn't? Yesterday, to watch Senior Sister Mo and Senior Brother Chao, the two innate talents, I actually missed the first kill in the outer academy!"

"Haha, you really missed out. Before the advancement round, what was there to see? They all resolved their opponents in one move!"

"You don't know, when Xu Xiaoshou sheathed his sword, Leader Wen attacked from behind, and was ultimately stabbed in the chest... The scenes that kept reversing were incredibly exciting!"

"Let me tell you, the audience was scared stiff, and even someone's fart could be heard."

"Ugh, please don't say that. Can you see my tears of regret?"

Besides these onlookers, Xu Peng and Xu Hei were still there.

But after a night of reflection, everyone had become much more restrained. At most, they would glare at each other when mentioning Xu Xiaoshou, feeling mutual annoyance.

Xiao Qixiu landed on the main stage. This elder who had been floating in the air for several days finally decided to descend to the mortal world and step on solid ground to preside over the competition.

He dared not float anymore, for fear that seeing a few more souls ascend would be too much for his heart to bear.

He skillfully pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, and the audience immediately fell silent, all ears.

"Everyone has heard about yesterday's death incident..." Xiao Qixiu's words made everyone's eyes light up.

If this matter had not been mentioned, it would have been forgotten. Now that it was brought up, did it not imply that there was a lot to be said?

So, the Spirit Law Pavilion had made a decision, and Xu Xiaoshou would be banned from the competition?

Xiao Qixiu looked around, for the first time not reading from the paper. His expression was very serious:

"Here, I just want to remind everyone..."

"Perhaps the Tian Sang Spirit Palace has provided you with a comfortable cultivation environment, but I absolutely do not want you to lose your will."

"You will eventually graduate and leave. Once you are outside the Spirit Palace, in the Holy Divine Continent, life and death are inevitable!"

"Each competition is a hurdle in the outside world, and you need to give it your all!"

"But I also hope you can grasp the right measure. This measure is life and death, morality, and the bottom line in your hearts."

"Crossing this bottom line, you will commit a taboo and ultimately suffer the consequences."

"Whether you are called Xu Xiaoshou or Wen Chong!"

Everyone fell silent.

They were all waiting for a result. Would Xu Xiaoshou be banned from the competition, or would he continue to compete without guilt? No one could figure it out.

For these people, speculating about the competition results far outweighed their respect for life.

And precisely, Xiao Qixiu did not comment on yesterday's incident but used it to teach everyone a lesson.

Was Wen Chong's death not the result of crossing the bottom line and bringing it upon himself?

Whether Xu Xiaoshou also crossed the bottom line and deliberately inflicted harm was also a question.

But one thing was certain: there could only be one outcome.

By saying this, Xiao Qixiu clearly left it to time to decide whether Xu Xiaoshou would have a good or bad end.

In the venue, seeing everyone's reaction, Elder Xiao Qixiu was greatly comforted.

For someone who had killed countless people, the death of one person was nothing, and there was no need for such a fuss.

But these young people were different. If his words could awaken a few, even just a few, it would be enough.

Being brave and ruthless for a moment had no meaning and would only sow the seeds of future trouble.

Xiao Qixiu sighed. In the past, he would not have said so much, but now it was different.

After all, he was no longer the bloodthirsty Xiao Qixiu but the respected elder of the Tian Sang Spirit Palace.

"Very good!"

Xiao Qixiu shook the paper and read: "Since that's the case, let's get to the main point."

"The 64-strong final battle officially begins, determined by the lottery screen. Each group has two people, and the battle time does not exceed two hours!"

"Try your best today. The more strong ones you can produce, the better. We have time!"

The audience, which had been immersed in a silent atmosphere, burst into laughter at Xiao Qixiu's words, and the atmosphere gradually livened up.

Elder Xiao Qixiu was very satisfied with the effect and immediately waved his hand, intending to ignite the atmosphere.

"Now, the competition begins..."

"Wait!"

An urgent voice interrupted him.

Everyone was stunned, looking at the speaker. To dare interrupt the chief referee, this person must be looking for death?

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"This guy, is he crazy?"

"My goodness, it's already good that Elder Xiao didn't hold him responsible, and he still wants to cause trouble?"

"Here he comes, Xu Xiaoshou! I've been watching from the group stage, and I can tell you, if he doesn't cause trouble, he's not Xu Xiaoshou!"

On the referee's stand, eighteen black-robed people sat solemnly. As soon as Xu Xiaoshou arrived, the twelfth referee immediately leaned to one side.

"He's here, that guy, the Xu Xiaoshou I just told you about."

"Watch closely, this kid is definitely going to cause trouble!"

"I've been driven crazy by this guy. Come on, I'll bet one spirit crystal that even Elder Xiao can't handle him!"

The other black-robed people laughed, their eyes filled with surprise.

"Is he really that troublesome?"

"He's just an innate body and a postnatal sword intent. I've seen many geniuses!"

"True, no matter how talented he is, can he be more talented than Su Qianqian from the inner academy?"

The twelfth referee moved his chair forward, leaning to watch Xu Xiaoshou run up to Xiao Qixiu, shaking his head slightly.

"No, no, no, those are secondary. The most terrifying thing about this guy is his unpredictability!"

He paused and added, "You never know what he will do next that will anger heaven and man."

In the venue, all eyes were on him.

Xiao Qixiu's face was terrifyingly dark. He watched the young man, who was bare-chested and full of anxiety, run up to him, but he was helpless.

If a contestant has an extremely special situation, they can apply to the chief referee to pause the competition.

This is within the allowed range of the "Feng Yun Struggle" rules, although it has never been used before.

"What's wrong? If you don't have a special situation, do you believe I'll deal with you!"

Xiao Qixiu's anger had reached its peak, and Xu Xiaoshou's interruption was truly stifling.

"Help, Referee Sir!"

The young man in front of him looked panicked, his face flushed red. Only when he got close to Xiao Qixiu did he realize that the young man was emitting a burning heat.

Xu Xiaoshou was really panicking!

The old man had given him something, and as soon as the red seed entered his stomach, he felt his body becoming increasingly hot, a terrifying burning sensation spreading and continuously eroding his body.

He had been meditating by the lake, trying to refine and expel the substance.

But the more he refined, the worse it got. The substance had melted!

The burning sensation had seeped into every cell of his body, continuously burning.

Xu Xiaoshou felt like he was about to explode.

Although he had an innate body, he couldn't withstand such burning. Several of his internal meridians had already been severed, and if this continued, he would die.

He wanted to go to the Spirit Medicine Pavilion, but once the "Feng Yun Struggle" began, the best medical personnel and pharmacists were mostly on-site for support.

So, he could only come to the venue to borrow help.

But how could he easily borrow these support personnel, and the old man might have connections, so he couldn't easily expose his existence.

So, Xu Xiaoshou had to use his ultimate move!

Xiao Qixiu coldly watched the young man, curious to see what he would say.

Xu Xiaoshou tore off his shirt, revealing the red, burning flesh underneath, and cried out in a hoarse voice:

"Referee, save me!"

"I took drugs, I request to be banned from the competition!"

"I need medical personnel to examine my body, immediately, right now!"