Replace me as the top scholar? Go talk to my Marshal Grandpa!

In the next match, Wang Xian was not matched with a champion seed, but with a specially recruited player.

That person was called Zhou Yuanjian, a first-level cultivator at the Condensation Realm, the same level as Wang Xian.

To be able to cultivate to the Condensation Realm at this age is to be a genius among geniuses.

Moreover, he also possesses an S-level talent—Spirit Eye.

This is a gift that enhances vision.

It can see through the trajectory of spiritual energy, capture fast-moving objects, and see in any environment.

This talent is very useful in combat.

Wang Xian sighed inwardly.

There are so many geniuses at Tsinghua and Peking Universities.

Since he enrolled in school, he has seen more than a handful of S-level talents.

But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense.

Although the probability of awakening an S-level talent is one in ten million, the population of Great Xia is already close to 10 billion.

With such a huge base, even with a probability of one in ten million, nearly a thousand S-level talents could emerge nationwide.

As the top university in the Great Xia Dynasty, Tsinghua and Peking Universities gather the nation's most outstanding geniuses, and naturally, there are many S-level talents among them.

Zhou Yuanjian stood on the dueling platform, looking at Wang Xian opposite him, feeling immense pressure.

He vividly remembered the scene of punching the dragon beast to pieces.

But he is an S-level talent, a genius specially recruited by Tsinghua and Peking Universities, and has his own pride.

He took a deep breath and activated his spiritual eyes to capture Wang Xian's every move.

The referee announced the start of the match.

Zhou Yuanjian made a move.

He was fast and agile, like a cheetah.

His spiritual eyes allowed him to clearly see Wang Xian's every subtle movement and predict his attack direction in advance.

He circled around to Wang Xian's side and struck out with his palm!

Then--

He found himself unable to move.

He wasn't frozen in place; Wang Xian's fist was already in front of him.

That punch was nothing fancy; it was just the simplest and most direct punch.

But the speed of that punch was so fast that he didn't have time to react at all.

Ling Tong caught the trajectory of the fist, but his body couldn't keep up.

"Bang!"

Zhou Yuanjian was sent flying off the dueling platform and crashed to the ground.

He was stunned for several seconds before he realized what was happening.

Lost!

They didn't even last one round.

He looked up at the boy on the stage who was slowly withdrawing his fist, and gave a bitter smile.

This is the difference between geniuses.

Wang Xian stepped down from the dueling platform, his expression calm.

This victory secured his place in the quarterfinals.

This also means that he has been granted a spot to travel to smaller planes and hunt down chosen ones.

Following that, other matches were also held.

Qin Chong's opponent was an ordinary freshman at the first level of the Condensation Realm.

He knocked his opponent off the stage with a single punch, easily advancing to the next round.

The monk had no opponent at the second level of the Condensation Realm. He put his hands together and chanted a Buddhist mantra. The opponent was as if he were being pressed down by a mountain, unable to move, and took the initiative to admit defeat.

Xuanyuan Qizheng's opponent was a body cultivator at the first level of the Condensation Realm. With a single swing of his sword, the sword light was as white as snow, and his opponent's weapon broke in response, forcing him to concede defeat.

Ye Chuan's opponent was a second-level Condensation Realm mage. Wearing the Heavenly Sorrow Armor, he withstood three waves of spells from his opponent before punching him off the stage.

Thus, all five non-championship seeded players who made it into the round of 16 were eliminated and failed to advance to the quarterfinals.

The remaining four champion seeds were matched together.

Taoist Zhang Xuling faced off against Ying Wuhen.

Prodigy Su Xingye faces off against giant swordswoman Luo Qingli.

The clash between the two championship seeds has generated immense anticipation among viewers.

……

On the dueling platform.

Taoist Zhang Xuling and Ying Wuhen stood facing each other.

Zhang Xuling was dressed in a gray Taoist robe, holding a whisk in his hand, with a wry smile on his face:

"Ugh, what a miserable life. Why did I have to run into the champion seed? Couldn't they just let me advance easily?"

He sighed and looked completely harmless.

Ying Wuhen looked at Zhang Xuling without speaking, his eyes calm but without any contempt.

No one who is favored by countless people and hailed as a champion seed is simple.

Moreover, this guy is a true disciple of Longhu Mountain, which makes him even more extraordinary.

The referee raised his hand:

"The match begins!"

Ying Wuhen made the first move.

He is a spiritual cultivator, specializing in the cultivation of the soul.

These cultivators primarily hone their spiritual power, and can control all things with a single thought.

He slightly raised his hands, and thirteen silver needles appeared out of thin air!

The silver needle was as thin as a cow's hair, entirely silver-white, with a faint, cold light swirling at its tip.

They hovered around Ying Wuhen, slowly rotating, like thirteen venomous snakes poised to strike.

Ye Chuan, surprised, introduced Wang Xian from below the stage:

"These are the Ice Soul Silver Needles! Shadowless's signature weapon!"

"This thing is forged from millennia-old cold iron, controlled by mental power, and incredibly fast—it's impossible to defend against!"

"Moreover, the needle tip is coated with a chilling poison; once you're pricked, your spiritual energy circulation will be hindered!"

Wang Xian nodded, her gaze fixed on the stage.

With a slight twitch of his fingers, Ying Wuhen unleashed thirteen Ice Soul Silver Needles simultaneously!

They drew thirteen strange arcs in the air, shooting towards the Taoist priest from different angles!

It was so fast that it couldn't be detected by the naked eye!

The audience gasped in surprise!

The Taoist priest's expression instantly turned serious.

With a flick of his left hand, he flung several small flags out of his sleeve.

The flag was only the size of a palm, with intricate runes drawn on its surface. As soon as it appeared, it transformed into beams of light that landed around him.

"Charge!"

He gave a low shout, and the small flags lit up at the same time, enveloping him in a pale golden light shield!

"Ding ding ding ding—!"

The Ice Soul Silver Needle struck the light shield, producing a crisp metallic clang!

The light shield trembled violently, but did not shatter.

The Taoist priest did not stop.

He took out a talisman from his pocket with his right hand. The talisman was golden in color and covered with densely packed runes.

He bit his fingertip, touched the talisman, and then flung it out!

"Lord Laozi, may your command be fulfilled immediately!"

The talisman transformed into a golden flame and hurtled towards Shadowless!

The flames were extremely hot, and wherever they passed, the air was scorched and distorted!

Ying Wuhen frowned, and with a flash, avoided the flame.

But the flames turned a corner in the air and chased after him again!

Ying Wuhen snorted coldly, and the thirteen Ice Soul Silver Needles quickly retracted, weaving into a silver net in front of him!

The sparks hit the net, bursting into a blinding flash!

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the flames dissipated, and the silver needles flew back.

In their first encounter, the two players drew.

Ying Wuhen looked at the Taoist priest, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

This guy is definitely not simple.

He took a deep breath, and his mental power surged once more!

Thirteen more ice-cold silver needles flew out again, but this time, they were faster and their trajectories were more unpredictable!

Some hovered in the air, some pierced straight at us, some circled behind us, and some swooped down from above!

Thirteen silver needles, thirteen different attack methods!

The Taoist priest's expression grew even more solemn.

He quickly made hand seals, and the small flags around him kept changing positions, and the light shield also flowed accordingly.

At the same time, he took out several talismans from his pocket and threw them in all directions.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

The talisman exploded, transforming into beams of golden light that roamed around the stage!

Some of those rays chased after the silver needles, some blocked Ying Wuhen's retreat, and some carved array patterns on the ground.

The fight between the two became increasingly intense!