?

Many senior students felt a twinge of shame. Some had been in the academy for years and had yet to break through to the Earth Rank. Compared to these new students, their own achievements immediately paled in comparison.

With Earth Rank experts appearing in three consecutive zones, the crowd let out a chorus of exclamations before their gazes collectively fell on the East Zone.

They wondered if the East Zone also had an Earth Rank expert.

However, after a long wait, no one stepped forward. The surrounding crowd began to buzz with discussion.

"Hey, is the East Zone forfeiting?" a voice called out from the North Zone. Like a spark igniting dry tinder, the entire venue immediately erupted into roaring laughter.

"Tang Yan, how about you go up? We haven't heard of any Earth Rank experts in our East Zone," Fang Xuan suggested from the side.

Tang Yan shrugged. "Everyone else is sending up Earth Rank experts, and I'm only at the Seventh Grade of the Black Rank. Aren't you afraid of losing face? It would be better to let Yu Juechen go."

"No, no, I'm not going. What's wrong with the Seventh Grade? Looking at the entire Black Rank, who could possibly be your match?" Having already witnessed Tang Yan's prowess, Yu Juechen certainly didn't consider himself the stronger of the two. Moreover, if everyone else sent up Earth Rank experts and he, a mere Black Rank cultivator, went up... it would still disgrace the East Zone.

Tang Yan sighed inwardly. Although his strength could barely contend with the Ninth Grade of the Black Rank, there was still a considerable gap between him and a true Earth Rank expert.

However, there was still half a month until the great battle. He could use this time to push for a breakthrough.

Tang Yan frowned in deep thought, completely missing the sly glances and winks Yu Juechen, Fang Xuan, and the others were exchanging. Before he could react, he was suddenly shoved forward by several pairs of hands.

How could he have expected his own brothers to play such a dirty trick? Caught off guard, he stumbled forward, propelled by a subtle force that sent him stumbling right out of the crowd.

Everyone's eyes were already fixed on the East Zone. When they saw a figure emerge, their gazes instantly locked onto Tang Yan.

Cursing the eighteen generations of Fang Xuan and the others' ancestors in his heart, Tang Yan knew that retreating now would be even more humiliating. Instead, he boldly clasped his fist in a formal salute. "Honored by my brothers' trust, I, Tang Yan, will represent the East Zone in battle!"

"Black... Seventh Grade of the Black Rank?" Sensing Tang Yan's aura, the crowd's eyes widened. After confirming they hadn't sensed wrong, a strange silence fell over the venue.

This made no sense. Surely this guy would be replaced by someone stronger!

But after waiting for a long moment with no one stepping up to object, the venue erupted in an uproar.

"Damn, is the East Zone completely out of people? A Seventh Grade Black Rank?"

"Maybe they know they can't win, so they're deliberately sending someone weak so the loss won't sting as much."

"I might not know who will take first place this year, but I'm pretty sure we already know who's taking last."

Sharp mockeries and ridicule continued to ripple through the crowd.

Tang Yan's face remained calm and composed, but inside he was cursing incessantly. Damn it, my cultivation is a bit weak, but do you all have to be so ruthless?

Seeing that the East Zone's representative was Tang Yan, Xiao Cangshan felt a surge of intense interest. However, his expression remained unchanged as he smiled gently. "The number one of the East Zone is indeed rather special. But everyone, do not let your guard down. To be recognized as the leader of a selection zone with only the strength of a Seventh Grade Black Rank, I believe Tang Yan must possess exceptional qualities."

Hearing Xiao Cangshan's high praise, Tang Yan was left entirely speechless. His cultivation realm was already at a disadvantage. If the Academy Master praised him like this and made the others take him seriously, wouldn't his chances of victory plummet even further?

Fortunately, the crowd didn't take the warning to heart. Instead, they assumed Xiao Cangshan was merely teasing Tang Yan, and everyone laughed even harder.

"In that case, the four of you shall meet on the Azure Dragon Platform in half a month!" Xiao Cangshan said with a smile. "Alright, everyone, check your current Star Values. Those with over a thousand and an even last digit, stand on the left. Odd last digits, stand on the right. Keep the four zones separate. Those with over five hundred Star Values and a last digit of one or two, stand over here..."

Xiao Cangshan directed the crowd in an orderly manner. Despite the sheer number of new students, everyone was sorted out in less than a quarter of an hour.

"Just you wait!" Tang Yan said with a forced, skin-deep smile, glaring at Yu Juechen and the others.

"Brother Yan, you looked really dashing up there just now! The absolute center of attention-a treatment many could never hope to enjoy..." Du Shu said, putting on a bitter face.

"Why don't you go up and enjoy it then?" Tang Yan asked impatiently.

"Hehe, how could we be so bold as to steal your thunder..." Fang Xuan quickly chimed in.

Tang Yan was at a complete loss for words. He simply turned his head, ignoring these shameless beasts, and waited patiently for their instructor to arrive.

Soon, a woman in red robes strode confidently toward them.

"Hello everyone. My name is Du Xin. You can call me Sister Du. From now on, I will be your instructor.

"Although you are my students, the Azure Dragon Academy primarily adopts a free-range approach. Your cultivation will mostly depend on your own efforts.

"Alright, I will now take you to the dormitories." Du Xin's expression was stern, carrying a hint of heroic spirit between her brows. Giving a crisp order, she led the several hundred students toward the living quarters.

"I will briefly explain a few things regarding the Azure Dragon Academy. Make sure you remember them well.

"The most direct representation of a student's strength within the academy is the Heaven Ranking and the Earth Ranking.

"The Heaven Ranking is for students at or above the Earth Rank. It has exactly three hundred spots. These individuals represent the three hundred strongest cultivators in the entire academy. As long as your name remains on that list, you will receive a considerable amount of Star Values every day."

She paused before continuing. "What you all can compete for now is the Earth Ranking. The Earth Ranking evaluates a student's strength and has one thousand spots. Those who can break into the top three hundred will also receive a daily Star Value Reward.

"For the sake of fairness, participants competing for it must be at the First Grade of the Earth Rank or below."

Hearing Du Xin's introduction, Tang Yan asked curiously, "If a student who is at or above the Second Grade of the Earth Rank fails to enter the Heaven Ranking, are there no other rankings where they can obtain Star Value Rewards?"

"Correct." Du Xin nodded. "Therefore, the person sitting at the very bottom of the Heaven Ranking is constantly subjected to challenges."

"If someone makes it onto the Earth Ranking while at the First Grade of the Earth Rank, will they be removed from the list when they break through to the Second Grade?" Wan Fei asked.

"No. In fact, the strength of the top fifty on the Earth Ranking has likely far surpassed the First Grade of the Earth Rank. If they do not actively prove their breakthrough, their names will remain on the Earth Ranking until they either leave the academy or successfully enter the Heaven Ranking."

"Tsk, how shameless. Their strength exceeds the First Grade of the Earth Rank, yet they refuse to leave, hogging the spots and giving new students no chance at all," Du Shu grumbled indignantly.

"Alright, we'll just have to cultivate hard and kick them all off when the time comes," Tang Yan comforted him with a smile.

"Since there are no more questions, we will now assign dormitories. Each room can accommodate up to two people. Does anyone wish to pay to upgrade to a higher-tier dormitory?" Du Xin asked loudly.

"Let's all stay in the Two-Star Dormitory. Star Values can always be earned; there's no need to skimp when it comes to cultivation resources," Tang Yan suggested.

"Alright. Dongxue, let's share a room. Once we earn enough Star Values, we can upgrade to a Three-Star Dormitory," Wan Fei said with a smile.

"Okay." Lin Dongxue had been thinking the exact same thing and quickly nodded in agreement.

Du Shu and Fang Xuan, being more familiar with one another, naturally chose to share a room.

Yu Juechen stared at Tang Yan and grinned. "Brother Tang, shall we room together?"