Chapter 55 - ASSEMBLY AT THE PLAZA
The unease didn’t fade.
If anything, it settled deeper.
Ling Yifan pushed his tray away untouched and stood. Long Hao followed a mont later, neither of them needing to say anything more.
So conversations didn’t need conclusions—only vigilance.
As they left the cafeteria, the noise behind them swallowed itself whole. Laughter, argunts, clattering trays—all of it felt distant now, like background static to sothing more pressing.
Outside, the academy grounds were already in motion.
Students stread in one direction.
Toward the central plaza.
A deep, ancient horn echoed across Dragon Turtle Academy—low and resonant, vibrating through stone, bone, and instinct alike. It wasn’t an invitation.
It was a summons.
"That’ll be the Stage Two announcent," Ling Yifan said quietly.
Long Hao nodded. "Everyone’s being called."
They joined the flow.
THE PLAZA
The central plaza of Dragon Turtle Academy was vast—carved directly into the mountain’s heart. Stone platforms ringed the space like the shells of colossal beasts, layered and reinforced with formations that radiated raw, oppressive strength.
Teams from every academy began assembling.
Azure Dragon Academy regrouped near the eastern platform.
Chen Wulian was already there, laughing loudly, arms thrown over Han Duwei’s shoulders as if the world were perfectly normal.
Too normal.
"Morning!" Chen called when he spotted them. "You two look like you’re plotting treason."
Ling Yifan studied him for a heartbeat longer than usual.
Chen t his gaze easily—grinning, careless, familiar.
Nothing looked wrong.
And yet...
Bai Qianlan arrived monts later with Ouyang Xue’er, Zhao Lanyue, and Jin Roulan.
Ling Yifan straightened instinctively.
"Bai—"
She walked past him.
Didn’t stop.
Didn’t slow.
Didn’t even glance his way.
Ling Yifan froze.
"...Huh?"
Chen noticed imdiately.
"Ohhh," he whispered loudly. "Soone’s in deep trouble."
Ling Yifan frowned. "What?"
Chen shrugged exaggeratedly. "No idea. But that’s the ’you did sothing and I’m pretending I don’t care’ walk."
Ling Yifan looked helplessly at Long Hao.
"...I literally woke up and ca here."
Long Hao’s lips twitched. "Academy politics are more dangerous than monsters."
At that mont, Bai glanced back—just once.
Her eyes t Ling Yifan’s.
Then she turned away again, expression calm but distant.
Jin Ruolan ca in between.
"She said you went on a date with a beautiful girl."
Qin Shuo Chuckled while trying to hide his mouth.
Ling Yifan exhaled slowly.
"...I did not go on a date."
Chen grinned wider. "That’s what makes it funny."
Then,
The plaza quieted abruptly.
Not because of discipline.
Because the ground reacted.
Stone trembled. Runes flared. Pressure descended like an invisible weight.
At the center platform, a massive figure stepped forward.
The Dean of Dragon Turtle Academy.
Built like a fortress. Arms thicker than most people’s torsos. His presence alone silenced thousands.
He crossed his arms and looked down at the assembled students.
"This," he said flatly, "is Stage Two of the Freshman Grand Prix Championship."
No introduction.
No ceremony.
"I was inford," he continued, "that the original plan was to have single representatives from each academy fight."
A few instructors shifted uneasily.
The dean snorted.
"Boring. Too Boring."
A ripple ran through the plaza.
"I don’t like boring."
He took a step forward.
"So I changed it."
Murmurs exploded.
The dean raised one hand.
Silence returned instantly.
"Originally, each academy would send one fighter."
He paused.
Then smiled.
"I scrapped that."
The plaza erupted again.
"All academies will now field their entire ten-mber team."
Shock spread visibly.
Ten mbers?
No reserves?
No hiding?
"This stage will be a team-based combat trial," the dean continued. "Multiple rotating zones. Continuous engagents."
Stone platforms rose around the plaza—each one etched with combat formations.
"Teams will fight other teams," he said. "Matches will rotate until one side can no longer continue."
"Injuries are expected."
A few students swallowed hard.
"Retreat is allowed," the dean added casually. "If you can manage it."
A grim smile crossed his face.
"Victory is determined by total engagents won."
"Not individual glory."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
"This stage will decide which academies truly function as teams."
He paused deliberately.
"And which ones fall apart under pressure."
Ling Yifan felt it.
This wasn’t just about strength.
This was about trust.
About cohesion.
About whether cracks—small ones—could survive being tested.
Across the plaza, the Vermilion Academy captain smiled faintly, eyes sharp and confident.
Chen cracked his knuckles, laughing.
"Finally," he said. "Sothing fun."
Ling Yifan didn’t laugh.
Long Hao didn’t smile.
And inside Long Hao’s chest, Longyu remained unusually quiet.
The Dragon Turtle Dean folded his arms again, clearly pleased with the chaos he had created.
"Now," he continued, voice booming, "onto match allocation."
The plaza quieted.
"There are fifteen participating academies remaining," he said. "An odd number."
Several instructors exchanged looks.
The Vermilion Academy Dean raised an eyebrow.The Azure Dragon Dean sighed faintly, already sensing trouble.
The Dragon Turtle Dean grinned.
"So," he said cheerfully, "we will do the logical thing."
He pointed at himself with his thumb.
"Dragon Turtle Academy automatically qualifies."
Silence.
Then—
"That doesn’t make sense," the Vermilion Dean said flatly.
The Azure Dragon Dean nodded. "That is... not how brackets work."
The Dragon Turtle Dean waved them off.
"We’re the hosts," he said casually. "We built the arena. We maintain the formations. We feed you."
He leaned forward slightly.
"We have the right."
The Vermilion Dean pinched the bridge of her nose.
"So you’re skipping Stage Two entirely."
"Yes."
"That’s absurd."
"Correct."
The plaza erupted in laughter.
Chen Wulian slapped Long Hao’s shoulder. "I like this guy."
Ling Yifan muttered, "He’s shaless."
The Dragon Turtle Dean clapped his hands.
"Good. Now that we’ve agreed to disagree—let’s make it fun."
An instructor rolled forward a massive bronze spirit pot, glowing faintly with formation light. Inside it floated jade spheres, each engraved with an academy na.
"Each academy captain will co forward." the dean said.
Academy captains stepped forward one by one.
Nas were called.
Stormforge Academy vs Ironcrest Academy
Blackriver Institute vs Skyfall Citadel
White Lotus Pavilion vs Ember Wolf Academy
Nine Peaks Hall vs Ashen Dawn College
Murmurs followed each pairing.
Then—
"Vermilion Academy."
Their captain stepped onto the platform.
Confident. Elegant. Dangerous.
As she reached for the pot, she glanced sideways—
And winked.
Directly.
At Chen Wulian.
The wink was slow.
Deliberate.
Chen froze.
"...Huh."
Ling Yifan’s head snapped toward him.
Long Hao turned slowly.
"...Why is the Vermilion captain winking at you."
Chen scratched his cheek. "I have one of those faces?"
Ling Yifan’s eyes narrowed. "Since when."
The Vermilion captain drew her sphere, smiling.
"Vermilion Academy vs Ashen Dawn College."
She bowed lightly—then walked off, glancing back once more.
Chen didn’t smile this ti.
Ling Yifan didn’t miss that.
AZURE DRAGON’S TURN
"Azure Dragon Academy."
Chen wulian stepped forward.
The plaza felt heavier as he approached the pot.
He reached in.
Pulled.
The jade sphere rotated slowly.
Then the na burned bright.
FROSTCLOUD IMPERIAL ACADEMY
A ripple ran through the crowd.
Murong Yuer’s academy.
The ex-fiancée’s team.
Chen let out a low whistle. "Ohhhh. That’s awkward."
Bai Qianlan stiffened slightly.
Ouyang Xue’er crossed her arms, expression cool.
Chen returned to the group, face composed.
Long Hao t his eyes.
"...First match," Long Hao said quietly.
Ling Yifan nodded. "So be it."
Across the plaza, Murong Yuer stood with her team, eyes widening briefly when she saw the pairing.
Her expression hardened.
The Dragon Turtle Dean clapped once more.
"These are your Stage Two battles," he declared."All ten mbers fight.""No substitutions.""No excuses."
"Oh—before you all start thinking this is sudden death," he added casually, "let clarify sothing."
Several academy captains straightened.
"This stage does not eliminate academies imdiately."
A wave of relief rippled through the crowd.
He continued, pacing slowly.
"Stage Two is a ranking stage."
"Each academy will fight multiple team battles across rotating platforms."
"Every win earns points. Every loss costs you nothing but pride."
He grinned.
"At the end of Stage Two—"
He raised seven fingers.
"The top seven academies advance."
The plaza erupted.
Seven.
Not three.Not five.Enough room for strategy.Enough room for mistakes.
The Azure Dragon Dean nodded slightly.
"That makes more sense," he said calmly.
The Vermilion Academy Dean smirked.
"At least now it’s a competition."
The Dragon Turtle Dean laughed.
"Of course it is! I’m not here to slaughter promising students."
He paused.
"...That’s just a bonus sotis."
A few students swallowed.
"Each academy will fight multiple opponents," the dean continued."Matchups will rotate.""No rematches.""By the end, your total team performance determines your rank."
He looked directly at the gathered captains.
"So don’t cry if you lose once."
"Win consistently."
Chen Wulian cracked his neck.
"I like these odds."
Ling Yifan’s expression sharpened.
"This rewards real teamwork."
Long Hao said nothing—but he was already calculating.
Seven slots ant politics.
Seven slots ant alliances.
Seven slots ant betrayal mattered.
The Dragon Turtle Dean clapped once.
"Now," he said cheerfully, "let’s see who actually deserves them."
He grinned broadly.
"Try not to disappoint ."
The plaza buzzed with tension.
Rivalries ignited.
Old grudges resurfaced.
And sowhere beneath the stone—
Sothing watched.
Unblinking.
Whatever Stage Two was ant to reveal—
It wouldn’t just expose weakness.
It would force it into the open.
[Chapter ENDS]
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