Above the Zodiac Battle Platform, the competition was in full swing.

To advance to the final sixty-four, there were hardly any weak participants. In fact, there were dozens of other talents who, like Cheng Long, had awakened a First Grade Yellow Level bloodline.

However, their strength was not as formidable as Cheng Long's.

After all, not everyone could possess Innate Divine Power and awaken the extremely domineering bloodline of the Bronze Wild Elephant like Cheng Long.

For this reason, the upcoming battles were not as exciting as the one between Ye Chen and Cheng Long.

As for Duanmu Xiong, Liu Feng, and Lin Zixuan, these three prodigies had awakened a Profound Bloodline. Though they were even stronger than Cheng Long, their opponents all voluntarily conceded.

Thus, the audience never got the chance to see them in action.

An hour later, the second round of competitions concluded, with half of the new contestants eliminated, leaving only thirty-two who successfully advanced to the top thirty-two.

"Palace Master, the overall level of the new students this year is quite high. Surprisingly, there are nineteen geniuses who have awakened a First Grade Yellow Level bloodline. It seems the fortunes of our Celestial Flame Academy are becoming increasingly prosperous. Perhaps, in the future, there's hope for upgrading the Celestial Flame Dynasty to a Second-Class Dynasty." Inside the splendid hall, Soul Palace Master Chen Fei smiled slightly, his eyes filled with intense anticipation.

As a Celestial Spirit Realm Qi Dao Grandmaster, he had far broader insights compared to the average person.

As he knew, the Celestial Flame Dynasty was just one among countless dynasties in the Southern Heaven Domain, and it was considered one of the weaker ones.

Particularly one or two hundred years ago, during each recruitment by the Celestial Flame Academy, they could only recruit about a dozen geniuses awakened with a First Grade Yellow Level bloodline from across the Celestial Flame Dynasty.

While some powerful dynasties could even produce hundreds of such geniuses each year, the gap between the two was immensely vast.

However, in recent decades, the number of geniuses born in the Celestial Flame Dynasty gradually increased. In every new batch of students, there were at least fifteen or sixteen who awakened a First Grade Yellow Level bloodline.

Especially this year, the number of geniuses waking the First Grade Yellow Level bloodline reached as many as nineteen, setting a historic record.

This is enough to illustrate that the fortunes of the Celestial Flame Academy are increasingly prosperous.

"Our Celestial Flame Dynasty is merely a Third-Class Dynasty in the Southern Heaven Domain. To be promoted to a Second-Class Dynasty, there's still a long way to go. Who knows how many generations of effort will be needed to achieve this? Currently, all we can do is strive to cultivate new talents," the Celestial Flame Peak Master couldn't help but sigh.

As he understood, to upgrade a Third-Class Dynasty to a Second-Class Dynasty, it required each new batch of students to produce at least fifty awakened with a First Grade Yellow Level bloodline.

And the Celestial Flame Dynasty was still far from this standard!

"What the Palace Master said is absolutely right. Those Second-Class Dynasties nearly every year have someone who can make it onto the Hidden Dragon List, whereas our Celestial Flame Academy often has to wait many years for even one person to make it onto the list. The gap between us is considerable," agreed Duanmu Ying, her expression turning serious for the first time.

The Hidden Dragon List was compiled by the hundreds of dynasties around the Celestial Flame Dynasty, and it only had a hundred spots available.

So, those who made it onto the Hidden Dragon List were undoubtedly the top geniuses from the major dynasties, each with limitless potential and almost certain to become an Immortal Seed.

Unfortunately, such naturally gifted talents were so rare that even the Celestial Flame Academy might only produce one every few years, not every year.

In the past decade, only the first proud son of Celestial Flame Peak, Chu Feng, made it onto the Hidden Dragon List, and even then ranked lower.

"Hehe! Junior Sister Duanmu, the seed student Ye Lin'Er newly recruited by your Profound Sword Peak might also have a chance to make it onto the Hidden Dragon List in a few years. By then, our Celestial Flame Academy will have two students on the list simultaneously," said the Celestial Flame Peak Master with a slight smile.

The Celestial Flame Academy had not had two students on the Hidden Dragon List simultaneously for many years.

Many times, there were none at all.

But now, the Celestial Flame Peak Master undoubtedly saw a glimmer of hope.

After all, both Ye Lin'Er and Chu Feng were prodigies who've awakened a Profound Level Second Grade bloodline. Such individuals all have hopes of making it onto the Hidden Dragon List.

Of course, their ranking on the Hidden Dragon List wouldn't be particularly high.

Because the top-ranked prodigies on the Hidden Dragon List usually have awakened an Earth Level bloodline.

Such individuals, even in the entire Southern Heaven Domain, would still be regarded as geniuses.

In a Third-Class Dynasty like the Celestial Flame Dynasty, none such exceptionally talented individuals had appeared up until now.

"It's a pity that Ye Chen couldn't awaken his bloodline. Otherwise, with his Qi Sea Foundation and terrifying physical talent, he would also have hope of making it onto the Hidden Dragon List in the future," thought Ouyang Zhong, sighing in his heart, his brows filled with deep regret.

He wished so dearly that Ye Chen could awaken his bloodline, even if just a Yellow Level bloodline!

Yet reality was so harsh.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, another hour has passed.

During this hour, sixteen more rookie contestants have been eliminated, among them several geniuses who awakened a Yellow Level First Grade bloodline.

However, their opponents were too formidable, forcing even them to leave the stage with heavy hearts.

Ye Chen's opponent was also a genius who had awakened a Yellow Level First Grade bloodline, but his strength was far inferior to Cheng Long's, allowing Ye Chen to defeat him effortlessly.

Thus, Ye Chen passed the third round with ease, advancing to the top sixteen.

"I only need to win one more match to advance to the top eight, and by then, I can receive the rewards of the Celestial Flame Academy."

"Alas! The rewards for the top ten are just a piece of Yellow Level Middle Grade Martial Arts, which is not much of a difference. Only by becoming the champion can one receive a Yellow Level Top Grade Martial Arts and become a candidate for Seed Students." On the high platform, the group of new students who made it to the top sixteen couldn't help but sigh.

They only need to win one more match to be guaranteed a spot in the top ten and receive the Celestial Flame Academy's rewards.

But for them, whether it's the tenth or second place, it makes no difference as the reward is merely a Yellow Level Middle Grade Martial Arts.

Therefore, they all wished fervently to seize the championship of this grand competition.

Unfortunately, with Duanmu Xiong, Liu Feng, and Lin Zi Xuan, these three geniuses who awakened Profound Level bloodlines, they have no hope of securing first place.

"Ye Chen advanced to the top sixteen, an outcome far better than I initially anticipated." At the observation platform on the summit of the New Talent Peak, Ouyang Xue's lips involuntarily displayed a pleased smile.

Before the new student competition began, she only hoped Ye Chen could exhibit his potential in the contest and garner her father's approval; as for entering the top sixteen, she dared not even think about it.

But now, not only has Ye Chen made it to the top sixteen, he also has a promising chance to reach the top eight.

This was a monumental surprise for Ouyang Xue.

"Hmph! Ouyang Xue, don't be too pleased just yet. No matter how high Ye Chen's innate physical talent is, he's ultimately a trash incapable of awakening a bloodline. I refuse to believe your War King Hall could cultivate him into a new Hall Master." Not far away, Liu Xin's face appeared exceedingly gloomy, sneering coldly in her heart.

She still can't quite believe it, that Ye Chen, whom she utterly despised during the admission assessment, could achieve such impressive results in the new student competition.

To her, it's simply a tremendous humiliation.

Thus, in the depths of her heart, she grew more resentful of Ye Chen, wishing Ye Chen's cultivation would come to a perpetual standstill.

"Hmph! Ye Chen, I won't let you advance to the top eight smoothly. This match ends here for you; dreaming of getting our Celestial Flame Academy's reward is sheer madness for a waste like you." In the sky above the Zodiac Battle Platform, the gray-robed elder Duanmu Hui cast a cold glance at Ye Chen, with a sinister smile on his lips.

Swoosh.

In the next moment, he fetched a new scroll from his sleeve and began writing names on it with a brush.

Moments later, Ye Chen's name appeared at the top of the scroll, and the name following his was Liu Feng.

This means Ye Chen's next opponent is Liu Feng, one of the geniuses who awakened a Profound Level bloodline.

"Ha! Liu Feng's strength is even more formidable than Cheng Long's, defeating Ye Chen, this waste, is simply a walk in the park. I'm curious to see how this waste will advance to the top eight." Duanmu Hui's eyes were filled with mockery, as if everything was under his control.

As the Host Elder of this competition, he holds the authority to assign anyone as Ye Chen's opponent.

This includes Duanmu Xiong and Liu Feng.

Yet, sending Duanmu Xiong to deal with Ye Chen, this waste, would be an insult to Duanmu Xiong.

Thus, Duanmu Hui could only let Liu Feng take care of Ye Chen.

After all, aside from those three geniuses who awakened Profound Level bloodlines, there really isn't anyone among the new students who can defeat him.

After resting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the competition resumed.

"I wonder who Ye Chen's opponent will be this time?"

"As long as he's not too unlucky and runs into those three geniuses who awakened Profound Level bloodlines, he can basically make it to the top eight." The observing new students couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Although Ye Chen cannot awaken a bloodline, the new students have to admit his strength is indeed formidable.

Apart from the three of Duanmu Xiong, no one among the new students present has absolute confidence in defeating him.

"The fourth round of the match officially begins, first up are Liu Feng and Ye Chen." In the high skies, Duanmu Hui's lips displayed a sinister smile as he announced to everyone with a booming voice.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.