Chapter 132: Entering the Arena

Heiyu clutched the medicine crate tightly, refusing to let go. Recalling how Bai Shengye had boosted his strength several times over during the battle against the Lava Behemoth by using potions, he couldn't help but say, "If I drink all these potions at once, won't my strength increase by a hundred or even a thousand times?"

Bai Shengye was speechless. "Do you think you're me? An ordinary person can replenish at most three potions a day; taking any more would do more harm than good!"

The Medicine Immortal Clan possessed an innate, powerful resistance to drugs, a fact Heiyu was clearly unaware of.

Teachers Shi Fangcheng, Xiali, and a male teacher wearing square-rimmed glasses approached from a distance. During the Magic Combat Tournament, students of the Magic Academy were granted a temporary break, allowing them to accompany their respective teachers to the spectator stands to watch the matches.

"We will lead the students to the spectator stands first," said Shi Fangcheng. "Yixin, Heiyu, Shen Zaiguo, Ling Xiaolei, you all are my prized disciples. You must display the spirit of our Holy City Magic Academy and show those foreign academies what we are made of!"

"Don't worry, Teacher Shi!" they all replied.

"I will take the potions to the lounge for you; you should prepare to enter the arena," Teacher Shi said.

Before the Holy City Magic Academy team entered, other teams had already begun to file in. The host stood on a high platform directly opposite the main gate, holding a golden microphone and shouting in a trendy, booming voice:

"Next, let us welcome the team from the Snowy Region!"

The Snowy Region had sent two teams from two different magic schools. The lead team was primarily composed of Ice-element female mages, all carrying crystal ice staves and exuding waves of chill.

Behind them were several hulking Frost Giants wearing heavy armor, standing thirty feet tall, their footsteps shaking the ground with a rhythmic rumble.

A short mechanic also followed among them, carrying a magazine on his back, surrounded by mechanical scout birds, wearing goggles, and sporting a snail-like hard shell on his back.

Following the Snowy Region's teams, four more groups marched in, waving different team banners. The host continued his passionate introduction:

"Now walking toward us are the teams from the Southern Continent!"

Among the teams from the Southern Forest, there was no shortage of red-haired Dragon Clan warriors. There were also several mysterious figures whose faces were veiled in black gauze; one of them was short, appearing only as a child, while another carried a large cocoon on their back, drawing everyone’s attention.

The cheering in the spectator stands was relentless, and the atmosphere was electric. As each team entered, the arena gate erupted with a sky full of streamers.

Apart from the Holy City, the Central Continent had also sent three representative teams, consisting of mages of various elemental affinities, including some pugilists.

As the teams appeared one by one, the host raised his volume again, causing the crowd to erupt in an unprecedented frenzy.

"Coming up next is the representative team from the Divine Realm! They hail from the Holy Light Magic Academy and the Royal Magic Academy!"

At the mention of the "Royal Magic Academy," the audience was filled with anticipation.

As the birthplace of magic, the Western Sea Divine Realm attached great importance to every Magic Combat Tournament. This time, they sent six teams, the most anticipated of which was, of course, the team from the Royal Intermediate Magic Academy.

Rena and her younger brother, Reno, walked at the very front of the team. The entire squad wore slim-fit uniforms of white with gold trim, looking majestic and extraordinary.

"Look, that’s the Royal Magic Academy! As expected of an aristocratic academy, they are truly remarkable!"

The audience stood up, craning their necks to follow the team's path.

The Holy City Magic Academy was the last to appear. As the host of this tournament, they always upheld a principle of modesty.

Every year, the championship for the Intermediate Academy Magic Combat Tournament was always contested between the Holy City Magic Academy and the Royal Magic Academy, making both teams the center of attention.

Before their official entrance, the six of them lined up, straightening their clothes and the shimmering silver badges on their chests.

"When we go out there, we need to overwhelm them with our presence," Yixin said.

"Why don't you lead the way, oh great class monitor?" Heiyu gestured for him to go ahead.

"Very well." Yixin walked forward without hesitation.

The great gates slowly swung open to both sides, streamers danced in the air, and the team from the Holy City Magic Academy came into the spectators' view, marching straight down the red carpet that cut through the arena.

"Holy City Magic Academy! Walking toward us is the Holy City Magic Academy!" The host shouted until his voice grew raspy and trembled, exhausting every ounce of his energy. The cheers of the audience surged like a tidal wave.

Yixin, with his golden hair looking exceptionally noble, walked at the front with the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger; his tall, upright posture and handsome features were captivating to all.

"Look, it's Yixin! Yixin of the Red Flame Family!" The spectators from the Holy City rose to their feet in unison, stirred with excitement.

Bai Shengye and Ling Meng followed closely behind; these two beauties, both male and female, were a stunning sight. They were followed by Ling Xiaolei and Shen Zaiguo, with Heiyu and Yun Lan bringing up the rear.

As soon as Heiyu stepped through the gate, his view opened up. The crowds in the surrounding stands were waving and cheering, the roar of the crowd even more intense than when the Royal Magic Academy had passed through.

Many locals from the Holy City and people from across the Central Continent had come to support them; in their hearts, they all hoped the championship would remain with a team from the Central Continent. Immersed in this atmosphere, the six of them felt the countless expectations contained within the cheers, and their resolve to win the championship grew even firmer.

Soon, they strode across the red carpet, walked behind the arena, and entered the waiting area inside the competition hall.

In the first-floor lobby, numerous teams were gathered, standing in groups of three or five beside their respective mentors to discuss tactics. Some had already returned to the lounges upstairs.

In the center of the lobby was the registration desk for personal information and magic levels. Yun Lan led the students over and presented their student information cards, certified by the Mages' Alliance and issued by the Magic Academy. Generally, any mage possessed such a card, which contained their identity information.

"Hello, we are the representative team from the Holy City Magic Academy," Yun Lan said.

The staff member at the desk took them politely and scanned them with a magic stone, recording the information from the cards one by one. They then informed them:

"The first round of the competition is a two-person team match. There are 16 teams participating this time, 6 people per team, totaling 96 people, divided into 48 groups. The magic stone will randomly select 2 groups from all registered groups to compete, and the losing side will be eliminated. Before registering your information, please confirm your groupings."

Everyone was already familiar with the system and rules of the first round, as Teacher Yun Lan had emphasized them in previous classes, so they had long since agreed upon their groupings.