She stood up and stretched her joints.
The current Bai Ran had already advanced to the eighth stage of the Golden Core realm, becoming one of the top powerhouses on the Myriad Beasts Continent.
Her Alchemist level had also risen from sixth-tier to seventh-tier.
Outside the cultivation tower
"Old Hong, why don't you go hurry up that girl Ran? The competition is about to start," Xuan Yuan said anxiously.
Elder Hong was also pacing in circles, anxious. It was most taboo to disturb someone during cultivation; a moment's carelessness could lead to qi deviation.
But the Four Nations Competition was about to begin! What should they do?
The other eight members of the team had already rushed to the competition venue with the Vice Dean and three elders. The entire academy had also gone to watch. Only the two of them were left waiting for Bai Ran.
Time ticked by, and the two of them were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, running around in circles.
Bai Ran slowly descended from the cultivation tower and saw this scene.
"You're finally out!"
Xuan Yuan grabbed Bai Ran, and Elder Hong grabbed her other side. They each took an arm and sped towards the competition venue.
Bai Ran, being held: "..."
She actually wanted to eat breakfast first.
To ensure fairness, the Four Nations Competition venue was set up in a small central country, separate from the four nations.
The Vermilion Bird Nation's team, led by Bai Yunzheng and three elders, entered the competition venue.
"Isn't this the Vermilion Bird Nation, which always comes in last? How dare they participate in the competition?" the Vice Dean of the White Tiger Nation said, fanning himself with a look of mockery.
"Exactly, they don't even feel ashamed," a disciple beside him chimed in.
The voices of the two were not small, and they immediately attracted the attention of the other two nations present.
In an instant, countless contemptuous and disdainful glances swept over the weak team.
The competition teams were usually composed of twelve people, with three people competing in each round. However, the Vermilion Bird Nation had only brought eight people this time. What, were they giving up?
The eight people in the team felt their anger surge. Even the elders' faces turned red and their necks bulged, almost wanting to rush out and beat them. However, Bai Yunzheng stopped them with a single hand.
He glanced at the White Tiger Nation's team, led a few people to their seats in the Vermilion Bird Nation's spectator area, and ignored them.
"What kind of nonsense! Such foul mouths," Elder Liu said, feeling wronged.
Elder Yan's face also turned red with anger: "A dog's mouth can't spit out ivory."
Every year they participated in the competition, they inevitably had to endure a round of humiliation from the other three nations. The White Tiger Nation was the most excessive, while the perennial first-place Azure Dragon Nation simply ignored the Vermilion Bird Nation, as those with low strength were not worth their attention.
For a time, the atmosphere at the Vermilion Bird Nation's top academy was extremely oppressive. Even the eight participating members drooped their heads.
"What, have you forgotten who has joined the Vermilion Bird Nation's team this year?" Bai Yunzheng said with a smile, looking at everyone.
Who had joined the team this year?
It was...
Bai Ran, Bai Ran!
The academy's students were suddenly unable to express their excitement. How could they have forgotten her!
The new student Bai Ran, who had been creating miracles since entering the academy!
The crowd immediately changed from a dispirited state to one filled with unconcealable excitement.
The three elders also calmed down, a sense of joy filling their hearts.
They had to admit that Bai Ran was a genius.
As long as Bai Ran was present, she was already their winning card.
The referee walked onto the stage and announced the rules.
"This year's Four Nations Competition is the same as in previous years. The first round is a strength competition, the second is a formation competition, the third is a beast taming competition, and the fourth is an alchemy competition. Each nation will send three people to participate in each test. The team with the most accumulated points after four rounds will become the winner of this Four Nations Competition!"
As soon as the words fell, the venue erupted in cheers. The Four Nations Competition officially began!
On the field, the four nations were tense and confrontational.
"Next, the first round of competition begins! Please, all participating disciples, take the stage!"
What to do!
Bai Ran hadn't arrived yet!
The people in the team were as anxious as if they were on hot coals. Bai Yunzheng also showed a hint of worry.
"Goddess Bai hasn't arrived yet, what should we do?" the academy's observing disciples were also extremely anxious.
"Goddess Bai, hurry up! The competition is about to start!"
When the dean selected the participants, he had originally planned for Bai Ran to participate in all four rounds alone, and then select two people from the eight to form a three-person team with her for each round.
But if Bai Ran didn't come, the eight people would just be cannon fodder sent to their deaths!
"Vermilion Bird Nation! Please have your participating disciples take their positions as soon as possible!" the referee shouted.
Under duress, the two people who had been originally scheduled walked onto the stage slowly, their faces grim.
"Look! The Vermilion Bird Nation only has two participants!"
"What? The top academy of the Vermilion Bird Nation only has two participants? How pathetic."
"Step down, Vermilion Bird Nation! You're truly embarrassing!"
"Step down!"
"Step down!"
"Step down!"
.......
From the spectator stands of the three nations, the shouts of the onlookers were heard clearly in every corner and reached the ears of the two people on stage.
The two bit their lower lips tightly, on the verge of tears from humiliation.
The elders and Bai Yunzheng below the stage had faces ashen.
At this moment, a figure dressed in fiery red suddenly descended from the sky.
Standing steadily in front of the two.
"Vermilion Bird Nation's Bai Ran, participating."
In an instant, silence fell over the surroundings.
Dressed in red, with a straight posture, composed demeanor, and a face of unparalleled beauty.
Bai Ran! It was Bai Ran!
She had arrived!
"Bai Ran!"
"Bai Ran!"
"Bai Ran!"
......
A thunderous roar erupted from the Vermilion Bird Nation's spectator stands. In an instant, the entire competition venue was turned upside down by Bai Ran's arrival.
But Bai Ran's mood at the moment was extremely unpleasant.
These two actually threw her down from high in the sky?
If her strength were insufficient, she would have been smashed into a pulp by now.
Moreover, she had stayed in the cultivation tower for half a month and hadn't even eaten a single breakfast since coming out.
Not to mention how annoyed she was right now.
Bai Ran's cold gaze swept across the spectator stands, which instantly fell silent.
The people from the other three nations looked at this scene with great curiosity about Bai Ran.
What ability did she possess to make everyone in the Vermilion Bird Nation so excited and stirred by her arrival?
Her appearance seemed to be...
The victory of the Vermilion Bird Nation was already set.
"Sister Bai! Crush them!" Fang Tianhui, sitting beside Elder Mo, said with an indignant little face.
Did they really think the Vermilion Bird Nation was easy to bully? With Sister Bai making a move, she was worth a thousand!
Elder Mo beside him twitched his lips.
Hui'er was good in every way, except for her mouth... it was getting stranger and stranger.
Elder Hong and Xuan Yuan sat below the stage, their mouths practically splitting into grins.
Bai Yunzheng and the others also felt immensely relieved by Bai Ran's sudden arrival.
"You think just because a female disciple arrived, the Vermilion Bird Nation can turn things around?"
"Just a pretty face, look how excited they are."
"Exactly."
The three participating disciples from the White Tiger Nation looked at Bai Ran dismissively. She only had a pretty face, how capable could she be?
This was coincidental enough, she had run right into Bai Ran's line of fire.
Bai Ran looked at the three disciples from the White Tiger Nation, her eyes like those of a hunting python, cold and cruel.
The three disciples shivered, swallowed hard, and turned their heads away, not daring to look at her.
"All disciples have taken their positions. The first round of competition is a test of strength. The last three disciples to leave the stage will be awarded three points, five points, and ten points respectively, based on the order they leave the stage. Please strive to be the last ones to stay!"
"The first round of the Four Nations Competition officially begins!"