On a bright, sunny day, at noon, two people entered through the Southern City Gates in a relaxed manner. Edward and Robert, they had finally returned to Southern City.

"Ah! It feels so good to be back.", Robert said after taking a deep breath.

"Well, I do look forward to returning to the academy .", Edward commented.

"Me too.", Robert said.

"Okay, then. Let's hurry up!", Edward said while speeding up.

********************

Old Summer was sitting at the central platform of the library, just as usual. He was in deep meditation, cultivating with focus. At that moment, he suddenly felt someone was watching him. His eyes snapped open, but he didn't see anyone. Suddenly, he felt an intense Qi behind him. He was alerted, and instantly turned 180 degrees and prepared to fight, but what he saw totally baffled him. He saw Edward standing there, smiling at him.

"It's you! How did you sneak up on me like that? How come I couldn't detect you accurately?", Old Summer asked in shock.

"What do you think?", Edward asked with a smile.

"You! That intense Qi I felt before, was it you?", Old Summer asked as he was shaking.

Edward didn't reply. He only released a burst of Qi from his body and stood there with a smile.

"Impossible! How did you....How? You have already broken through to the Qi Accumulation Realm? I thought that by the time you return, you would be early Shell Shattering realm at best."

"I'm already in the Third Level of Qi Accumulation realm.", Edward said while still smiling.

'Old Summer felt like fainting. This means Edward almost caught up to him, the principal!

"Someone who's not even 20 years old reaching the Qi Accumulation realm? This has broken all the records known to the history of the country, no, history of the 100 countries under the Grand Sky Empire!"

"I'm turning 18 this week. Anyway, by the time I reach 20, I plan to reach the Spiritual Phantom realm.", Edward said with confidence.

"Ha.", Old Summer sighed. "I totally forgot that your aspirations are far higher than everyone else.", he said.

"Anyway, it's great that you have broken through to the Qi accumulation realm. I guess now you can really participate in this year's tournament.", Old Summer said.

"Why? What about it? What do you mean?", Edward asked.

"This year, the four great academy tournament is going to be something different. They are calling it 'The Grand Academy Tournament'."

"The Grand Academy Tournament?"

"Yes. Instead of only the four academies of our country participating, this time, all the top academies of the 100 countries will be participating, and the tournament will be managed by the Grand Sky Empire's Imperial Family. This was the decree of the Grand Sky Emperor passed to the Royal Families of the 100 countries under the Grand Sky Empire."

"Why would the Grand Sky Empire suddenly be interested in the 100 countries' academies?"

"Who knows? All we know is that the Grand Sky Imperial Family will be overseeing things this year, and this is a chance for many, as well as you, to become a cultivator of the Grand Sky Empire."

"Hmm. You're right.", Edward nodded.

"The tournament will be in two steps. First, there will be a preliminary step. In this step, there will be a selection within each country. After this selection, each country will build a team of five members to represent them in the tournament. For our country's selection round, the four great academies will be sending their best students to the royal academy. There, they will compete with each other, as well as with the students from the royal academy for the five spots. I was thinking of recommending you from our academy but I wasn't sure. But now, seeing your cultivation level, I'm pretty sure there is no one better than you in the entire country."

"Well, is there a limit to how many students an academy can send for the selection?", Edward asked.

"No. Why?"

"I'd like to bring along someone else with me for this tournament. I'm sure he'll qualify and be able to take one of the five spots."

"Bring someone? Who?"

"Robert Brown."

"The boy from the brown family? I know he is talented but he is still too young. I mean he is the same age as you but he can't be so strong like you, can he?"

"I've personally helped him train. You know he was out for ten months of training with me together. Now, he's already at the Sixth Level of Shell Shattering Realm, and he is still growing stronger."

"What? Really? I guess I can also recommend him then."

"Yeah. That would be the best. Also, I thought about taking it slow, but now that the four great academy tournament has turned into the 'Grand Academy tournament', I think I need to progress further, as I believe the competition would be intense. So, I would like to ask you, can you give me some help and guidance about cultivation in the Qi Accumulation realm?"

"You don't have a manual? I can give you one. Here. Take it, it was given to me by Old Winter. I don't need it anymore.", Old Summer said as he handed out a cultivation manual to Edward.

"Ok, then. Thanks.", Edward thanked as he received the manual.

"So, when will the selection start?", Edward asked.

"Today is 1st December. The Selection starts from 26th December. You have 25 days.", Old Summer said.

"That is enough time for Robert to gain enough strength.", Edward nodded in satisfaction.

"The selection will be held in the Royal Capital. It will be over by 31st December. After that, the selected team of five will head to the Grand Sky Empire along with the Royal Family. The main tournament will be in the Grand Sky Empire. All the hundred teams from the 100 countries along with their Royal Families will gather there.", Old Summer said.

"Seems like a grand event to me. 'The Grand Academy Tournament', truly a fitting name for such an event. I can smell a new adventure here.", Edward said as he was shaking with excitement.

A new stage.

A new challenge.

A new group of opponents.

A whole new adventure was about to unfold.