"First match: Cangwu Jiu of the Cangwu Clan versus Qi Long of the Myriad Beasts Sect!" Xia Mangxun announced. "The rest of you may rest to the side."
Once all ninety-six contestants had been selected, Xia Mangxun immediately announced the upcoming match order.
The others were also, for the most part, called over by the Celestial Immortal patriarchs of their respective factions.
Those who had cultivated to their current realms—especially those who had risen above the rest across all of Great Xia—could not possibly be rootless rogue cultivators. They either had sect inheritances or, at the very least, had received guidance from some expert. Rogue cultivators truly unaffiliated with any major power simply did not exist.
"Ji Ning, come over!" Zhou Tong naturally called Ji Ning over as well.
"Master!" Ji Ning immediately walked to Zhou Tong's side.
Seeing this, the other contestants were even more shocked. This man was actually a Heavenly Deity's disciple.
"If Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor takes an interest in you, what will you do?" Zhou Tong sent mentally as soon as Ji Ning arrived.
"I will follow Master's wishes in all things!" Ji Ning immediately replied.
Zhou Tong smiled. "You're quite the sly one. You tossed the question back to me!"
Ji Ning was not some clueless fool. No matter how he answered Zhou Tong's question, it would have been wrong. If he said he wanted to go to Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor, would that not plainly imply that Zhou Tong was not a capable teacher? But if he said he did not want to go, it would seem somewhat hypocritical.
Thus, the best answer was to hand the question itself back to Zhou Tong.
Zhou Tong then sent mentally, "Don't worry. Crimson Bright Dao Ancestor won't take a liking to you."
Ji Ning froze.