Grand Competition Prelude (The Million-Character Feast Is Ready to Be Devoured)

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Burning Heaven Island is a rather large island, devoid of vegetation. The entire island is likely an Active Volcano Crater, but the opening is blocked by some kind of reddish-brown rock. Stepping on it brings a scorching heat, and ash is everywhere. Occasionally, lava can be seen flowing, making the island, despite its size, uninhabitable.

Qin Yi mingled with the disciples of the Penglai Sword Pavilion as he arrived on the island, feeling somewhat helpless and resigned.

No wonder it's called "Burning Heaven"; a volcanic eruption must feel like burning the heavens...

These cultivators must be eating too much. Why did they have to choose such a dangerous place for the competition? What if you fight and cause a volcanic eruption? Can Tengyun withstand the power of heaven and earth?

He's just showing off because he thinks he can escape without any problem. It's like insisting on having a martial arts duel at the top of the Forbidden City...

However, this place has been reinforced with arrays, making it difficult to even create a crater using conventional methods, so problems are unlikely to occur easily. Furthermore, the distinctive sword arrays of the Penglai Sword Pavilion have been deployed throughout the surrounding sea and air areas, their sharpness unmatched, to prevent outsiders from causing trouble.

Countless cultivators from nearby seas and even the Central Lands traveled great distances to hover around the outer edge of the Burning Heaven Island sword formation, observing the grand event from afar. As far as the eye could see, there were people everywhere, no different from ordinary onlookers...

Of course, they weren't there just to watch the spectacle; they were there more to gain insights and verify their understanding. Many of them brought their disciples along for on-site guidance and learning.

After all, it was a grand competition among sects at the Qian Yuan Level, a very high-level event in the world today.

The eight participating sects are said to be "sects near the Great Qian Dynasty," but the boundary is actually very blurry. For example, Penglai Sword Pavilion is thousands of miles overseas, and even Tianya Island is closer to them than the Great Qian Dynasty. Does that still count as being near the Great Qian Dynasty? There are many similar cases. Some sects are actually located in other countries, but they also feel that they are "close to the Great Qian Dynasty," so they also count.

So this regional restriction is just a concept. The gist is to prevent completely incompatible groups like those from the Savage Wilderness and Land of Chaos Western Regions and the chaotic southern regions from participating. Essentially, it's the "Central Lands Divine Continent Qian Yuan Level Sect Competition".

This is a very high level.

Eight groups of disciples from different sects arrived from all directions, and the disciples guarding the Penglai Sword Pavilion activated their sword formation, causing streams of light to fall upon the island. A long-awaited grand competition was about to begin.

There are no prizes for the competition.

It originally evolved from a sparring agreement between two sects. What kind of prizes are needed for sparring between sects? After this was disrupted, who will provide the prizes? If you want to reward someone, just do it yourself at home.

The first reason is mutual verification, the second is personal fame, and the third is the reputation of the sect. These three things combined are enough for all the participants to give their all.

The referees still come from the Celestial Pivot Divine Palace. They are often invited to do this kind of thing and seem to enjoy it, because it represents their transcendent status in the Divine Land.

Unfortunately, it wasn't Minghe who returned this time, but an old Daoist priest at the Shining Sun Peak.

Minghe is clearly not up to the task of being a referee in this situation. She might not be able to see the subtle details of the battle and make a judgment. In case of disputes, she would be even less able to convince so many senior Huiyang members present.

Qin Yi looked at the old Daoist priest and sighed.

That's so boring. It's not as fun as Minghe being the referee... Even when Minghe is sitting there with a straight face, she's still a sight to behold, and when she tilts her butt, she's incredibly cute.

Who wants to see your orange peel face?

Unfortunately, this was beyond his control. Minghe was nowhere to be found at this moment... Presumably, her period of self-reflection was over, and he wondered if she was out training and if she was in any danger...

Qin Yi wandered to the heavens once again.

The old Daoist priest from the Celestial Pivot Divine Palace slowly entered the venue and began to read out the rules, breaking the noise from all around the island and interrupting Qin Yi's thoughts.

"The Eight Sects Grand Competition is a friendly exchange of skills, aimed at verifying gains and losses. Therefore, it has been agreed that a combination of Challenge System and Ring Defense System will be used."

"The reason for not using Elimination System is to avoid missing out on opponents you want to spar with and having regrets. Since it's a challenge, you can find the opponent you most want to prove yourself against. If the champion remains unchanged, you can also let him leave the ring temporarily so that others can compete."

"A person can lose three times, after which they are completely disqualified."

In fact, Qin Yi felt that Elimination System or KOF System would be fairer, and he must have had his reasons after more than a year of negotiations. It must be admitted that this model is most suitable for showing off and making a name for oneself, but it is also very easy to backfire, so one must be careful when taking the stage.

For Qin Yi personally, he did not want to become famous.

It's not purely because of tranquility.

He was young and passionate, and still harbored a desire to make a name for himself. Most importantly, because of his unique circumstances, he didn't want to put himself under the spotlight of the world, to have his special cultivation methods and Wolf Tooth Club studied—it was too easy for trouble to arise.

Even if you do make a move, you'll probably have to conceal it. It's best not to use the Wolf Tooth Club if possible. There are so many heroes in the world. Without the club, it's like crippling yourself. You might not even be able to win. Don't be arrogant.

"The rules of the competition are as follows: First, no one may use lethal or maiming techniques. If the power is blind, we will come to your aid. If there is any intentional injury, the person will be immediately disqualified." This is why an external referee is needed; otherwise, whether someone intentionally injured another would lead to endless disputes.

"Secondly, there must be no off-field interference or unfairness; this goes without saying."

"Third, one must not use Law Treasure that exceed one's own cultivation level, otherwise it will become a competition of Law Treasure within the sect, losing the original purpose of verifying one's cultivation. Unless one's Natal Magic Treasure is higher than one's own cultivation level, then it is a different story."

Qin Yi: "..."

He touched the ring... The Demon Slaying Sword, the Zhan Guang Sword, the Joyful Buddhist Beads —none of them were usable anymore...

The only usable item is the Yunxiu Flute. Although the Yunxiu Flute is already a treasure of the early stage of the Huiyang realm, it is considered a Natal Magic Treasure. It was refined in the early stages of cultivation according to the needs of one's main Cultivation Method, and it grew with one's own growth. Others can tell at a glance.

The ring actually contains quite a few cloud-riding treasures, but they haven't been refined, so they won't have much effect. Taking Chengcheng's Cheng Cheng won't be of any use.

If we're afraid to use sticks casually, what else can we use?

By the way, should I take off the Myriad Demons Magic Robe? I suspect you guys are deliberately targeting me, Fat Tiger!

He quietly tugged at Li Qingjun: "Qing Jun, help me find a weapon."

Li Qingjun was taken aback. "What kind of weapon do you want?"

"Give me a club... Wolf Tooth Club would be best, but something similar is fine too."

Li Qingjun was speechless. "Really, there isn't any. We're Jian Ge, and it's not easy for us to even have someone who uses a gun like me, where would we find a stickman?"

"..." Qin Yi rubbed his forehead.

Cheng Cheng asked in a low voice, "Are you worried about the artifact spirit being exposed?"

"Hmm." Qin Yi said, "Not only that, but just considering the material of the Wolf Tooth Club, it can't be displayed carelessly in this kind of setting, or something bad will happen."

Cheng Cheng handed him a Foxtail Duster.

"...What's this?"

"I used this to beat up Ye Ling; it feels pretty good."

"You should keep it for yourself."

As they were whispering among themselves, the old Daoist priest returned to the Cloud Platform. The area was quiet for a moment, then suddenly a Killing Intent atmosphere arose.

The island is enormous, with the majority of its central area serving as the competition arena. From a distance, the ground is outlined with lava, creating a rather menacing scene.

In this challenge and defense format, the first person to step onto the stage is bound to suffer. Unless you have absolute confidence, you can indeed dominate the spotlight from beginning to end; this is a stage for true champions.

I don't know who's so stupid as to think they're such an invincible powerhouse.

Just as Qin Yi was thinking this, he saw Zheng Yunyi leisurely walk into the arena, dressed in white like snow, with a long sword like a rainbow. With a flick of his wrist, the sword light shone brightly. "Zheng Yunyi of the Scheming Sect, I'm throwing out a brick to start the jade, to open this arena for everyone."

Qin Yi narrowed his eyes.

Immediately, a group of people stepped forward, wanting to challenge him, with Chu Jiantian being the fastest to act.

"Stop putting on airs and tarnishing the name of Sword Cultivator! Get out of here!"

A burst of sword light appeared, striking the ground a foot in front of Zheng Yunyi before anyone else could react.

The Qian Sect Tournament officially commenced amidst this opening act, which was imbued with a sense of personal resentment.

Qin Yi suddenly wondered if Zheng Yunyi's Chu Jiantian back then was all for this opening.