The Martial Competition Begins!
Dragon, Snake, Tiger, and Leopard; A, B, C, and D; Wind and Rain—for a total of ten arenas.
As the elders brought out the scrolls and read the names and numbers, twenty martial artists immediately shot out from the crowd, landing on different arenas.
After they displayed their wooden plaques and the elders confirmed that everything was in order, the elders nodded, put away the scrolls, and said, "Once I step off the arena, the martial competition will officially begin. It will continue until one side falls and can no longer fight, or is knocked off the arena. The Crown Prince has ordered that this is merely a martial exchange—no one is to take another's life!"
"Though this is only a martial exchange, I ask that the disciples of the Dragon Phoenix Pavilion display their strength and abilities, and win glory for their respective schools!"
After the elders said the exact same words in unison, they turned around and leaped off the arenas!
In an instant, only the disciples of the Dragon Phoenix Pavilion remained on the arenas. Since this was their first battle, both sides seemed somewhat bewildered. But once the elders stepped off the arenas and the disciples of both sides unleashed their auras, one fierce battle after another erupted!
Extraordinary formations had been established both above and below the arenas, isolating the aftershocks of spiritual power. Thus, the martial artists fighting on the arenas could unleash their martial techniques to their hearts' content.
The martial competition began, and the battles followed one after another without pause. The spectators seated in the viewing stands all turned their eyes toward the ten arenas, and whenever something exciting happened, they slapped the tables and cried out in admiration!
"This is only the first round, yet I