Three days later, at dawn.
Li Yun and Zhao Gongnian left Sand City together, bound for the Provincial Capital.
Qiao Meng saw them off at the city gate, her eyes full of reluctance.
She had begun cultivating True Qi, and the advantages of her Innate Five Elements Saint Body were gradually showing. Her cultivation advanced a thousand miles a day. But when faced with parting, she was still a young woman who worried about those she cared for.
"Be careful," she said softly.
Li Yun nodded without another word, then turned and left with Zhao Gongnian.
The Cangnan Headquarters of the True Martial Platform, in the Provincial Capital.
As the selection date approached, Grandmasters and peak Spirit Condensation Realm Martial Artists from across the province gathered there. Talk of the Grandmaster Duel filled every street and alley.
"Did you hear? More than two hundred Grandmasters are entering the selection this time!"
"Over two hundred? That many?"
"You sure about that?"
"The Cangnan Headquarters held an internal selection before the last Grandmaster Duel too, and fewer than fifty took part. This time there are over two hundred? Isn't that four times as many?"
"Come on, you said it yourself—that was the last one. Twenty years have passed since then!"
"Twenty years. The Spirit Energy Revival on Blue Star has intensified, and countless more Martial Artists have emerged. Far more have reached the Grandmaster realm, too."
"Over two hundred Grandmasters sounds like a lot, but remember, that's across all of Cangnan!"
"There are nearly a hundred million Martial Artists in Cangnan. Two hundred-odd Grandmasters... it's hardly surprising!"
"True, but the competition will be fierce this time."
"No kidding. But there's another bit of news worth thinking about... Apparently Li Fenghua, the one who wiped out the Wang Family of Sand City