Tianlang Mountain, underground palace.
Li Yun heard the words "Supreme Mountain Showdown" and raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing.
"Supreme Mountain Showdown? What's that?"
"I don't think I've heard of it before!"
Shen Qingyun smiled, walked over to a stone stool, and sat down. He gestured for Li Yun to sit as well.
Shen Qingyi put away the Jade Slip she had been recording on and took a seat nearby.
The three sat together, the atmosphere much more relaxed than before.
"It's a long story."
Shen Qingyun began slowly. "Inspector Li, you know how the Grandmaster Duel and Martial King Pact came about, don't you?"
Li Yun nodded. "I do. The nations wanted to test themselves against one another in the Martial Dao without starting large-scale conflicts, so they set those rules and replaced war with contests."
"Exactly."
Shen Qingyun said, "But as the Spirit Energy Revival on Blue Star accelerates, the Martial Dao advances by the day. The Martial King Pact is no longer enough. A single contest under the pact can't measure the gaps between the nations' strongest fighters."
"What's more, some fighters surpassed Martial Kings long ago, but without a suitable stage, they've remained hidden."
Something stirred in Li Yun's heart.
Isn't he talking about someone like me?
Shen Qingyun continued, "About half a year ago, several factions—including the Northern Frontier Ice Bear Hall, the Eastern Sakura Society, and the Southern Seas Alliance—jointly put a new proposal to the True Martial Platform: hold a truly unrestricted contest atop the highest peak on Blue Star."
"No limits on cultivation or background. Only strength matters. It would determine Blue Star's ten strongest fighters, establish the Supreme Rankings, and announce them to the entire Martial Dao world."
"The Supreme Mountain Showdown."
Shen Qingyi picked up the explanation. "The people from