The banners snapped overhead above Skywind City's Training Ground.
The circular stands, which could hold ten thousand people, had long since filled to capacity. Even the aisles were packed with martial artists who had come to watch.
On the gilded platform at the very center, Skywind City's lord, Shen Wuya, wore a black brocade robe and exuded an imposing presence without even trying.
Since taking office three years ago, this Fourth Level of Essence Transformation Realm expert had used an iron fist to set the city's affairs in order, managing to maintain Skywind City's balance amid the covert struggles of the four great families.
"Elder Lu, you've traveled a long way. Shen has not been a good host; I hope you'll forgive me." Shen Wuya cupped his hands toward the old man on his right.
He had deliberately reined in his aura, but the true essence faintly circulating between his fingers still revealed his profound cultivation.
Lu Yue, an outer sect elder of Yunlan Sect, had white hair and a youthful face. His plain white robe was spotless.
stroking his beard, he smiled and said, "City Lord Shen, you're too modest. On my way here, I saw merchants gathered in Skywind City and bustling markets everywhere. That speaks volumes about your capable administration."
As the two exchanged pleasantries, the heads of the four great families sat on either side.
Lin Zhentian, head of the Lin Family, had eyes sharp as a hawk. From time to time, he spoke in low voices with the heads of the Chu and Xu Families beside him.
Su Tianheng sat upright, his gaze fixed on the Su Family's younger generation in the arena.
"Come to think of it..." Shen Wuya's voice suddenly turned wistful.
"Back when I was cultivating in Yunlan Sect, if I hadn't hit a bottleneck in Essence Transformation, I wouldn't have..."
Lu Yue picked up the thread, understanding what he meant. "The sect will always welcome its wanderers home. If you have the time, City Lord Shen, you should come back for a visit."
The time soon came to a quarter past seven.
The entire Training Ground fell silent the instant Shen Wuya rose to his feet.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every person present. "Today, heroes have gathered from far and wide. I hope you all..."
After a brief opening address, he gestured to Lu Yue.
Lu Yue stepped forward at an unhurried pace, his sleeves stirring despite the still air. "Yunlan Sect has stood for a thousand years and has always valued the cultivation of talent. Everyone accepted into the sect will receive one High-grade Human-tier Martial Skill."
Before he had even finished speaking, a wave of astonished cries swept through the audience.
A High-grade Human-tier Martial Skill was worth hundreds of thousands of gold on the market—and was a treasure one couldn't buy even with money.
Lu Yue's gaze swept across the young martial artists below, their eyes burning with excitement. He continued, "The top four in this Grand Tournament will each get to choose an additional High-grade Human-tier Martial Skill."
The stands erupted in an uproar. Many family elders sat up straight.
Though sect martial skills were strictly forbidden from being passed on, with violators stripped of their cultivation and expelled, the chance was still enough to make anyone green with envy.
When the noise had died down a little, Lu Yue suddenly raised his voice. "As for the champion of the Grand Tournament..."
He paused deliberately, then took a silk pouch embroidered with Cloud Patterns from his sleeve. "The champion will receive a first-grade Storage Bag!"
Hiss—the crowd drew in a collective breath.
That unremarkable-looking pouch was a spatial treasure capable of holding five cubic units of space!
In Skywind City, even the great families could equip only their Spirit Condensation Realm experts with one.
What was more, Storage Bags had to be purchased with Spirit Stones, and one cost a hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones.
On the Nine Heavens Continent, the exchange rate between gold and Spirit Stones was ten thousand to one. In practice, however, certain Black Markets could push the price as high as twenty thousand gold per Spirit Stone. That meant the Storage Bag was worth at least a million gold!
Su Yu's pupils narrowed slightly, and his right hand unconsciously touched the long sword at his waist.
With this treasure, he would never have to worry about carrying Beast Cores after hunting demonic beasts again.
"Victory isn't the only measure!" Lu Yue suddenly raised his voice.
"Even if you lose, as long as you show enough potential, you still have a chance to join our sect!"
Shen Wuya took over, signaling for the guards to bring up two gilded lottery boxes. "To keep the seeded contestants from facing each other too early, we'll divide the contestants into two groups according to their cultivation."
He opened the box on the left himself. Inside were neatly arranged jade tokens bearing the names of Lin Tian and the other martial artists of the Qi Refining Realm. The other group, meanwhile, was...
Su Yu stood in the contestants' area, his gaze sweeping across the stands opposite.
In the Lin Family's section, Lin Tian was meditating with his eyes closed.
The Number One Genius of Skywind City seemed deaf to the commotion around him, as if he were in another world.
Lin Xuan stood beside him.
At that moment, Lin Xuan's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Su Yu's figure.
Ever since his defeat that day, he had been mocked relentlessly by his clan. Even the branch-family disciples who used to curry favor with him now whispered and pointed behind his back.
He had spent ten days in seclusion, relying on the pills his father had given him to force his way to the peak of Qi Refining Level 7—all so he could wash away his humiliation today.
Farther away, several young men from minor families were already so nervous that their faces had gone pale.
"Now, the drawing begins!"
"First match: Xu You versus Chu Feng!"
At the referee's command, heavy footsteps sounded from the east side of the Training Ground.
With a Nine-Ring Broadsword resting on his shoulder, Chu Feng strode onto the platform with the bearing of a dragon.
Though only fifteen, he was already broad-backed and thickset. A scar ran from the corner of his brow to his jaw, lending his rugged face a savage air. His hawklike eyes flashed brightly, and his entire body radiated a sharp, fierce aura.
"P-please go easy on me, Brother Chu..."
Xu You leaped onto the platform, his face pale and the long sword in his hand trembling slightly.
This ordinary talent from the Xu Family had never imagined he would draw one of the favorites to win, right in the first round.
Jeers rang out from the stands. Clearly, no one gave Xu You a chance in this hopelessly one-sided match.
"Three moves." Chu Feng grinned, baring a row of gleaming white teeth.
"If you can take three of my moves, you win."
Before the words had even left his mouth, the Nine-Ring Broadsword came crashing down!
"First move of the Thunderous Saber Style—Thunder Shakes the Eight Directions!"
The blade had yet to reach him, but the shrill whistle of its passage already made Xu You's eardrums ache.
He hastily raised his sword to block, only to see the broadsword suddenly change direction midair, splitting into three afterimages that struck at once.
Amid the clanging of metal, Xu You staggered back seven steps. The web of his thumb split open, and a thread of blood trickled down the sword hilt.
Before he could even catch his breath, Chu Feng's second strike was already upon him.
This time, the blade swept in even more fiercely, faint arcs of lightning flowing across its surface. It was the killing move of the Thunderous Saber Style: Thunderous Might!
Xu You forced his spiritual power to surge. A faint blue light flared along his sword as he unleashed the Soaring Dragon Sword Style with all his strength.
However—
Thunderbolt Slash crashed down overhead, tearing through Xu You's sword momentum like thin paper.
He was sent flying, slamming hard into the Protective Formation at the edge of the platform before bouncing back onto the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The referee waved a hand without expression. "Chu Feng wins!"
The entire exchange had lasted no more than three breaths.
Chu Feng hoisted his broadsword onto his shoulder and strode off the platform without even sparing his unconscious opponent a glance.
Thunderous cheers erupted from the stands, while the Xu Family's people carried their clansman away with grim faces.
The matches at the Training Ground continued in full swing, and before long it was midday.
The blazing noon sun gilded the platform with a dazzling golden rim. Light reflected off the weapons, so bright it stung the eyes.
Su Yun stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the arena, watching yet another opponent fall from the platform after three moves.
The true flame of the Blazing Flames Sword Style flowed along his blade, scorching black marks into the flagstones.
"Su Yun wins!"
Before long, it was Su Mei's turn. Her Gentle Water Sword Style flowed like flowing clouds and water.
With a turn of her sword, seven strands of Water Mark Sword Qi overlapped one after another, driving her opponent to the edge of the platform.
Her final move, Water Moon Without a Trace, darted forward with a light touch. Her opponent was struck as if by a surging wave and sent flying three zhang away.
"Su Mei wins!"
The most surprising contestant was Su Yan.
The boy who had always been so restless showed astonishing composure today.
Though his Flowing Cloud Sword Style had yet to reach mastery, eight Cloud Patterns flashed in succession. He forced an opponent at Qi Refining Level 7 back step by step, then finally defeated him with a single sword strike.
Cheers rang out from the stands.
Su Tianheng gave a slight nod, a trace of relief passing through his eyes.
Su Lie faced an elite disciple of the Chu Family at the peak of Qi Refining Level 7. They fought fiercely for dozens of exchanges.
Though he ultimately lost, every blow from his Heavy Sword was powerful and weighty, forcing his opponent to give everything he had.
As he left the arena, Su Lie, battered and bruised, still clasped his hands to his opponent. He earned a wave of cheers.
"Chu He of the Chu Family wins!"
As the referee announced the result, Su Tianheng gave a slight nod. The Su Family disciples had performed far better than he had expected today.
Suddenly, the entire crowd fell silent.
Lin Tian stepped onto the platform at an unhurried pace, his white robes spotless.
His opponent was a Qi Refining Level 6 martial artist from a minor family. The man's legs were trembling so badly that he could barely hold his sword.
"I... I forfeit!"
The trembling cry shattered the silence.
The stands erupted. Some spat scornful curses, while many more said they understood.
Faced with a genius who had reached Qi Refining Level 9 at just fifteen, most people wouldn't even have the courage to step onto the platform.
Lin Tian turned and walked down without expression, as though he had expected this result all along.
"Final match: Zhang Yong versus Su Yu!"
At the referee's announcement, a burly figure leaped onto the platform.
Zhang Yong stood eight feet tall, his muscles knotted and bulging. He wielded a Mountain-Splitting Axe and was one of the rare Qi Refining Level 7 experts among the minor families.
"The Su Family's useless young master?"
Zhang Yong grinned.
"I heard you only broke through by stuffing yourself with pills. Today, I'll..."
Before he could finish speaking, a green figure had already drifted lightly down onto the opposite side of the platform.
Su Yu wore a plain robe. His Azure Edge Sword remained sheathed, yet he radiated the cutting edge of a drawn blade.
He spoke lightly, his gaze so calm it was frightening.
Before you continue