World's First Martial Arts Tournament (1)

The clamor on the internet, much like the croaking of frogs by a pond on a summer day, was noisy but ultimately unable to disturb the hidden dragon in the pond's depths. After his initial rage and frustration, Master Tongtian's Dao heart, under extreme pressure, settled and became even colder and sharper. He no longer paid attention to the meaningless arguments on the forums, nor did he heed the malice filling his private messages. All his focus was concentrated on the upcoming "World's First Martial Arts Tournament."

To him, this was no longer just a game competition, but a battle to prove his Dao heart and the honor of the name "Supreme Purity Sword Master"! He would use absolute strength to cut down all doubts and slanders, along with those who overestimated themselves, with his sword!

The official Realms Expedition highly valued this "World's First Martial Arts Tournament," investing enormous promotional resources. Online and offline advertisements were everywhere, major streaming platforms featured it prominently on their homepages, and the game itself was filled with a strong tournament atmosphere. The high prize money, unique limited rewards, and the supreme honor of being "World's First" attracted millions of players from across the server to register.

The tournament was divided into multiple regions, with online qualifiers being the first stage. It used a single-elimination format, making it extremely brutal. Only the strongest, who fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, could advance to the offline finals.

In the villa's living room, the atmosphere was unprecedentedly solemn... at least for Lin Fan.

To ensure Master Tongtian could compete in his best state, Lin Fan had gone to great lengths. He not only upgraded the network hardware and prepared a backup power source just in case, but he also specifically cleared space in the living room. In front of the lazy sofa where Master Tongtian usually sat, he placed an ergonomic gaming desk. On it, besides the custom gaming phone, were snacks meticulously prepared by Lin Fan (mainly potato chips of various flavors and "happy water") and a screen-cleaning cloth.

"Master, the equipment has all been checked. Network latency is stable below 10ms, and the backup hotspot is ready," Lin Fan reported cautiously, like a eunuch serving an emperor. "During the match, I guarantee no one will disturb you! I've already spoken to Great God Gong Gong; he promised not to go to the backyard to smash... uh, practice his morning exercises today. Great God Jumang also said he won't be making any 'experimental dishes' with overpowering smells today."

Master Tongtian sat regally on the lazy sofa... no, at this moment, it should be called the "Enlightenment Battle Chair." Upon hearing Lin Fan, he merely nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed on the phone screen, where he was performing his final warm-up in custom mode. His fingers moved like butterflies dancing through flowers, leaving afterimages on the screen. The "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" on the screen flickered, its sword light sharp, carrying an unstoppable, resolute momentum.

"Mm, thoughtful of you," he responded calmly, his tone peaceful yet carrying a heart-stopping sharpness.

Lao Tzu was still in a corner of the living room, sipping tea as if the outside world's noise was irrelevant to him. However, occasional glances at Tongtian's screen held a hint of undisguised scrutiny. Goddess Nüwa, not preoccupied with her beauty regimen today, had moved a chair to sit a little further away, holding a sketchpad, seemingly trying to capture some "dynamic beauty" from Tongtian's focused expression and rapidly moving fingers. Jumang was quietly fiddling with several stalks of Tranquility Grass in a corner, emitting a calming, pure aura, attempting to soothe any potential anxiety with natural energy.

Even Gong Gong, uncharacteristically, wasn't outside or reading. He was sitting on another sofa, holding a giant bucket of popcorn bought by Lin Fan, looking ready to enjoy the show. "Tongtian, let's see what tricks you can pull off with that 'Sword Immortal' in those boxes! Don't get beaten down in the first match and embarrass us from the Primordial Era!"

Master Tongtian didn't even lift his eyelids, merely letting out a cold snort from his nose. "Noisy. I'll show you what the pinnacle of the sword path is later."

The time struck ten in the morning, and the "World's First Martial Arts Tournament" qualifiers officially began!

Master Tongtian took a deep breath and clicked the "Enter Match" button. Match found, loading interface... Battle, commence!

In the early stages of the qualifiers, the opponents' strength varied greatly. To Master Tongtian, most of these opponents were like clay chickens and pottery dogs.

His playstyle was extremely aggressive and oppressive. Controlling the "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal," he would often seek out opponents right from the start. With his ghost-like movement and precision-level skill execution, he could establish an advantage in health or skills in a very short time. His controls were as smooth as flowing water; every movement, every basic attack, every skill cast seemed to be meticulously calculated, yet possessed a natural grace like a nimble antelope leaping.

"One sword, two swords... a flaw has appeared, it's over," Master Tongtian murmured to himself. On the screen, the "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" flickered, dodging the opponent's crucial crowd control skill. Then, its sword light cascaded like a waterfall, a precise and flashy combo instantly clearing the opponent's health bar.

"Victory!"

The first match, lasting 1 minute and 23 seconds, was a crushing victory.

"Tsk, boring," Gong Gong mumbled through a mouthful of popcorn, "The opponent was too weak."

Lin Fan, however, watched with a pounding heart. Although he couldn't understand the intricate micro-controls, the clean kills and extremely short match times clearly demonstrated Master Tongtian's terrifying strength.

The following few matches were almost a repeat of the first. No matter what hero the opponent used or what tactics they employed, they all appeared pale and powerless before Master Tongtian's seemingly all-knowing operations. He was like a precision killing machine, efficient, ruthless, and devoid of emotion.

On the forums, news of "Supreme Purity Sword Master" participating and dominating also began to spread. Players who had watched his match replays, even those who were initially skeptical, had to admit that this guy's controls were... outrageously strong!

"Holy crap! I just watched 'Supreme Purity Sword Master's' qualifier replay. That reaction time, that movement... I'm starting to believe he's not cheating!"

"+1, especially that move where he dodged the AoE stun at point-blank range, that's inhuman!"

"Did we really misjudge a genius?"

"Don't rush it, the qualifiers are a mix of fish and dragons. Wait until he faces real experts!"

The tide of public opinion began to subtly shift with Master Tongtian's string of flawless victories.

However, as the tournament progressed, the opponents gradually became more formidable. Those who could reach this stage from millions of players were all masters, including many renowned professional players or top solo queue legends.

A highly anticipated match was quietly matched. Master Tongtian's opponent's ID was "Ye Yu Sheng Fan," a star player in the current Realms Expedition professional league, known for his agile playstyle and delicate controls. He was known as the "Cunning Sword" and also used a swordsman hero, "Phantom Swordsman - Zoro."

This match, even before it began, had attracted significant attention. The officials had even decided on the spot to open a special broadcast room on the streaming platform to provide live coverage and commentary for this duel!

"Here it comes! 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' versus 'Ye Yu Sheng Fan'! A collision of titans!"

"Will the cheater's true colors be revealed, or is this a battle for a genius to prove himself?"

"I bet five mao that 'Ye Yu Sheng Fan' will teach him a lesson!"

"I'm betting on 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' to continue the domination!"

In the villa, Lin Fan was also following the official broadcast on his tablet, his heart pounding even more nervously than the players on screen. Gong Gong had also come over at some point, forgetting his popcorn. Nüwa had stopped sketching, and Jumang held his breath. Even Lao Tzu's gaze was once again fixed on Tongtian's screen.

Master Tongtian himself maintained his usual calm expression, his eyes only more focused, as if everything outside had nothing to do with him.

The match began!

The map was the classic "Sword Testing Cliff." Both heroes met at the center line.

"Ye Yu Sheng Fan" lived up to his reputation as a professional player, with an extremely steady and seasoned playstyle. He didn't rush to attack, instead constantly probing with minions and movement, looking for "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal's" weaknesses. His "Phantom Swordsman" moved like a phantom, weaving through the minion waves, his sword light flashing left and right, creating an invisible pressure.

Master Tongtian, on the other hand, was more direct. His "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" took an aggressive stance, with every last hit carrying a strong offensive intent, as if ready to strike at any moment. The health bars of both sides slowly decreased through constant attrition and small-scale trades.

"Both sides are playing very cautiously," the official commentator analyzed. "'Ye Yu Sheng Fan' is looking for an opportunity, while 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' is as aggressive as ever, trying to pressure the opponent's movement space."

Suddenly, "Ye Yu Sheng Fan" made his move! His "Phantom Swordsman" used an extremely tricky angle to instantly dash forward, his long sword drawing a bizarre arc, stabbing directly at "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal's" flank! This was his long-renowned "Phantom Thrust," with a cunning angle and extreme speed!

Just as the sword tip was about to hit, the "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" controlled by Master Tongtian seemed to have anticipated it. Its body slid sideways with an incredibly small margin, the sharp sword tip grazing the model's skin, bringing up a "Miss" indicator!

"He dodged it! My god! That reaction!" the commentator exclaimed.

Almost simultaneously with dodging the attack, the "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" counter-attacked with a sword thrust. Its sword energy was like silk, accurately hitting the "Phantom Swordsman," who was briefly stunned by the skill's recovery animation!

"A beautiful counter! 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' seized the timing perfectly!"

Seizing the advantage, Master Tongtian pressed his attack! The "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal's" sword momentum instantly unfolded, like a storm, engulfing "Ye Yu Sheng Fan." Its movements were erratic, its skill combos seamless, and every attack landed in the most uncomfortable positions for the "Phantom Swordsman."

"Ye Yu Sheng Fan" was forced to retreat steadily, his health rapidly declining. He attempted to use skill-based movement to create distance, but Master Tongtian seemed to predict his every move, always blocking his escape routes in advance.

"Pressure! Complete dominance! 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' is completely dominating the laning phase against the professional player 'Ye Yu Sheng Fan'!" the commentator's voice was filled with disbelief.

In the villa, Gong Gong's eyes widened, and he didn't even notice the popcorn bucket tipping over. "This... this kid, fighting inside a box, he's actually got some skill!"

Nüwa's eyes sparkled, her paintbrush moving rapidly across her sketchbook, as if capturing inspiration from some kind of "combat aesthetic."

Lin Fan clenched his fists, his palms sweating with excitement.

The battle on screen had entered a white-hot stage. "Ye Yu Sheng Fan" was cornered under the tower, his health nearly depleted. He knew he couldn't hesitate any longer, so he decisively used his flash, simultaneously turning and unleashing his ultimate skill, "Three Thousand Troubles Winds," attempting a desperate counter-kill!

A massive sword storm swept out, covering an extremely wide area!

However, the instant he flashed and landed, Master Tongtian's "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" seemed to synchronize with him. Almost at the same moment, with a precise, infuriating diagonal displacement, as if foreseeing the future, he narrowly avoided the core damage area of the sword storm!

At the same time, the long sword in "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal's" hand erupted with dazzling light—the ultimate skill "Azure Lotus Sword Song: Severance!"

A condensed sword energy, as if piercing through the void, instantly sliced across "Phantom Swordsman's" body.

"First Blood!"

The system notification chimed.

"Ye Yu Sheng Fan's" screen turned grey.

Silence.

A brief silence fell over the official livestream, immediately followed by a flood of comments like a mountain torrent.

"??????"

"Holy crap!!! Solo kill! A solo kill on a professional player in lane!"

"That prediction! That reaction! Is he a god?!"

"I believe he's not cheating now... This is f*cking divine!"

"'Supreme Purity Sword Master' is awesome! (Voice cracking)"

In the villa, an uproar also erupted.

"Good!" Gong Gong slammed his thigh, making the cups on the coffee table jump. "That move was clean and decisive! It has the style of that year when he punched Mount Buzhou... cough cough, punched Mount Buzhou!"

Nüwa looked at her sketch with satisfaction. The drawing depicted the moment "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" unleashed his final sword strike, sword energy crisscrossing, his posture elegant.

Jumang nodded with a smile, the surrounding Tranquility Grass emitting an even richer fragrance.

Lao Tzu picked up his teacup, blew on it gently, and a subtle curve seemed to form at the corner of his lips.

Lin Fan was so excited he almost jumped up, wishing he could roar to the heavens! He won! And it was such a beautiful, crushing victory over a professional player! Now let's see how those haters could spew their venom!

As for the person involved, Master Tongtian, he slowly put down his phone, stretching his slightly stiff fingers. His expression remained unchanged, as if the earth-shattering duel just now was merely him casually brushing dust off his shoulder.

He glanced at the frantic "666" and "awesome" comments flooding the official livestream, then at the rapidly changing posts on the forum, a hint of indifference flashing in his eyes.

"A mere professional player, nothing more," he said calmly, his tone placid yet carrying an arrogance that looked down on the world. "Warm-up is over."

His gaze shifted towards the tournament interface, towards the deeper, farther path of advancement.

The qualifiers were still ongoing. But after this battle, the name "Supreme Purity Sword Master" had risen like an unignorable, brilliant star in the starry sky of the "World's First Martial Arts Tournament," dazzling and radiant.

All participants understood that a terrifying, unprecedented opponent had bared its sharp fangs.

The real storm had only just begun.

(Chapter 49 End)