World's First Martial Arts Tournament (2)

"Supreme Purity Sword Master" defeating professional player "Ye Yu Sheng Fan" in a solo kill was like a nuclear bomb dropped into deep water, its shockwave quickly engulfing the entire Realms Expedition gaming community and spreading into the wider internet.

Recordings from the official livestream, highlight reels produced by various media outlets, technical analysis posts... all content related to this match quickly trended. The titles were more sensational than the last:

Shocking! Unknown Player 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' Crushes Pro Star 'Ye Yu Sheng Fan'!

God or Cheat? In-depth Analysis of 'Supreme Purity Sword Master's' Unbelievable Predictions and Plays!

'Phantom Sword' Broken, 'Sword Immortal' Ascends! The Dawn of a New Era?

On the forums, the voices that had been clamoring about "cheating" and "hacking" instantly quieted down like ducks with their throats choked. In their place was an overwhelming tide of astonishment, admiration, and a new wave of debate.

"I was wrong! I kneel to the Sword Immortal Master! Can humans really pull off these moves?"

"Anyone who called the Master a cheater, step forward? Does your face hurt?"

"To be fair, the reaction and prediction are indeed beyond comprehension... but the video analysis shows no trace of cheating software. It can only be extraordinary talent."

"Are we truly witnessing the birth of a gaming god?"

"Don't celebrate too early. It's just one match. Maybe 'Ye Yu Sheng Fan' was having an off day. There are still many more experts to come!"

The tide of public opinion had completely turned. The name "Supreme Purity Sword Master" was no longer associated with "suspected cheating" but was instead adorned with titles like "genius," "monster," and "unknown realm," filled with awe and curiosity. Many even began digging into "Supreme Purity Sword Master's" background story, but to no avail, which only added to his mystique.

Inside the villa, however, the atmosphere was vastly different from the fervor outside.

Master Tongtian remained seated on his "Enlightenment Battle Chair," as if the earth-shattering victory moments ago was merely swatting away a buzzing fly. After solo killing "Ye Yu Sheng Fan," he even had the time to pick up a chilled soda and take a sip, his expression so placid that Lin Fan wondered if he had just gone to the restroom.

"Master... you, you just solo killed a professional player!" Lin Fan couldn't help but remind him, his voice still tinged with excitement.

"Mm," Master Tongtian put down his cup, glancing at the scrolling victory notification and soaring promotion points on the screen, and said calmly, "This child's sword techniques are passable, feigning reality, with a hint of the 'Phantom Sword Path.' Unfortunately, he only grasped the form, not the spirit, leaving too many openings. Victory was only natural."

Lin Fan: "..." Right, discussing mortal gaming techniques with this lord was simply self-humiliation. In his eyes, all opponents' moves were probably "full of flaws."

Gong Gong righted the tilted popcorn bucket and smacked his lips, "Tongtian, that dodge and counter just now, the timing was well-executed. But compared to that feat back in the War of the Witch and Demon, where you withstood the Eastern Emperor Bell's sonic waves and then smashed the Three Days Demon Saints with a single punch, it's still a bit lacking."

Master Tongtian ignored him.

Nüwa, holding her sketchbook, walked over to Tongtian and pointed to a sketch of the "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" releasing his ultimate move with elegant posture, asking, "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, this posture contains a unique rhythmic beauty. Could it be called 'the aesthetics of slaughter'? If this posture were incorporated into my newly designed 'Immortal Slaughtering Sword Intent: Iridescent Eyeshadow Palette,' it would surely add a touch of sharp momentum."

Master Tongtian's eye twitched slightly, but he ultimately remained silent. He had nothing to say to this creator who was obsessed with "beauty."

Lao Tzu spoke slowly, his tone as detached as ever, "Victory without arrogance, defeat without dejection. Fellow Daoist Tongtian, this mindset is the foundation of the pursuit of the Dao." He seemed quite approving of Tongtian's current composure.

Jumang offered a cup of clear tea brewed with Tranquility Grass at the opportune moment: "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, drink this tea to calm your mind and prepare for any eventuality."

Master Tongtian accepted it and nodded slightly in acknowledgment. Compared to Nüwa's "eyeshadow palette" and Gong Gong's "boasts of the past," Jumang's tea seemed much more normal.

After a brief interlude, the preliminary rounds continued. However, after this battle, the subsequent matches seemed to have lost all suspense. Whether facing wealthy players with overwhelming equipment, meticulous amateur experts, or tactical masters attempting to drag the game into the late stages with their insidious playstyles, they all proved to be no match for Master Tongtian's absolute strength.

His "Azure Lotus Sword Immortal" was like an unsolvable nightmare, rampaging across the arena. Skill interruptions precise to the millisecond, support timings that appeared out of nowhere, and an almost monstrous control over health, skill cooldowns, and map resources plunged his opponents into deep despair. Often, within minutes of the match starting, opponents' mental states would completely collapse under the pervasive pressure.

"Supreme Purity Sword Master's" path to advancement became a completely suspense-free crushing show. His match recordings were repeatedly watched and studied by countless players, every micro-operation analyzed frame by frame in an attempt to decipher the secret to his power. A "Supreme Purity Sword Master Operation Study Class" even appeared on the forums; while mostly a gimmick, it demonstrated his influence.

During the official broadcast of his matches, the commentators' tone shifted from initial shock and doubt to present-day astonishment and praise.

"It's 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' again! Let's see what kind of spectacular performance he'll deliver this time!"

"This movement! It's like dancing on the edge of a knife! But he always manages to dodge fatal damage!"

"Terrifying calculation! He always seems to know what the opponent will do next!"

"Match over! A victory without suspense! 'Supreme Purity Sword Master' once again shows us what absolute power looks like!"

With each accumulated victory, "Supreme Purity Sword Master's" ranking skyrocketed like a rocket. He ultimately secured the top spot in his region with an undefeated record, powerfully advancing to the offline finals of the "World's First Martial Arts Tournament"!

When the final list of qualifiers was announced, with "Supreme Purity Sword Master's" name prominently displayed at the top, the entire gaming community was once again shaken.

Offline finals! This meant that the mysterious "Supreme Purity Sword Master" would finally step into the spotlight, showcasing his skills under the gaze of countless cameras and spectators! All doubts would finally be put to the test on this real, tangible offline stage!

The official announcement for the offline finals was released: the venue was "Wind and Cloud Esports Arena," the largest esports center in East Sea City, and the date was set for one week later. Sixteen top experts who had emerged victorious from various regions would gather to compete for the supreme honor of "World's First" and a million-dollar prize. The matches would be broadcast live online and on television.

As soon as the announcement was made, tickets for the Wind and Cloud Esports Arena were sold out the moment they went on sale. Scalped ticket prices soared. Major media outlets were gearing up to provide comprehensive coverage of this grand event. All eyes were focused on these sixteen players, and undoubtedly the most eye-catching among them was the one who had risen like a comet, shrouded in mystery – "Supreme Purity Sword Master"!

In the villa, Lin Fan looked at the official announcement, his feelings complex. He was happy for Master Tongtian, yet filled with deep worry.

Offline competition! This meant Master Tongtian would have to leave the villa and appear in public! With his handsome, otherworldly appearance and sharp demeanor like an unsheathed ancient sword, coupled with his constant exclamations of "these ants" and "this One," not to mention his game skills that defied all logic... Lin Fan could hardly imagine the uproar that would ensue if he were exposed!

"Master... this offline competition..." Lin Fan held his phone and cautiously approached Master Tongtian.

Master Tongtian was studying the profiles of potential opponents in the finals. Hearing Lin Fan, he didn't look up: "Mm, I know. You will accompany this One."

"No, Master, I mean... the offline competition is different from online! There will be many cameras, many spectators, and many reporters!" Lin Fan tried to make him understand the seriousness of the situation, "You... you need to pay attention to your words and actions, you can't... you can't be too... you know."

"Know what?" Master Tongtian finally looked up, his sword-like eyebrows raised, "Why should this One care about the gaze of mortals?"

Lin Fan was on the verge of tears: "But Master! We need to be low-key! Did you forget about Great God Gong Gong almost demolishing the dam? If your identity is exposed and attracts the attention of this world's 'Heavenly Dao Rules,' our peaceful days will be over!"

Mentioning "Heavenly Dao Rules" and "peaceful days," Master Tongtian's expression became slightly more serious. He pondered for a moment and said, "According to your suggestion, what should be done?"

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Lin Fan quickly said, "First, your self-address needs to change. Don't say 'this One' all the time; say 'I.' Second, your aura... you need to restrain it a bit, don't be so... sharp and prominent. Just look like an ordinary... uh, a slightly handsome gaming expert. Lastly, if a reporter interviews you and asks why you're so good, absolutely do not say it's 'Sword Dao Initial Realm' or 'Sage's Divine Sense.' Just say... just say you have good talent and practice diligently!"

Master Tongtian listened to Lin Fan's requests, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter. Asking him to pretend to be an "ordinary" mortal gaming expert? This was even more unbearable than asking him to break through the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation again!

But he also understood that Lin Fan's concerns were not unfounded. The rules of this world were peculiar, and it was indeed unwise for them, as "undocumented residents," to be too ostentatious.

"...Fine," after a long while, Master Tongtian said somewhat reluctantly, "It shall be as you say. At that time, this One... I, will be mindful of my conduct."

Hearing this, Lin Fan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although he knew it would be extremely difficult to get this lord to "be mindful of his conduct," at least he had agreed, which was a good start.

"Also," Lin Fan added, "the equipment provided for the competition is official and might be different from your own phone, so you'll need to get used to it. Additionally, there might be various distractions at the venue, such as the cheers of the crowd, the stares of your opponents, and the focus of the cameras. You need to be mentally prepared."

Master Tongtian let out a cold snort, "How can mere external things disturb my Dao heart? As for the equipment... Hmph, even if it were common iron, in this One's hands, it can still unleash the might of a divine weapon!"

Lin Fan: "..." Fine, I didn't say anything.

For the next few days, Master Tongtian remained immersed in his game preparations, only occasionally being pulled away by Lin Fan for "special training"—mainly practicing how to speak in a "mortal" way during interviews and how to control his expressions so as not to reveal a "you are all ants" look.

Gong Gong's assessment of this was, "Hiding and concealing, not straightforward at all! If you ask me, just reveal your ten-thousand-zhang Ancestral Witch true form, and see who dares to be difficult!" He was then jointly suppressed by Lin Fan and Lao Tzu.

Nüwa began designing competition attire for Master Tongtian, striving to maximize the display of his "sage-like demeanor" while maintaining "low-key," a request that Master Tongtian sternly rejected.

Lao Tzu remained calm, only remarking faintly beside him one time when Tong Tian was practicing an interview, "Too much talk leads to mistakes."

Jumang quietly prepared some stronger calming incense to have on hand for emergencies.

In this atmosphere of tension, anticipation, and a touch of absurdity, the days passed.

Finally, the day of the offline finals for the "World's First Martial Arts Tournament" arrived.

Early in the morning, outside the "Wind and Cloud Esports Arena" in East Sea City, crowds had already gathered. Huge posters hung on the outer walls of the venue, displaying the official photos of the sixteen qualifying contestants—the position for "Supreme Purity Sword Master" was still a mysterious black silhouette, adding to the mystique. Fans held up support signs, cosplayers dressed as characters from the game, and media reporters with their cameras at the ready created an atmosphere as fervent as a festival.

An ordinary ride-sharing car quietly pulled up at the entrance of a relatively secluded passage.

The door opened, and Lin Fan emerged first, taking a deep breath, trying to calm his thumping heart. He had deliberately dressed in formal attire today, presenting himself as an assistant.

Then, Master Tongtian slowly alighted from the car.

Today, he had heeded Lin Fan's advice and wasn't wearing ancient-style robes. Instead, he wore a set of relatively casual modern clothing prepared by Lin Fan—a simple black T-shirt and slim-fitting trousers. However, even the most ordinary clothes seemed to be imbued with an extraordinary elegance when worn by him. His incomparably handsome face, eyes as deep as the starry sky, and his aura, sharp as a drawn sword even when deliberately restrained, instantly stunned the staff waiting at the passage entrance and the few reporters who had staked out the location.

This... this is the mysterious "Supreme Purity Sword Master"?

And... he's too handsome! And this presence... he doesn't look like someone here to play a game at all, more like a domineering CEO here to acquire an esports club, or a top male star who just walked off the set of a historical drama!

After a brief silence, there was an even more frenzied burst of camera flashes and exclamations.

"It's 'Supreme Purity Sword Master'! He's here!"

"My god! He's even more handsome in person than I imagined!"

"This aura... it's incredible!"

Lin Fan quickly stepped forward, blocking some of the lenses, and whispered, "Sect Master... no, Grandmaster Sword Master, let's go in quickly! Don't linger outside!"

Master Tongtian's gaze swept calmly over the excited fans and the blinding flashes. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he ultimately said nothing, merely nodding slightly and, guided by the staff, strode towards the passage.

His steps were steady, his back straight, as if walking in his own dojo.

Lin Fan followed closely behind him, watching the figure ahead that seemed capable of isolating all the surrounding noise, and silently prayed:

"All the gods and Buddhas, all the great figures, please bless everything to go smoothly today, and absolutely no mishaps..."

The final chapter of the "World's First Martial Arts Tournament" officially began, amidst the widespread attention and Lin Fan's anxious worries.