Heaven-Piercing Peak.
The martial arts plaza.
Early the next morning.
The morning mist had yet to clear, but the plaza was already buzzing with people.
The round of sixteen, which would decide who advanced to the top eight, was undoubtedly the highlight of the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament.
Disciples from every peak had arrived early to claim the best spots.
Robes of every color mingled together, like a colorful ocean.
The moment the Great Bamboo Peak group appeared, they drew countless stares.
"Look, it's the people from Great Bamboo Peak!"
"Is that Zhang Xiaofan? The one holding the Firewood Stick?"
"The one with the Shocking Dragon Sword must be Lin Jingyu, right? He's so handsome!"
"Please. Great Bamboo Peak's run ends here."
"I heard Song Daren's up against Senior Brother Qi Hao, and Junior Sister Tian Ling'er's up against Junior Sister Lu Xueqi."
"Wow. What terrible luck."
"..."
The comments came from every direction.
Tian Buyi wore a stony expression.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he walked at the head of the group, paying no attention to the pointing and whispering around him.
But the slight tremble of his beard still betrayed his inner unrest.
Ye Xuan ambled along at the back of the group, a blade of foxtail grass dangling from his mouth. He rested his hands behind his head, looking like he'd come to watch the show.
His gaze swept across the stands in the distance.
There, a group of female disciples from Small Bamboo Peak surrounded a figure dressed in white as pure as snow.
Lu Xueqi.
Even from far away, he could feel the icy aura that kept everyone at arm's length.
"Dong!"
A clear, resonant bell rang out, echoing through the sky.
The matches were beginning.
"Number eight..."
"Great Bamboo Peak's Tian