For the next two weeks, every day brought the same training. Whenever I felt I'd more or less adapted, they cranked up the difficulty, giving me no chance to catch my breath. Still, two weeks of pushing myself to the limit had made me much stronger. My physique, combat skills, and control over my powers had all improved considerably.
Si Nan Ying was competing too. Like me, she endured hellish training every day, and hers didn't seem any easier than mine. At first, she'd been full of enthusiasm, but after a few days she started slacking off and complaining. Before long, she was curled up in bed, refusing to get up no matter what... Hey, hey, Miss Dragon Tsundere, if you don't stick with it, you'll never evolve into Dragon Proud Heaven!
Day by day, I grew stronger. At last, the clan tournament began.
In the heart of the Imperial Capital, at Tiandu Plaza—
The two-hundred-meter-wide plaza had been renovated into an arena. Spectators packed the surrounding area, and thousands of temporary seats had been set up in the nearby high-rises. The family heads and elders were seated in the premium section closest to the arena. Around its edge stood the sixty-four young men and women taking part, along with members of their respective factions. I was among them, of course.
"There are sixty-four participants in the clan tournament. They'll be paired off, with the winners advancing and the losers eliminated. The rounds will go from sixty-four to thirty-two, thirty-two to sixteen, sixteen to eight, and eight to four, with a few days between each stage. They'll all be held here. The semifinals and final will take place on the same day, at the Imperial Palace. It's tradition. Got all that?" Rui Xin reminded me.
"Yeah, more or less. Who's