Bai Yuan and Bai Guanren walked side by side toward the clan competition grounds.
On the way, a huge building caught their attention.
It was an ancient-looking hall. Though it was not dazzling, it radiated the weight of countless years.
It was the Blade Clan's Holy Temple!
Those whose names appeared within its walls were the true pinnacle powerhouses of the clan.
Not long ago, the clan elders had even raised the requirement for entry into the Holy Temple to World Lord Level.
Bai Guanren gazed at it with longing. Having one's name carved into the Holy Temple was the lifelong pursuit of nearly every member of the Blade Clan.
Bai Yuan, on the other hand, showed little reaction.
With the system's help, if he couldn't even reach World Lord Level, he might as well find a block of tofu and bash his head against it.
"Heh, if it isn't Bai Yuan. You're a good-for-nothing. Don't tell me you're thinking of entering the clan competition too?"
At the sound of that irritating voice, Bai Yuan didn't even turn around. He knew who it was.
"Bai Kashan, which clan rule says I can't enter the competition?"
"Besides, what right does anyone have to question my talent? And what right do you have? If you hadn't had two extra years of cultivation, you'd be worse than me now!"
Bai Kashan's expression darkened at once.
If Bai Yuan's talent was merely mediocre, then his own aptitude was downright poor.
"Hmph! There's no point in saying more. You'd better pray you don't run into me in the clan competition."
With that, Bai Kashan turned and stormed off.
Watching Bai Kashan's retreating figure, Bai Yuan shook his head to himself.
It all went back to three years ago.
The two of them had been made to spar by their elders. Bai Yuan had beaten him, leaving him utterly humiliated.
That was how their grudge began.
Boom!
A low rumble came from the sky. Bai Yuan looked up and saw a massive spaceship flying over their heads.
"A D4-class Blade Spaceship!" Bai Guanren exclaimed.
A D4-class spaceship corresponded to the Domain Lord level.
Anyone capable of piloting such a ship was either rich or powerful, with an extraordinary status.
A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Yuan's eyes too.
The last time he'd seen a D-class spaceship had been at his second uncle's place.
Rumble!!!
The ship's arrival seemed to flip some kind of switch. One spaceship and battleship after another came in succession.
Most were C-class ships, corresponding to the Universe Realm, with the occasional D-class spaceship among them.
"Looks like everyone showing up has connections and status," Bai Guanren murmured. Then he turned to Bai Yuan. "You, on the other hand, have powerful backing but refuse to use it. I just don't get you."
Bai Yuan smiled. "I can't do that. I'm afraid that once I use it, I'll never be able to let go. Having everything handed to me—food and clothes without lifting a finger—would slowly wear away my will."
"Only what you win with your own two hands truly belongs to you."
Bai Guanren's expression shifted as he looked at Bai Yuan in surprise. He hadn't expected him to say something like that.
At the same time, the trace of envy he'd felt vanished, replaced by an even fiercer fighting spirit!
"You're right! If I want something, I should take it back with my own two hands!"
Clap, clap, clap...
As the two spoke, a burst of crisp applause rang out.
A young man dressed in a blue robe, with a pair of blades at his waist, had appeared behind them without their noticing.
"Well said. What you just said, brother, has truly opened my eyes."
The young man smiled warmly, his gaze calm and unreadable.
From that single glance, Bai Yuan could tell that the young man's strength was unfathomable!
Even setting everything else aside, appearing behind them without making a sound said enough.
"I'll be going on ahead. See you at the clan competition."
With that, the young man walked past them.
He was only walking at a normal pace, yet after a few steps his figure had disappeared.
"So fast! How did he do that? And he appeared behind us without the slightest warning... If he'd attacked then, you and I would probably have been in serious trouble." Bai Guanren was shaken, still feeling the chill of it.
Bai Yuan's expression turned grave. He spoke slowly. "An illusion, like flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon in water. What we saw wasn't his true form. But to wield his powers of perception to such a degree, almost making the illusion indistinguishable from reality... His strength is truly terrifying."
Bai Yuan had thought he was a sure bet to win the clan competition. Now, it seemed things wouldn't be so easy.
When they reached the largest plaza on Blade Planet, it was already packed with people. They had no choice but to stand at the very edge.
About half an hour later, a figure dressed in green slowly descended from the sky.
As he came down, the surroundings seemed to ripple under an invisible force, as if a star were falling from the heavens. His presence was immense.
His gaze swept over the crowd. Everyone whose eyes met his felt their hearts jolt.
His gaze was like a blade, tempered across countless battlefields and through life-and-death trials. It made people instinctively want to look away.
Bai Yuan's heart tightened too, but he didn't avert his eyes. He met that gaze steadily.
There was one other person who didn't back down: the young man in the blue robe.
After scanning the crowd, the Domain Lord-level powerhouse gave a slight nod.
He had taken note of both Bai Yuan and the blue-robed young man.
Among the more than 13.83 million competitors, their mental resolve was already among the very best.
"My name is Bai Luoyan. It is my honor to preside over this clan competition."
"The rules are unchanged. You will enter the Blade Tomb World and fight one another. The clan elders will determine your final rankings based on your performances."
"Anyone seriously injured will be transported out immediately. Of course, you may also choose to withdraw on your own, though I hope no one will need to."
Bai Luoyan paused briefly, then continued. "Besides those rules, there are three things to keep in mind."
"First, all competitors must remain below the Planet Realm. Even if you break through to the Planet Realm inside the Blade Tomb World, you will be forcibly transported out."
"Second, there are no restrictions on weapons. You may freely use either Origin Force weapons or Telekinetic Weapons. You may even control ten weapons at once. However, all defensive equipment, including Force Armor and Force Battle Suits, is strictly forbidden."
"Third, you may not use one-time explosives such as thunder crystals, poison, or any similar methods. Anyone who breaks this rule will be handed over to the Penalty Hall!"
Bai Yuan nodded. The Blade Clan's competitions were always simple and brutal, with almost no role for luck.
The only way to earn a higher ranking was to fight head-on and prove yourself through genuine strength and talent.
If someone hid until the others had finished fighting, then came out to pick off the survivors, it wouldn't matter how many enemies they killed. It would be meaningless.
There were requirements for using both Origin Force weapons and Telekinetic Weapons.
If someone wasn't strong enough, they couldn't activate them at all. Only by choosing a weapon suited to their own strength could they unleash their full power.
Force Armor and Force Battle Suits were different.
Even if someone lacked the strength to activate them, their defensive materials alone could withstand attacks, especially in a competition among those of the Apprentice Realm.
If this kind of armor were allowed, how could ordinary clan members compete with those who had powerful backing? It would destroy fairness, so all such equipment was banned.
As for poison and other underhanded tricks, the Blade Clan despised them most of all.
To a people who revered martial prowess, winning through devious means was a disgrace.
Sometimes, Bai Yuan thought the Blade Clan's nature was a little too upright.
But it was precisely this nature that had earned the Blade Clan its great reputation and produced one powerful figure after another.
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