"I'm at Combat Platform number ten."
Fang Han withdrew his gaze and spoke to Luo Yuntian and the others.
"I'm on number twelve."
Luo Yuntian said.
"I am number fourteen."
Mad Blade, carrying his giant sword, said nonchalantly.
The group announced their Combat Platform numbers, said their goodbyes, and headed to their respective Combat Platform.
Fang Han walked towards Combat Platform number ten.
A large crowd had already gathered near the Combat Platform.
There were men and women, all young faces in their twenties, standing or sitting, their eyes occasionally sweeping over each other.
Fang Han glanced around and counted about thirty people.
To be among the top ten on their respective county's Prodigy Ranking, to stand here, none of them are ordinary people; each one is a genius among geniuses.
Some people are unruly, with their arms crossed and their eyes filled with undisguised sharpness.
Some people have a calm appearance, a smile on their face, and seem quite easygoing.
But even those who seem easygoing reveal an underlying arrogance in their slightly raised chins and composed demeanor.
"Buzz--"
Fang Han didn't rush to chat with anyone. Instead, he found a relatively inconspicuous spot to stand and subtly scanned the people with his eyes.
He silently activated the Nether Guide, carefully sensing the auras of these people.
Among these people, the weakest in cultivation was at the Third Grade, while several others possessed a deep and dignified aura, having reached the Second Grade.
"As expected, none of those standing here are mediocre."
Fang Han thought to himself.
At the same time, these people also noticed Fang Han.
Dozens of gazes came from different directions, scrutinizing and appraising him, lingering on him for a moment before moving away.
Fang Han remained expressionless, simply standing quietly and waiting.
Before long, more young men and women arrived, each finding a place to stand and scanning the room.
Fang Han's gaze swept over the figures, then suddenly paused for a moment.
A white figure was walking towards the entrance of the venue.
She was dressed in a white, form-fitting outfit with tightly bound cuffs, which not only facilitated combat but also accentuated her figure, showcasing its beauty to the fullest.
Her long, black hair was held back by a simple silver ring, with a few stray strands fluttering in the wind, highlighting her elegant and capable face.
It is Zhen Feixuan.
"She was also assigned to Combat Platform number ten?"
Fang Han was slightly surprised.
He never expected that he would be paired with one of the ten most beautiful women in the Imperial Capital on the same Combat Platform.
This is not good news!
After all, Zhen Feixuan is a genuine First Grade martial artist, and definitely a formidable opponent.
Zhen Feixuan's appearance immediately attracted the attention of everyone on the number ten Combat Platform.
Almost all the participating prodigies, regardless of gender, couldn't help but turn their gaze to the figure dressed in white.
Some people's eyes flashed with amazement, while others looked at her with scrutiny and wariness, clearly also sensing Zhen Feixuan's extraordinary nature.
Zhen Feixuan seemed used to this kind of attention, her expression remained unchanged, and she walked over with a calm and composed gait.
Her gaze swept across the crowd, and when she saw Fang Han, she paused slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Clearly, she also recognized Fang Han she had met briefly at the Exquisite Pavilion two days prior.
She then nodded slightly as a greeting.
Fang Han was surprised that Zhen Feixuan would take the initiative to signal to him. He was slightly taken aback, then nodded in response.
Zhen Feixuan withdrew her gaze and stood at a spot not too far from Fang Han, waiting quietly.
Time passed second by second.
About an incense stick's time later, fifty young men and women had gathered around the number ten Combat Platform.
Just then, several figures emerged from the passageway on the side of the venue.
The leader was an elderly man dressed in a crimson robe.
He was thin, with completely white hair and beard, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, shining as if they could see through everything.
You can faintly feel the flow of blood and energy beneath his skin. He looks calm and quiet, exuding an indescribable sense of authority.
Behind him followed four middle-aged men and women, their steps steady and their aura refined.
Fang Han sensed these people using the < Nether Guide > and couldn't help but feel a slight chill in his heart.
The four middle-aged men and women First Grade cultivation level.
And the white-haired old man at the head...
The aura was as deep and unfathomable as the deep sea. He had sensed such an aura before; it was clearly the aura of a grandmaster.
"Grandmaster!"
Fang Han was violently shaken.
A grandmaster was merely serving as a referee on a single Combat Platform.
Therefore, the referees for the other nineteen Combat Platform must also be the same.
Twenty Combat Platform represent twenty grandmasters.
The terrifying power of the royal family was on full display at this moment.
The white-haired old man walked to the number ten Combat Platform and slowly swept his gaze over the crowd.
His gaze wasn't sharp, but when Fang Han was swept by that gaze, he felt as if he had been completely seen through, and even the flow of qi and blood in his body seemed to slow down by a fraction.
"The contestant on Combat Platform number ten."
The white-haired old man spoke, his voice not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
"Two players will compete in a row; the winner advances to the next round, and the loser is eliminated."
"Intentional killing is prohibited; poisons must not be used; and concealed weapons must not be used."
"Any violation will result in disqualification and severe punishment."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd again, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority:
"Now, begin."
He took a scroll from his sleeve, unfolded it, and read out two names:
"The first match is between Ning Xu from Far-Pacifying Prefecture and Wen Ruyu Nether Spring Prefecture."
A man and a woman stepped out from the crowd in response.
The man, Ning Xu, was dressed in a light blue outfit. He had a handsome face, a thin sword hanging at his waist, and a calm gaze that revealed no emotion.
The woman, Wen Ruyu, was dressed in white, with a beautiful face and a gentle temperament. She held a short, emerald-green flute in her hand, but her eyes held a sharp glint.
The two stepped onto the Combat Platform and stood facing each other.
The white-haired old man glanced at the two, then stepped back to the edge of the Combat Platform, his voice calm:
"Start."
As soon as the words were spoken, the two of them moved simultaneously.
Ning Xu drew his sword, its light like a rainbow, carrying a sharp Sword Qi as it pierced straight at Wen Ruyu.
Wen Ruyu neither dodged nor evaded; she gently twirled her emerald flute in front of her, and an invisible sound wave spread out, momentarily deflecting the sharp sword light.
Ning Xu's Sword Technique was extremely fast. His first sword missed, but the second sword followed immediately. The sword light transformed into multiple sword shadows, attacking Wen Ruyu from different angles.
Wen Ruyu's flute playing was equally exquisite. The short flute seemed to come alive in her hands, and she could strike, pluck, or sweep it with perfect timing, defusing Ning Xu's attacks with each move.
The two exchanged blows on the stage, going back and forth for more than thirty moves.
Finally, Wen Ruyu seized a flaw in Ning Xu's Sword Technique, tapping his sword with her flute. A Hidden Force traveled through the blade, causing Ning Xu's sword to deflect slightly.
Immediately, she lunged forward and slapped Ning Xu in the chest.
Ning Xu grunted, staggered backward, and finally fell off the Combat Platform.
Wen Ruyu did not pursue, but put away her flute and stood still, nodding slightly.
"Thank you for your concession."
Ning Xu's face was somewhat pale. He stood there for a long time without saying a word.
He looked at Wen Ruyu, then looked down at the sword in his hand, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
As one of the top ten geniuses on the Far-Pacifying Prefecture Prodigy Ranking, he is a genius among geniuses, and has received countless praises since childhood.
Unexpectedly, they were defeated in the first round.
This was a significant blow to him.
The white-haired old man glanced at Wen Ruyu and announced:
" Wen Ruyu wins the first match."
Wen Ruyu stepped off the stage, a hint of joy on her face.
Ning Xu left with his head down and a somber expression.
The white-haired old man did not pause, unfurled the scroll again, and read out two names:
"The second match is between Chen Bei from Pingliang Prefecture and Qin Yan from White Sand Prefecture."
Two young men stepped onto the Combat Platform in response.
Chen Bei was tall and slender with a cold and stern face. He held a black spear in his hand, the shaft of which was jet black and faintly shimmered with light.
Qin Yan was a burly man with broad shoulders and a thick build. He held a giant axe that looked like a door panel, the blade of which gleamed with a cold, sharp light.
The two men exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with undisguised fighting spirit.
The white-haired old man's voice faded:
"Start."
Qin Yan struck first, his giant axe cleaving down towards Chen Bei's head with immense force.
Chen Bei neither dodged nor evaded; with a flick of his spear, the tip transformed into a streak of black light, piercing straight for Qin Yan's throat.
The spear was incredibly fast, striking before the giant axe could fall, and had already reached Qin Yan.
Qin Yan's expression changed, and he had no choice but to retract his axe and block.
"Clang--!"
The spear tip struck the axe, producing a deafening clang of metal against metal, and a shockwave emanated from the point of impact.
Qin Yan swayed slightly, actually being forced back several steps by the force of the spear.
A look of horror flashed in his eyes; he clearly hadn't expected Chen Bei's shot to be so powerful.
" Second Grade!"
Someone in the audience gasped in surprise.
Fang Han's gaze also fell on Chen Bei, Fang Zheng one of the Second Grade martial artists he had sensed earlier.
Just as everyone gasped in surprise, Chen Bei drew his gun again.
Gunfire filled the sky, engulfing Qin Yan like a raging storm.
Qin Yan, with his Third Grade cultivation, was utterly powerless against a Second Grade martial artist.
In just three moves, Chen Bei struck him in the chest with a spear. Even with the soft armor protecting him, he still groaned and fell off the Combat Platform.
"Second match, Chen Bei."
The white-haired old man spoke calmly, as if this outcome was already within his expectations.
One by one, people were called out and sent up to the Combat Platform to fight.
The atmosphere at Combat Platform number ten gradually became tense with each battle.
Some victors left with joy on their faces, while others left with gloomy expressions.
After several more battles, the white-haired old man recited:
"Match 18: Fang Han from Qingyang Prefecture versus Ling Yue from Golden Mausoleum Prefecture."
Fang Han's mind stirred slightly, and he stepped out.
He walked at a leisurely pace, his white robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, the Cloudsplitter Sword at his waist swaying gently with each step, his expression calm and composed.
On the opposite side of the Combat Platform, another figure simultaneously leaped onto the stage.
He was a young man who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old.
He wore a Dark Gold Brocade Robe, with a long sword inlaid with jade at his waist. His face was quite dignified, but his brows carried an undisguised arrogance.
As he landed on the stage, he glanced at Fang Han and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
" Qingyang Prefecture?"
His tone was somewhat nonchalant.
"It's not Central Thirty-Six Prefectures, but rather from an ordinary prefecture."
He stood with his hands behind his back, scrutinizing Fang Han with a slightly condescending gaze, his voice carrying a hint of superiority.
"To be able to stand here, you must be one of the most distinguished figures in Qingyang Prefecture. It's just a pity that you ran into me in the first round."