On the morning of the fifth day.
After having breakfast, Fang Han left the Royal Annex with Luo Yuntian, Liu Bai, Mad Blade, and others, heading towards the Martial Arts Tournament venue.
Accompanying them were First Grade Elder from various sects. Except for the Azure Profound Sect, all other sects sent First Grade Elder to accompany them.
It's not that Azure Profound Sect doesn't value him enough, but rather that Fang Han's current strength is such that few of the Azure Profound Sect's First Grade Elder can rival him, so there's no need to send First Grade Elder to accompany him.
The group walked along the wide streets of the Imperial Capital towards the Martial Arts Tournament venue, where there were many more pedestrians than usual.
Most of them were heading in the same direction, clearly spectators going to watch the game.
Upon reaching the entrance of the venue, Fang Han and the others presented their jade tokens. After the Imperial Guard captains in black armor examined the tokens, they spoke.
"According to the tournament rules, starting today, participants who have finished their matches are no longer allowed to enter the Combat Platform area; they can only watch from the stands."
Luo Yuntian and the others were slightly taken aback. They had originally planned to go to the Combat Platform to cheer for Fang Han, but now it seemed that they couldn't.
"Senior Brother Fang, let's go to the stands and cheer for you!"
Luo Yuntian said to Fang Han.
After saying that, he, along with Liu Bai, Mad Blade, and the Elder, turned into the side passage and headed towards the stands.
Fang Han watched them leave before walking alone through the passageway into the venue.
Then, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
The stands were packed with people, almost filling the entire area. The stadium, which could hold 100,000 people, was already more than half full.
The cacophony of voices echoed through the hall like waves, their combined sounds creating an invisible heatwave that swept over everyone.
"Why... why are there so many people?"
Beside Fang Han, a young man who was also a contestant couldn't help but gasp in disbelief.
"Today is the fifth round, and there aren't many people left. The level of competition is getting higher, so naturally there will be more spectators."
Another person chimed in, their voice also carrying a hint of surprise:
"I heard that the audience will grow larger as the competition progresses, and by the time of the final, all 100,000 seats will be filled."
"Look, everyone! The Combat Platform!"
A young woman participating in the competition suddenly spoke up, her voice filled with barely suppressed surprise.
Fang Han looked in the direction the young woman was pointing, and his pupils contracted slightly.
The twenty Combat Platform, originally scattered throughout the venue, had all vanished.
No, they didn't disappear; they were merged into one place.
In the very center of the venue, a huge rectangular Combat Platform stood, constructed entirely of the same stone as the Martial Dao Stele, with sides stretching over a hundred feet, as flat and open as a small plaza.
On the surface of the platform, fine lines crisscrossed, which were the seams left after the twenty Combat Platform were merged. They were almost imperceptible if you did not look closely.
" The Combat Platform can actually move..."
Fang Han muttered to himself.
One contestant's gaze lingered on the enormous Combat Platform for a long time, his voice filled with admiration:
"The royal family's methods of using mechanical devices to move such a massive Combat Platform are truly admirable."
One of the participants also said.
"The ability to move and merge twenty Combat Platform is a feat I've never seen before."
Another contestant said.
"I've heard Elder who watched Martial Arts Tournament mention that the Combat Platform can move, but seeing it with my own eyes still leaves me quite shocked."
Fang Han walked towards the huge Combat Platform.
The closer you get to the Combat Platform, the heavier the air seems to become.
Dozens of participants had already gathered around the Combat Platform.
Whether standing or sitting, with gazes that are either calm or sharp, they cast shadows of different postures in the morning light.
Fang Han walked to the edge of the Combat Platform and found a relatively inconspicuous spot to stand.
As soon as he landed, many eyes turned to him from different directions.
The gaze wasn't sharp, but it carried an invisible pressure, like a mountain silently pressing down on Fang Han.
It was a silent probe.
Fang Han remained expressionless, simply standing with his hands behind his back, as if those gazes had nothing to do with him.
"Buzz--"
Silently manipulating the < Nether Guide >, Fang Han's extremely keen senses spread outwards like an invisible spider web.
A moment later, a slight chill ran through him.
Among the dozens of people present, the number of First Grade martial artists far exceeded his expectations.
Besides Zhen Feixuan, who had already been confirmed, there were four other auras, equally deep and terrifying, carrying the oppressive feeling that only those who had reached the First Grade could possess.
"Five people..."
Fang Han silently recited the number in his mind.
There were as many as five First Grade martial artists, including Zhen Feixuan.
And this is probably not all, since not all the participants have arrived yet.
Just as Fang Han was concentrating on sensing, a slight commotion came from the entrance of the venue.
Fang Han looked up and saw a figure striding out from the passage.
He was a young man who looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He was dressed in Dark Gold close-fitting clothes, with a tall and straight figure, a cold and stern face, and a sharp and intimidating aura between his brows.
A long sword with a wide scabbard hung at his waist. The scabbard was wrapped in some kind of dark red animal hide, which shimmered faintly, clearly indicating that it was not an ordinary item.
"It's Qin Yuan!"
Beside him, a contestant spoke in a low voice, his voice carrying an barely suppressed seriousness.
" Qin Yuan of the Dragon Abyss Pavilion, Overlord-Level Faction, is widely recognized as one of the three strongest."
Fang Han's gaze fell on the Dark Gold figure, recalling the introduction about this person.
Qin Yuan walked slowly, but each step seemed to carry a strange rhythm, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly beneath his feet.
He walked to the edge of the Combat Platform, stood in an empty spot, and slowly swept his gaze over everyone present, his eyes calm and profound.
The murmurs in the crowd gradually subsided, as if suppressed by an invisible force.
Not long after, another figure walked in from the entrance of the venue.
She was a young woman in her early twenties, dressed in a light blue outfit.
The trousers reached her ankles, revealing her snow-white ankles and the light blue ankle boots she wore.
Her long, jet-black hair was casually tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears, giving her exquisite and refined face a touch of languor.
Her face was extremely beautiful, with exquisite eyebrows and eyes, and skin as white as snow. Her beauty was different from Zhen Feixuan's bright and flamboyant style, carrying a kind of elegant and serene beauty like that of mountains and rivers.
" Lin Qingyin... is Lin Qingyin of the Azure Heaven Sect, Overlord-Level Faction..."
"She was also one of the ten most beautiful women in the Imperial Capital, on par with Zhen Feixuan."
"I heard that her cultivation level has not only reached the First Grade, but it is far from being just the initial stage."
Some people spoke in low voices, their voices filled with undisguised amazement. Some were amazed by her beauty, while others were amazed by her cultivation.
Lin Qingyin walked to the edge of the Combat Platform, her gaze sweeping across the crowd, pausing for a moment on Zhen Feixuan.
The two women, both among the top ten beauties of the Imperial Capital and both survivors of this Martial Arts Tournament, met each other at this moment.
There was no hostility, no provocation, just a brief, calm exchange of glances.
Then, the two looked away.
A moment later, a third eye-catching figure appeared.
He was a young man dressed in a moon-white robe, with a handsome face and a cool demeanor, and an Plain Longsword hanging at his waist.
His steps were calm and steady, as if each step carried a sharp, Sword Intent- like intent that made people afraid to look directly at him.
" Chu Jinghong of the Cangwu Sword Sect, Overlord-Level Faction."
Fang Han's gaze fell on the moon-white figure, and he had already guessed the identity of the person who had come.
Chu Jinghong walked to the edge of the Combat Platform, stood with his hands behind his back, and his calm eyes were filled with pure emotion.
Born for the sword, die for the sword.
It seemed that there was nothing else besides the sword.
With the arrival of Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong, the atmosphere around the Combat Platform became increasingly tense.
'Eight First Grade...'
Fang Han's expression was solemn. According to his perception through the Nether Guide, the number of First Grade martial artists had reached eight.
The weakest of the other participants was Second Grade martial artist; none were below the Second Grade.
Clearly, those who have made it this far are all extremely strong; the weaker ones have already been eliminated.
People arrived one after another, and eventually sixty-four participants gathered near the Combat Platform.
In the audience, someone sighed softly:
"The top 64... to have fought their way to this point from over a thousand geniuses, each and every one of them can be considered the most outstanding genius among geniuses."
"Those who will make it to the end will undoubtedly be the eight prodigies who are already First Grade martial artists, especially Qin Yuan, Lin Qingyin, and Chu Jinghong, who have the best chance."
"Are the others hopeless? Besides the eight First Grade prodigies, there are several Second Grade prodigies who are also quite strong, and they all won easily. Their strength must be considerable."
"No matter how strong they are, they are only Second Grade, which is still quite a gap from First Grade, making it difficult for them to go all the way."
"That's true..."
In the distance, Luo Yuntian, Liu Bai, and Mad Blade sat in the audience, their eyes fixed on Fang Han's figure.
"I wonder if Senior Brother Fang will be able to win today..."
Luo Yuntian muttered to himself.
Although Fang Han's strength, the opponents Fang Han was facing now were too strong, including some geniuses whose cultivation had reached the First Grade.
If one is unlucky enough to encounter First Grade- tier genius, they might have to stop here today.
Even if we stop here today, it's already an excellent result!
Liu Bai and the others sighed.
Fang Han, who has entered the top 64, has achieved the best result in Qingyang Prefecture in decades.
Not long after, five figures slowly walked out from the side passage.
The leader had white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and a long crimson robe that fluttered slightly in the morning breeze.
His aura was restrained and profound, revealing no trace of a powerful figure, yet everyone present involuntarily held their breath.
Behind him followed four elderly men dressed in various colors, each with an equally deep and unfathomable aura, their footsteps so light they were almost inaudible.
'Five Grandmasters...'
Fang Han sensed the auras of the five people, and as expected, all five were Grandmaster-level experts.
Moreover, his aura was stronger than that of the Supreme Elder Gu Changqing, and his strength was far beyond that of a beginner. Even among Grandmasters, he was definitely quite strong.
The five grandmasters slowly walked to the high platform directly in front of the Combat Platform and stood in a row.
The elderly man in the crimson robe at the head of the group slowly swept his gaze over the sixty-four figures below the stage. His cloudy yet deep eyes revealed no emotion.
"The fifth round."
He spoke, his voice not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying an undeniable authority.
"It's still a one-on-one elimination tournament; the winner advances to the next round, and the loser is eliminated."
"The rules remain the same as in the past few days: no premeditated murder, no use of poison, and no use of concealed weapons."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.
"Those who violate this rule will be severely punished without exception."