Each Takes the Field

Xu Wuyi returned the salute with cupped fists.

Gongxi Hong's figure dissolved into pale golden motes of light and vanished from the arena. This time, however, he was not directly teleported out of the summoning space. Instead, he re-formed in the spectator stands.

At this stage of the summoning, everyone who had been eliminated could remain in the spectator stands and watch the battles that followed.

The voice of the rules rang out.

"The first battle has concluded. The victor: Xu Wuyi."

Xu Wuyi turned and walked toward his spectator stand. His steps were steady, exactly as they had been when he walked onto the arena.

The blade wound on his left arm had already healed completely, leaving only a faint scar that was fading at a visible rate.

When he returned to the spectator stand, Lin Jianyi looked at him, his eyes carrying a trace of barely concealed shock.

"Gongxi Hong's blade techniques rank among the best in the entire Southern Martial Star Realm," Lin Jianyi said in a low voice. "His blade intent can sever rules. Shen Jin fought him before. The two battled for a long time, and afterward Shen Jin said he could not win. Yet you only used three punches."

Xu Wuyi was silent for two seconds.

"His blade was indeed fast, but his offense could not keep up with his defense."

Lin Jianyi shook his head and said nothing more.

The light screen above the arena flickered again. The second battle was Ye Yixin against a Grandmaster from the Iron Wall Star Realm.

The Iron Wall Star Realm was famed for its defenses. That Grandmaster's physical strength was said to rank at the pinnacle of his civilization's entire history.

He withstood one sword from Ye Yixin. The first sword shattered his shield, the second