"In that case, we have no objections." With matters settled, Murong Fu could hardly oppose it any further. He nodded and sat down.
"Then, everyone, shall we begin the Wind and Cloud Gathering?" Shen Ci asked with a smile.
"Of course."
"Please proceed, Tower Master Shen."
The Innate Realm experts all nodded.
"Very well. You are free to spar. Anyone interested may choose an opponent."
The Wind and Cloud Tower would determine the thirty places on the Heaven Ranking based on their performances in these matches. Of course, they could choose not to participate, but aside from a few highly ranked experts who were absent, anyone who did so would essentially lose their place on the ranking to someone else.
The ring of pale blue-green luminous stones around the stone platform lit up. Their glow was clearer than it had been in daylight, casting an even halo over the platform's surface and illuminating every fine detail of the densely etched runes. A circular area three zhang across had been marked out in the center. Near its boundary, the glow of the stones naturally narrowed, forming a visible dividing line. The light inside and outside the area differed subtly but distinctly in color.
The Wind and Cloud Tower had activated an array formation. After all, Innate Realm experts were immensely powerful and destructive, so its protection was needed to keep their attacks from affecting others or damaging Lakeheart Island.
The first pair to take the platform were Duan Mingrui of the Greenleaf Sect and Zheng Xiuyuan of the Mountain-Crushing School. Duan Mingrui wore a gray-white martial outfit and held a narrow-bladed longsword. Zheng Xiuyuan was unarmed. His palms were dark brown, his knuckles thick, and his fists covered in dense, hard calluses.
Gu Yanran's voice came from beside Zhao Feng, neither