"It'll probably be hard for us to end up facing each other..."
Zhao Er merely smiled, unconcerned. The so-called Hidden Dragon Tournament was mainly meant to select the top fifty.
If Zhao Er really faced Sun Yuanying before the top fifty were decided, never mind whether the audience would accept it—even the Sun Family probably wouldn't, and neither would the alliance of lineages.
The Hidden Dragon Tournament deliberately avoided matching strong contenders early on, unless the four major powers intended to rig it together.
Of course, none of that concerned Zhao Er. Even if they did, he wouldn't care. If he couldn't even beat Sun Yuanying, there was no point going to the Martial Academy and hoping to become a Martial Guard. He might as well wait three years and compete again.
"First match! A-10 against E-83!!!"
Yet Zhao Er had barely finished speaking when someone on Arena A-10 began loudly calling the numbers.
"Whew... looks like I really won't have to face you!"
Hearing the announcement, Sun Yuanying let out a long breath, smiled at Zhao Er, then turned and stepped onto the arena.
E-83 was a young man. Perhaps he hadn't expected to be the first to take the stage, much less face the renowned Sun Yuanying of the Sun Family, so his expression looked rather grim.
Still, he didn't withdraw outright. He gritted his teeth and climbed onto the arena.
The fight offered little spectacle and no suspense. E-83 had only just entered bone tempering. At their first exchange, Sun Yuanying struck with a simple palm blow, knocking him and his weapon straight off the arena.
"A-10 wins!!!"
"Next match, A-11 against E-31!"
Almost as soon as Sun Yuanying stepped down, the next fight began.
And A-11 was Zhao Er.
Zhao Er exchanged a nod with Sun