After driving off the mysterious attackers, Ye Lingyun and his companions pressed on toward Star City without pause. The closer they drew, the denser the spiritual power in the air became, as though it had taken tangible form, seeping into their skin in delicate strands. Along the way, they saw cultivators from far and wide, drawn from every corner of the continent by the fame of the "Lingxi Star" tournament. These cultivators were a varied lot. Some traveled in groups, laughing and chatting freely; others journeyed alone, their expressions cold and stern, an unapproachable aura radiating around them.
At last, a magnificent city appeared before them. Star City's walls towered into the clouds, built from a special stone that shimmered with starlight. Beneath the sun, they reflected a dazzling rainbow of colors, dreamlike and illusory. Crowds streamed through the city gates, where guards in finely crafted armor maintained order with stern expressions and practiced efficiency.
Ye Lingyun and his companions slowly entered Star City with the crowd. Within, the city bustled with life. Its streets were broad and clean, lined with shops offering a dazzling array of rare cultivation resources, magical treasures, spiritual artifacts, pills, and secret manuals. Ye Lingyun's gaze was drawn to the Treasured Artifact Pavilion, where all manner of magical treasures stood on display, gleaming brightly. Among them were several high-grade spiritual artifacts that faintly exuded powerful fluctuations of spiritual power.
However, they had little time to linger and admire the sights. According to the tournament rules, they first had to register at the tournament's organizing office. The office was housed in an imposing palace at the center of Star City. A long queue had already formed outside its doors, made up entirely of cultivators who had come to enter the tournament.
While waiting in line, Ye Lingyun overheard the discussions around him.
"This tournament will have experts gathered as thick as clouds. I heard that Xingchen Yu, the young master of the Star Pavilion, will be competing too. He's hailed as a cultivation genius seen only once in a century, and his strength is unfathomable."
"And there's Ye Li from Spirit Wind Valley. Her control of spiritual power is exquisite beyond compare. They say she can set up a high-level Spirit Array all on her own. She's another favorite to win."
"Hmph, I still think Chu Kuang of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has the best chance of taking the championship. He can command all kinds of powerful demonic beasts to fight for him, and his methods are strange and ever-changing."
Ye Lingyun silently committed these names to memory. He knew full well that all of them would be formidable opponents in the tournament. Yet he felt no fear. Instead, his fighting spirit soared, and he longed to measure himself against these geniuses.
At last, it was Ye Lingyun and his companions' turn to register. The man handling registration was an elderly man with snow-white hair but a vigorous spirit. His gaze flashed like lightning as it swept over them, and he nodded slightly. "Mm, very good. You're all promising young talents. I hope you'll show what you're made of in the tournament."
Once registration was complete, Ye Lingyun and his companions received their entry tokens. The tokens were black and austere in design, engraved with the emblem of the "Lingxi Star" tournament and their individual contestant numbers. Only those holding these tokens would be allowed into the tournament grounds.
After leaving the palace, Ye Lingyun and his companions found an inn and settled in, intending to rest well and meet the coming tournament in peak condition. Yet Star City was far from quiet. Not long after they had settled down, an unexpected storm swept over them.
As it turned out, the organizers had decided to hold a warm-up competition before the official tournament began, hoping to make the event more exciting and expand its influence. A selection of registered contestants would be chosen at random to face one another. The winners would not only receive generous rewards but also gain certain advantages when the official tournament began.
Ye Lingyun and his companions were among those selected for the warm-up competition. When the news arrived, the inn immediately buzzed with activity. Other guests gathered around to congratulate them, though there was no shortage of sneering remarks.
"Those few get to take part in the warm-up competition? I bet they're only going there to go through the motions and serve as a backdrop for the real experts."
"Haha, exactly. I heard they came from some remote backwater. They've already used up a mountain of luck just getting into the tournament. Thinking they can win the warm-up competition is nothing but a fool's dream."
Ye Lingyun's teammates were furious when they heard those remarks. Li Hao clenched his fists and glared at the speakers. "These bastards have gone too far. When the competition starts, we'll make sure they see what we're capable of!"
Ye Lingyun remained calm. He patted Li Hao on the shoulder. "Ignore them. We just need to do our best. We won't merely win this warm-up competition-we'll win in style and make everyone see us in a new light."
His teammates nodded at his words, the anger in their hearts turning into a burning fighting spirit. They began earnestly discussing strategies for the warm-up competition, drawing up a detailed battle plan based on each person's strengths and specialties.
Soon, the day of the warm-up competition arrived. Ye Lingyun and his companions reached the venue early. It was held in an enormous martial arena in Star City, surrounded by cultivators who had come to watch. Their eyes shone with anticipation and curiosity, all eager to see just how strong the selected contestants really were.
Ye Lingyun and his companions stood in the center of the arena, their expressions resolute. They knew this warm-up competition would be their first appearance on the stage of the "Lingxi Star" tournament. They had to give it their all and make a strong start to the journey ahead... And in Star City, where wind and cloud converged, what opponents would they encounter in the warm-up competition, and what dazzling feats would they achieve?
Before you continue