Light swirled as names were paired with draw numbers, and the matchups hung high in the air.
Most challengers who drew one of the reigning young masters wore bitter expressions, silently lamenting their rotten luck. Those matched against fellow challengers, however, blazed with fighting spirit. This was a golden opportunity to advance-and perhaps even claim a seat among the Twelve Young Masters!
"First match: Second Young Master Yun Tianluo versus Yun Tao!"
"Both contestants, enter the arena-"
At the announcement, Yun Tianluo rose gracefully. His moon-white scholar's robe was spotless, and every movement carried a refined, scholarly air. He nodded lightly toward the spectator stands on all sides, his smile gentle and warm, as though he were attending a spring poetry gathering rather than a martial battle.
His opponent, Yun Tao, was an exceptionally tall, powerfully built man with a square face, thick brows, and fierce, tigerlike eyes. A blunt heavy sword like a door panel rested across his back. The ground trembled faintly beneath his steps, and his aura was as solid and weighty as a mountain. He was actually at the middle stage of the King-Sealing Realm!
He had refrained from directly challenging the Twelve Young Masters in the first round out of caution, hoping to improve his chances of ultimately claiming a seat. He had never expected the rules to change abruptly this year, matching him directly against Second Young Master Yun Tianluo.
Still, he was not discouraged. After years of painstaking practice in the Mountain-Sealing Prison Suppression Art and Earth-Splitting Sword Formula, he was confident that few at his cultivation level could rival his strength!
"Second Young Master, please instruct me!" Yun Tao saluted with clasped fists, his voice rumbling like muffled thunder, his presence imposing.
"Cousin Yun Tao, please." Yun Tianluo returned the salute with