Shi Yunhao tapped the chessboard. Although this man had utterly demolished him in their game, he did not seem to feel defeated.
Instead, it had sparked a trace of interest.
"..."
He murmured something to himself, then rose as well and strolled leisurely toward the center of Qingjiang Flat, where the Sword Debate was livelier.
The River and Sky Night Banquet was, after all, a relaxed and lively feast, so the Sword Debate mostly stopped short of injury and focused on displays of skill. Few people fought to the death.
After all, that would have been rather unseemly.
Although the Sword Debate had begun, cultivators whose turns had not yet come could still eat and drink at their seats while watching the others compete.
On Qingjiang Flat, Li Yi swung his great halberd, forcing back a young Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator from Hanging Sword Mountain.
The man did not agonize over it and soon conceded.
He seemed to know Li Yi, for the two chatted briefly after their match.
"Whoa, this Li Yi-I heard he entered the Dao as a mortal martial artist. Could that really be true?"
"That halberd strike just now was unmatched in its ferocity. That senior brother from Hanging Sword Mountain couldn't even last ten exchanges. If you ask me, Li Yi has already secured one of the top three places!"
In the spectator seats, a cultivator spoke with certainty.
"Li Yi is extraordinary, of course, but Song Yan is no ordinary man either. I wonder whether we'll get to see the breathtaking splendor of that sword strike amid the clouds over Dragon Pool Mountain again today."
"Not very likely."
"But in my view, those two, Li and Song, have probably already secured two of the comprehension slots."
His words immediately drew agreement from many nearby