Early the next morning, daylight began to break.
As the dawn pierced the thick clouds, the Dragon Martial Prefecture, silent all night, was instantly engulfed by a roar of voices.
The vast martial arena was already packed with people.
The grounds were still the same as yesterday.
But the atmosphere today was entirely different.
High in the sky directly above the arena...
At some point, an enormous phantom image had appeared, towering like a mountain range!
It was not a physical object.
Instead, an ancient painting that blotted out the sky was slowly unfurling in midair.
Within it lay mountains and rivers, with ancient trees towering into the heavens!
Faint tiger roars and dragon cries could even be heard coming from it, carrying a primeval, untamed air.
It was none other than the trial grounds for the tournament's first round, the [Ten Thousand Beasts Forest]!
"Silence!"
Just as the cultivators gazed up in wonder, a majestic voice swept across the world like a gale, instantly suppressing the clamor of hundreds of thousands.
On the raised platform...
The Dragon Martial Dao Lord stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in dark gold robes.
The surging Dao resonance that united him with heaven and earth stirred the soul of everyone present, making them feel an irresistible urge to bow in worship.
"So this is the might of a Myriad Forms Dao Lord..."
Many young prodigies turned pale. Before that voice, they felt as insignificant as ants, and their reverence for that legendary realm deepened.
"The first round of the tournament begins now."
The Dragon Martial Dao Lord swept his gaze over the crowd below, his voice reaching everyone's ears:
"The rules are simple."
"Once you enter the forest, each of you will be provided with a special Tracking Compass."
"This item