The light screen above the square kept flashing, names lit up and then dimmed, some people were overjoyed, and some left dejectedly.
In the world within the Heaven-Responding Mirror, fierce battles unfold every single day.
Han Xuanji sat in the stands, quietly watching the scenes, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones with Wang Ping and Hun Qianling.
Both Hun Qianling and Hun Jiuge were defeated in the third round, and their losses were not undeserved, as their opponents were both Late-stage Eternal Dao Master, and the difference in strength was obvious.
Therefore, the two of them were in good spirits and were not injured. They naturally watched the conference with Han Xuanji.
During this time, Han Xuanji relaxed and watched the competition.
Even after years of seclusion, it's still important to give yourself a break.
This was Li Tiantong's fourth round of competition; a win would allow him to advance to the top 100.
His opponent was a scion of a Sage Aristocratic Clan in Nine Mysteries City, whose cultivation had reached the Eternal Dao Master Ninth Layer and who had condensed the Nine Dao Principles.
Li Tiantong's cultivation level was slightly inferior.
To many, this was a match with no suspense whatsoever.
But the result was beyond everyone's expectations.
On the screen, Li Tiantong fought his opponent for a long time before his name lit up, indicating that he had advanced.
And the opponent's name faded into obscurity.
Wang Ping suddenly stood up, waving his fists, his face flushed:
"We won! Brother Tiantong won!"
Hun Qianling also stood up, staring at the lit name on the screen, her eyes filled with disbelief.
She knew Li Tiantong was Han Xuanji's friend, but she never expected him to go this far.
Han Xuanji leaned back in her chair, a slight smile playing on her lips.
He wasn't surprised.
Li Tiantong is the Tongtian Dao Venerable. To reach that position in the Chaos, one must possess exceptional character, talent, and comprehension.
What he lacked were resources and opportunities, and Han Xuanji provided him with both.
Now, he is simply displaying what he has accumulated over the years in the Heaven-Responding Mirror.
In the center of the training ground, a flash of light appeared, and Li Tiantong's figure emerged from the Heaven-Responding Mirror.
His robes were somewhat disheveled, and there was a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, but his back was ramrod straight, and his eyes were full of light.
He took a deep breath, his gaze passing through the crowd and landing on the figure in the blue robe on the stands.
Han Xuanji nodded slightly to him.
Li Tiantong nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk towards the Soul Household's rest area.
His steps were steady, his back like a mountain.
Time passed slowly, and another seven days went by. This was a rest period for the contestants who had participated in the competition.
This day.
The atmosphere in the square was completely different from before.
More than a hundred prodigies, including Han Xuanji, gathered in the center of the martial arts arena. No one spoke loudly, laughed, or joked.
The air seemed to freeze, pressing heavily on everyone's hearts.
This is the calm before the storm.
Every match that followed was a clash of titans, a spectacle rarely seen in ordinary times.
A dozen or so figures suddenly stepped out, the one in the lead being Elder Meng of the Great Dao Society.
He was followed by Hun Qianxue, as well as some unfamiliar faces.
Han Xuanji's gaze swept over the area, and a slight thought stirred within him.
He secretly used the system to investigate and quickly figured out the identities of those people.
Walking beside Hun Qianxue was the deputy city lord of Azure Moon City, another major city in Nine Mysteries Prefecture. His surname was Jiang, and he possessed the cultivation of Peak Eternal True God, with an aura as deep as an abyss.
The next two were dressed in matching white robes with a golden sun embroidered on their chests.
That is the symbol of the Sacred Court.
Although their cultivation levels were also Eternal True God, which were considered mediocre compared to others, their status was far more noble than that of many others present.
Even a minor deacon from the Sacred Court is enough to earn the respect of a city lord.
In addition, there were some high-ranking members from the Sage Aristocratic Clan of Nine Mysteries City, as well as some high-ranking members with Sage strength, each of whom was an outstanding member of the Eternal True God.
The importance that the major powers attach to this Principle Conference is evident.
Hun Qianxue among these people, and although he was also the lord of a city, he was noticeably more low-key.
His cultivation level and background are top-tier in Thousand Souls City, but compared to these people, they can only be considered average.
Han Xuanji's expression remained unchanged.
He wasn't worried about anything even without the Eternal Sage King.
Elder Meng walked to the center of the training ground, looked around, and spoke in a low voice, yet his voice was clearly audible to everyone:
"The top 128 teams have been decided. The rules for the next round will be the same as those for the qualifying rounds."
One-on-one, elimination system.
The winners advance, the losers are eliminated.
The difference is that each round allows for a three-day rest period.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the hundred contestants present, a slight smile playing on his lips:
"You are all outstanding individuals from your respective states and cities. Reaching this point has already proven your strength."
But the opponents ahead will be much stronger than before.
I hope you will give it your all and leave no regrets.
No one spoke.
Everyone waited quietly.
"Start."
As Elder Meng finished speaking, the Heaven-Responding Mirror emitted a dazzling light, enveloping the hundred figures in the center of the martial arts arena.
Han Xuanji did not resist, allowing that power to envelop her, transforming her into a stream of light and disappearing into the mirror.
Hundreds of figures disappeared from the square in an instant.
On the high platform, Hun Qianxue and the others took their seats again.
Behind the jade table, tea was prepared, but no one touched it.
Sitting next to Hun Qianxue was Jiang Boyuan, the deputy city lord of Azure Moon City.
This man had a thin face and three long wisps of beard, giving him a somewhat otherworldly and ethereal appearance.
He picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and his gaze fell on the light screens that had just appeared in the sky above the square. A slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Brother Qianxue, your Thousand Souls City has become increasingly backward over the years."
Jiang Boyuan spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter:
"I glanced at the list and saw that among the top 100, only seven were native contestants from Thousand Souls City."
"You're not doing a very good job as the city lord."
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the people around them all turned to look at him.
Hun Qianxue's smile remained unchanged, but in his heart he was cursing wildly.
This old man, his very first words were like jabs at someone's throat; he clearly had ill intentions.
His father had led the Soul Household and many powerful figures from the city to the Desolate Domain, but they were all wiped out.
Thousand Souls City also suffered heavy losses, and apart from Han Xuanji and Zhou Lie, the new generation really didn't have any outstanding individuals.
The power of Azure Moon City was already stronger than that of Thousand Souls City, and Jiang Boyuan himself was a veteran Eternal True God. He had no reason to fall out with the other party in this situation.
"Brother Jiang is right."
Hun Qianxue smiled, picked up his teacup, and said unhurriedly:
" Thousand Souls City is located on the border, so its talent pool is naturally not as good as that of Azure Moon City."
However, a small number of people does not mean a weak strength.
Perhaps some people can go very far.
Jiang Boyuan raised an eyebrow:
"Oh? Brother Qianxue is so confident? Then I'll have to wait and see."
Clearly, he didn't think there were any formidable figures in Thousand Souls City.
Two low-level seeds are nothing; what trouble can they possibly cause?
Hun Qianxue remained silent, his gaze fixed on the light screen, silently chanting in his heart.
Han Xuanji, don't make me lose face.