The Road to the Top Ten Begins

That night, after the top 71 were determined, the training ground was not completely silent. The 20 warriors who had qualified to challenge launched a final assault on the 71 losers from that afternoon, illuminated by torches. The battle took place on a specially designated arena, with the rules remaining the same, but the atmosphere was even more tragic and resolute—this was their last chance to compete for the glory of being among the top 100.

The challenge was extremely fierce, and everyone gave it their all. However, those who managed to break through from thousands of people to the top 200 and survive the brutal elimination process were no pushovers. After a fierce battle, only five challengers managed to make a comeback and take the place of the original qualifiers. The rest of the challengers who failed could only bid farewell to the competition for the top 100 with regret.

The following morning, the "new" seventy-one (including the five underdogs) regrouped and engaged in an even fiercer internal battle for the remaining twenty-nine spots in the top 100. The battle raged from dawn till dusk, with sweat and occasional bloodstains mingling on the arena, and shouts and the clanging of wooden objects filling the air. Everyone knew that victory meant joining the ranks of the glorious top 100; defeat meant all their previous efforts were for naught.

Finally, as the last rays of the setting sun disappeared, the twenty-nine new top 100 were revealed. Among them, the lucky one holding the only "72" draw—the warrior Feishi from Little Gathering Valley —proved with his strength that his luck was not accidental. He defeated two strong challengers and held onto his spot for direct advancement. His Chenwen fighting style and Jianren will left a deep impression on many people.

Thus, the list of the top 100 in the first Fire Tribe Martial Arts Tournament has been finalized. These 100 individuals were selected from 4,400 warriors through several rounds of brutal elimination, challenges, and further eliminations, and they now represent the pinnacle of the Fire Tribe's current martial prowess.

After a night of rest, on the morning of the third day, the atmosphere at the training ground reached an unprecedented climax, with the top 100 warriors, along with almost all the members of the Fire Tribe's main valley, gathering once again.

Standing on the platform, Jianshi looked at the hundred faces below, some familiar, some slightly unfamiliar, but all filled with determination and pride. His gaze swept over the faces of Yan, Dabang, Yingmu Shinian, Shibang, Shi Nian, Houzong Qingti, Tunyong, Yandun, Feishi, and others. These hundred people were the backbone of the Fire Tribe and the hope for its future.

"Top 100 warriors!" Jianshi's voice was loud and powerful, "After rounds of selection, you stand here! This is the highest recognition of your bravery! But the tournament is not over yet; the real showdown is just beginning!"

He waved his arm. "Today, we will determine the 25 strongest members of our Fire Tribe! Tomorrow, the top ten from these 25 will be chosen for glory! Now—the draw begins! The top 50 will be decided!"

Without lengthy mobilization, concise instructions ignited the flames in everyone's hearts. The hundred warriors began drawing lots in an orderly fashion. In the huge wooden box were fifty battle numbers, each number corresponding to two wooden plaques. A faint tension filled the air; everyone hoped to draw a "suitable" opponent, but at this level, there were no truly weaklings.

Yan reached into the wooden box, his fingertips touching the smooth wooden tokens, and randomly picked one – number "twenty-three". He calmly walked to the registration desk. Around him, the whispers of soldiers who had drawn their numbers echoed, some relaxed, some solemn, and some full of fighting spirit.

Soon, the draw and registration were completed. Under the guidance of the referees, the hundred warriors split up and headed to ten designated arenas. Five matches would be held on each arena, and five winners would be selected in the end, for a total of fifty people, who would advance to the afternoon's top twenty-five competition.

Yan arrived at his assigned arena, where he was scheduled to fight in the second match. He walked to the rest area and sat down, calmly looking at the arena. The arena was already surrounded by spectators, with the members of the Youth Team being the most conspicuous. They huddled together, excitedly discussing, their eyes constantly lingering on Yan and several other top 100 warriors from the Youth Team (such as Yingmu, Shibang, Heizhua, Lichi, and Xiaoshi Spear). Seeing so many of their own people make it into the top 100, the juniors felt proud, their faces beaming with pride.

"First match ready! The Benniu, against the Xiaoshi Spear!"

The two fighters took to the stage for the first duel. One was Benniu, the famous leader of the Bison Tribe. He was tall and strong, like a real human-shaped Bison, with his bare arms bulging with muscles, full of explosive power. His opponent made Yan's lips curl into a slight smile - Xiaoshi Spear, one of the members he had personally trained in the Youth Team back then. He had good talent and trained hard. He had only recently joined the Hunting Team, and it was already quite an achievement that he had made it into the top 100.

Standing before the Xiaoshi Spear Benniu, the difference in their physiques was obvious. Looking at the Benniu's rock-like muscles and its Chenwen, mountain-like aura, he immediately realized that a direct confrontation was not a wise move. He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming focused and sharp.

"Start!"

Before the referee could finish speaking, the Benniu roared and charged forward like a chariot, its wooden spear whistling through the air as it delivered a Dali sweeping blow, intending to knock the Xiaoshi Spear off the stage.

Xiaoshi Spear was prepared. He nimbly slid to the side and back, narrowly avoiding the spearhead. At the same time, his wooden spear, like a venomous snake, swiftly struck the slightly exposed ribs of the running Benniu as it exerted force. The Benniu reacted quickly, parrying with its spear, but Xiaoshi Spear retreated immediately after the strike, never engaging in a prolonged fight, and once again widened the distance between itself and the Benniu.

The Benniu had a significant advantage in strength, but Xiaoshi Spear maximized his agility. Like a butterfly flitting among Benniu, constantly harassing it with rapid Thrust and feints. His attacks were cunning, targeting the Benniu's power transitions or blind spots. Xiaoshi Spear narrowly dodged several of the Benniu's fierce attacks, but instead, he exhausted himself due to excessive force, experiencing a frustrating feeling of punching cotton.

The two exchanged blows for over twenty rounds. Although Benniu was slightly out of breath, his defense remained tight. Xiaoshi Spear's agile attacks failed to pose a real threat. Unable to break through, Xiaoshi Spear's mind began to race with impatience. Benniu keenly sensed this change. After successfully parrying Xiaoshi Spear's Thrust, he suddenly changed his strategy. He no longer sought a fatal blow, but instead used more Chenwen and aggressive footwork, combined with continuous mid-range thrusts and sweeps, to gradually reduce Xiaoshi Spear's space to dodge.

Xiaoshi Spear's range of movement became smaller and smaller, and he was eventually forced to the edge of the arena. Benniu seized the opportunity and launched a swift sweeping attack. Xiaoshi Spear had no way to avoid it and could only grit his teeth and block it.

"Bang!"

The difference in strength was now obvious. The Xiaoshi Spear was shaken so badly that its arm went numb and sore, and it lost its footing, staggering backward and falling off the stage.

"Benniu wins the first match!" the referee announced.

Xiaoshi Spear steadied himself. Although defeated, he didn't show much frustration. He knew he had done his best and maximized his advantages. Benniu stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice, "Kid, you're slippery! In two years, when you're stronger, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle you." His words were clearly full of praise.

Xiaoshi Spear clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for your guidance, Leader Benniu." Though defeated, he walked off the stage with honor.

"Prepare for the second match! Flame, versus Minjie!"

Yan stood up, spear in hand, and stepped into the circle. His opponent was the former leader of the Green Sheep Tribe, Minjie. True to his name, this warrior was known for his outstanding agility and speed. Although he did not look as burly as many strong men, he had no excess fat on his body. His muscles were smooth and full of explosive power, and his eyes were lively, like an antelope ready to leap at any moment.

Minjie stood opposite Yan, his expression unusually solemn. He had already heard many stories about Yan, and during the breaks between the previous rounds of the competition, he had also observed several of Yan's matches. He knew that this young opponent was also very strong, which made Minjie dare not underestimate him in the slightest.

After exchanging greetings, the referee gave the signal, and Minjie immediately moved. He didn't attack rashly, but instead used his exceptional footwork to start running quickly around the ring, sometimes left, sometimes right, sometimes forward, sometimes backward, trying to disrupt Yan's rhythm and judgment with this high-speed movement, while looking for any possible openings.

Yan, like a pillar of strength, seemed to have his feet firmly planted on the ground. However, as he ran Minjie, his upper body and spear-wielding arm slowly adjusted their direction. His gaze remained fixed on his opponent, his breathing steady and unmoved. This posture of using stillness to control movement put even greater psychological pressure on the Minjie.

After running several laps around the track, Minjie realized that the physical exertion from his high-speed movement far exceeded that of Yan, who was resting in place. Yan's calm and composed demeanor left him feeling somewhat helpless. He couldn't wait any longer! Anxious, Minjie knew he had to take the initiative to break the deadlock.

He gritted his teeth, and as he swiftly swept past Yan's flank once more, he suddenly let out a low shout, exerted force with his feet, twisted his waist, and with the help of his waist, the wooden spear in his hand transformed into three afterimages, stabbing towards Yan's face in succession like a storm! This was his hard-earned signature technique, "Swift Gale Three Thrusts," which relied on speed and surprise to win.

However, Yan seemed to have anticipated this. Just before he launched Minjie attack, his hands holding the spear moved slightly. Facing the three lightning-fast thrusts, Yan did not retreat but advanced, leaning his upper body slightly back, while his wooden spear drew three precise arcs.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Three crisp, rapid impacts rang out almost in a single line! Yan swung left and right, precisely parrying each of Minjie's attacks. Not only did he neutralize the offensive, but the powerful force transmitted through the parries also made Minjie's hands go numb and his arms weak, almost causing him to drop his wooden spear. Minjie was terrified and hurriedly used the momentum to leap backward, creating distance. His heart pounded, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back. He noticed that Yan did not pursue him but was still calmly watching him. He felt a slight sense of relief, but the shock and powerlessness deepened even more.

Having witnessed Yan's previous battles, he knew Yan was strong, but facing him firsthand revealed just how suffocating the pressure was. Minjie took a few deep breaths, looking at Yan's encouraging smile, and suddenly realized: defeat was inevitable, but as one of the top 100 warriors, he also had his pride—he couldn't afford to lose too badly! Besides, fighting such a strong opponent was itself a rare learning opportunity!

Having figured this out, his Minjie mindset calmed down. He was no longer in a hurry to win, or even actively seeking opportunities to strike decisively. He began to make full use of his agile movements, focusing on hit-and-run tactics and defense. Like a slippery fish, he moved along the edge of Yan's attacks, not seeking victory, but simply wanting to go through as many moves as possible under Yan's control and experience that high-level rhythm of offense and defense.

Yan quickly noticed the change in Minjie's tactical intentions. He felt no displeasure; on the contrary, he secretly nodded in approval of his opponent's adaptability and mental adjustment.

Yan no longer held back, and the attack of the wooden spear in his hand suddenly accelerated and intensified! His movements remained concise and efficient, but each thrust of the spear carried a stronger sense of pressure and more subtle variations, blocking the space for Minjie dodging while constantly pressuring the opponent's defense.

Minjie felt the pressure increase dramatically. He could barely manage to maneuver before, but now he had to exert all his strength to dodge or parry Yan's attacks. Minjie was suddenly in grave danger. But he gritted his teeth and pushed his movement technique to the limit, dodging and weaving in the small space. Although he was in a sorry state, he managed to withstand two more attacks.

The ninth move was a seemingly ordinary straight thrust from Yan, which was Minjie and narrowly dodged to the side. However, Yan seemed to have anticipated the direction of his dodge. Instead of retracting the thrusting wooden spear, he flicked his wrist and swept the spear shaft horizontally!

Minjie's old strength was exhausted and new strength had not yet been generated, so he could no longer make an effective dodge. He was hit solidly on the side by the spear shaft. Although Yan had obviously reduced his strength, the skillful force still made Minjie completely lose his balance. He staggered backward and eventually fell out of the arena.

"Yan wins the second match!" the referee announced loudly.

The stands, especially the section where the Youth Team was located, erupted in deafening cheers and screams! Yan once again won a clean and decisive victory, making a strong push into the top fifty!

Minjie steadied himself outside the circle, rubbing his slightly aching side. His gaze towards Yan was filled with complex emotions—shock, admiration, and a hint of relief. He clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your mercy, Leader Yan." He was already more than satisfied to have exchanged nine blows with such an opponent.

Yan nodded in return and walked back to the rest area. He could sense that as the match progressed, his opponents' strength and combat intelligence were significantly improving.

The other matches in the morning also came to an end one after another. By the time all fifty matches had concluded, the sun was already close to its zenith.

The fifty winners, representing the top fifty strongest warriors of the Fire Tribe, gathered again on the side of the stage under the guidance of the referees to register. Next was the more crucial draw in the afternoon—they would compete for twenty-five spots to advance and strive for the top ten positions tomorrow.

The registration and lottery process was completed quickly. The fifty soldiers received food and water and found shady spots to make the most of their precious lunch break to recover their strength and get back into shape.