!BOOM! The competition stage radiated a majestic aura, waves of surging energy blasting outward like a gale, yet any force that dared approach the platform's edge immediately met a strange ripple, instantly dissolving the power.

"Ah... I don't believe it!" A youth, identifiable by the fiery red headscarf tied around his brow, roared in frustration, once again raising his fist and smashing it viciously against the younger boy standing before him.

Though his strength was immense, his swing slicing the air with a hint of savage wind, it somehow had absolutely no effect upon landing on the youth in front of him!

"Had enough playing around?" the boy opposite him scoffed, his eyebrows sharply lifting. His fists clenched with a distinct crack, and he shot out a punch!

A grating, sickening sound tore from the throat of the youth in the red headscarf as he was flung backward instantly, seven or eight ribs shattering upon impact.

"Just another piece of trash, easily crushed!" the boy sneered, turning to face the somewhat dumbfounded referee. "Did I win?"

The referee wiped a bead of cold sweat from his brow and hastily nodded. "You won!" He then bellowed, "The first match is a no-show for Lord Dragon God. We still have no word on whether he will arrive today at all!" Elder Long Yi couldn't help but interject.

"Lord Dragon God registered for this Five-All Tournament two years ago. If he truly survived that battle, he definitely should be here!" the Second Elder nodded in agreement.

"But... is Lord Dragon God really alright? If nothing happened to him, how is it that our Dragon Clan disciples have searched for so long, scouring nearly every corner of the continent, and still haven't found a trace of him?" the Fourth Elder suddenly cut in.

His words plunged everyone nearby into a heavy silence.

"Hah... you people still expect your so-called Lord Dragon God to show up?" A sharp, mocking voice sliced in from the side—it was Elder Hu Ben of the Black Tiger Clan. "I've told you all: your Lord Dragon God was shredded to pieces by my God long ago! Only idiots cling to such foolish dreams!"

"You..." Long Yi's face turned ashen. "I request you watch your tone!"

"Respect? Hah, how amusing. Where was the respect when he was fleeing for his life, desperately trying to escape my God's pursuit? If my God hadn't shown mercy, do you honestly believe your Dragon Domain would even exist today?" Hu Ben sneered dismissively.

"Mercy? Why not mention that the Golden Profound Tiger dared not attack us because he couldn't neutralize the damage Lord Dragon God inflicted, nor could he breach the defensive illusion array of our Dragon Domain?" Long Yi shot back with a cold laugh.

"Nonsense!" Hu Ben roared, but his anger quickly subsided, replaced by a look of derision. "A bunch of self-deceivers! Oh, and I forgot to tell you: the rules for this Five-All Tournament have changed. Anyone truly under the age of sixty can participate; the restriction against those below the Saint Domain level is gone! If none of you field a participant, you can just wait for the entire continent to mock you!"

The Dragon Domain hadn't participated in the Ten-All Tournament for ten thousand years; their sudden entry had naturally drawn the attention of numerous powers. Thus, if they failed to produce a suitable competitor by the time the matches began, the Dragon Domain would never hold its head high across the continent again.

"Also, here's a little secret for you: Our Tiger Domain's little princess, thanks to my God's touch, is only eighteen this year and has already reached the peak of the Saint Domain. Even I cannot defeat her, ha ha! Your 'Lord Dragon God,' even if he isn't dead, is probably stuck rattling around at the Battle Venerable level at best... Ha ha!"

Seeing the faces of Long Yi and the others turn black as charcoal, Hu Ben strode away laughing toward the seating area designated for his faction, utterly triumphant and pleased.

"Dragon Clan disciples under sixty... only a handful have reached the rank of Magus Master, let alone the Saint Domain!" the Second Elder said, worry clouding his eyes. "It seems Golden Profound Tiger is determined to win this thing! More importantly, his daughter has actually reached the Saint Domain level!"

"It's not just her; didn't you see that Lei Di of the Qilin Clan has also reached the Saint Domain?" Long Yi sighed heavily. "Without Lord Dragon God activating the Blazing Dragon Secret Codex, he cannot awaken the Blazing Dragon Bloodline. To jump from the Third-Level Battle Venerable realm to the Saint Domain in two years is simply impossible. Even if he arrives today, he is likely to lose!"

"Indeed." The Dragon Clan elders felt a wave of shared despair wash over them.

"Lord Dragon God will definitely come, and he will certainly win this tournament!" a voice sounded from behind the elders—it was Third Squad Lieutenant Luo Bo.

Two years had seen Luo Bo's strength undergo a qualitative leap. A determined expression now set his features, and his demeanor had greatly matured, but his faith in Chen Feng had never wavered. The red-haired youth had shocked him too many times; just when a situation seemed utterly hopeless, Chen Feng would somehow conjure an inexplicable reversal!

"Let's hope so..." Long Nan murmured, clearly having given up on clinging to such hope.

"Dragon Domain's Chen Feng, Free Practitioner Kamo, the third match is about to begin!" a clear, loud voice suddenly rang out from the competition stage.

Whoosh!

A figure leaped onto the platform. This man was broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, radiating an intensely formidable aura, having already attained the peak of the Ninth-Level Battle Venerable realm!

"It's time for Lord Dragon God!" Long Yi watched the stage, his fists clenched tight, his heart pounding with anxiety.

"Dragon Domain's Chen Feng!" the referee scanned the arena again, shouting loudly. "Please take the stage immediately! If you do not appear within five minutes, you will be deemed to have forfeited!"

With that, he pointed, and a massive clock instantly appeared on the competition platform, accurately timing the countdown.

Below the stage, a noisy clamor erupted as all eyes turned toward the section where the Dragon Domain contingent was seated.

In an instant, the Dragon Domain group became the target of universal scrutiny!

"Lord Dragon God, where are you? Can you make it?" Long Yi couldn't help but stand and scan the surroundings; the sky was clear for thousands of miles, and there wasn't a single figure in sight.

"He probably isn't coming," the Second Elder sighed to Long Yi. "We should just forfeit."

"Forfeit?" Long Yi's snow-white beard trembled slightly, sweat beading in his palms. Could he truly not arrive?

"Let's wait a bit longer! Five minutes... perhaps Lord Dragon God can create a miracle!" Long Yi said this last, though even he didn't believe it himself.

Time slipped away amid mounting anxiety.

"Two minutes remaining. Contestant Chen Feng of the Dragon Domain, please take the stage now, or you will be ruled defeated and eliminated, and even if you arrive later, it will be useless!" the referee on stage called out kindly.

The murmurs from the crowd below grew louder, surging like a flood throughout the entire venue.

"What is the Dragon Domain playing at? After finally joining, they pull a diva act?"

"Who knows? Maybe they got scared and don't dare step up now!"

"Heh heh. It’s deeply satisfying that the Dragon Domain doesn't dare to show now. I wonder if they’ll still dare to be so arrogant in the future..."

In a moment, a cacophony of contemptuous and gleeful voices rose up.

"Feng Xiang, what do you make of this?" Elder Feng You of the Phoenix Clan asked.

"Lord Phoenix God said he would definitely arrive; he certainly will! But whether the Dragon Domain's Blazing Dragon heir shows up is another matter entirely," Second Elder Feng Xiang replied.

"Mmm, let’s hope Lord Phoenix God arrives in time, or we’ll suffer the same humiliation they might," Feng You sighed, falling silent.

……………………………………………………………………

Watching the magical apparatus counting down the time on the stage tick closer and closer to the five-minute mark, the Elder finally couldn't help but sigh. "Less than half a minute left; Lord Dragon God probably won't make it. Let's forfeit."

At Long Yi's words, everyone in the Dragon Domain lowered their noble heads, instantly feeling a profound sense of insult.

Yes, when had a member of the Dragon Domain ever acted as a deserter? And now... the Five-All Tournament had begun, yet the registered Lord Dragon God was inexplicably absent!

The Second Elder stood up, meeting the gazes surrounding him, his eyes filled with sorrow. The Dragon Domain was participating in the Ten-All Tournament for the first time in ten thousand years, only to be forced to default because the contestant slated to compete failed to appear!

"Our Dragon Domain has decided to forf—"

His hoarse, booming voice slowly resonated across the entire competition ground, but before he could finish, a sharp whistle sounded from the air, rushing in rapidly from a distance, slamming onto the competition stage like a violent gust of wind.

Clang!

At that exact moment, the second hand on the magical timing device pointed precisely at the five-minute mark, not a fraction more or less, emitting a dull, unpleasant chime!

"My apologies, I am late, but thankfully, I arrived just in time!" a calm voice slowly sounded from the competition stage.

PS:: Chapter one is done! (To be continued. To find out what happens next, please log in to www**com for more chapters, supporting the author and legitimate reading!)