On the day before the martial arts tournament, Dragon Emperor Island welcomed the prodigious talents from the Blade Islands of the Xuanyuan Divine Tomb. Aircraft after aircraft streaked across the sea from the distance, descending upon the grand plaza. The assembled geniuses, amidst a throng of admirers, strode purposefully into the collective dormitories.
As more and more people poured in, Dragon Emperor Island grew increasingly vibrant. Figures clad in every manner of attire traversed the bustling thoroughfares, drawing conspicuous attention.
Among them, none were more eye-catching than those from the Six Divine Islands of the Inner Sea!
Within that vast expanse of ocean, numerous formidable monsters coiled beneath the waves; even the weakest sea beasts possessed the combat power of the King Grade! Upon this perilous stretch of sea stood six magnificent islands, each comparable in size to five Moon Gazing Islands. Each was densely populated, hosting great cities and established martial sects. The contention for supremacy among these Six Divine Islands proved the fiercest during the Divine War Martial Arts Tournament, held once every six years!
As dawn broke, the previously silent Dragon Emperor Island slowly awakened. All the assembled geniuses, led by their administrators, made their way toward the highest peak, Xuanyuan Peak.
“The Azure Island of the Outer Sea holds its combat grounds at the mountain base; the Blade Island of the Middle Sea hosts its matches mid-slope; the Six Divine Islands of the Inner Sea battle atop the summit!”
The sturdy young administrator looked upon Ye Chen, Huang Lu, and the others. “The competition rules are straightforward: each person will fight three matches, succeeding with two victories. After the initial elimination round concludes, those who remain will enter another elimination phase. The rules remain the same: three opponents will be drawn randomly, and securing more than two wins grants advancement!”
“The nine qualifiers will then advance to the Divine Combat Stage, where points are accrued by hunting monsters. The final rankings will be determined by these points! The top six will be listed among the strong practitioners of the Middle Sea and earn the right to participate in the Middle Sea Selection Battles!”
The young administrator smiled at Ye Chen and the rest. “I wish you all good luck. Should your cumulative points place you among the top three of the Azure Island, Outer Sea division, you will receive treasures as a reward!”
Everyone’s eyes brightened. Treasures bestowed by Dragon Emperor Island were surely extraordinary.
Ye Chen’s expression remained unchanged; he held no interest in these material rewards. His sole focus was the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, a divine weapon mentioned even in Sima Qian’s Records of the Grand Historian!
At this point, the young administrator added playfully, “Talents, if you are fortunate enough to secure a top-three placement in the Middle Sea battles, you will earn the right to bathe in Dragon Emperor Island’s Divine Power Pool to cleanse your marrow and temper your bones, enhancing your strength. Furthermore, you stand a chance of being recruited by the major martial sects of the Six Divine Islands; joining a renowned master there will undoubtedly cause your power to skyrocket!”
A wave of excitement washed over the geniuses. The Six Divine Islands of the Inner Sea felt like an unreachable realm; to be accepted into one of their great sects guaranteed an immeasurable future!
“Let’s go!” The young administrator said no more, leading the group of powerhouses to the foot of the mountain. From afar, they saw a dense crowd amassed—a vast, dark expanse, full of energy.
Viewing the martial arts tournament required an entry fee. The combat grounds at the base of the mountain, Outer Sea division, required the lowest fee; only the truly wealthy could afford seats at the summit. Consequently, the largest crowds gathered at the mountain base.
Within the surrounding throng, three towering combat stages stood, each a hundred zhang in diameter, incredibly spacious.
Under the administrator’s guidance, Ye Chen and his group were led to the designated area for the geniuses of the Azure Island, Outer Sea. Nearly a hundred people stood there, each possessing a white stone chair. As these talents exchanged glances, a current of hostility flowed between them; after all, they were still youths, their expressions incapable of concealing their inner thoughts.
Ye Chen casually selected a chair and was about to sit when a cold voice suddenly rang out beside him: “Shorty, move aside. You’re not qualified to sit near me!”
Ye Chen turned to see the speaker—a youth clad in rat-beast hide, whose eyebrows carried an air of fierce aggression. The curl of his lip conveyed a palpable sense of disdain.
Ye Chen merely glanced over, paid no mind, and languidly sat upon the stone chair, leaning back, arms crossed over his chest, eyes closed as he composed himself.
“You!” The rat-beast hide youth exploded in anger, leaping to his feet and throwing a punch at Ye Chen, heedless of the consequences.
Bang!
Suddenly, a hand shot out and clamped down, seizing the youth’s fist. Huang Lu’s icy voice carried a thick killing intent. “Scram!”
The rat-beast hide youth poured his force into the punch, but it was like throwing a stone into the sea; he could not break free. His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized Huang Lu, then sneered, “Who are you, daring to meddle in my business?”
Huang Lu’s expression was menacing. “He is my elder brother, and my master. Utter one more insolent word, and I’ll make you crawl out of here!” During the three months spent surviving in the jungle, Ye Chen’s composure and swift, decisive methods of slaying beasts had earned Huang Lu profound respect. Over that time, Ye Chen had taught him many hunting techniques, cementing Ye Chen’s place in his heart as an older brother and a teacher!
Moreover, it was Ye Chen’s help that allowed him to reach this place; his gratitude was immeasurable.
The rat-beast hide youth snorted coldly. “Don't let me meet you on the stage later! Remember, I am Huang Han of the East Wave Island.”
“Moon Gazing Island, Huang Lu!” Huang Lu retorted frigidly. “I hope you don't exit the competition prematurely!”
The two glared at each other, each issuing a cold snort before retreating to their seats. The administrator in the distance shook his head with a wry smile. “These brats certainly have fiery tempers.”
As time passed, the sound of a bell echoed…
Dong…
The chime resonated throughout the arena, silencing all discussion.
Immediately after, a figure in white robes and white hair descended from the sky, trailing a majestic pressure that instilled reverence and respect in the hearts of all present. This was an elderly man with white hair, gentle and refined, wearing a faint smile as he surveyed the crowd. Every person his clear, water-like gaze fell upon instinctively averted their eyes, as if suddenly ashamed.
Seeing the old man, Ye Chen’s eyes sharpened. The mere fact that the elder could hover in the air signified he had reached the King Grade, awakened his innate talent, and mastered the control of vital energy. Furthermore, a soft halo seemed to surround the elder—a sign that one’s spiritual cultivation had reached an extremely high level!
“His state of mind has actually reached the Sage Realm! I wonder what tier he is?” Ye Chen mused internally. His own state of mind had reached the second tier of the Sage Realm, with all his spiritual power dedicated to suppressing the malevolent energy within him; otherwise, he too would appear as comforting as a spring breeze, naturally drawing goodwill.
In civilizations like the Great Buddha lineage, ancient Buddhas whose state of mind reached the fifth tier of the Sage Realm or higher would manifest a Halo of Wisdom behind their heads—a manifestation of profound wisdom and enlightenment.
“Welcome, everyone, to the biennial Blade Island Martial Arts Tournament. I hope all you talents can triumph in the tournament and perform to your utmost ability,” the white-haired elder said with a gentle smile. “The competition rules are as follows… ·……··……”
“The contestants will be randomly drawn by the Divine Hall; changes are not permitted. Fairness is paramount… ·……”
“Next, for the first match: Huang Meini of the East Wind Island versus Huang Suya of the Majestic Mountain Island!”
The white-haired elder concluded simply, then swept his large sleeve, stepping back ten zhang. A young man holding a yellow scroll, like a sacred decree, began to read out: “Second match: Huang Zheng of Moon Gazing Island versus Huang Ting of Sky Shuttle Island!”
“Third match: Huang Mei of the Heavenly Pivot Island versus Huang Long of Yu Xing Island!”
As the names were called, six figures shot out from the resting area of the Outer Sea geniuses, landing in pairs upon the combat stages—three matches running concurrently!
Sigh…
A long, resonant bell chimed. On the martial stage, contestants stood ready, weapons in hand, fully focused. Each was allowed three chances, permitted to lose only one match!
As the battles commenced, the martial stage erupted with the sounds of slaughter. They charged forward, each wielding their weapons. Some attack stances were clumsy and rigid; others were fluid as poisonous serpents, sending sparks flying.
Ye Chen glanced briefly, then closed his eyes, preoccupied with his own thoughts.
Below the stage, a wave of cheers rose, the crowd roaring its encouragement.
“Good!”
“Go for it!”
“Stab him, hurry! Why are you so slow?!”
Amidst the sound of roaring cheers like a tidal surge, in the distant VIP seating area, seven or eight figures were sparsely seated. All wore luxurious silk garments; some possessed arrogant, defiant gazes, others had imposing auras, lightly fanning themselves with folding fans, while some giggled, filled with curiosity.
“Are these people from the Outer Sea? So weak!” A young boy in a straw hat watched the fighting stage with a yawn, a look of mild boredom on his face. He had a cherubic face that made him seem harmless.
The others nearby also watched the combat on stage with placid, somewhat uninterested expressions.
“All are mere fodder at the sixth tier.”
“I thought the Outer Sea wouldn’t be so different from the Middle Sea. It seems they pose no threat at all.”
“Wait, is that a Warrior who has reached the Transformation stage?”
“Really? Oh? It really is. It seems the Outer Sea does have a few freaks.”
Many turned their attention to Huang Zheng on the stage. At that moment, wielding his battle saber, he radiated imposing might. With every step, he forced his opponent into a corner. The muscles in his arms were thick, and he swung his saber with practiced fluidity, defeating his opponent in just a few moves.
“Huang Zheng of Moon Gazing Island, victor!” the referee called out loudly, recording the result.
Huang Zheng, holding his saber, surveyed the entire arena. He saw that the gazes of all the onlookers were filled with admiration. Even the other geniuses in the Outer Sea resting area looked serious.
He swelled with a touch of pride, casting a provocative glance at Huang Lu. Seeing the latter’s expression darken, Huang Zheng felt a surge of joy. Then, he turned his gaze toward Ye Chen, and the sight nearly choked him with rage: Ye Chen, with his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling, was actually—actually asleep?
Huang Zheng’s smile vanished instantly. He shot an annoyed look at Ye Chen, thinking fiercely, “When I meet you next time on the stage, I will definitely have my revenge! The lesson you taught me last time, I will make you taste it all again next time!”
Being defeated by Ye Chen previously had struck him hard, forcing him to cultivate with even greater fervor, allowing him to narrowly reach the seventh-tier combat strength just in time for this gathering.
As Huang Zheng stepped down, the young man holding the yellow scroll announced loudly: “Ye Chen of Moon Gazing Island versus Huang Dong of Flowing Moon Island, please step onto the stage!”