A month quickly passed, and Zhongzhou had become bustling with excitement because of the upcoming Zhongzhou Grand Tournament.
Countless rogue cultivators had gathered here, each hoping to win a ranking in the tournament and thereby earn a chance to enter the imperial court. Originally, the tournament was held in other provinces, but because of the rewards offered this time, the venue was set in Zhongzhou.
Although the initial purpose of the tournament was to promote and spread cultivation culture, over time the winners began to attract the attention of court officials and were soon heavily employed. Unwittingly, the Zhongzhou Grand Tournament had become an official method used by the Great Qian Dynasty to select talented cultivators from among the scattered practitioners.
With more than five hundred contestants, if every match were to be fought one-on-one, the tournament would take forever. Thus, the competitors were divided into groups of five, each group fighting until only one remained standing on the platform. That person would advance to the next round.
To save time and make full use of the arenas, ten groups would compete simultaneously in each round.
The Zhongzhou Grand Tournament had always been a highly anticipated event. Ordinary commoners, who spent their lives doing nothing but labor, rarely had entertainment. Now, with the chance to watch cultivators battle, how could they miss it? Every stage was surrounded by cheering crowds, which included not only mortals but also other cultivators.
Meanwhile, at the high seats of the arena, two gorgeously dressed cultivators watched the matches. One of them, already half white-haired and full of authority, was Yuan Hong, the city lord of Zhongzhou and the highest official sent by the imperial court to govern this land.
Yet even he showed a deferential attitude toward the other man—none other than Xiao Ji, one of the Four Pillars of the Great Qian Dynasty, whose status was second only to the emperor himself.
Though his position was lofty, Xiao Ji was still very young compared to other powerful cultivators, being not yet two hundred years old, yet he looked like a man in his twenties.
From his sleeve, Xiao Ji took out a small jade bottle and handed it to Yuan Hong."Lord Yuan, you have worked hard. This is a Xuantian Pill—please accept it."
Yuan Hong carefully accepted the bottle and said with a warm smile,"To receive such a precious gift from Lord Xiao—I truly do not know how to repay your generosity."
"This is what you deserve," Xiao Ji replied calmly. "If you can accomplish my plan, then once it is complete, I will reward you with a sixth-rank pill as well."
"Thank you, my lord. I will devote myself wholeheartedly to your cause," Yuan Hong said respectfully.
Xiao Ji turned his gaze toward the platform, saying nothing. Seeing him so engrossed, Yuan Hong asked curiously,"Has my lord perhaps spotted some outstanding contestants?"
Xiao Ji's lips curved slightly."Indeed, there are two who show considerable promise. And… he has finally appeared."
On one of the stages, Qin Fen was battling two opponents. The other two in his group had already been defeated. The remaining two realized Qin Fen's strength was formidable, so they agreed to join forces to take him down first—otherwise neither of them stood a chance of winning.
Though Qin Fen was facing two at once, and their cultivation levels were roughly equal, he showed no signs of weakness. Each of their assaults was easily neutralized.
He already knew the outcome of this fight and felt certain that he had made the right choice to come here. He recalled the events of several days earlier.
In his memory, Qin Fen had shouted at Chang Qingzi,"What? Master, you're telling me not to participate in the Zhongzhou Grand Tournament? Why?"
Chang Qingzi's expression was troubled and ashamed."I know you've put in great effort for this tournament, but you must give it up. This time it will be very dangerous. Stay at the inn with your junior brother."
"I'm not afraid!" Qin Fen retorted. "The rewards this year are exceptionally rich. As long as I make it into the top hundred, I'll gain entry to the secret realm. Inside are countless spiritual herbs, which can be refined into pills to greatly enhance my cultivation. How can I miss such a chance?"
"I told you it will be dangerous! Do you dare defy your master's words?" Chang Qingzi's tone grew harsher, tinged with anger.
Yet Qin Fen did not flinch. With steady eyes, he answered,"Then why allow Second junior Brother to participate?"
Chang Qingzi opened his mouth but suddenly stopped. Qin Fen pressed on,"Master, don't forget—I joined you earlier than he did. I have always served you with utmost devotion. Why are you so biased toward Second junior Brother? Is it only because his talent surpasses mine, that you would abandon your hopes in me?"
"You misunderstand," Chang Qingzi said gravely. "I never abandoned you because of Lie Feng. If not for the rule that contestants' cultivation cannot exceed the fourth realm, I would never have let him participate in my place. Qin Fen, your obsession runs too deep. You must learn to let go."
"No need to say more. In any case, I will participate in this Zhongzhou Grand Tournament. I will prove to you that I, Qin Fen, am no less than Lie Feng!"
Remembering that moment, Qin Fen's heart burned with anger. Flames surged in his palms, and he struck out with both hands, clashing with the two opponents' attacks.
At the instant of contact, both were blasted away, crashing onto the ground in disarray. Their palms, scorched and injured from Qin Fen's blazing strike, left them unable to continue. Knowing defeat was certain, they admitted surrender.
What Qin Fen had used was the third form of the Burning Heaven Art—the Burning Sun Palm. He had spent over twenty days practicing it relentlessly, and today it finally bore fruit. His efforts had not been in vain.
As he reveled in the joy of victory, the cheers from a neighboring stage drew his attention.
There, on the platform, was none other than the one he hated most—Lie Feng.
At that moment, Lie Feng was facing the siege of four opponents simultaneously.
The four surrounded him from different directions. One swordsman lunged at his back with a thrust meant to pierce him unawares. By all rights, this strike should have landed—but Lie Feng, as though he had eyes on his back, shifted aside effortlessly, dodging every thrust.
The swordsman pressed his assault with several more strikes, but Lie Feng evaded them all. The man knew he could not defeat Lie Feng; his role was only to distract. While Lie Feng was occupied, vines suddenly coiled around his leg.
Though the four had never cooperated before, years of surviving in the cultivation world had honed their instincts, and their teamwork was unexpectedly effective. One bound him with vines, another—a burly brute—charged in with heavy fists, while the last fired a volley of flame orbs from his fingertips.
Lie Feng's escape seemed cut off, yet his expression remained calm. He circulated his spiritual power, and in an instant his body was engulfed in flames. The vines around his leg burned to ash the moment they touched his fire.
The incoming flame orbs were absorbed into his blaze, feeding it instead of harming him.
The swordsman, who had tried to capitalize on the distraction, found himself overextended, unable to retract his strike in time. Lie Feng's palm slammed into his chest, sending him flying out of the ring. His sword was flung upward.
Lie Feng dashed forward, avoiding the brute's punch while catching the falling sword midair. With a swift spin, the sword's tip was leveled at the brute's throat, less than an inch from piercing it.
The man froze, startled.
"You should surrender," Lie Feng said evenly.
But the brute refused, his pride unyielding. He thrust his neck toward the blade. For a moment, the two forces clashed—the man pushing forward, Lie Feng holding firm. The sword, unable to withstand their contest of strength, snapped in two.
The brute swung with a hook punch, but his fist met only air. Lie Feng had vanished from his sight.
In the next instant, the world spun for him, and he crashed to the ground. As he tried to rise, a crushing punch landed on his face, leaving him unable to get up again.
Retracting his fist, Lie Feng turned to the two remaining opponents."If you don't surrender now, don't blame me for being merciless."
The fluid grace of his moves, the precision of his martial arts—his enemies had not even seen how he had done it. Shocked and trembling under his gaze, they quickly cupped their fists in surrender.
At the same time, cheers rose from yet another stage.
Lie Feng glanced over curiously. On that platform stood a female cultivator cloaked in a hooded mantle, her face hidden behind a mask. She stood perfectly still, while four other contestants lay writhing on the ground around her.