As soon as Gongsun Wenjin finished speaking, the competitors in the first wave entered their respective rings after selecting their weapons.
They wielded either sabers or spears.
The weapon grades for those in the same combat ring were identical. Not being able to use a higher-grade weapon than one’s opponent simply meant they had to choose weapons of the same tier. This rule existed for the sake of fairness.
Ye Xuan glanced at the bamboo slip in his hand.
Number 50.
He would have to wait until the final wave for his turn.
"Elders, I must trouble you," Elder Gongsun spoke again.
As his words fell, ten old men appeared beside the combat rings, their figures like phantoms. They were responsible for safety during the matches, for blades had no eyes. Their presence would prevent accidents to the greatest extent possible.
"Are you ready? If so, announce your names and begin the battle," the ten old men said almost simultaneously.
"Direct Lineage, Gongsun Hao!"
"Direct Lineage, Gongsun Chong."
"Please enlighten me!"
...
"Direct Lineage, Gongsun Kang."
"Side Branch, Zhao Wuji."
"Please enlighten me."
...
Low roars echoed from every combat ring. Beast Soul Power was released almost simultaneously. Everyone went all out.
This was especially true for the disciples from the Side Branches. Their expressions were perennially solemn, and their brows were constantly furrowed. The grand tournament was a moment to defy the heavens and change their fate. They had to cherish it with their lives. Until they defeated their opponents, their furrowed brows would not relax.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sounds of battle rose and fell. Twenty people fighting at once—colorful Spiritual Qi and Beast Souls of various shapes dazzled the eyes and made the blood boil.
Not long after the matches began, someone was already blasted out of a combat ring.
"Ring Number Five, Gongsun Po wins."
The first to achieve victory was Gongsun Po. He hadn’t even unleashed his Beast Soul Power; with a mere wave of his hand, he sent his opponent flying. With his level of strength, there was absolutely no need to go all out.
"Ring Number One, Gongsun Hao wins."
"Ring Number Three, Gongsun Mu wins..."
The voices of the Elders rang out one after another. The victors were almost entirely from the Direct Lineage.
"Ring Number Two, Side Branch, Zhao Wuji wins."
Suddenly, a remarkably anomalous announcement rang out. Everyone’s gaze was instantly drawn to Ring Number Two.
In Ring Number Two, Gongsun Kang, an ornately dressed Direct Lineage disciple, was kneeling on the ground. His chest was drenched in blood. He had actually been pierced through by a sword from the Pang Faction. In fact, if the opponent hadn’t shown mercy, the strike would have pierced his heart.
"So it’s Gongsun Kang. He’s only twenty-eight, and he joined this tournament just for the experience. This Side Branch disciple got quite lucky running into him."
Seeing that it was Gongsun Kang who was defeated, the crowd wasn’t too surprised. Gongsun Kang was only participating this time for the experience. Although the Side Branches lacked the resources of the Direct Lineage, some still managed to break into the Demon Spirit Realm.
Soon, the first wave of battles entirely concluded.
"Those who drew slips numbered eleven through twenty, step up," the Elders announced one after another. The second wave of combatants began their fights.
Time passed. About an hour later, the first four waves of battles had all concluded. The people Gongsun Yanran had told Ye Xuan to pay attention to had all won.
"For the final wave of battles, those who drew slips numbered forty-one through fifty, step up to fight."
"It’s finally my turn. Watching them fight has made me itch for action too; my blood is practically boiling. I wonder who my opponent is." Ye Xuan smiled and walked to Ring Number Ten.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, quietly waiting for his opponent. Clad in white robes and bathed in sunlight, Ye Xuan actually looked quite dashing and suave.
"That kid is finally up. Who is his opponent?"
"This brat got lucky he didn’t run into me. If he had, I would’ve beaten him half to death and eliminated him!"
"It’s fine. No matter who his opponent is, as long as they’re from the Direct Lineage, they probably won’t show him any mercy. Watch closely, there’s a good show coming up. He’s definitely going to get beaten so badly his own mother won’t recognize him!"
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a young man finally walked toward Ye Xuan. A cold sneer played at the corners of the young man’s mouth, and his eyes brimmed with monstrous, unbridled killing intent!
Seeing the young man, everyone was somewhat surprised.
"Gongsun Tu!"
"He’s walking toward Ye Xuan’s ring. Could his opponent be Ye Xuan? Is it really that coincidental?"
"It’s probably no coincidence! Did you forget who handed out the bamboo slips earlier?"
"Hehe, this is getting interesting. Looks like Gongsun Tu wants to take revenge personally."
Amidst the crowd’s murmurs, Gongsun Tu stood opposite Ye Xuan. The cold sneer remained on his lips. Raising his chin, he said arrogantly, "Ye Xuan, you didn’t expect your opponent to be me, did you? Your good luck ends here. I won’t be showing any mercy."
"So it’s you..." Ye Xuan smiled as well. He glanced at Gongsun Qingyue in the distance. "Your father has doomed you."
"Stubborn brat, pick your weapon," Gongsun Tu snorted coldly, selecting a scimitar from the weapon rack. His right hand hadn’t recovered yet, so he held the scimitar in his left.
"Is your hand alright?" Ye Xuan asked casually.
"Drop the fake sympathy. Even though my right hand hasn’t recovered, my left hand is more than enough to deal with you." Gongsun Tu swung the scimitar with his left hand, displaying an agility no less than his right. "Ye Xuan, pick your weapon. Don’t say I’m bullying you."
Ye Xuan, however, said indifferently, "Why would I need a weapon to deal with you? Have you ever seen anyone use an ox cleaver to kill a chicken?"
Just a single sentence nearly made Gongsun Tu blow his top in anger. Gritting his teeth, he spat, "Ye Xuan, I really don’t know where you get your confidence from. Your cultivation is merely at the Super Spirit Realm, while I am at the second level of the Demon Spirit Realm. Do you actually think you can defeat me? Last time when you severed my arm, I was careless. Do you think the current me will give you another chance?"
"You talk too much. If you’re ready, let’s begin."
"You!" Gongsun Tu was about to explode with rage.
Ye Xuan’s words caused the nearby Elder to frown. He couldn’t help but say, "Ye Xuan, are you certain you won’t choose a weapon? The scimitar in his hand is a Low Ghost-grade weapon. If it lands on you, it will absolutely cleave your body in two. How could you possibly withstand the might of a Ghost-grade weapon? When the time comes, I won’t even be able to save you in time."
Ye Xuan nodded and said, "I’m certain."
"You! Fine. Since you refuse to pick one, if you are both ready, then begin."
The Elder didn’t say anything more. Previously, Gongsun Qingyue had spoken to him, asking him to turn a blind eye when the time came. But with this kid not using a weapon, there was no need to turn a blind eye at all; he was already courting death.
At this moment, from where Gongsun Qingyue stood, seeing that Ye Xuan didn’t choose a weapon, he sneered, but his brows furrowed. This kid didn’t seem like a fool. But why wouldn’t he pick a weapon?
Just as he was puzzled, Gongsun Xin arrived by his side.
"Did you arrange this?"
Gongsun Qingyue replied, "Big Brother, drawing lots is just luck, it’s an unpredictable art. If Ye Xuan has bad luck, you can’t blame me."
Gongsun Xin’s face remained grim as he asked, "Do you think Gongsun Tu is a match for Ye Xuan?"