Once the lots were drawn, the contestants entered their Virtual Pods and reappeared at the venue as projections.
"First match: number one versus number thirty-two," Flame Venerable's voice rang out again. "Contestants, to the stage."
Two figures leaped from the waiting area, landing steadily on the arena stage.
The match officially began.
Xu Wuyi didn't pay much attention to the first few matches.
To him, the skill levels on display were all over the place.
The strong ones settled their matches in a few moves, while the weak fought sloppily, their techniques riddled with openings.
He closed his eyes to meditate, adjusting his breathing and gradually pushing his condition to its peak.
The Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace slowly activated within him, his Qi and Blood surging like a great river.
In his sea of consciousness, the vortex where the True Intentions of "Mountain" and "Flame" intertwined spun silently, ready to erupt with terrifying power at any moment.
