Three days passed quickly in the Azure Sky Sect.
The once quiet sect had transformed into a bustling gathering place for martial geniuses from across the region.
Banners of different sects fluttered in the wind.
Disciples from the Heaven Blade Pavilion, Iron Mountain Sect, and Flame Phoenix Sect filled the outer courtyards.
Today was the official start of the Azure Sky Martial Tournament.
The entire sect gathered at the massive Heaven Arena.
The arena itself was enormous—large enough to hold thousands of spectators.
At the center stood a giant stone stage carved with ancient formation runes.
The elders sat on a high platform overlooking the battlefield.
Among them was Sect Master Zhao Yunhai, whose powerful aura alone silenced the crowd.
His voice echoed through the arena.
"Today marks the beginning of the Azure Sky Martial Tournament."
"This tournament will determine the strongest young cultivators of our region."
He raised his hand.
A massive golden board appeared above the arena.
The tournament brackets revealed themselves.
The Official Brackets
Hundreds of names appeared across the board.
Each name connected by glowing lines that determined their opponents.
Excited whispers spread across the audience.
"Look!"
"Ye Feng is in the eastern bracket!"
"And Gu Shan is in the western bracket!"
"What about Lin Ye?"
Suddenly—
One name lit up brightly.
Lin Ye.
The crowd immediately erupted into noise.
"That's him!"
"The shameless genius!"
"Who is his first opponent?"
The golden board shifted again.
Lin Ye's opponent appeared.
Chen Dabao.
The entire arena became strangely quiet.
Then—
Laughter exploded everywhere.
"Chen Dabao?!"
"The food hall disciple?!"
Lin Ye blinked.
"…Wait."
"The noodle guy?"
Down near the waiting area—
A chubby young man nervously raised his hand.
"I'm sorry…"
"I signed up by accident."
The crowd burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Lin Ye's Ridiculous First Match
Soon—
The referee announced loudly.
"First match of the tournament!"
"Lin Ye versus Chen Dabao!"
Lin Ye walked calmly onto the arena stage.
Chen Dabao slowly climbed up after him, trembling.
Lin Ye smiled kindly.
"Relax."
"I won't hurt you."
Chen Dabao nodded gratefully.
"Thank you…"
Then he suddenly pulled out a giant frying pan.
"I use this as my weapon."
The entire arena exploded with laughter again.
Even the elders were struggling not to smile.
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Chen Dabao charged forward heroically.
"Pan Strike!"
CLANG!
He swung the frying pan toward Lin Ye's head.
Lin Ye simply stepped slightly to the side.
WHOOSH.
The pan missed completely.
Lin Ye gently tapped Chen Dabao's shoulder.
Chen Dabao lost his balance and fell flat on the ground.
"…Ow."
The referee raised his hand.
"Winner—Lin Ye!"
The entire match lasted three seconds.
The arena roared with laughter.
Lin Ye sighed.
"…That was anticlimactic."
The Ice and Flame Rivalry
In the spectator stands—
Su Qingyue watched the match quietly.
Beside her sat Mu Ling'er, lazily eating spiritual fruit.
Mu Ling'er chuckled.
"Your man wins easily."
Su Qingyue glanced at her coldly.
"He is not my man."
Mu Ling'er grinned.
"Then I'll take him."
Su Qingyue's sword aura flickered slightly.
"Try."
Mu Ling'er laughed.
"Oh?"
"Are we competing now?"
Su Qingyue looked toward the arena where Lin Ye was leaving the stage.
"…Maybe."
Mu Ling'er's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Well then."
"Let's see who he chooses."
The Masked Genius Appears
Later in the tournament—
Another match began.
A mysterious contestant stepped onto the arena stage.
He wore dark robes and a silver mask that hid his face completely.
The crowd whispered curiously.
"Who is that?"
"I've never seen him before."
His opponent was a well-known genius from the Heaven Blade Pavilion.
But the match ended quickly.
Too quickly.
The masked man moved like a ghost.
Three strikes.
Three movements.
BOOM.
His opponent flew out of the arena unconscious.
The entire stadium fell silent.
Even the elders leaned forward.
Sect Master Zhao Yunhai frowned slightly.
"…Interesting."
On the tournament board—
The masked contestant's name appeared.
"Unknown."
Lin Ye watched from the sidelines.
"…That guy looks suspicious."
Meanwhile… In the Shadows
Deep inside the Azure Sky Sect—
A secret meeting took place in a dark chamber.
Several cloaked figures knelt before a mysterious man.
One of them spoke quietly.
"My lord."
"Our spies have successfully entered the sect."
The man slowly opened his eyes.
His pupils glowed faintly purple.
Mo Wuying.
Even though his true body existed in the Upper Martial World, his influence had already reached the lower realms.
"Good."
He stood up slowly.
"The tournament will gather the strongest geniuses."
His voice was calm but dangerous.
"And when the final stage arrives…"
"…we will take what belongs to us."
One of the spies asked nervously.
"What about Lin Ye?"
Mo Wuying smiled faintly.
"Watch him carefully."
His eyes glowed darker.
"Because the day he reaches the Upper Martial World…"
"…will be the day he becomes my vessel."
Back at the Arena
Lin Ye sat lazily on the spectator platform again.
His first match had ended too easily.
He stretched and sighed.
"I hope the next fight is more interesting."
At that moment—
The masked genius suddenly turned his head.
Their eyes met briefly.
Even behind the mask—
Lin Ye felt something strange.
A powerful aura.
And intense hostility.
The masked man spoke quietly.
"So…"
"You are Lin Ye."
Lin Ye grinned.
"Depends."
"Who's asking?"
The masked man turned away.
"You will find out soon."
The next stage of the tournament had begun.
And the true rivals were finally appearing.