Within the arena, a platform was setup that rose nearly 10 meters above the ground and overlooked the combat stage. Seated above like gods were three rows of older men and women dressed in colorful robes who stared at the crowd in disdain. Each represented a powerful faction built up over many generations.
Beside the platform were hundreds of martial artists eager to display their skills in front of the crowd and more importantly to the other sects and clans. They held their heads high above others and only disciples of the competing sects and clans caught their eyes.
Liang stood with the old man and the other free for all winners to the side of the stage waiting for the instructions. Occasionally the old man would say a few disparaging remarks while mocking the elders but Liang tried to ignore his words as much as possible.
He thought it was true that they may be nothing in the old man’s eyes, but they were still powerful martial artists and he was nowhere near their level. They all held lofty positions in their groups and he was sure they must have faced many challenges to achieve what they had along the way.
Moments after the old man made a few comments about a sharp-eyed woman in red robes; a man wearing dark scholarly clothing with a very refined appearance greeted the elders and turned to face the crowd. After waving his hand through the air, as though he was a king, the crowd quieted and waited for him to speak.
The old man scoffed at his display but then turned his head quickly towards the platforms direction. As if he was deep in thought, the old man began stroking his short beard while humming a strange tune Liang could not place. When there was no longer any talking in the arena, the regal man placed a talisman on his chest and began speaking in a sonorous voice that captured everyone’s attention.
“Welcome to the five year competition of Xiamen City. I, the city lord am excited to witness the battles of so many future legends and geniuses from the powerful sects and clans. This competition has seen the birth of many heroes across the ages and some of those heroes are seated here today.”
Looking back towards the elders on the platform, the city lord bowed in deep admiration as if they were legendary figures told of in great tales. The old man was unable to stifle his chuckle and looked down while placing his hand over his forehead before calming himself to listen to the city lord.
“As is customary, we have already held a competition for the loose cultivators and the 40 winners are here. If they are able to compete admirably they may have a chance to join one of the incredible groups behind me.”
After a few more words of adulation, the old man whispered to Liang, “This guy really knows how to slap a horse’s ass and call it amazing. Take note boy, this type of expert doesn’t appear in front of you every day.” His words were odd but when Liang turned to ask what he meant, the old man pointed towards the platform and the city lord continued.
“Each of the major powers here have contributed to this year’s rewards and they are as follows…” Liang paid very little attention but he noticed that as the city lord named a number of spirit fruits, pills, armors, and weapons the mouths of the martial artists dropped.
They were impressive rewards that most free cultivators would never have the opportunity to obtain, as the price of freedom was resources. Powerful organizations always made sure there were only scraps for martial artists that were unwilling to pledge their loyalty. Open events like these were rare.
However, just as the old man said, most of the rewards came with strings attached. For the free martial artists to receive the rewards they would need either to join a sect or fulfill some request. He told Liang the sects would never hand out a treasure to someone just because they entertained a crowd with their fighting skills.
When the prizes for the runner ups concluded, the city lord announced the first place reward and the crowd erupted. An unbelievably beautiful young woman somewhere around 19 or 20 years old gracefully walked across the platform bowing deeply to the elders and the crowd.
Throughout the arena, young men boasted, “If I could spend one night with her I could die happy” and, “a man could build a legacy around a woman like that.” Even the women in the crowd had to admit defeat at the young woman’s appearance.
With jade-like skin, long lustrous black hair, and sharp facial features she was the type of woman that captured the imaginations of many young men. Each movement of hers was graceful and her small face accented by large doe-like brown eyes made every man feel as though they needed to protect her, even at the cost of their own lives.
She was so stunning that Liang was having a difficult time taking his eyes off her and when he looked towards the old man, he saw the corner of his eye was twitching rapidly. Although the old man was shameless and flirted with many younger women, Liang had never seen him stare at someone so intensely. It was a little surprising but he did not say anything as the city lord continued.
“The final reward will belong to this year’s first place victor. The winner will be able to join any of the sects or clans here today if they are a loose cultivator; they’ll also receive a grade two-spirit armor, a grade 4 healing pellet, and will have my prized daughter as their cultivation partner or companion. She is only 20 years old this year and is already a mid-core formation cultivator.”
Outside of a sect or clan, a mid-core cultivator by 20 was extremely rare, even if the city lord had numerous resources. Her talents and looks shocked both the crowd and the elders on the platform alike. Even the old man’s hands began trembling at the city lord’s announcement.
Although the female competitors felt as though the reward shorted them, the other prizes were enough and most felt having a partner at such a young age was a burden anyways. It was also possible that the sect would reward them for bringing in a talented disciple. As the female fighters were in thought, the beautiful girl stood next to her father bowing once more and the crowd erupted again.
While they shouted in jealousy of the lucky winner the old man turned to Liang and said, “Whatever you do boy you must absolutely make sure you don’t win first place. Forfeit and take second. Forfeit and take third. Forfeit now, leave this city behind, and never return. In fact, that’s not a bad idea.”
Liang did not understand why the old man was acting so strange, but he was not very interested in having a cultivation companion anyways. He was not a true cultivator and had many things to accomplish before he thought about having a partner, including revenge for his village.
The old man also said he would only progress as far as his heart allowed. If his heart was set on immortality then his fight with the heavens would be endless. If his heart was set on a woman, then he would only go as far as she could.
Even still, the old man’s behavior confused Liang until he grabbed his shoulder and told him, “It’s a lie boy; the whole thing is a lie. That girl is wearing a concealment talisman. I’m telling you boy she has a unibrow that touches both ears and three teeth that hang over her bottom lip. She’s even going bald!”
“This bastard, he’s real good I tell you. That girl is nothing like the way you see her. Think of the charm array. That talisman’s not bad for this world either. I doubt any array expert below the mid Dao Realm would be able to see through it. She must be three times as heavy as that city lord too and if she’s a day under 40 I’m fresh from the womb.”
“He must have paid an awful lot for that thing or maybe he found it in some lost tomb or something. Doesn’t matter, I’ll say, that man sure does love his daughter.” After finishing the old man rubbed his chin before quietly chuckling, “This bastard, he’s putting on quite the show.”
Thankfully, nobody around them could hear but the old man was so excited he was shaking while talking. “He’s bowing to the crowd and farting on the sects. He knows the winner will come from them so he’s sticking that daughter of his on their best disciple. That girl is a disaster boy; I’m telling you she could destroy a family line.”
A full range of emotions traveled across the old man’s face until finally he laughed saying, “I’m starting to like this city lord. Yes, this is a true man boy, pay attention. Even I’m impressed by this guy. There are many ways to be ruthless to your opponents. If you ever have an ugly daughter, make your enemies marry her. Damnit, I’m starting to regret not having one of my own. No, there’s still time, I’ll make a daughter that’s so ugly even the bastard heavens will tremble.”
While the old man continued mumbling his plans on how to tear apart the heavens with an ugly daughter, Liang began to feel sorry for this year’s winner. Eventually the city lord waved his hand once again and this time even the old man quieted, filled with admiration at the lord’s scheme. He removed a scroll with the competition rules from his sleeve and read them to the crowd.
“This year, including the 40 free martial artists there is a total of three-hundred competitors in the core formation stage. In the first round, there will be 10 groups of 30 made from the competitors. Each group of thirty will hold one-on-one battles until the top ten from each are determined.”
“Those in the bottom 20 will have the chance to make one challenge of the top ten and when there are no more challenges, the top ten will move into a second round. This set of 100 will be split into 10 groups of ten where the top three from each will advance.”
“As with the previous groupings, the bottom seven will be able to challenge the top three one time and the top three will advance. When there are only thirty left, one-on-one challenges will begin. Anyone who loses twice is disqualified, anyone with no losses will be in the top ten and any with only one loss will be able to challenge for a top ten spot.”
“The challenges will continue until 20 fighters are disqualified and then the top ten placement challenges will begin. Each of the top 10 will have three challenges to improve their position and earn greater rewards. But if they lose all three of their challenges then a member of the 20 disqualified fighters will be able to challenge them.”
“Afterwards, the top three will face each other at least once more and the bottom three will be allowed to challenge the middle four one more time. In the event of a tie, both fighters will drop one rank and if the 10th rank fighter ties then the top disqualified fighter will take their place. These are the rules set forward by I, your city lord. Now that there is no need for clarifications, we will begin shortly.”
When he finished not a sound could be heard in the entire arena for several breaths until finally people turned and murmured in confusion. Liang looked towards the old man wondering if all tournaments had such rules but the old man was nodding in agreement mumbling, “A real man, indeed this bastard is a real man.”
Once the old man woke from his admiration, Liang asked him if the rules sounded normal, as he had no experience in tournaments. There were so many different groupings and challenges he was having a hard time working through everything but the old man told him, “It’s simple boy. They’re going to call your number and you are going to fight.”
“Each time you win you advance. If you want to fight someone then challenge them. But absolutely make sure you do not advance to first place. Tell them you have cramps. If you win first place don’t even think about following me around boy. If you get second place and your skin still feels itchy don’t worry, I, your master will make sure to scratch it well.”
