Chapter 023: Arriving with the Banner

  The morning sun blazed like fire, its rays spilling across the land, breathing life into Stormcloud City. An intangible momentum hung in the air, a faint yet palpable sense of battle readiness.

  Today was the most important day for the martial halls.

  The tide of momentum had gathered, coalescing into a tangible force.

  All those at the Blood Refinement realm were eager and ready, hoping to achieve great results in the tournament. If any geniuses caught the attention of the Qingyang Empire, they would ascend to greatness overnight, wielding immense power.

  At the very center of Stormcloud City, a massive battle stage had already been constructed, forged entirely from Xuan Steel, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a half-step Martial Warrior. Under the morning light, it exuded an imposing aura.

  Below the stage, a sea of people bustled, their murmurs blending into a wave of noise.

  In the Qingyang Empire, martial halls thrived. Today was the day for the younger generation to rise and for the older generation to make their mark. Those who made it into the top ten would see their martial paths advance by leaps and bounds. If they could condense their own martial will, stepping into the Martial Warrior realm would become a natural progression.

  In front of the stage stood a viewing platform fifty feet high. At the top sat an elderly man with graying hair, his eyes closed. The noise from the crowd below didn’t seem to bother him. Embroidered on his robe were the characters for "Stormcloud." This was the city lord of Stormcloud City, Kuang Lang.

  Below him sat three men. One of them, a black-robed elder, scanned the crowd with a troubled expression on his wrinkled face. This was Wang Long, the master of the Starry Sky Martial Hall.

  "Old Wang, I heard your son, Wang Xing, is close to breaking through to the ninth level of Blood Refinement. He’s one of the favorites for this tournament. Congratulations in advance," a man in green robes said casually, sipping his tea. This was Hua Qi, the master of one of Stormcloud City’s three major martial halls.

  "Haha, he’s still far from the ninth level. He can’t compare to that girl of yours," Wang Long replied with a forced smile, waving his hand dismissively.

  "Old Wang, you’re too modest," Hua Qi said, stroking his nose. He narrowed his eyes slightly, watching Wang Long. "By the way, I haven’t seen Old Feng these past few days. My hands are itching for a fight."

  At this, Wang Long’s heart tightened. He glanced at Hua Qi and smiled faintly. "My second brother has been away on business. He’ll be back in a few days. If your hands are itching, how about I spar with you?"

  "Haha, Old Wang, you jest. How could I be a match for you?" Hua Qi’s expression shifted slightly, and he chuckled, though a hint of skepticism lingered in his eyes.

  On the viewing platform, Kuang Lang suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the noisy crowd below. He frowned slightly.

  "Silence!"

  His calm voice carried across the entire arena, and wherever his gaze fell, the crowd fell silent. The area below the stage became utterly quiet.

  "In ancient times, our human race was born weak, oppressed by the various other races. But our ancestors created cultivation techniques, unlocking the limitless potential within our bodies. The treasures hidden within our flesh are boundless."

  "Through the sacrifices of countless heroes, we drove out the foreign races, staining the outer realms with our blood. This Tianyang Continent is now the domain of humanity!"

  Below the stage, countless eyes burned with fervor. Though these ancient events were recorded in historical texts, the remnants of those battles still existed today.

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  With a single palm strike, one could crush everything. The strong were the focus of all attention!

  Kuang Lang’s gaze turned cold as he continued, "The Qingyang Empire is a superpower in the eastern continent. Though Stormcloud City is but a small part of its vast territory, spanning billions of miles, it is still the foundation of our empire."

  "His Majesty, the Emperor, is a man of great vision. For every martial hall tournament, he provides generous rewards. Some of the most talented youths are even noticed by the empire, allowing them to rise to greatness overnight!"

  Kuang Lang paused, his eyes scanning the competitors below. "The top ten in this tournament will receive one thousand low-tier Blood Stones and ten Blood Pills. The top three will receive one thousand low-tier Blood Stones, one hundred mid-tier Blood Stones, and thirty Blood Pills."

  "As for the champion, they will receive three thousand low-tier Blood Stones, one thousand mid-tier Blood Stones, twenty mid-tier Blood Pills, and a peak-tier Blood Weapon!" Kuang Lang’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke. The rewards for the tournament were staggeringly generous, even more so than the previous year. Even he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of greed.

  **Whoosh!**

  The crowd erupted into chatter, their eyes filled with desire. When the Starry Sky Martial Hall had won the tournament years ago, it had established a formidable foundation in Stormcloud City within just a few years, even surpassing the other two major martial halls.

  "What a bunch of country bumpkins, getting so excited over a few pills," a man standing miles away muttered. He and two others stood with their hands behind their backs, their auras far stronger than Kuang Lang’s. Embroidered on their chests were the characters for "Qingyang."

  These were the selection officials. Whether one could soar to greatness and enter the vast world of cultivation depended on them.

  "Third Brother, don’t be so harsh. In a small place like this, even having a Martial Warrior is impressive," a black-robed man beside him chuckled.

  "True enough. Let’s see what kind of talent this place has to offer. I hope we didn’t come all this way for nothing. Otherwise, we won’t even get a sip of soup."

  Martial halls were the Qingyang Empire’s institutions for selecting geniuses. If they could find a talented youth, the officials themselves would receive significant benefits.

  "The tournament begins now! Competitors, please come forward to draw lots. Only one representative per martial hall is allowed!" A tournament official stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below.

  **Whoosh!**

  As soon as the words were spoken, dozens of figures leaped onto the stage. Most were young, both men and women.

  **Swoosh!**

  One figure suddenly appeared on the stage, instantly drawing the attention of the crowd. It was a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, her skin as smooth as jade, her face delicate and heart-shaped, with calm, autumn-like eyes.

  "That’s Hua Die! She’s so beautiful. Rumor has it she’s close to breaking through to the ninth level of Blood Refinement. She’s one of the rising stars of the three major martial halls."

  "Tsk tsk, if she’d spend a night with me, I’d die happy," a burly man said, his lecherous gaze fixed on her, his eyes burning with desire.

  "Spend a night with you?" Another man nearby scoffed, though he didn’t dare argue with the muscular man. He muttered under his breath, "If she’d just let me touch her, I’d die happy."

  "Haha, Brother Hua Qi, your daughter’s cultivation has improved again," a man in green robes beside Hua Qi said with a smile.

  "Brother Li, you flatter me. Your son has also made great progress," Hua Qi replied, sipping his tea. Though his tone was modest, there was a hint of pride in his eyes.

  Suddenly, another figure appeared on the stage. His movements were flashy, and he wore a white robe, his handsome face exuding a scholarly aura. This was Wang Xing, and his gentle gaze swept over the crowd below.

  "Look, it’s Wang Xing! They say he’s close to reaching the ninth level of Blood Refinement," the crowd below buzzed with excitement.

  "Yeah, he’s so handsome," several infatuated girls whispered among themselves, their bold eyes scanning Wang Xing’s figure, their red lips occasionally licked in anticipation.

  Wang Xing’s gaze, however, was fixed on Hua Die. A flicker of desire flashed in his eyes as he spoke in a soft, warm voice, "Xiao Die, it’s been a while. Your strength has improved again. With your skills, you’re sure to take the top spot in today’s tournament."

  Hua Die’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She glanced at Wang Xing and said coldly, "No matter how much I improve, I can’t compare to you. And don’t call me Xiao Die."

  "You bitch," Wang Xing thought, his eyes darkening as he watched her walk away. He touched his nose, a lecherous glint in his eyes. "Playing hard to get, huh? Once I win this tournament, I’ll make you kneel and beg me…"

  Having grown up surrounded by flattery and women who threw themselves at him, Wang Xing couldn’t stand being rejected by Hua Die. It wounded his pride as a self-proclaimed prodigy.

  "The registration for the tournament is now—"

  "Wait, sir!"

  A loud shout interrupted the announcement. In the distance, two figures were sprinting toward the stage at an astonishing speed, leaving the crowd in awe.

  The first thing that caught everyone’s attention was a large banner, emblazoned with the characters for "Dragon Star Martial Hall." The sight of it made some people’s faces pale.

  A slender figure walked forward slowly, carrying the banner on his shoulders. He had arrived with the banner!