Early the next morning, as dawn barely broke, countless people had already flocked to the Holy City Square, the vast surroundings packed with a sea of spectators.
Lin Xiao led the Heaven Gate disciples to the square, with Ma Bi and Niu Bi practically in his camp.
As with yesterday’s setup, Baili He took his seat at the main platform, joined by others.
With Baili He’s arrival, the crowd’s excitement surged to a peak, all brimming with anticipation.
The third round would determine the top 100. Among the competitors, eighty were third-level Martial Kings, promising clashes of titans. Perhaps even seed-level contenders would face off.
This third round marked the true start of the tournament.
Baili He rose from his seat, and the crowd’s uproar quieted instantly.
“The third round’s rules are group matches. Four hundred competitors will be split into forty groups, with two from each advancing. The remaining twenty will be chosen based on win counts to make the top 100 for tomorrow’s round-robin.”
Baili He spoke slowly, “Now, all competing disciples, draw lots.”
At his words, the 400 disciples stepped forward to draw.
“Group forty,” Lin Xiao said, glancing at his bamboo stick.
“I’m in group thirty-nine!” Hu Yue said immediately.
“Group seven!” Wang Long added.
“Heh, I’m in group one. Definitely taking first,” Niu Bi, who’d drawn alongside them, chuckled.
“Who says group number equals rank? I’m in group ten,” Ma Bi said, his face darkening. If group ten meant tenth place, wouldn’t he be last? Why did this fatty always jinx things?
“Good thing I didn’t end up with you lot. Eliminating you guys would’ve left me feeling bad!” Ma Bi added, feigning relief, as if guilt-free.
“Poser!” Niu Bi spat out a single word.
“Fatty, you’re spouting nonsense again!” Ma Bi fumed. This guy always undermined him.
“Just the truth,” Niu Bi retorted.
Meanwhile, Ba Hu stared at his bamboo stick, his face grim.
“Oi, tiger-headed bloke, why so glum? Did you draw the same group as Master Ma?” Ma Bi asked, noticing Ba Hu’s expression.
“If it was you, my face wouldn’t be grim,” Ba Hu said dejectedly. “I got group forty, with the boss…”
Drawing anyone else would’ve been fine, but Lin Xiao? That was like losing a spot outright. Snagging the other spot from the remaining nine was insanely tough. No wonder Ba Hu looked so downcast.
“Talk about bad luck!” Wang Long sighed. Out of forty groups, two Heaven Gate disciples landing together—Ba Hu’s luck was rotten.
“Do your best. It’s not hopeless,” Lin Xiao encouraged.
But in this top 400 group stage, Ba Hu’s ninth-level Heavenly Martial strength was a long shot. Eighty third-level Martial Kings, over a hundred second-level, and the remaining first-level were all formidable.
Heavenly Martial disciples were few, each capable of beating average Martial Kings.
With only about one or two Heavenly Martial disciples per group, and Ba Hu stuck with Lin Xiao, his chances of advancing were slim.
“I know my strength. I’ll treat it as training. After the tournament, I might break through to Martial King!” Ba Hu said cheerfully.
He’d long known his odds were low, no matter the group, and wasn’t truly discouraged.
Instead, nearing the Martial King realm, his eyes gleamed with hope.
“Now, all competing disciples, head to your arena edges. Draw lots for battle order, eight matches each,” Baili He’s voice rang out again.
Outside each arena, spaced far enough for crowds, Lin Xiao and Ba Hu headed to Arena 40.
Approaching from a similar direction was a familiar face—Dao Yi from the Tenth Outer Court.
“What a coincidence, didn’t expect to be in your group!” Dao Yi strode forward confidently, exuding battle intent.
“Lin Xiao, your breakthrough speed is astonishing, but I still think you’re no match for me,” Dao Yi said arrogantly, nearing Lin Xiao.
“If that’s what you think, keep thinking it. Who’s stronger? One fight will tell.”
Lin Xiao remained calm, sparing few words. In the Tenth Outer Court, he’d clashed with Dao Yi, though not as severely as with others.
“Fine, I’m eager to see how impressive a dual elemental-spiritual genius is!” Dao Yi’s eyes blazed with battle intent. He no longer dismissed Lin Xiao, now seeing him as an equal.
“I’m also curious to test how strong the former third-ranked outer court disciple is!”
Ba Hu spoke up, his face brimming with battle intent.
Once, Dao Yi was someone he looked up to. Now, with his growing strength, he could face him head-on.
His sights were set beyond, on the entire Holy City. Dao Yi wasn’t much anymore.
“You?” Dao Yi glanced at Ba Hu dismissively. “Reach Martial King, then maybe you’re qualified to say that. Now? You’re not.”
“We’ll see in the fight!” Ba Hu retorted, unconvinced.
“Your newfound confidence will vanish soon enough!” Dao Yi shot back.
As the three spoke, two more approached Arena 40.
Both were unfamiliar. One radiated second-level Martial King aura, strong and imposing. The other, only ninth-level Heavenly Martial, had an aura nearly matching a first-level Martial King.
Clearly, both were formidable.
Everyone in the top 400 had real combat power, each with their own flair.
By probability, with fifty Heavenly Martial disciples across forty groups, two in one group was relatively high.
Similarly, eighty third-level Martial Kings meant two per group was average.
Then, another familiar face approached—Bi Zhu, Lin Xiao’s defeated foe.
“Quite the coincidence!” Lin Xiao’s lips curled into a peculiar smile.
“Lin Xiao?” Seeing him from afar, Bi Zhu’s face darkened. He knew Lin Xiao’s strength well—able to snap swords and crush him easily.
No way could he match Lin Xiao.
“Just my luck!” Bi Zhu cursed inwardly, already deciding to concede if he faced Lin Xiao.
Being in Lin Xiao’s group meant one of the two spots was gone.
He didn’t care about Ba Hu or Dao Yi.
But that left him fighting seven others for one spot—a slim chance.
“Lin Xiao, didn’t expect to be in your group. Lucky me, haha!”
Just then, a gleeful laugh echoed from afar. A youth in teal robes strode toward Arena 40, his face beaming with delight.
