Seeded contestants represented the most dominant figures selected from each state. Because of their immense strength, they enjoyed special treatment in the competition, such as arrangements to avoid early clashes with each other.
Therefore, these slots were extremely precious. No state would allocate a seeded contestant slot to a spirit controller who was too weak.
Seeing Mu Haoran appear, everyone found it hard to believe.
Of course, besides Mu Haoran, there was also a young man in his thirties wearing the white robes marked with Spirit Pool Island’s emblem who was included among them.
Additionally, a middle-aged man in his mid-thirties from the Tantai family was included. The rest were almost all elders in their forties or nearing fifty.
Among the total of thirty-three seeded contestants, only three were the youngest.
Mu Haoran, in particular, stood out far too much.
This made the seventh-grade intermediate spirit controllers, as well as those below seventh-grade elementary, quite dissatisfied. They secretly vowed that if they were grouped with Mu Haoran later, they would definitely take him down.
As for the other seeded contestants, they would do their best to avoid them.
Apart from Mu Haoran, none of those people were easy to provoke.
“How could he be a seeded contestant?”
“What is the third branch trying to do? Choosing such a weak person as a seeded contestant is just bringing shame to our Spirit Pool Island.”
“Choosing that guy would be better than giving the fourth branch a seeded slot instead!”
…
The elders and disciples from Spirit Pool Island watching from the periphery, as well as those among the competing crowd, were all puzzled.
Spirit Pool Island only had three slots in total. Only the first three branches each had one seeded contestant slot, while the later branches had none.
Even for the first two branches, selecting for this slot had required great effort. They were candidates capable of vying for the championship.
Yet the third branch, the one An Miao belonged to, had given this slot to a twenty-two-year-old youth. No one knew what they were thinking.
Even others in the third branch did not understand it.
Their third branch had not competed for a seeded contestant slot at all. Because An Miao’s status was too high, she had directly claimed the slot. As for who it was given to, they had not known beforehand.
Now that it was confirmed, some found it hard to accept.
Of course, with things having reached this point, even if people from Spirit Pool Island had objections, they could only grumble privately. Naturally, no one would speak out, or it would disgrace Spirit Pool Island.
The rules could not be changed. Once decided, it was impossible to alter temporarily.
“Elders, please confirm your state’s seeded contestants!” At this moment, Ximen Haoyue said to the Martial Saint powerhouses from each state.
“It is indeed those three.”
“Yang State confirms!”
“Yan State confirms!”
“Zhu State confirms!”
…
Several Martial Saints spoke in succession. Whether those people were their state’s seeded contestants could be seen at a glance.
In this situation, no one dared to impersonate a seeded contestant.
“Mu Haoran, please present the seeded contestant token granted by Spirit Pool Island!” At this point, Ximen Haoyue said to the youth ahead.
He knew the other two personally. The one he wanted confirmed was Mu Haoran.
Mu Haoran had already joined An Miao earlier. In fact, he had guessed it long ago, but confirmation was still needed for others.
After all, Mu Haoran was too young, lest some people not believe it.
Lin Xiao was not surprised. He calmly took out the token and displayed it publicly.
“Spirit Pool Island has confirmed the seeded contestant identity.” Ximen Haoyue stated.
Then, he used his divine sense to count the numbers and said: “Seventh-grade intermediate and above spirit controllers, plus the thirty-three seeded contestants, total four hundred and twenty people.”
“Earlier during pill refining, two were killed by explosions, and two withdrew due to severe injuries. Now, the number of spirit controllers below seventh-grade elementary entering the first round is two thousand five hundred and seventy-six.”
“These two thousand five hundred and seventy-six will draw lots to enter the ten islands. The first to sixth islands will each have two hundred and fifty-eight people, while the seventh to tenth islands will each have two hundred and fifty-seven.”
“Once the order to begin is given, you may attack freely using any means until only fifty-eight remain on each island. Those fifty-eight will advance to the next round.”
“These ten islands are all equipped with formations. Each of you will hold a formation token. In times of danger, crush the token, and the formation will extract you. Once crushed, you are eliminated. Apart from that, injuries or deaths are at your own risk.”
“The time limit is three days. After three days, if more than fifty-eight people remain on an island, everyone on that island will be entirely eliminated!”
With that said, the entire scene grew lively again. Over two hundred and fifty people entering one island and fighting until only fifty-eight remained was indeed thrilling and exciting.
Because those over two hundred spirit controllers could use any means, including schemes, tricks, and all forms of alliances. As long as fifty-eight remained in the end, the elimination rate was extremely high.
Roughly four people would yield only one survivor.
Moreover, the islands appeared large, but if spirit controllers truly fought without restraint, the disturbances from even a few seventh-grade elementary spirit controllers could spread across the entire island.
If over two hundred went in and all fought each other, let alone three days, it could probably be resolved in a short time.
The first round was truly brutal.
“Now, everyone receive your formation tokens!”
At this moment, Ximen Haoyue took out two thousand five hundred and seventy-six formation tokens from his storage ring. The tokens emerged, then under spiritual power control, all passed by the Spirit Illuminating Mirror before shooting towards the group of over two thousand spirit controllers.
The over two thousand spirit controllers each caught a token in hand.
This token was a life-saving one in emergencies.
“The formation token will display the remaining number of people on the island you enter. The number of light points indicates how many remain.”
Ximen Haoyue explained: “This first round will be overseen by ten referees. Each referee holds a token to stop the formation. Once the number is reached, the formation will halt. When it stops, no one may continue attacking, or it will be treated as a violation.”
“Now, each of you draw lots. Whichever number you draw determines which island you prepare to enter!”
Saying this, Ximen Haoyue took out a pile of bamboo lots from his storage ring.
Though called bamboo lots, they had the ability to block divine sense. After passing by the Spirit Illuminating Mirror, the lots flew towards the over two thousand spirit controllers.
The over two thousand spirit controllers each drew a lot. In fact, apart from a few, they mostly knew each other, so which island they drew did not greatly affect them.
Of course, encountering more acquaintances naturally made trust and alliances easier.
“Elders serving as referees, take your positions.” As Ximen Haoyue’s words fell, the leading elder who had been ahead earlier circled back from the side. Nine seventh-grade advanced spirit controllers from Spirit Pool Island also appeared, ultimately lining up with Ximen Haoyue.
“Those who drew number one bamboo lot, step forward and display your lots!” Ximen Haoyue called out again.
With that, fully two hundred and fifty-eight people stepped forward, each flipping over their bamboo lot. Such lots could not be faked.
However, to demonstrate fairness or prevent anyone from entering the wrong island, Ximen Haoyue still had them display them.
With over two hundred people, those with strong divine sense could scan them clearly in one sweep, and a few glances were enough to count accurately.
“Enter the leftmost island. You may position yourselves freely. Only attack after my order.”
As Ximen Haoyue’s words fell, the over two hundred people rushed into the island, then surprisingly all dispersed, vanishing into the forests.
On an island spanning dozens of li, over two hundred people could still spread out to various positions if they avoided gathering for chaotic battles.
Presumably, most did not want chaotic fights. They wanted to rely on their own strength to eliminate others one by one.
“Number two bamboo lots, step forward!” Ximen Haoyue called again.
Another over two hundred people stepped forward, then entered the second island.
This continued until the tenth island also had over two hundred people enter.
Those people indeed dispersed across the islands of dozens of li, constantly changing positions.
Subsequently, the ten referee elders flew above the ten islands, closely monitoring them at all times.
Ximen Haoyue also kept watch over the ten islands, preventing any situations that the ten seventh-grade advanced spirit controller referees could not handle in time.
“The Continental Spirit Controller Grand Competition first round officially begins!” With Ximen Haoyue’s booming announcement, the crowd grew excited. Everyone’s gaze fixed tightly on those ten islands.
