“Mine is Area 50, second match,” Ba Hu said immediately.
“Mine is Area 3, tenth match,” Gou Shi followed.
Then, all twelve Tianwu disciples announced their areas and match numbers. Fortunately, none of the twelve were in the same match or area.
With fifty areas and over ten matches per area, the chance of the twelve randomly drawing the same match was extremely slim.
This prevented them from knocking each other out.
However, it also meant no disciple could team up with others for a ten-person battle.
If two or three “allies” trusted each other and secretly worked together to eliminate others before facing off, their chances of advancing would greatly increase.
But the random draw system minimised this possibility, making it unlikely for multiple members of the same faction to be grouped together.
“Now, all disciples drawn for the first match, enter your assigned areas!”
At this, disciples headed to the fifty areas, handed their bamboo lots to the referees, and entered the fields.
“Area 30, here I come!” Hu Yue said with a playful smile, walking harmlessly toward Area 30. Other Tianmen disciples followed to their respective fields.
“Whoever drew Area 30 is out of luck!” Lin Xiao nodded in agreement, showing support.
With Hu Yue’s cultivation at the eighth level of Tianwu, few in the Tianwu realm could challenge her. Advancing to the second round was almost guaranteed.
“Heh, Area 30? I’m in Area 30 too,” a voice called out as Hu Yue entered. A group approached the spot where Lin Xiao and the others stood.
Lin Xiao looked over, his brow twitching at the sight of the group.
It was none other than Yu Xiang, Jia Chao, and their team. The speaker was a muscular man—Jing Da, the one Lin Xiao had beaten and sent flying outside the Wanbao Pavilion.
Jing Da’s aura showed he had broken through to the ninth level of Tianwu.
Beside him was Si Tie, now at the Martial King realm, his aura unreserved, radiating a provocative challenge toward Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao found it odd. These two were once rivals, yet because of him, Yu Xiang and the others had brought them together.
On Yu Xiang, Lin Xiao also sensed a Martial King aura. Surprisingly, she had broken through, though her aura seemed weak, likely boosted by some pill.
Lin Xiao’s gaze shifted. Beside Yu Xiang and Jia Chao were several unfamiliar faces, one of whom had the strongest aura—a second-level Martial King, noticeably stronger than Jia Chao.
“That’s Lin Xiao? Doesn’t seem special,” the blue-robed man with the strong aura said, eyeing Lin Xiao with disdain.
“That’s him! He’s the one who let that wretch step on my face!” Yu Xiang spat furiously, glaring at Lin Xiao with murderous intent.
The blue-robed man sneered at Lin Xiao. “You dared to hit a friend of Xiahou Jing’s clan sister. I admire your guts.”
“If you’re here just to say that, please leave,” Lin Xiao said flatly, uninterested in engaging.
“Heh, you really don’t know your place. Do you even know who Xiahou Jing is? The top contender for this year’s championship, one of Elder Xiahou Lan’s most favoured disciples,” the blue-robed man said, his face beaming with pride at Xiahou Jing’s name, as if he were her.
Lin Xiao showed no reaction, asking tonelessly, “Anything else?”
“You!” The blue-robed man bristled, annoyed that Lin Xiao was unfazed.
“Humph, stepping on Xiahou Jing’s friend is like stepping on her face. But with her status, she wouldn’t bother dealing with you herself. So, I’ll teach you a lesson for her,” the blue-robed man sneered. “If you want to keep your limbs intact, kowtow to Yu Xiang, apologise, and cut off a finger. Otherwise, if we meet in the competition, don’t blame me for any ‘accidents’.”
“Sorry, I don’t take threats from anyone, not even Xiahou Jing. If we meet in the competition, do what you want. Now, if there’s nothing else, get out of my sight,” Lin Xiao said, issuing a dismissal, barely refraining from telling the man to scram. He was utterly unfazed by the threat.
“Fine, you asked for it!” the blue-robed man said coldly. “Even if I don’t face you, someone will deal with you!”
“And your people better watch out. If anything happens to them, it’s on you!” He scanned the Tianmen disciples with a chilling gaze.
“That’s right, Lin Xiao. I’ll settle the score from last time. If I meet you, I’ll leave you half-crippled. And if I meet your people, I won’t go easy!” Jia Chao gritted his teeth, still believing Lin Xiao’s past victory was a sneak attack, not a display of superior strength. Though Lin Xiao was strong, Jia Chao didn’t think he could truly defeat him.
“Try it. If you dare touch Tianmen, I swear I’ll make you pay double!” Lin Xiao’s tone turned stern. He could tolerate attacks on himself, but targeting his allies because of him was unacceptable.
It was his untouchable line.
The Tianmen disciples who weren’t competing also grew serious, already harbouring anger toward this group.
“Heh, double? Let’s see if you’ve got the ability,” the blue-robed man mocked, glancing at Jing Da. “Jing Da, take care of that girl. Go ‘easy’ on her.”
He emphasised “easy” heavily.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give her a surprise,” Jing Da grinned, shooting Lin Xiao a smug look before striding toward Area 30.
“Humph, if you want to mess with Tianmen, don’t expect to get off easy!” Wang Long glared at the blue-robed man, his eyes blazing with anger.
“Don’t worry, Jing Da won’t get far,” Lin Xiao said, shaking his head at Wang Long, then added firmly, “But we’ll remember this. If we face these guys or anyone from the Xiahou clan, we’ll go ‘easy’ on them too.”
“No way we’ll let these guys off!” Wang Long nodded fiercely. Last time, Yu Xiang and her group had caused them plenty of trouble. If not for Lin Xiao, he’d have been in serious trouble.
“Exactly. We’ll see who’s stronger!” Ba Hu growled nearby.
The other Tianmen disciples who weren’t competing nodded, their faces cold.
“Talk is cheap. Wait and see what happens to that girl,” the blue-robed man sneered, dismissing Lin Xiao and the first-level Martial King beside him, let alone the others.
If Tianmen wanted to talk tough, reality would teach them a lesson.
“Chop off that wretch’s hand!” Yu Xiang said icily.
“Jing Da’s strength is top-tier among ninth-level Tianwu disciples. That little girl won’t make a ripple!” Si Tie said, arms crossed, glaring at Lin Xiao with battle lust. He still resented losing to Lin Xiao last time. Now at the Martial King realm, he wanted a rematch.
Lin Xiao ignored them. If they wanted to linger and watch his reaction when Hu Yue was attacked, let them. When the results came, they’d have no face to stay.
