The moment the city gates opened, the entire scene erupted in excitement.
Then, everyone rushed into the city.
The whole city was empty, without any buildings. Thus, even with everyone pouring in, it still felt vast and spacious.
Ye Guan and the other three were also somewhat thrilled at this moment.
Once every ten years.
Moreover, it was being live-streamed across all three hundred and sixty states.
Ye Guan looked up at the cloud projection orb. He knew that the Ye Clan members in Nanzhou were certainly watching everything happening here.
At that moment, Luo Zhaoqi appeared before the crowd again. She glanced at everyone, then smiled. “After ten years of cultivation, today is the day for success and fame. Everyone, fight for your families, fight for yourselves, fight for honour. Good luck.”
With that, she turned and vanished from the scene.
Fight for your families.
Fight for yourselves.
Fight for honour.
In the arena, everyone’s blood boiled.
After so many years of cultivation, what was it all for?
In the near term:
Fame.
Profit.
In the long term:
Freedom.
Immortality.
The crowd’s emotions grew increasingly excited and agitated.
If they achieved a good ranking, they would return to their states as heroes.
Who did not want fame?
Who did not want to show off?
Today was the day.
Just then, the clouds in the sky slowly parted. The next moment, a terrifying will pressure descended from above.
Boom.
In an instant, hundreds in the arena were crushed to the ground by this pressure, unable to move.
Everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.
This pressure was like a basin of cold water, instantly extinguishing all their excitement and passion.
Showing off required real strength.
In a flash, those hundreds were pinned to the ground, unable even to crawl.
Among the remaining, many also struggled to hold on. Gradually, one after another fell.
In the arena, Ye Guan felt the will pressure, his expression calm as still water.
He felt nothing from it.
Beside him, Nalan Jia and Xiao Ge were also calm. Only Sun Xiong found it slightly strenuous.
At that moment, something even more despairing happened.
The will pressure was gradually strengthening.
Sensing this, some in the arena fell into complete despair and chose to give up.
One after another collapsed.
Those pinned to the ground, unable to resist, directly forfeited.
Upon forfeiting, they were immediately teleported out by a mysterious force.
As time passed bit by bit, fewer and fewer people remained standing.
Ye Guan looked towards Mu Yunchuan and Ao Han in the distance. Both were calm as water, showing no reaction.
In front of them stood a young man in brocade robes, long hair flowing over his shoulders, posture straight and poised, hands clasped behind his back, eyes slightly closed, like an old monk in meditation.
At this moment, many in the arena were watching this young man.
Clearly, this was Qingzhou’s mysterious genius.
Ye Guan withdrew his gaze and looked at Zuo Fu.
Zuo Fu had his eyes slightly closed, hands hidden in his sleeves, silently chanting ancient words. Very mysterious.
Just then, Zuo Fu suddenly opened his eyes and turned to glance at Ye Guan.
Seeing this, Ye Guan was slightly taken aback.
At that moment, the mysterious young man from Qingzhou also opened his eyes and glanced at Ye Guan.
Behind the mysterious young man, Ao Han looked at Ye Guan, then said, “An Mu, did you notice something?”
The man called An Mu slowly closed his eyes again. “Nothing.”
Ao Han nodded slightly and said no more.
In the arena, more and more people fell.
In less than half an hour, fewer than a hundred remained.
This was survival of the fittest.
Those who could not make it were eliminated in the first round.
No fancy tricks, and it saved time.
Ye Guan slowly closed his eyes. The powerful will pressure truly had no effect on him.
His will, though not invincible, was at least rock-solid, not easily shaken by ordinary will pressure.
Beside him, Xiao Ge and Nalan Jia were fine, while Sun Xiong was now struggling greatly.
Among the four, he was the weakest.
Yet at this moment, he was holding on desperately.
He did not want to be eliminated in the first round.
Time passed slowly. A few more fell, though not many. After all, those who lasted this long had some real skill.
For some, it truly felt like days dragged on like years, as the mysterious will pressure continued to intensify.
Many in the arena were pale, drenched in sweat.
But they persisted.
An opportunity that came once every ten years. They did not want to give up just like that.
Giving up now meant not only losing the chance to join the Upper Realm Guanxuan Academy, but also the opportunity to go to the legendary Zhongtu Divine Continent.
To reach that fabled Zhongtu Divine Continent, one first had to join the Upper Realm Guanxuan Academy.
And the Upper Realm Guanxuan Academy did not accept mediocrity.
You had to prove yourself.
Perhaps this was the only chance in a lifetime to rise above.
Every step forward increased the chances of joining the Guanxuan Academy.
After an unknown time, suddenly, the mysterious will pressure vanished completely.
In an instant, everyone in the arena breathed a sigh of relief. Then, excitement appeared on their faces.
They had passed the first stage.
Ye Guan glanced around. Now, only eighty-two people remained.
From over a thousand to eighty-two.
The elimination rate… was undeniably terrifying.
At that moment, Luo Zhaoqi appeared before the crowd again. Now dressed in a long red gown, she exuded intellect and sensuality, captivating countless gazes.
Luo Zhaoqi looked at the remaining participants and smiled faintly. “Congratulations on passing the first stage. I believe your families are already cheering for you back home.”
Hearing this, everyone looked up at the cloud projection orb above.
They knew their loved ones were watching them at this moment.
Ye Guan also looked up at the cloud projection device.
At this time, in the Nanzhou Guanxuan Academy, the students erupted in excitement, shouting wildly. “Ye Guan… he’s looking at us…”
Somewhere, Ye Xiao was also watching Ye Guan. Seeing him, he grew emotional, gripping Ye Nan’s hand tightly. His voice trembled. “It’s Little Guan, it’s Little Guan…”
Not long ago, Song Ci from the Guanxuan Academy had personally gone to the Ancient Wilderness City to bring the Ye family here.
Ye Guan, Xiao Ge, and Nalan Jia were Nanzhou’s hopes. Thus, their families were to be treated with utmost care by the academy.
Hearing Ye Xiao’s words, Ye Nan was also excited. “It’s Little Guan.”
Behind them, the Ye Clan members cheered wildly.
Even the usually composed Second Elder could not stop smiling.
At this moment, Ye Guan represented not just the Nanzhou Guanxuan Academy, but the entire Ye Clan.
Upper Realm, Cloud City.
Ye Guan withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly. He knew the Ye Clan was watching him now.
Ye Guan took a deep breath.
Fight.
Just fight for first place.
Why did Qingzhou always take first?
Just because it was the birthplace of the Human Sword Master?
So what if it was the Human Sword Master?
He respected the Human Sword Master greatly, even taking him as a goal.
But he believed one could respect someone without fearing them.
Fear would breed terror in the heart, planting a god there.
A god that might block one’s path for life.
In one phrase: just do it.
With this thought, Ye Guan suddenly felt enlightened. His body felt incredibly light. The next moment, the Path Sword within him trembled slightly. Then, a surge of sword intent threatened to burst out.
Noticing this, Ye Guan’s expression changed instantly. He quickly suppressed his sword intent.
Under his suppression, the sword intent gradually calmed. But he could feel it had grown stronger.
Ye Guan was puzzled. “Tower Master, why is this?”
The little tower said, “Sword cultivator, sword cultivator. What you cultivate is the heart. A breakthrough in mindset strengthens sword intent, which in turn strengthens sword dao. In short, congratulations. Your sword dao has improved. In terms of sword cultivator realms, you are now at half-step Sword Saint level.”
Ye Guan frowned slightly. “Half-step Sword Saint? Sword cultivator realms?”
The little tower explained, “Sword cultivator realms are Sword Practitioner, Sword Cultivator, Sword Sovereign, Sword King, Sword Saint, Sword Immortal, Great Sword Immortal. Above Great Sword Immortal is Sword Emperor. That Tianyun Sword Emperor you mentioned is a Sword Emperor. Actually, her current strength is likely beyond Sword Emperor, but Sword Emperor is already the highest honorary title for sword cultivators.”
After a pause, it added, “Of course, Sword Emperor is just a title. It does not mean ultimate strength. Some true sword cultivator powerhouses do not care about such titles at all.”
Ye Guan said excitedly, “Tower Master, I’m half-step Sword Saint now. Isn’t that progressing a bit too fast? Next is Sword Immortal. Sword Immortal.”
The little tower was silent for a moment, then said, “It’s just a title. No need to obsess over it.”
Ye Guan was still thrilled. “Half-step Sword Saint, Sword Immortal… Tower Master, Sword Immortal. I have a chance to become a Sword Immortal.”
Little tower: “…”
The little tower was about to speak when the mysterious voice suddenly sounded. “Don’t say anything more. A bit of ambition and satisfaction is not bad.”
The little tower fell silent and said no more.
Ye Guan was indeed very excited. Sword Immortal was a legendary existence.
And now, he had a chance to become one.
How could he not be thrilled?
Beside him, Xiao Ge glanced at Ye Guan, somewhat surprised. No reason for it. Just passing the first stage, and Brother Ye was this excited?
Just then, Luo Zhaoqi’s voice rang out from afar. “Everyone, rest for a moment. Then the academy will teleport you to the Endless Demon Domain. Your task is simple: cross the Endless Demon Domain and reach the endpoint. That completes the second stage.”
She glanced at the crowd and smiled. “Friendly reminder: the demon beasts in the Endless Demon Domain love to eat people. If you encounter them, be extremely careful.”
Everyone’s expressions grew gravely serious.
After the earlier elimination, they harboured no underestimation.
At that moment, teleportation arrays suddenly appeared beneath everyone’s feet.
Nalan Jia suddenly grabbed Ye Guan. “Come in.”
Ye Guan stepped inside.
Nalan Jia said, “Each array can teleport only two people, and the landing positions are random.”
She looked at Xiao Ge and Sun Xiong. “After entering, try to rendezvous.”
Xiao Ge nodded. “You two be careful.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the arrays activated. Everyone in the arena vanished on the spot.
…
