The drawing process was simple: the names and details of the hundred sects appeared one after another across the recording stele.
Immediately after, the golden characters on the stone began scrambling at high speed!
A few breaths later, Li Guanqi caught sight of Great Xia Sword Sect's name!
Great Xia Sword Sect versus Liuyang Academy!
The moment Liuyang Academy came into view, Li Guanqi clearly felt Qin Xian clench his fists tight!
Long Qu said quietly, "Now that the match-ups are drawn, let us begin!"
*Buzz!*
Long Qu pointed a single finger at the void, and the earth trembled violently!
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd as a hundred arenas suddenly rose from what had been bare, flat ground!
Though each platform appeared only ten zhang wide from the outside, countless runes flashed across their surfaces, casting up towering azure barrier arrays.
Across the three peaks of Mount Tianyu, there were now three hundred floating arenas in total!
Clouds churned across the sky in an instant, and a thin shroud of dark clouds veiled the once-clear heavens, blocking out the sunlight.
Long Qu said calmly, "Ten disciples from each sect, ascend the arenas according to the order from top to bottom."
With that, Long Qu handed the rest of the proceedings over to his subordinates, took a single step, and vanished into the firmament.
*Thump! Thump-thump!*
*Thump! Thump-thump!!*
The rumble of war drums drifted from the sky, stirring the blood of everyone present.
The roar of tens of thousands from the surrounding viewing stands threatened to overturn the heavens.
Streamers fluttered across the sky and celebratory fireworks boomed, mingling with the drums in a scene of boundless fervor.
Qin Xian's voice reached their ears via mental transmission.
"Liuyang Academy... remember, under no circumstances must you allow them to unleash the powers of their magic treasures!"
Everyone stiffened, nodding solemnly.
*Hum!!*
A beam of light shot down toward the disciples of the Great Xia Sword Sect. Qin Xian took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "Go!"
Li Guanqi and the others exchanged glances and nodded.
Li Guanqi then circulated his movement technique and stepped onto his designated arena!
His arrival immediately sparked quite a commotion!
The white-robed youth carried a massive stone sword casket on his back, his pure white eyes sending a shiver through all who looked upon him.
Amidst the clamor, many were discussing him, and word of his recent deeds spread rapidly.
After all, drawing a blade and confronting a Core Formation cultivator head-on on Mount Tianyu just yesterday was no ordinary feat.
Several people insisted with absolute conviction, "Hey, don't disbelieve it! That youth actually shattered the flagstones underfoot and was about to draw his sword and clash with him again!"
"Quit boasting on his behalf! How could a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator withstand a sword strike from a Core Formation cultivator head-on?"
"Even if he got lucky and survived a hit unscathed, there's no way he was thinking of fighting to the death!"
Skeptical remarks were everywhere. Without having witnessed it themselves, who could believe a Foundation Establishment cultivator had the guts to draw a blade against Core Formation?
Naturally, Li Guanqi could hear none of the outside clamor now.
Though the arena appeared only ten zhang across from the outside, the marvel of the formation expanded the interior space to nearly a hundred zhang!
Looking across the massive stage, Li Guanqi could not help feeling a sense of awe. Using formations to shrink distance to an inch in this manner was truly wondrous.
Such a technique already bordered on the manipulation of space; perhaps only Soul Formation cultivators like the Northern Heavenly King could achieve it.
As he was musing over this, a figure clad in azure robes suddenly materialized before him!
The youth possessed ordinary features, tall and somewhat slender.
His nose was slightly flat, and a faint scholarly air lingered between his brows.
The newcomer sized Li Guanqi up, then offered a slight smile. "I am Lu Chengyan of Liuyang Academy."
"Great Xia Sword Sect, Li Guanqi."
Lu Chengyan smiled gently, tucking one hand behind his back while lightly fanning a folding fan with the other. "I have heard of your deeds. Please show some mercy in a moment~"
Li Guanqi let the words go in one ear and out the other.
None who could step onto this stage were simple. If one truly meant to show mercy, one would not be standing here.
Expanding his mind's eye to survey his surroundings, Li Guanqi saw that every arena was now occupied by disciples from competing sects.
Furthermore, over a dozen hundred-zhang projection screens had manifested in the sky, broadcasting the scenes across the arenas in real time so the spectators could see every move clearly.
*Whoosh!*
A massive bronze bell over a dozen zhang wide appeared high in the sky!
The elder acquainted with Qin Xian slammed a heavy fist against the giant bell, producing a resonant, piercing chime.
*Dong!!*
"Those who concede on the arena will be teleported out! This is a martial exchange, so do your utmost to spare lives!"
"With that—let the Hundred Sects Tournament begin!!"
*Buzz!!*
The formation barriers surrounding the arenas snapped shut.
Lu Chengyan's feet pushed off the ground, instantly retreating as a formidable wave of pressure erupted from his body.
Li Guanqi stood rooted to the spot as if caught off guard, though inwardly he felt a twinge of surprise at the aura rolling off his opponent.
Peak late Foundation Establishment!
*Tsk, his breath-concealment technique is impressive. Even I didn't sense it earlier.*
A sharp light flashed in Lu Chengyan's eyes. With the fan in his left hand, light glinted from his right palm as an ancient book magic treasure with only a few sparse pages appeared!
At the sight of this, Li Guanqi's thoughts stirred. *It seems this is the magic treasure Elder Qin Xian warned us about.*
A cold sneer played at the corner of Lu Chengyan's lips, and he muttered under his breath, "Heh... fool!"
*Buzz!!*
A torrent of origin power surged into the ancient book magic treasure.
The book fluttered, instantly turning to the first page!
*Whoosh!*
A streak of violet light imprinted itself upon Lu Chengyan's glabella!
"First Yang! Open Heavenly Eye!!"
*Buzz!!*
The skin between Lu Chengyan's brows suddenly split open, and a violet eye instantly appeared on his forehead!
"Second Yang! Bolster the Five Senses!!"
A wondrous wisp of azure light enveloped his body.
"Third Yang! Command the Gale!!"
The ancient pages flipped once more, and two twisters of azure astral wind materialized beneath his feet!
*Clang!*
A three-inch blade snapped out from the tip of Lu Chengyan's folding fan!
With an arrogant sneer on his face, Lu Chengyan had already retreated nearly a hundred zhang.
When his gaze fell upon Li Guanqi, he made no effort to disguise his mockery!
Yet Li Guanqi, having waited patiently until now, merely said with a hint of disappointment, "That's it?"
"Can't you turn the rest of the pages too?"
Unbeknownst to them, the events on their arena were being broadcast on a dedicated projection screen in the sky.
After all, far too many eyes were focused on Li Guanqi right now.
The watching crowd was thrilled to see Lu Chengyan, the eldest disciple of Liuyang Academy, matched against Li Guanqi.
Yet from the very start, Li Guanqi had stood by and allowed his opponent to unleash his ancient book magic treasure, making quite a few spectators break into a cold sweat.
Someone could not help but remark, "Isn't this kid being far too arrogant?!"
"Liuyang Academy's power comes almost entirely from their six-word truth incantations!"
"Indeed... to let the opponent flip three pages unhindered, isn't that far too brazen?"
Lu Chengyan's face flushed pale with rage. Grasping his bladed fan, he shot toward Li Guanqi!
"Humph! Arrogant fool, you will pay for your arrogance!"
Empowered by his movement technique and the ancient incantation at his feet, he darted toward Li Guanqi like lightning!
Chapter 123