The blazing sun hung high in the sky, casting its light down upon the surrounding mountains.
The Tianshan Holy Academy, a sacred sanctuary embraced by ranges of mountains, was currently welcoming its grand septennial event—the Immortal Prefectures Grand Tournament.
At the heart of the Holy Academy stood towering giant peaks that scraped the clouds, surrounded by countless ancient pines and verdant cypresses. A gentle mountain breeze swept past, carrying the sound of rushing pine waves.
From time to time, people could be heard speaking in loud voices, some making impassioned speeches while others whispered softly. Yet no matter the nature of the sound, it ultimately drifted away on the mountain breeze, dissipating among the peaks.
Across a vast martial arena, voices swelled and the atmosphere was electric. Disciples from various prefectures, clad in tight martial attire and armed with a diverse array of weapons, gathered here in high spirits. Their gazes were resolute, and their faces radiated smiles brimming with fighting spirit.
In the center of the martial arena stood a tall stone pillar carved with the pattern of the Sea of Stars. It had been forged by the pooled strength of the lords of the fifteen immortal prefectures. All victors of the Grand Tournament would receive the blessing of the Sea of Stars, granting them greater power and an opportunity to study the supreme "Reincarnation Chronicle" in the Scripture Repository Tower.
"Silence!"
An authoritative voice descended from the heavens, resembling a divine decree handed down from the highest celestial spheres, instantly plunging the entire martial arena into quietude.
Everyone raised their heads and saw an elderly man stepping out slowly from the shadows behind the stone platform. With hair as white as snow and a youthful complexion, his steps were light and effortless. His flowing white robe billowed in the wind, giving him a truly transcendent, immortal aura.
The elder's appearance immediately silenced the previously clamorous crowd, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity.
"I hereby announce that the three hundred and sixty-fourth Immortal Prefectures Grand Tournament shall now commence. This tournament will once again feature disciples dispatched by each prefecture engaging in combat. At that time, all masters and elders will evaluate the disciples' cultivation levels and comprehensive strength to screen, rank, and select the ultimate victors.
Finally, I solemnly declare one point: any despicable methods or cultivation techniques that violate the decrees of the immortal prefectures are strictly prohibited during the tournament. Anyone found guilty will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the immortal prefectures!"
"..."
As the elder patiently explained the rules, the disciples from the various prefectures began rubbing their palms together, eager to showcase their strength. Some brandished long swords, others swung heavy hammers, some notched flying arrows, and others demonstrated agile footwork. For a moment, sword qi crisscrossed the martial arena and fierce winds whistled, yet everyone shared a single ultimate goal: to claim the championship!
"Next, we shall proceed with the first match of the Immortal Prefectures Grand Tournament. Behold—the Divine King Array!"
The very next moment, a colossal formation on the high platform glowed brilliantly. Inscribed upon it were the names of all past champions of the disciples in the Immortal Prefectures Grand Tournament, with each name representing a legacy and an honor.
Under the empowerment of the Divine King Array, all competing disciples were automatically assigned opponents, and every match strictly followed the rules of the formation to ensure absolute fairness and justice.
Suddenly, a figure soared out from the crowd. Dressed in a cyan robe with a resolute expression, his appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Quick, look! It's Murong Bai from the Seventh Immortal Prefecture!" someone whispered softly.
"Wahaha, it really is him!"
"I never expected that this first match would feature Senior Brother Murong Bai, who is at the Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment. We're in for a good show now!"
On the martial stage, the young man named Murong Bai lifted his gaze slightly, sweeping his eyes over the crowd before resting them on the stellar stone pillar upon the high platform. A trace of arrogance lingered on his face, as if nothing in this world was worthy of catching his eye.
"I wonder who will be matched against Senior Brother Murong Bai?"
"Bah, across all fifteen immortal prefectures, aside from those monsters in the top three prefectures, absolutely no one is a match for Senior Brother Murong Bai!"
"Exactly, exactly! If you ask me, this match will most likely end in a bye..."
At one end of the martial stage, Murong Bai's information appeared first, while the opponent's information on the other end was still rapidly shifting. Just as everyone held their breath, two large characters materialized.
—Qin Yi
"Qin Yi!?"
Everyone was stunned. No matter who it was, none could have imagined that the one matched against Murong Bai would be Qin Yi, that good-for-nothing who couldn't even reach the Foundation Establishment Realm!
"How could it be him?"
"This array is rather interesting..."
"Isn't this Qin Yi someone who hasn't even reached the Foundation Establishment Realm? Why was he assigned to this?"
"Ahem, you don't understand this. Back in the day, our Senior Brother Qin Yi was the only one in the Fifth Immortal Prefecture who stepped into the Seventh Layer of Foundation Establishment..."
"The Seventh Layer!?"
All gazes shifted back to the martial arena, only to find that Murong Bai was still the sole person standing there, while Qin Yi's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"Hhahahaha, I told you so! With how cowardly and spineless that good-for-nothing Qin Yi is, how could he ever dare to show his face on an occasion like this..."
"Senior Brother Murong Bai is invincible... Senior Brother Murong Bai is the undisputed champion!"
As the crowd grew boisterous, Murong Bai on the stage also wondered if Qin Yi had gotten stage fright and fled.
However, right amidst the heated discussions of the crowd, a long spear suddenly streaked through the air from the entrance of the martial arena, instantly landing square in the center of the stage.
As the dust and smoke cleared, the crowd widened their eyes to look closely, and saw that the newcomer was none other than Qin Yi. He was dressed in a crimson robe, with delicate facial features and a gaze as sharp as a blade.
"Qin Yi?"