thenovelthief Chapter 313: The Arena
Chapter 313: The Arena
The vortex formed from the fusion of the "Mountain" and "Scorching" True Intentions spun slowly, now more solid and stable than before.
The Mental Realm of a great sun atop a mountain peak had undergone further Refinement during the battle in the Ashen Wasteland.
That feeling, a fusion of weight and scorching heat, was now deeply branded into his Martial Arts.
The next five days would bring five consecutive battles.
Each opponent would be stronger than the last.
Meng Jingyuan, Bai Li, and other hidden masters on the roster.
Xu Wuyi slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calm and serene.
’Let them come.’
...
Early the next morning, the official announcement for the Flame Venerable’s tournament was sent to all participants.
The tournament schedule, rules of engagement, and important notices... everything was listed in detail.
Xu Wuyi saw the notification on his communicator. The competition would begin the day after tomorrow.
He dismissed the notification and resumed his daily training routine.
The Qi and Blood Transport of the *Hundred Refinements Melting Furnace*, the Spirit refinement of *Heart Fire Refining Spirit*, the polishing of the *Shocking God Spear*’s forms...
Everything proceeded as usual.
Only, during breaks in his training, he would occasionally glance toward the Royal Capital East District.
...
Early in the morning, the temperature in the Western Desert Royal Capital had already begun to rise.
When Xu Wuyi stepped out of his small building, the sky had just begun to lighten, but a dry heat was already palpable in the air.
He wore the dark gray training uniform of Star Martial University and carried his familiar Meteor Iron Long Spear. Its shaft was wrapped in a cloth sheath, revealing only the black butt of the spear.
Tana was already waiting for him in the courtyard.
She had changed into a more formal royal gown today—dark red with gold patterns. Her hair was done up, making her seem a few years older than usual.
"Ready?" Tana asked.
Xu Wuyi nodded.
The two left the reception area, following a stone path within the Royal Palace eastward.
Along the way, they encountered other contestants emerging from their own small buildings.
Some were young local Martial Artists from the West Desert, dressed in the traditional garb of various tribes, their expressions a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Others were clearly outside reinforcements, their bearing and attire clashing with the surroundings.
Everyone’s destination was the same: the Yanwu Arena.
After passing through two archways, the view suddenly opened up before them.
A massive circular building stood in the center of an open space. Its outer walls, built from deep red rock, were covered in bas-relief carvings of flames and weaponry.
The top of the building was open to the sky, revealing towering flagpoles and the outline of some of the spectator stands within.
This was the Yanwu Arena.
Royal guards stood at the entrance, verifying each person’s identity.
Xu Wuyi and Tana presented their access credentials and entered without issue.
The interior was even more magnificent than it appeared from the outside.
The circular spectator stands were divided into three tiers and were already about seventy percent full.
Most were representatives from the various West Desert factions. Dressed in diverse attire, they conversed in low voices, creating a solemn atmosphere tinged with an undercurrent of excitement.
In the center of the grounds was a circular fighting stage, one hundred meters in diameter. Its floor was paved with special dark cyan alloy plates that glinted with a cold, hard light under the open sky.
Eight thick Energy pillars surrounded the stage. They were currently in standby mode, with faint blue patterns of light slowly flowing across their surfaces.
Once the competition officially began, the contestants would connect to a specially prepared West Desert intranet that would project their battle footage into the real world.
Meanwhile, the contestants inside the Battle Network could also interact with the real-world audience.
"The Royal Family’s seats are over there." Tana pointed to a section on the second tier, directly facing the stage.
A few people were already seated there.
Prince Tamur sat in the main seat, his expression calm. Beside him were Ta Shan and several elders and generals of the Royal Family.
Fu Yun was sitting there as well. He spotted Xu Wuyi and gave him a nod from afar.
Xu Wuyi and Tana walked over and sat in their reserved seats.
"Ten minutes until it starts," Tana said, glancing at the time on her terminal.
Xu Wuyi said nothing, his gaze sweeping across the entire arena.
His Spiritual Perception spread out silently, like an invisible spiderweb, capturing the various auras of differing strengths throughout the arena.
The auras in the stands were mostly peaceful, belonging to spectators.
But in the waiting areas on both sides of the stage, thirty-two contestants were gathered. Each one’s Qi and Blood burned as brightly as a torch.
The strongest were like scorching suns; even the weakest were like roaring bonfires.
Among them, three auras were particularly striking.
One was fierce and domineering, like a crack of thunder. It belonged to Meng Jingyuan.
He sat alone in a corner of the waiting area, meditating with his eyes closed. The Thick-Backed Saber on his back was wrapped in cloth, but it couldn’t conceal the sharp Saber Intention emanating from it.
Another was cold and ethereal, like an icy pond under the moonlight. It was Bai Li.
She stood in the area designated for the East Sea Bai Family, dressed all in white with a longsword at her waist, speaking in a low voice with one of the Bai Family elders.
The third was heavy and scorching, like the blazing desert sun. This was Ta Shan.
He sat not far from Xu Wuyi, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the stage. It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
Beyond them, several other auras were also quite powerful, likely belonging to the Geniuses recruited from the West Desert itself and other provinces.
Xu Wuyi withdrew his perception.
’So, these are the opponents I’ll be facing.’
"Everyone."
A voice, ancient yet resonant, suddenly rang out, silencing the din of the arena.
Everyone looked up.
At some point, a figure had appeared, suspended in the air directly above the stage.
It was an elderly man in a simple gray robe. His hair and beard were completely white and his face was gaunt, but his eyes shone as bright as stars.
He stood there, seemingly on thin air, with no support beneath his feet, as if treading upon an invisible staircase.
The Flame Venerable.
The veteran Grandmaster of the West Desert, the organizer of this tournament.
The arena instantly fell silent.
Countless gazes—filled with reverence, curiosity, and admiration—focused on the aged figure.
The Flame Venerable’s gaze swept across the entire arena, finally settling on the thirty-two youths in the waiting areas.
"Today’s tournament is a virtual battle. There is no need to hold back." His voice wasn’t loud, yet it reached every person’s ears with perfect clarity.
"Thirty-two participants. You will draw lots to determine your opponents. The winners will advance. By the end of today, a champion will be decided."
He paused, then continued, "I have been in seclusion for many years and wish to see how far the youth of today have come. Therefore, this tournament has no restrictions on techniques or weapons. You will rely solely on your own abilities."
"Now, the drawing of lots will begin."
The Flame Venerable waved his hand.
Thirty-two streaks of light shot from his sleeve like living fireflies. After circling several times in the air, they flew toward each of the contestants in the waiting areas.
Xu Wuyi extended his hand, and a streak of light landed in his palm, solidifying into a jade token the size of his palm.
The front of the jade token was engraved with a single number: Seven.
On the back was a simple tournament bracket. His first-round opponent was Number Twenty-Six.
"Ta Shan is Number Three," Tana said, leaning over to take a look. "His opponent is Number Nineteen. I think he’s from one of the West Desert tribes."
Xu Wuyi nodded. His gaze swept over the waiting area and quickly locked onto Number Twenty-Six.
He was a stocky young man in an earth-yellow combat uniform. His arms were thick, and his knuckles were covered in old calluses. He was currently staring at the jade token in his hand, his expression grave.
’Life Energy Level 33.7. Abundant Qi and Blood. Specializes in close-quarters Fist Technique.’
’Not that strong.’
Xu Wuyi retracted his gaze and put the jade token away.