Nine Realms Sword Emperor
Chapter 658 - 659: Martial Arts Tournament - Ten-Person Melee

Chapter 658: Chapter 659: Martial Arts Tournament - Ten-Person Melee

Throughout the ages, the martial arts tournament had always been hosted in rotation by the major sects within the Northern Region.

And this time, it just so happened to turn to the Tongtian Pavilion.

The Tongtian Pavilion was a colossal entity in the Northern Region, wealthy enough to reach the heavens. In every corner of the Northern Region and even in the Sea of Void and the Mixed Yuan Continent, the influence of the Tongtian Pavilion was felt.

Although the Tongtian Pavilion did not cultivate Martial Artists itself, the interplay of various forces within it was intricate and complex, to the point that in the entire Northern Region.

Only Beimang Academy and the Earth Demon Sect, two other immense powers, were able to contend with the Tongtian Pavilion, but they would not easily offend it.

After all, the Tongtian Pavilion controlled most of the business in the Northern Region, and some of its patron elders were extremely powerful beings.

No one was dissatisfied with the fact that this edition of the tournament was organized by the Tongtian Pavilion.

Three hours passed.

Nearly all the Martial Artists outside the Martial King City had entered by now, and the area surrounding the tournament venue was filled with people.

At that moment, an elder from the Tongtian Pavilion stood up and declared loudly,

"The martial arts tournament begins now! The first event, the melee! Everyone’s identity token in their hands will now display a number, which will determine the grouping."

The first challenge of the martial arts tournament was the melee.

With thousands of participants every year, a melee among them was indeed problematic.

Moreover, among these candidates, some indeed were just muddying the waters. This first melee was like the previous assessment at Beimang Academy, designed to eliminate most participants right from the outset.

From this melee of ten people, only one could advance.

Thus, most Martial Artists lacking in strength would be filtered out.

Chu Fengmian was not worried about the melee. With his strength, passing through this stage would definitely not be a problem. With his current level of power, unless he encountered one of the top ten fighters from the Northern Region’s Ranking, advancing would be effortless.

The only concern Chu Fengmian had was the possibility of being grouped with Han Yueli. The situation would be dire if that happened.

Chu Fengmian’s plan was to advance together with Han Yueli to the Ruins of Heaven. If they met early on, one would have to be eliminated.

"It begins now, allocate the rings! According to the number on your identity token, proceed to your respective rings!"

The elder from the Tongtian Pavilion suddenly commanded.

Every Martial Artist clenched a Token in their hands, which symbolized their qualification to participate in the martial arts tournament.

A number slowly appeared on Chu Fengmian’s Token: seventy-seven.

There were one hundred rings in total, enough for all the Martial Artists present to battle simultaneously.

Seeing the number in his hand, Chu Fengmian glanced over at Han Yueli, who had the number three.

This eased Chu Fengmian’s worries, as at least he would not have to face Han Yueli in the melee.

"All competitors, enter the ring!"

Just as Chu Fengmian breathed a sigh of relief, a commanding voice suddenly echoed.

Numerous Martial Artists stirred, quickly occupying the rings.

Chu Fengmian looked at Han Yueli and advised,

"Be careful."

"You too," Han Yueli replied softly.

Their figures then split apart, heading towards different rings.

Each ring had its own engraved number, and Chu Fengmian quickly found ring number seventy-seven and stood within it.

Numerous Martial Artists stepped onto their respective rings, with the grouping becoming apparent.

"This Ranking’s fifteenth-ranked Yuan Ji is actually grouped with the seventeenth-ranked Yuan Hai," exclaimed a spectating Martial Artist.

In ring number four, among the ten people, there were two from the top twenty ranks of the Northern Region’s Ranking.

Instantly, this caught the attention of many onlookers.

The Northern Region’s Ranking listed a total of one hundred places, and during the tournament’s melee phase, they were likely to encounter each other.

However, such early encounters among the top twenty were rare, drawing the eyes of many onlookers.

The real confrontation started now, with peak duels like this being quite common.

Around the rings, exclamations, discussions, and quarrels arose all at once, making the atmosphere abuzz with noise.

In Chu Fengmian’s group, there was no powerful opponent, only a Martial Artist ranked forty-first in the Ranking, whom Chu Fengmian had seen before,

A Core Disciple from the Sacred Realm of Beimang, Gu Aohan.

Apart from Gu Aohan, the eight others were all seed Disciples from the Sacred Realm of Beimang.

Everyone in this ring happened to be from the Beimang Academy.

"What’s going on? All ten from Beimang Academy?"

"It’s really bad luck for Beimang Academy this time, ending up fighting among themselves right from the start."

Some spectating Martial Artists, observing the situation on the ring, sighed heavily.

They had yet to realize something was amiss, and while rare,

It was not a huge deal that so many Disciples from Beimang Academy participating in the martial arts tournament were grouped together.

But Chu Fengmian himself knew very well that it was not just an accident.

It seemed he had crossed paths with Yan Bi, who now directly interfered to deal with Chu Fengmian.

"Chu Fengmian, long time no see, didn’t expect to meet you here!" Gu Aohan exclaimed in feigned surprise.

However, his tone carried only mockery, and it was clear to Chu Fengmian that Gu Aohan had done this on purpose.

The other eight Disciples from Beimang Academy also obeyed Gu Aohan’s commands, swiftly forming an Array, obviously intending to gang up on Chu Fengmian.

Gu Aohan laughed and said,

"Encountering us is just bad luck on your part. Now, just leave the stage quietly, and in consideration that we are from the same Beimang Academy, we won’t make a complete end of you."

"Is that so? Then I’m afraid I’m about to disappoint you. Encountering me is when your bad luck truly begins."

Chu Fengmian replied dismissively, his lips curling with disdain.

"A bunch of ants, no matter how they come together, are still just ants. It seems the lesson from the Long Faction has not reminded you, and now you’re headed for the same fate as them."

The lesson from the Long Faction referred to Long Weiyang’s fall, and Chu Fengmian alone had decimated the powerful members of the Long Faction.

The Long Faction had long been obliterated, erased from the Sacred Realm of Beimang.

"Foolish words!" Gu Aohan shouted coldly.

"If you do not take this opportunity to withdraw intact, then you shall die on this ring!"