Above the square, the light screen flickered continuously as names lit up and dimmed; some were ecstatic, while others left in dejection.
In the world within the yingtian mirror, fierce duels played out every single day.
Han Xuanji sat in the spectator stands, quietly watching the images and occasionally conversing in low tones with Wang Ping and Hun Qianling.
Hun Qianling and Hun Jiuge had both been defeated in the third round. It was no unfair loss, as their opponents were both in the Late Stage of the Eternal Dao Lord realm, and the gap in strength was obvious.
Therefore, the two of them were in good spirits and had not sustained any injuries, naturally watching the assembly together with Han Xuanji.
During this time, Han Xuanji also relaxed and watched the matches. After years of secluded cultivation, it was good to give himself a break. Right now, it was Li Tiantong's fourth-round match; a victory would allow him to advance to the top one hundred. His opponent was a descendant of a Saint Clan from Jiuxuan City, whose cultivation had already reached the ninth level of the Eternal Dao Lord realm, having condensed nine laws.
Meanwhile, Li Tiantong's cultivation was slightly inferior. In the eyes of many, this was a duel with a foregone conclusion.
But the result caught everyone by surprise.
On the light screen, Li Tiantong grappled with his opponent for a long time before his name finally lit up high, indicating his advancement.
Meanwhile, his opponent's name dimmed.
Wang Ping stood up abruptly, waving his fist, his face flushed red:
"He won! Brother Tiantong won!"
Hun Qianling also stood up, staring at the glowing name on the light screen, her eyes filled with disbelief.
She knew Li Tiantong was Han Xuanji's friend, but she had not expected him to make it this far. Han Xuanji leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upward.
He was not surprised.
Li Tiantong was the Tongtian Dao Venerable; for someone to reach that position in Chaos, his Heart-Nature, talent, and Comprehension Ability were bound to be top-tier.
All he lacked were resources and opportunities, and Han Xuanji had provided him with both. Now, he was merely displaying the accumulation of all these years within the yingtian mirror.
In the center of the Martial Arena, a flash of light appeared as Li Tiantong's figure stepped out of the yingtian mirror.
His robes were somewhat disheveled, and a trace of blood stained the corner of his mouth, but his back was straight as a ramrod, and his eyes shone with brilliant light.
Taking a deep breath, his gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on the figure in green robes in the spectator stands.
Han Xuanji nodded slightly to him.
Li Tiantong nodded back, saying nothing more as he turned and walked toward the Hun Family's resting area.
His steps were steady, and his back was as resolute as a mountain.
Time passed slowly, and another seven days went by, which served as a rest period for the contestants who had participated in the previous matches.
On this day.
The atmosphere in the square was completely different from before.
Over a hundred prodigies, including Han Xuanji, gathered in the center of the Martial Arena. No one spoke loudly or joked around.
The air seemed to have solidified, weighing heavily on everyone's heart.
This was the calm before the storm.
Every duel from here on would be a clash of prodigies, a grand spectacle rarely seen in ordinary times. Over a dozen figures suddenly stepped forward, led by none other than Elder Meng of the Great Dao Association.
Behind him followed Hun Qianxue and several unfamiliar faces. Han Xuanji's gaze swept over them, and his heart stirred slightly. He quietly used the System to investigate and quickly figured out the identities of those people.
Walking beside Hun Qianxue was the vice city lord of another major city in Jiuxuan Prefecture, Cangyue City. Surnamed Jiang, he possessed Peak Eternal True God cultivation, and his aura was as deep as an abyss.
Behind them were two individuals dressed in uniform white robes with a golden sun pattern embroidered on their chests.
That was the emblem of the Holy Court.
Although their cultivations were also at the Eternal True God realm—which was relatively mediocre compared to the others—their status was far more noble than most of those present.
Anyone from the Holy Court, even a mere deacon, was enough to make a city lord treat them with utmost respect.
In addition, there were higher-ups from the Saint Clans of Jiuxuan City, as well as high-ranking members of various Saint-level powers, each of whom was an outstanding figure among Eternal True Gods.
The degree of importance that the various major forces attached to this Law Conference was plain to see. Standing among these people, Hun Qianxue, though also a city lord, was visibly much more low-profile.
His cultivation and background were top-tier in Qianhun City, but in front of these people, they could only be considered average.
Han Xuanji's expression remained unchanged.
As long as there were no Eternal Saint Kings, he had nothing to worry about.
Elder Meng walked to the center of the Martial Arena and looked around. His voice was not loud, yet it entered everyone's ears with absolute clarity:
"The top one hundred and twenty-eight have been decided. The upcoming rules will be the same as the qualifiers.
One-on-one, single elimination.
Winners advance, losers are eliminated.
The only difference is that a three-day rest period is allowed after each round."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the hundred-plus contestants present, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"You are all outstanding figures from various provinces and cities. To have reached this stage already proves your strength.
But your upcoming opponents will be far stronger than before.
I hope you will all go all out and leave no regrets."
No one spoke.
Everyone waited in silence.
"Begin."
As Elder Meng's voice fell, the yingtian mirror burst with dazzling light, enveloping the hundred-plus figures in the center of the Martial Arena.
Han Xuanji did not resist, allowing that power to wrap around him and turn him into a streak of light that vanished into the mirror.
Instantly, over a hundred figures vanished from the square.
On the high platform, Hun Qianxue and the others took their seats once more.
Behind the sapphire tables, tea had already been prepared, but no one touched it.
Sitting beside Hun Qianxue was the vice city lord of Cangyue City, Deputy City Lord Jiang Boyuan.
This man had a lean face and a three-stranded long beard, giving him quite an immortal-like, sage-like appearance.
He picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and cast his gaze upon the light screens that had just emerged above the square, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.
"Brother Qianxue, your Qianhun City has really been going downhill over the years."
Deputy City Lord Jiang Boyuan's tone was flat, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter.
"I took a quick glance, and among the top one hundred, there are only a meager seven native contestants from Qianhun City.
As the city lord, you haven't been doing a very good job."
As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of several people nearby drifted over.
The smile on Hun Qianxue's face remained unchanged, but in his heart, he was already cursing up a storm.
This old geezer poked right at his sore spot the moment he opened his mouth; he clearly came with ill intent. Back then, his father had led the Hun Family and experts from many forces in the city to the Desolate Region, only to meet with total annihilation.
Qianhun City had also suffered a heavy blow, and indeed, the younger generation had virtually no one noteworthy besides Han Xuanji and Centurion Zhou Lie.
Moreover, the power of Cangyue City was inherently stronger than, or at least equal to, that of Qianhun City, and Deputy City Lord Jiang Boyuan himself was an established Eternal True God; there was no need for him to fall out with the man on such an occasion.
"Brother Jiang is right."
Hun Qianxue smiled, picked up his teacup, and said unhurriedly,
"Qianhun City is situated on the border, so our talents naturally cannot compare to those of Cangyue City.
However, having fewer people doesn't mean our strength is weak.
Perhaps someone will go very far."
Deputy City Lord Jiang Boyuan raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Brother Qianxue is so confident? Then I shall wait and see."
Hun Qianxue said nothing more, his gaze resting on the light screen as he murmured silently in his heart.
Han Xuanji, you'd better not make me lose face.