Chapter 705: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (13)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 705: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (13)
“Here is your number token.”
I took the wooden plaque from the Alliance martial artist.
When I handed over the one I already had, he stamped a seal onto the new one. The number seventeen was clearly carved into the wood.
Hmph.
It seemed they were assigning a unique number to every participant. I wondered how many there were in total.
Probably a little over two hundred.
Given that the preliminaries spanned three days, that seemed like a reasonable estimate.
To think they’ve gathered over two hundred martial artists at the Peak Realm or higher…
It was a staggering figure. A martial artist of the Peak Realm was someone you couldn't easily find anywhere, yet they had gathered hundreds of them in one place.
The last time I saw numbers like this was likely when I conquered Sichuan in my previous life.
If not then, perhaps it was when everyone first gathered to hunt down the Heavenly Demon. Yes, that timing felt right. It was back when martial artists from every Orthodox Faction had assembled as one.
Though they were all swept away by the Heavenly Demon’s hand.
To think that was the first impression that came to mind in a place teeming with martial artists. I had to admit, I was a strange man.
“Young Master, what number did you get?”
“Seventeen. You?”
“I’m number sixty-eight.”
“I’m ninety-one!”
Each of us had a different number. They weren't sequential. Was there a specific rule for how they were assigned, or was it purely random? If there was a rule, what was the intention behind it?
All sorts of thoughts flickered through my mind.
Tsk.
As I mulled it over, I clicked my tongue internally. Now I was even scrutinizing a simple number, searching for some hidden meaning. How ridiculous. Had my paranoia finally gone too far?
I felt I needed to be careful. To clear my head, I took a look around. The area was already buzzing with noise.
“We… we have to find a way.”
“Dammit. I can’t go back home after being eliminated like this…”
With the tournament brackets and numbers assigned, the surrounding clamor grew louder. Most of the participants were trembling with anxiety. Those who had secured a good matchup showed little tension—or at least, they didn't let it show. On the other hand, those in the opposite situation were having their own private meltdowns.
“Damn it! The Six-Cut Fist… Isn’t he on the verge of the Fusion Realm? How the hell am I supposed to win?!”
“…I have a bad matchup against a spearman. Is there any way…?”
“If I lose and go back like this… the clan will…”
It was a pathetic sight.
A bunch of losers, the lot of them.
They had already accepted defeat; their minds were fixated on losing. Not just half of them, but seven out of ten were in that sorry state.
The martial artists of this generation…
To think about losing before even trying. It was a mindset I simply couldn't comprehend. If they were going to be like this, they shouldn't have participated in the first place. Why were they, masters of the Peak Realm, acting this way?
Watching them grow increasingly despondent, I let out a sigh.
…Then again, it’s not like I don’t understand at all.
The preliminaries were over, and now the main tournament was beginning. Although there were too many people for it to feel like a true main event yet, the start of the main tournament meant one thing.
People will be watching.
Unlike the preliminaries, which were held in private, spectators were allowed from the main tournament onward. The Murim Alliance had even renovated its grounds to prepare massive arenas for this purpose.
With sponsorships from over ten merchant associations and an enormous prize pool, they had invested heavily in this event to restore the Alliance's shaken prestige. They had even revived the Heavenly Dragon Army—the Alliance's representative swordsmen army that had vanished into history.
This meant that the stakes of the current martial arts tournament were the highest they had ever been. To be eliminated right at the start of such an event—worse, to have that failure witnessed by countless spectators, including the heads of the Central Plains' largest merchant associations and the Alliance executives—would create immense pressure.
Hmm.
Honestly, I could guess the reason. But as someone who didn't much care for the opinions of others or the sting of defeat, it was something I couldn't fully relate to.
Besides, I have no intention of losing.
I shifted my gaze. Leaving the dejected ones behind, I focused on those who had composed themselves.
Hmm…
There were several at the perfected Peak Realm, and a few martial artists approaching the Fusion Realm. And then there were some who had already surpassed it.
What was surprising was…
They're concealing their presence.
There were even those hiding their true level.
They look to be at least Elder-level.
Elders of noble sects or renowned clans. I could see a few who seemed to hold such positions. Was the world truly so vast that there were this many hidden masters?
As I was observing my surroundings with curiosity…
Vmmm.
Hm?
I felt a gaze from somewhere. It wasn't just one person. I could feel several pairs of eyes sweeping over me before moving on.
What is this?
Why were so many eyes suddenly fixed on me? Pretending not to notice, I slightly expanded my senses. The moment I did, the gazes vanished.
Well, now.
They had noticed my attempt to sense them and withdrawn their attention. They couldn't have truly felt it; it must have been an instinctive reaction.
Hmm.
It wasn't strange to check on the competition, but for so many to look at me simultaneously was peculiar. What was this all about? I thought for a moment and came up with a possible reason.
Is it because of the preliminaries?
I had shown a bit too much of my hand during the preliminaries. Perhaps that was why I was drawing attention. The problem was…
Didn't they say a seal was in place so the other groups wouldn't know?
Only those who were in the same group as me should have known what I did.
Hmm.
Who could it be? Even if I tried to find them, it would be difficult to pinpoint anyone in a crowd this large. For now, I just had to be aware that someone was watching me.
How long will the main tournament take?
With so many participants, it would be held over two days, though not as intensely as the preliminaries. I wasn't sure of the exact schedule, but considering the martial artists' stamina, they wouldn't be made to fight twice in one day.
Then it should be over in ten days at the latest.
It seemed long, but for me, it was the perfect amount of time. The Captain of the Cheonra had said his preparations were nearly complete.
I'll have to find the right opportunity.
It was a complex plan, and the timing had to be just right. As I was organizing my thoughts…
“Participants with numbers one through fifty, please get ready!”
A voice called out from the exit. Were the preparations already finished? Hearing the call, I rose to my feet.
“I’m off.”
“Yes! Be careful.”
“Good luck!”
The two of them waved me off. I gave them a small smile and started walking.
Fifty people, including myself, moved together. Most wore expressions of despair, as if being led to the slaughter, or faces taut with tension.
Honestly.
I had to suppress a laugh at their expressions.
Seriously, the real contenders haven't even shown up yet. To be in this state on the first day…
The disciples of the Ten Sect Alliance, as well as figures from the noble clans, were mostly absent on the first day. The Alliance must have sorted them separately. They probably placed only a few noteworthy individuals on the first day as a teaser to pique the public's interest.
However, they likely hadn't been able to identify those who were hiding their true level.
—And so, this Alliance…
As I walked, a voice drifted from the distance. It was amplified with internal energy.
—The turmoil that has descended upon the Central Plains… the Murim Alliance will bring it to order…
Listening closely, I recognized the voice of the Sword Immortal. He was likely addressing the crowd outside.
—Therefore, I implore you to greet those who have gathered for this festival with a great cheer!
As we reached the entrance, the voice grew exceptionally loud. In time with the Sword Immortal's speech, an Alliance martial artist pulled the large gates open.
—Now! Allow me to introduce the heroes who will lead the Orthodox Faction into the future!
The moment the gates opened…
—Waaaaaaaaah—!!!
An enormous roar erupted.
—Waaaaaaaaah—!!!
The countless spectator seats were packed to the brim. Every single person was shouting, caught up in the feverish excitement. The sound washed over me, making my skin tingle.
How long had it been since I’d heard a cheer of this magnitude?
And here I was, feeling lukewarm because it was only the first day.
A showcase for a bunch of fodder. Honestly, that's how I'd seen it until a moment ago, but I realized a cheer like this could probably only be experienced on the first day. My only question was…
If they were going to do this, they should have just called everyone out at once.
Why not let all the participants experience this together? Calling out only fifty people to witness this felt like a waste. Furthermore…
I guess I still haven't grown up.
I lightly rubbed my arm, the corner of my mouth turning down. The cheers. That colossal roar had unknowingly ignited a fire within me. I had thought I was immune to such things. But ridiculously, perhaps because it was a sensation I had never heard or felt before, I found myself momentarily shaken.
Don't get the wrong idea.
Those cheers are not for me. And I am not walking this path for their applause.
I had to keep reminding myself. I steadied my breathing and cooled my emotions.
Who do I think I am?
Life must have gotten too comfortable for me to be swayed by something like this. I shouldn't be.
Remember what you have to do.
I must not forget. I resolved myself, again and again. As I let the light in my eyes die down, the final words flowed from the front.
“From this moment, the Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament begins!”
With the Sword Immortal's declaration, the cheers erupted once more.
Waaaaaaaaah—!!
It was the start of this goddamn tournament.