Once the arena was cleared of eliminated participants, Elder Wan turned his attention back to those of us who remained. The space felt vast now, forty-three teams scattered across an arena designed to hold thousands of spectators.
"Now," the elder announced, his voice carrying a note of anticipation, "we come to the true test of individual prowess. The Grand Outer Sect Tournament bracket stage."
He gestured, and a massive formation array in the air above us began to glow. Numbers and lines appeared, forming the outline of a tournament bracket that stretched across the sky like a constellation.
"The tournament is designed as a single-elimination bracket," Elder Wan explained, apparently noting the confused expressions on some of the faces. "One hundred and twenty-eight outer sect disciples will compete. Only one will emerge as champion."
"Seven rounds await you," he continued. "The Round of 128, where many will fall in the opening exchanges. The Round of 64, where true talent begins to separate from mere ambition. The Round of 32, where techniques clash and legends are born. The Round of 16, known as the Dragon Gate, where passing through marks a disciple as truly exceptional."
The bracket continued to expand above us, showing the progression from hundreds of participants down to a single winner.
"Then come the Quarterfinals, where only eight remain. The Semifinals, where monsters face monsters. And finally, the Grand Final, where destiny itself will be decided.”
"Single elimination," I muttered quietly. "No second chances, no margin for error."
"That's how real combat works," Azure pointed out. "You don't get do-overs when someone's trying to kill you."
Fair point, though it didn't make the format any less intimidating. One bad matchup, one moment of carelessness, one opponent with the perfect counter to your techniques, and months of preparation would be wasted.
"Each battle," Elder Wan added, "will take place within a randomly selected inner world, providing unique challenges and terrain for every match. Adaptability will be as important as raw power."
That was both good and bad news.
Fighting in different inner worlds would prevent any one participant from having a consistent home-field advantage, but it also meant we'd need to be ready for anything. Desert worlds, ocean worlds, worlds of eternal winter or blazing summer. Each environment would favor different fighting styles and techniques.
"Master," Azure commented, "this actually plays to our strengths. Your world-walking experience means you're more adaptable to foreign environments than most cultivators your age."
He was right. I'd spent months traveling between different worlds, each with their own rules and conditions. While other participants might struggle to adapt their techniques to unfamiliar terrain, I'd learned to be flexible by necessity.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed the excited look on Wei Lin's face.
Someone like him, with his marketplace method that could convert between different energy types, would also have a significant advantage over more traditional cultivators who specialized too heavily in one area.
Elder Wan's expression grew stern as he delivered his next announcement. "During the three-day preparation period, no participant is permitted to leave the sect grounds. This restriction is absolute and will be enforced."
As he spoke those words, his gaze moved across the assembled participants and seemed to linger on me for just a moment longer than the others. I felt a chill run down my spine that had nothing to do with the afternoon breeze.
"They're worried about something," Azure observed. "Probably related to the foreign energies you displayed in the Fallen Realm. Can't have their prize specimens wandering off before they figure out what makes them tick."
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I suppressed a grimace.
The red and blue sun energies had definitely attracted attention, and maybe not the good kind. I'd known this was inevitable the moment the clone had used them in front of the entire sect, but knowing something was coming didn't make it any more comfortable.
The question was whether they saw me as a valuable asset to protect or a resource to exploit.
"You will have three days to rest, recover, and prepare for the individual battles," Elder Wan announced. "The medicinal pavilion is open to all participants free of charge. Use this time wisely."
That was welcome news.
Three days would give me time to properly rest, stabilize some of the new insights I'd gained from absorbing the Realm Stabilizing Tree and breaking through to Pseudo-Elemental Realm, work on my weaknesses, and definitely spend some time figuring out a game plan to defeat other top competitors like Wei Lin and Wu Kangming.
Elder Wan’s expression took on an almost paternal quality as he continued. "Some of you may be approached by elders during this interim period. If you are honored with such attention, treasure the opportunity. Guidance from those who have walked the path before you can make not just your battles easier, but your entire cultivation journey more efficient."
I found myself wondering which elders, if any, would pay me a visit. It would make sense for them to want to investigate the red and blue sun energies I'd displayed. The question was whether they'd come as teachers offering genuine guidance or interrogators seeking to extract my secrets.
I'd already allowed Elder Chen Yong to examine the blue sun energy months ago, back when I'd first started learning formation work. If other elders offered something worthwhile in return for similar examinations, I didn't see why I wouldn't cooperate.
The truth was, I couldn't resist them if the sect's leadership decided to force the issue. Civilization Realm cultivators like Sect Master Yuan operated on a level so far beyond my current abilities that resistance would be meaningless. In that case, I might as well try to get something valuable out of the exchange and maintain some semblance of control over the process.
Better to negotiate from a position of apparent cooperation than to wait for them to simply take what they wanted.
As Elder Wan prepared to dismiss us, I found my gaze drifting upward to the highest viewing platform where the sect's most senior leadership observed the proceedings. Most of the elders looked pleased with the tournament's progress, discussing the results in low voices.
But it was Sect Master Yuan who drew my attention.
The legendary Civilization Realm cultivator stood slightly apart from the others, his ageless features composed in an expression of calm observation. There was something about his posture, the way he held himself, that spoke of power so vast it didn't need to be displayed.
Then, as if sensing my attention, his gaze shifted downward and met mine directly.
The contact lasted only a moment, but it felt like an eternity.
Those ancient eyes seemed to see straight through me, cataloging every secret, every hidden technique, every carefully guarded truth. The chill that ran down my spine had nothing to do with fear or malice, it was simply the natural response my body made to being examined by a being whose power transcended my understanding.
I quickly looked away, focusing on a random point in the arena wall until the sensation of being studied faded. Whatever Sect Master Yuan had been looking for, I hoped I'd passed whatever test that momentary examination represented.
"With that," Elder Wan announced, "you are dismissed. Rest well, train wisely, and prepare yourselves for the trials ahead. The individual competition begins after three days, return here at dawn."
As the other participants began to disperse, heading toward the arena exits in small groups, I remained standing in place for a moment longer. The weight of what lay ahead was starting to sink in.
One hundred and twenty-eight cultivators. Seven rounds of elimination. Battles in unknown worlds against opponents I'd never fought before. And somewhere at the end of it all, assuming I could make it that far, likely a confrontation with Wu Kangming.
"Well," I murmured, "this should be interesting."
But first, I had to face a different kind of challenge entirely.
My parents had watched the entire Trial of the Fallen Realm through the sect's viewing arrays. They'd seen me battle wraiths and shadow phoenixes, watched me absorb a Realm Stabilizing Tree, witnessed my breakthrough to Pseudo-Elemental Realm.
They were going to have questions. Lots of questions.
And honestly, I wasn't entirely sure how to answer them.
"Well," Wei Lin said, noticing me glancing at the Core Disciple stands where my parents stood, "this should be an interesting conversation with the family."
"That's one word for it," I replied, starting toward the arena exit. "Though I'm thinking 'terrifying' might be more accurate."
"Come on," Wei Lin grinned. "How bad could it be?"
I gave him a look that clearly communicated exactly how bad I thought it could be.
After all, how do you explain to your mortal parents that their son has become something they never imagined? Something that might not even qualify as entirely human anymore?
Time to find out, I supposed.