In the evening, Su Fan re-entered the game.
Tonight was the first martial arts tournament after his promotion, a brutal competition.
The arena was the same, the bloodstains on the ground already cleaned. About a hundred contestants remained, the vast space feeling empty compared to yesterday.
The rules were the same as yesterday: a free-for-all. However, advancement was no longer based on time but on elimination; the tournament would end when only fifty participants were left.
"Begin," the eunuch on the platform announced in a shrill voice.
This time, the platform wasn't just occupied by the eunuch; numerous dignitaries were seated in the VIP boxes.
Anyone who could win today would catch their attention. With a bit of luck, they might even be scouted and recruited without needing to participate in the next round.
The contestants in the arena immediately became wary, eyeing those around them with caution.
Today's participants were far more formidable than yesterday's. Every survivor had clawed their way out of a pile of corpses; no one could stand here without some degree of strength.
Out of over a hundred people, each needed to eliminate at least one opponent.
Su Fan glanced at a man closest to him, who was also looking at him.
The man, sporting a braid and wielding a large ring-hilted saber, fixed Su Fan with a murderous gaze from his phoenix eyes.
Su Fan knew this man had set his sights on him, and he saw no reason to hold back.
With the Er Ren Qing Shuang Sword in hand, Su Fan was ready to attack.
The Er Ren Qing Shuang Sword's design differed from ordinary longswords; it resembled two swords fused together, with a broad blade and two tips.
Most of the combatants in the arena remained in a stalemate, no one willing to make the first move for fear of becoming the target of everyone else.
Although Su Fan and the braided man were in a standoff, neither initiated an attack, both waiting.
The dignitaries on the platform grew impatient.
"Are you fighting or not? If not, don't waste my time," one young master said boredly.
The eunuch's forehead broke out in a cold sweat.
"Young Master Xu, I will make them fight immediately!" the eunuch said, bowing nervously to Young Master Xu.
He then turned, his expression hardening. Grabbing a bow and arrow from the side, he drew it to full draw, aimed at a random person, and released. The arrow shot forward like lightning.
*Whoosh!*
The arrow pierced the man's forehead, killing him instantly.
The combatants in the arena gasped, startled by the sudden projectile.
"If you don't start fighting, I will choose these fifty people for you," the eunuch declared coldly to the arena.
The people in the arena knew they couldn't wait any longer; if they did, they might be the next to die.
"Hah!"
Some roared and charged at their chosen targets.
The braided man let out a roar and charged at Su Fan.
Su Fan met him, blade against saber, their weapons clashing as they grappled face-to-face.
The Er Ren Qing Shuang Sword in Su Fan's hand emanated a chilling aura, and a layer of frost coated the braided man's saber.
The braided man flinched, his eyes widening as he looked at Su Fan. He suddenly exerted force, rapidly creating distance between them.
He stared at Su Fan's sword with shock. His hand was already covered in frost, and a moment longer would have frozen his hand to the hilt.
Su Fan gave him no respite, drawing his sword and pursuing him.
"Horizontal Stance, One-Line Severing Slash!"
Su Fan adopted a drawing-sword posture and charged at the braided man.
Seeing this, the braided man, steeling himself, swung his saber at Su Fan.
Su Fan dodged the braided man's attack with a sidestep. As he moved, his body shifted to the braided man's flank. He instantly drew his sword and slid past the braided man, stopping behind him. The braided man remained frozen in his slashing pose.
Su Fan stood calmly and sheathed the Er Ren Qing Shuang Sword.
Behind him, the braided man let out a clang and fell to the ground, blood gushing from his neck, which Su Fan had nearly severed with a single stroke.
In just one move, Su Fan had defeated his opponent.
He had used a technique from the Art of Vertical and Horizontal Movement. Although he couldn't unleash its full power without true qi, his high attribute values allowed him to wield it with about seventy to eighty percent of its effectiveness. It was almost as smooth as a skill.
Young Master Xu's eyes lit up.
"This person is interesting," Young Master Xu said with a slight smile.
"Young Master Xu, do you wish to recruit him?" the eunuch asked, a fawning smile on his face.
Young Master Xu raised a hand, interrupting the eunuch.
"No, I want to see how far they can go."
Young Master Xu had no intention of recruiting Su Fan yet. He wanted to witness Su Fan's limits, to see just how strong he truly was. So far, Su Fan hadn't revealed his full strength.
Young Master Xu stood up and walked to the edge of the viewing platform.
"Whoever can kill him, I will immediately take them as my personal guard!" Young Master Xu declared with a smile, pointing at Su Fan.
Su Fan blinked in surprise. What was this supposed to mean?
The contestants in the arena's eyes lit up as they looked at Su Fan.
Fighting one-on-one was perilous, but ganging up on one person was far simpler!
"You bastard!" Su Fan cursed inwardly.
This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!
Everyone surged towards Su Fan.
Su Fan didn't hesitate and immediately turned to flee; there was no way he could fight this.
"Whoever kills him, I will personally give them a Creation Pill!" Young Master Xu added from behind.
A Creation Pill?
Damn it! A pill that directly granted a level-up, and this guy was just giving them away? How was he supposed to play this game?
Su Fan wished he could tear the man on the platform in half, but he knew he wasn't strong enough yet. He could only endure.
"Stop!"
"Don't run!"
Behind Su Fan, a crowd of contestants pursued him relentlessly.
No one wanted to miss this opportunity, not just for the Creation Pill but also for the position of personal guard!
This represented escaping their commoner status, giving their descendants a head start in life. This was the greatest temptation for them.
"Stop chasing! If you keep chasing, I won't be polite!" Su Fan shouted back at them.
"Stop struggling. Let me kill you, and I'll come to pay respects to you every year!"
"I'll pay respects to your ancestors! Why don't you die!"
Su Fan cursed them rudely. He didn't know who said it, but he just cursed, and someone would surely take it personally.
"You're ungrateful! Stop!"
Running like this wasn't a solution. They were too numerous; he would eventually be exhausted to death.
You're forcing my hand!
"Watch my Rear-Turning Spear!"
Su Fan suddenly leaped up, spun around, and slashed his sword behind him.
"Thunderous Might!"
A sword energy, laced with frost and lightning, slashed towards the crowd behind him.
The few closest to Su Fan were instantly struck by the sword energy, with no chance to dodge, colliding directly with it.
"Ah!"
Several screams erupted from behind. Su Fan didn't have time to look; he unleashed his sword strike and immediately turned to run again. If they surrounded him, he would be in grave danger.
"My leg!"
"My arm!"
"My head!"
With a single sword strike, Su Fan instantly incapacitated several people.