"Late Yuanhai Realm!
I didn't expect Fengwu Prefecture to send a late Yuanhai Realm martial artist to preside over the名额争夺赛 (Quota Competition).
It seems this Xuan Yuan Ranking Tournament is more valued than I imagined."
Lin Xuan gazed into the distance at Huo Yuan Zhenren, his expression shifting slightly.
This was fine—the more attention, the greater the focus.
If he could make the rankings and place high, he would gain more energy points.
On the eastern viewing platform, at the highest point.
Yang Yuan Sect Leader Zhang Xing voluntarily gave up his seat and respectfully invited Huo Yuan Zhenren to take it.
He then set out spiritual tea and fruits beside him.
Huo Yuan Zhenren's expression was cold. After sitting down and taking a sip of spiritual tea, he said calmly:
"Don't waste time. Begin the Quota Competition."
"Yes, Huo Yuan Zhenren!"
Zhang Xing responded and signaled to the Great Elder of Yang Yuan Sect beside him.
The Great Elder nodded, floated down, and landed on the third arena in the square, announcing loudly:
"This year's Red Sun Region Grand Tournament, the Quota Competition, begins now!
I will first explain the rules.
First round: Free-for-all.
All participating disciples will be evenly distributed across five arenas.
The free-for-all continues until only four remain on each arena.
The four from each arena, twenty in total, advance.
These twenty will also secure their quotas.
Additionally, they will receive rewards jointly issued by the eight major forces of the Red Sun Region.
The higher the ranking, the richer the rewards.
However, today is for the Quota Competition.
The rewards are an internal matter of our Red Sun Region, so I won't read them out.
If you want to know the specifics, ask the elders of your respective forces.
Next, the referees on the five arenas will read out the lists."
With that, he jumped off the arena and walked toward the eastern viewing platform via a nearby staircase.
Meanwhile, five Yang Yuan Sect elders at the mid Lingyuan Realm descended and leaped onto the five arenas.
Sending out five mid Lingyuan Realm elders at once showcased Yang Yuan Sect's foundation as the top force in the Red Sun Region.
At the very least, the four sects of Cangyuan Country couldn't easily do the same.
Each of the five elders held a list and read aloud:
"Arena One: Zhou Wenhao, Zhang Yushan, Zhao Ran..."
"Arena Two: Wu Xin, Sun Haiyuan, Wang Ge..."
"Arena Three: Zhang Yuchen, Sun Yuwen..."
"Arena Four: Chen Feng, Su Tongyu..."
"Arena Five: Lin Xuan, Duan Feichen... Liu Qianyu, Chen Hanshuang..."
Soon, the distribution list for all 300 participants—core disciples of the eight major forces of the Red Sun Region and other junior disciples who had reached the Kailing Realm—was fully read.
To avoid strong opponents meeting early, the Four Young Masters were all separated.
But aside from the Four Young Masters, Lin Xuan was listed first on Arena Five, clearly ranked by Yang Yuan Sect on par with them.
This immediately sparked widespread exclamations of shock.
Although Lin Xuan's name had spread throughout the Red Sun Region due to the Puppet Secret Realm incident, those rumors were too astonishing for many to truly believe.
Yet now, Yang Yuan Sect had actively placed Lin Xuan alongside the Four Young Masters.
Wasn't that saying the rumors were true?
Was Lin Xuan truly the Red Sun Region's fifth Young Master-level genius?
The crowd was deeply shaken.
At the same time, their gazes fell on the five arenas with added anticipation.
If so, this Red Sun Region Grand Tournament might have more to offer.
"Next, please have all participating disciples go to their assigned arenas!"
The Great Elder's deep voice echoed from the eastern high platform.
Disciples from the four viewing platforms descended and headed toward the five arenas.
Soon, everyone was on their respective arenas.
With 300 participants, 60 per arena, it was quite spacious.
But almost everyone looked at those around them with caution.
After all, the first round was a free-for-all.
Only by eliminating others could they advance.
"Begin the free-for-all!" the Great Elder announced again.
Silence fell over the arena first.
"Get off!" someone suddenly shouted, striking out and sending a nearby person off the arena.
This was like lighting a fuse.
All five arenas erupted into chaos.
Attacks flew everywhere in utter disorder.
At the center of Arena Five, Lin Xuan remained calm:
"Junior Brother Liu, Hanshuang, come to my side.
I'll ensure you advance!"
His plain words carried unmatched dominance, impossible to drown out even amid the chaos.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lin!"
"Thank you, Brother Lin Xuan!"
Not far away, Liu Qianyu and Chen Hanshuang, caught in the crowd, heard this and joyfully rushed toward Lin Xuan.
But the other martial artists around them were furious.
"Arena Five only has four advancement slots. You, Lin Xuan, want three? Isn't that too much?"
"Even if you're the fifth Young Master-level genius, you don't have that right!"
"Lin Xuan, and you, Liu Qianyu, Chen Hanshuang—you should be the ones to go down!"
"Right, eliminate you first, then we have a chance to advance!"
"..."
The martial artists shouted angrily and attacked.
In an instant, blade beams, sword beams, fist seals, and palm seals rained down on Lin Xuan, Liu Qianyu, and Chen Hanshuang.
Most of them targeted Lin Xuan.
They knew Lin Xuan was the strongest on Arena Five.
They didn't aim to knock him off, just to hold him back long enough to eliminate Liu Qianyu and Chen Hanshuang.
In the crowd, Duan Feichen watched with a cold smirk.
Instead of joining in, he fled outward.
"A bunch of fools!" Duan Feichen sneered.
He had personally witnessed Lin Xuan's true strength.
Even if not matching the Four Young Masters, Lin Xuan had crossed from Kailing Realm to a terrifying Lingyuan Realm level.
If Lin Xuan got angry, he could kill everyone on the arena with a single sword strike.
Even if they managed to eliminate Liu Qianyu and Chen Hanshuang, what then?
Once Lin Xuan acted, no one else, including him, would escape.
Though this tournament forbade killing, severe injuries were unavoidable.
If they were bedridden for half a year, even with a quota, they couldn't participate in the Xuan Yuan Ranking Tournament.
That would be pointless, only leaving them injured and damaging their foundation and potential.
So, as soon as Lin Xuan spoke, he quickly fled to the outskirts to avoid being caught up.
As for the quota, he wasn't worried.
Lin Xuan taking three slots left one, didn't it?
On this arena, aside from Lin Xuan, no one could beat him.
The last slot would fall to him.
Sure enough.
At the arena's center.
Lin Xuan saw this and his face turned cold.
"Seeking death!"
He spat out the words and struck instantly.
A palm shot out.
In an instant, a fierce wind arose, and the scene shifted dramatically.