In today's名额争夺战, the赤日域 Grand Competition, these five were the true protagonists. The rest were merely supporting roles. The crowd's gazes converged on the twenty who advanced, all filled with complex emotions.
On the southern high platform, the various forces of苍元国 were also quite pleased. In previous years,苍元国 would be lucky to secure even one spot. The twenty spots were mostly dominated by the three major forces of赤焰国. There was no help for it;赤焰国 was far stronger than苍元国. The third and fourth direct disciples of赤焰国's three major forces were significantly stronger than the first direct disciples of苍元国's five major forces. This was clearly proven by that fact.
But this year, they had seized four spots, which was already an unexpected delight. Especially the three forces that secured spots—流云宗,寒雪宗, and苍元国's royal family—were exceptionally overjoyed. They couldn't help but cast their eyes on林轩. Silently sighing in their hearts. Among the four spots,林轩 had claimed three with a single word. Overwhelmingly domineering! He was in no way inferior to the Four Young Masters. The various forces also quietly marveled. 流云宗, and even苍元国, were incredibly fortunate to have taken in such a top-tier genius. In the future, their rise might well depend on林轩.
On赤焰国's side, the high-ranking members of the three major forces also fixed their gazes on林轩, their hearts trembling inwardly. Today,林轩's performance had been even more outstanding than that of the Four Young Masters. Some even began to vaguely speculate. That林轩's talent was so high, he might surpass the Four Young Masters. He was the true number one genius of赤日域. A hint of crisis also emerged. But then, recalling that林轩 was only at the eighth level of the Opening Spirit Realm, not yet at its peak, let alone the Spirit Yuan Realm, they felt slightly relieved. Thankful, even. Even if林轩's talent was extraordinary, he probably couldn't threaten the Four Young Masters yet. After all, though林轩 was highly gifted, the Four Young Masters were also top geniuses, not far behind. Within the Spirit Yuan Realm, they could challenge those above their level. And with a whole major realm separating them, it wouldn't be easy to bridge that gap.
On the third arena, after the阳元宗 Grand Elder finished his announcement, he paused. His gaze turned to火元真人, seated at the center top of the eastern high platform. But he saw火元真人 still lounging lazily in his chair, sipping spirit wine, with no sign of rising. His heart jolted violently. Then, withdrawing his gaze, he continued in a loud voice: "Next is the second round of the赤日域 Grand Competition. One-on-one matches to determine the top ten! The list will be jointly drawn up by the high-ranking members of the eight major forces to ensure fairness. Let it begin!" With that, he turned and walked toward the eastern high platform.
On the five arenas, the previous阳元宗 mid-Spirit Yuan Realm elder referees leaped onto the platforms. Each held a list. They announced loudly: "Arena One: Wu Xin versus Zhang Qishan!" "Arena Two: Sun Yuwen versus Liu Qianyu!" "Arena Three: Zhou Wenhao versus Duan Feichen!" "......" All five arenas proceeded simultaneously. For twenty to advance to ten, only ten matches were needed. Two per arena. The disciples among the top twenty whose names were called descended from the stands and walked toward the arenas.
But the high-ranking members of the various forces, upon hearing this, all froze, their faces filled with extreme disbelief. Yet their gazes were not on the disciples about to compete. Instead, they turned to火元真人 at the center top of the eastern high platform. They all knew that火元真人 was sent down by a major force from the core region of枫武州—the枫武 Domain—to oversee the名额争夺. He had extremely high standards and completely looked down on the people of赤日域. In previous sessions,火元真人 had also been in charge. But each time, he arrived only after the first round of free-for-alls ended and the twenty spots were decided. After recording them and issuing the competition tokens, he would rise and fly away. He never bothered with the subsequent赤日域 Grand Competition. That had been the pattern in past years. But now? After the spots were decided,火元真人 had not left but stayed instead. Completely the opposite of before. Everyone's hearts shook violently, their bodies trembling. At the same time, their minds raced in thought. Didn't火元真人 look down on all the martial artists of赤日域? Why was he acting differently this time? Could it be that this competition had someone火元真人 valued, prompting him to stay? But this time, the most outstanding were still the same Four Young Masters from last session. The rest were far inferior to them. Why hadn't火元真人 stayed in the previous session?
Wait! Suddenly, like a lightning bolt striking their minds, the high-ranking members of the various forces had a flash of insight. They had overlooked one person. That was林轩, who had recently burst onto the scene and was nearly on par with the Four Young Masters! He was vaguely hailed as赤日域's fifth公子-level genius. Aside from the Four Young Masters,林轩 was the most talented in all of赤日域. Could it be that火元真人 was truly staying because of林轩?! Thinking this, the high-ranking members' hearts pounded wildly, their mouths dry. Their gazes shifted to林轩, their pupils contracting in shock. If that were true, then林轩, not Zhang Yuchen, was the number one genius of赤日域! Instantly, the high-ranking members were even more astounded. Zhang Yuchen was already a prodigy listed on the Xuan Yuan Ranking. If林轩's talent surpassed Zhang Yuchen's, wouldn't he be at least a prodigy as well, or even higher? Would赤日域 see two prodigies emerge? The high-ranking members were all struck with immense shock, sinking into deep awe, almost losing themselves. They had no mood left to watch the matches on the five arenas below.
And what the high-ranking members could deduce, the Four Young Masters—Zhang Yuchen, Chen Feng, and the others—being exceptionally talented, were no fools and also made the connection. The four of them clenched their fists, their eyes sweeping toward林轩, burning with fighting spirit. Later, they would use their strength to prove to火元真人 who was the strongest genius in赤日域.
At the highest point of the eastern stands. 火元真人 lazily sipped his spirit wine, looking indifferent. But no one on the field noticed that his peripheral vision swept over林轩, a glint of sharp light flashing deep in his eyes. "Lin Xuan! Such a solid foundation! Even in the Central Domain, he'd be considered a top genius! Few could compare. To appear in a small domain like赤日域... Strange, truly strange! Could it be that, with the arrival of the millennium, the entire Tianyuan Continent is producing all kinds of peerless geniuses and unmatched prodigies? So even a small domain like赤日域 can produce such talent? I can't figure it out. But to discover such a top genius here in赤日域—likely capable of entering the top sixty, or even top fifty, of the Xuan Yuan Ranking— is truly an unexpected delight. This trip wasn't wasted!"
On the southern high platform. Lin Xuan sat in his original seat. This second round's first match didn't include him, so he waited quietly. Then, suddenly, he froze, his gaze fixed on the void before him.