In what felt like no time, the first day of the Exhibition Tournament arrived.

  Grand Master Zhu Yusheng himself, accompanied by Masters Guoqiang, Zhu Ning, Zhu Qing, and three others Ishin didn’t recognize, led the Eight Oaths Resolve Martial School’s tournament team toward the central Yellow Dome that gave the city its name. The Grand Master walked at the front of the group, while the school’s other masters flanked the team, as if to provide a wall of security. Given the crowded nature of the city, Ishin understood why.

  It was only morning, with the sun yet to rise above the Yellow Dome, yet the streets were more alive than Ishin had ever seen before. Vendors with carts stacked high with goods lined the roads, while eager residents from all four quarters of the city pushing and shouting to reach the Yellow Dome. Ishin guessed tens of thousands must have made up this endless sea of people. Floating above them were dozens of glowing, multicolored lanterns.

  When he asked Rhee about them, she explained that the city used them to deliver messages to the crowds in an attempt to maintain some semblance of order.

  A single road, cordoned off by the City Guard, had been reserved exclusively for tournament participants. Even without the reserved path, Ishin wondered who would be foolish enough to block a group led by a Merit Realm cultivator and half a dozen Adept Realm masters.

  Before long, their group arrived at the steps on the northern end of Central Square. Like the road they had traveled, rows of guardsmen in yellow and white armor stood watch, keeping the path clear. Ishin looked up at the massive yellow structure that had awed him upon his arrival months ago.

  The Central Combat Hall. The site of the Exhibition Tournament.

  Once they ascended the steps, an attendant in a blue and purple uniform met them and led them inside.

  Servants of the Righteous Mantle Sect, Ishin noted. All the officials throughout the Central Combat Hall wore the same robes. I wonder why the Kurai Clan lets the Righteous Mantle Sect facilitate the tournament.

  The attendant stopped at a tall archway. “This leads to the Golden Arena. Your school’s team can enter through here and line up behind the other team. I’ll lead the rest of your party to your reserved balcony, if that is acceptable, Grand Master.”

  “It is.” Grand Master Yusheng turned to face his school’s team. “All of you have trained hard for this. Remember, you represent the best of the school’s youth.” When he spoke again, his gaze was fixed solely on Rhee. “I know that you’ll make our school proud.”

  Rhee pressed her fists together and bowed. The others followed suit. “We will not fail you, Grand Master.”

  “I know.” The Grand Master smiled, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. “Now get in there and win this.”

  “Please step through here,” the attendant instructed.

  With absolute confidence, Rhee strode through the archway, her team close behind. As Ishin stepped into the Golden Arena, brilliant hues of yellow filled his vision. A dark gold square stage of tiled stone, nearly ten thousand square feet, stretched across the arena floor. Surrounding it were rows upon rows of carved pale yellow stone seating, clearly designed for the event’s spectators. A few private balconies dotted the upper walls, and though most of the seats remained empty for now, Ishin could sense powerful auras emanating from the higher tiers.

  At the far northern end of the vast stage stood a single row of four competitors dressed in green and yellow. They stood tall and upright, facing an elevated dais where a woman with flowing, glossy teal hair sat cross-legged. Based on her blue and purple robes, Ishin recognized her as an elder from the Righteous Mantle Sect.

  Behind the elder sat a stone balcony carved into the wall fifty feet up.

  Likely reserved for the City Lady.

  Rhee led their team forward until they stood directly behind the first team. As Team Captain, she took the rightmost position. Bo stood to her left, followed by Lei, then Ishin at the end.

  This team must be from the Three Blessed Petals School, Ishin thought, eyeing the woman directly in front of Rhee. She had smooth dark hair tied into a tight bun and carried a sword at her hip. From what little he could see, she had a slender, lithe build—one that probably emphasized grace and speed over raw strength.

  That must make her their Team Captain.

  Rhee had briefed them on the other two martial schools’ prodigies: Dong Jing and Chu Winxi. She’d insisted both were formidable and not to be underestimated. Given how many times Rhee had beaten him in training recently, Ishin decided to take her word seriously.

  Opening his third eye, he examined the woman he assumed to be Chu Winxi. Her chakra glowed green—wood aspect. Four layers, just like Rhee. From what Ishin could tell, the density of her fourth layer was nearly identical to Rhee’s, putting her somewhere in the middle of the level.

  But Mother always said that layers weren’t the only thing that mattered. Skill, technique, and the chakra’s aspect all play a part.

  Another team entered the Golden Arena from the side, this one clad in orange and red robes. Their leader had a lean build, short hair shaved on the sides, and a spear strapped to his back.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  The Red Burning Comet School. That must be Dong Jing.

  A glance with his third eye confirmed a metal-aspected chakra with five layers.

  If he’d been born in the Nine Striped Hills, he’d have been named a prodigy.

  Layers aren’t everything, Ishin reminded himself.

  Two hours passed as more teams filtered in. Ishin counted sixty-four in total. Despite that number, their formation only filled a fourth of the massive stage.

  In the meantime, the stands around the arena filled with thousands of spectators. The constant background noise of a crowd this size became an indistinct roar, filling the Golden Arena like ocean surf.

  The noise began to lessen as a woman stepped into the high northern balcony. She wore a ceremonial robe of yellow and white and had short, wavy black hair, a heart-shaped face, and porcelain skin.

  Is that Lady Kurai Xue? She looks like she’s in her late twenties…

  Ishin remembered that cultivators at the Merit Realm began to age much slower. Their outward appearance often froze at the age they reached the realm.

  To look so young and be in the Merit Realm… He looked to the Righteous Mantle Sect elder, who appeared a decade older but held the same rank. She must be just as talented as my mother was. His chest tightened. Was.

  Lady Kurai Xue sat down and lifted one hand. The crowd fell instantly silent. Ishin suspected it was some kind of technique.

  The teal-haired elder from the Righteous Mantle Sect rose from her seat and addressed the quiet arena.

  “Greetings all, to the 173rd Exhibition Tournament! I am Elder Song of the Righteous Mantle Sect and am honored to serve as this year’s Tournament Overseer. Let me officially announce the start of this year’s Exhibition Tournament!”

  A roar of applause erupted from the audience.

  Elder Song spread her arms wide, gesturing toward the assembled teams. “This year, sixty-four teams will compete! Each competitor, a talent from among our prestigious city’s youth, will seek to prove themselves as the greatest martial cultivator of their generation!” She raised a hand above her head. “Their prize—a superior-grade storage ring and a medium-grade cultivation pill!”

  The murmurs began at once.

  “A superior-grade storage ring?”

  “How much space do you think it has?”

  “Forget the ring, a medium-grade pill could take you straight to the Adept Realm!”

  “The Kurai Clan’s being generous this year… Those prizes are worth a violet tael at least!”

  Ishin felt the surrounding air withdraw like a vacuum. The noise stopped instantly. His chest tightened—he couldn’t breathe. A few seconds later, air rushed back in. All around him, people gasped for breath.

  Elder Song smiled patiently. “Yes, these are indeed two impressive prizes. As always, the Kurai Clan demonstrates their benevolence to our city.” She turned and bowed deeply to the northern balcony. “We thank the City Lady!”

  The competitors on the stage bowed as one. Ishin, slightly delayed, did the same.

  Would’ve been nice if someone had warned me about this.

  Elder Song straightened and continued, “Of course, prizes are not the only reason our city’s youth have come to participate. This year, we are honored to have representatives from many Notable Sects in attendance. Let us give them a warm welcome!”

  She gestured to a separate balcony as she named each guest.

  “From the Radiant Spear Sect, Elder Cho!”

  Thunderous applause.

  “From the Sea Farer Sect, Elder Parva!”

  Another round of cheers.

  “From our own Righteous Mantle Sect, Sect Master Rea!”

  The Sect Master herself? Ishin blinked. She’s a Venerable Realm cultivator.

  Once the clapping died down, Elder Song spoke with greater intensity.

  “This year, the Flame Devil Sect was unable to send a representative. But instead,” her voice brightened with a grin, “our city has the distinct honor of hosting a most unexpected guest.”

  She paused.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I present Elder Zhou of the Crimson Abyss Sect!”

  The crowd erupted—far louder than before.

  “An elder from the Crimson Abyss Sect is here!”

  “They never attend! Does this mean they’re recruiting?”

  “A Grand Sect is watching?! This has never happened before!”

  Ishin barely heard it. Instead, he glanced sideways at Lei. The bulky disciple trembled with excitement, his eyes gleaming, mouth curled into a manic grin.

  He mentioned them when we first met… but I didn’t realize they were this important.

  Before Ishin could ask, the air vanished again, silencing the arena. This time, it didn’t return for a full minute. His lungs burned by the time he could inhale again.

  Guess the City Lady got annoyed.

  “Save your conversations for later,” Elder Song chided gently. A few of the younger participants shifted awkwardly.

  “Now then,” she continued, “unlike previous years, the first round will feature four teams competing at once.”

  Ishin frowned.

  We trained to fight one team, not three. This changes everything.

  “The exact rules will be revealed once the participating teams are selected.” She lifted one hand, and a turquoise clay jar appeared in the air. “The first round will take place here in the Golden Arena. I will now randomly draw four numbers. The teams with those numbers will remain on the stage. All others, step aside.”

  Random selection? Ishin narrowed his eyes. Didn’t Bo say the Righteous Mantle Sect rigs the matchups so the martial schools don’t fight each other early?

  She’s lying. He scanned the faces of those around him. And no one cares.

  Four thin wooden sticks floated from the jar to Elder Song’s hand. The jar vanished.

  “The first to compete will be Teams 17, 53, 2, and 28. The teams from the Twin Moon Sect, Crystal Sword Sect, Eight Oaths Resolve School, and Iron Root School, remain on the stage to receive instructions. All others, please depart.”

  Ishin watched dozens of competitors shuffle off to the sidelines.

  We’re going first, huh?

  His gaze shifted to Elder Song.

  Let’s see how this goes.