CHAPTER 123 – BATTLING THE SCHOLAR ACADEMY

The pairing process was straightforward. The names of the hundred sects appeared on the stone stele, then the golden characters began to shuffle chaotically.

A few seconds later, Li Guanqi spotted the Daxia Sword Sect.

Daxia Sword Sect vs. Six Suns Scholar Academy.

Li Guanqi sensed Qin Xian clench his fists tightly upon seeing their assigned opponent.

“The drawing process is complete. Let’s begin!” Long Qu announced.

Buzz!

With a flick of Long Qu’s finger, the ground began to tremble. To everyone’s astonishment, a hundred martial stages rose from the mountaintop’s flat expanse, each about ten zhang across, surrounded by tall barriers with countless glowing runes.

Three hundred martial stages rose on the three mountaintops at Heavenly Tiger Mountain.

The clouds churned overhead, and a layer of gray soon veiled the once-clear sky, blotting out the sun.

Long Qu continued, “Participants, take the stage. We’ll start from the top.”

With that, he handed over the event’s supervision to his subordinates. Taking a single step forward, he vanished.

Dong! Dong dong!

Dong! Dong dong!

The sound of war drums sounded across the heavens, triggering excitement in the crowd. The tens of thousands of people on the spectator platforms erupted in deafening cheers.

The war drums thundered across the heavens, igniting excitement in the crowd. Tens of thousands of spectators on the platforms erupted into deafening cheers. Ribbons of light shot through the sky, and showers of confetti rained down, filling the air with festivity.

Qin Xian transmitted to his team, “We’re up against the Six Suns Scholar Academy. Never allow them to use their magical treasures!”

Everyone paused, then nodded solemnly.

Buzz!

A streak of light appeared, pointing the way for the Daxia Sword Sect. Qin Xian took a deep breath. “Go!”

Li Guanqi and the others exchanged a look, then nodded.

Li Guanqi used a sprint technique to ascend to the stage.

His pure white eyes startled the crowd, and they stirred at once. Here was a young man in white robes, a massive stone sword box strapped to his back, and a pair of pure white eyes—a sight that instantly electrified the audience. Murmurs rippled through the spectators as they buzzed about Li Guanqi’s previous feats.

“I heard that when that young man stepped forward and broke the tiles beneath his feet, he was about to draw his sword and fight that other guy!” many people said.

“Come on, enough bragging! How could a Foundation Building Realm cultivator take on someone in the Golden Core Realm head-on? Sure, maybe he gets lucky and survives one strike. But a full-on fight? No way.”

Many similar conversations buzzed throughout the crowd. If they hadn’t seen the recording with their own eyes, who would believe that a mere Foundation Building Realm cultivator would dare fight someone at the Golden Core Realm?

But within the barrier, Li Guanqi heard none of it.

Though the stages seemed only ten zhang wide, the arrays expanded the space to nearly a hundred zhang.

Li Guanqi was filled with awe and admiration as he looked around the vast stage. The way the array shrank space down was miraculous.

The array could manipulate space itself, a feat that was probably impossible for anyone below the Divine Transformation Realm.

As the thought crossed Li Guanqi's mind, a young man in azure robes appeared before him. He was of average looks, with a lanky frame, a flat nose, and eyes that hinted at a scholarly disposition. The young man gave Li Guanqi a quick once-over before smiling.

“I am Lu Chengyan from the Six Suns Scholar Academy.”

“Li Guanqi, Daxia Sword Sect.”

Lu Chengyan smiled, folding one hand behind his back while lightly fanning himself with the other. “I’ve heard some things about you. Once we fight, please consider showing mercy...”

Li Guanqi ignored his words. He knew that anyone participating in the tournament had to be quite capable. There was no room for mercy.

He surveyed his surroundings with his heart’s eye. All the stages were now filled, and dozens of hundred zhang wide light screens had appeared in the sky, broadcasting each match for the audience.

Whoosh

A dozen zhang wide bronze bell materialized overhead. The elder that Qin Xian had spoken with earlier raised a fist and struck it.

Dong!

“Anyone who admits defeat will be teleported out of the stage. This is just a martial tournament, so try to avoid injuries and deaths! Alright, the Tournament of a Hundred Sects begins now!”

Buzz!

The barriers on the stages retracted.

Lu Chengyan immediately backed away, though a powerful aura erupted from him.

Li Guanqi stood motionless, as if caught in a daze.

But inwardly, he was startled. His opponent was at the peak of the late Foundation Building Realm.

Tsk, you’re good at hiding your aura. Even I didn’t know.

Lu Chengyan's eyes sparkled. He held his fan in his left hand, and with a flash of light, a thin book with only a few pages appeared in his right hand.

Li Guanqi’s gaze sharpened. This must be the magical treasure Elder Qin Xian was talking about.

Lu Chengyan smirked. “Hehe

... fool.”

Buzz!

He injected powerful vital force into the book, and it automatically opened to the first page.

Whoosh!

A streak of purple light shot into the spot between Lu Chengyan’s brows.

“First Sun, Heaven’s Eye Opens!”

Buzz!

The skin between his eyebrows split open, and a purple eye emerged.

“Second Sun, Boosting The Five Senses!”

A strange green light enveloped his body.

“Third Sun, Wind Gust!”

The pages turned again, and two azure air currents coiled at his feet.

Clang!

A three-inch blade shot from his folded fan. Wearing a mocking, arrogant expression, Lu Chengyan fell back a full hundred zhang.

Li Guanqi raised a brow, his expression faintly disappointed. “That’s it? Why not go ahead and open the remaining few pages?”

Above them, a screen had been set up just for their fight—too many people wanted to see Li Guanqi in action.

The spectators leaned forward, holding their breath, sweat beading on their brows. Lu Chengyan was one of the top disciples of his sect, and Li Guanqi had let him use his magical item without lifting a finger to stop him.

Someone burst out, “This brat is making a huge gamble! The Six Suns Academy can get so strong only because of their powerful spells!”

“Exactly! He just let Lu Chengyan flip through three pages like it was nothing... that’s madness!”

Lu Chengyan turned pale from the insult, then charged at Li Guanqi with his fan blade.

“Hmmph! Arrogant bastard! I will make you pay!”

Boosted by his spell and sprinting technique, Lu Chengyan shot toward Li Guanqi like a bolt of lightning.