The Grand Tournament Begins

Half a month later!

In the Burning Sky Palace, at the Burning Sky Martial Arts Arena.

The huge martial arts arena was paved with red-hot stones, and nine massive stone pillars carved with flame totems surrounded it.

On the high platform, the main seat was empty.

The viewing stands on both sides were already filled with prominent figures from all over Xuanzhou and representatives of some small and medium-sized sects who had come to watch the event.

The arena was filled with a lively and noisy atmosphere.

When Lie Tianxiong, the Palace Master of the Burning Sky Palace, strode onto the high platform with an air of authority, surrounded by a group of elders, all eyes in the arena instantly focused on him.

Today, Lie Tianxiong was dressed in a bright red dragon-patterned robe of the palace master. He stood upright, and as he looked around, a powerful and overwhelming aura was unconsciously emitted, like an invisible tide sweeping across the entire arena.

"The King Realm!"

"Palace Master Lie has broken through?!"

"Hiss... This is the King Realm!"

A series of involuntary exclamations and gasps of surprise immediately rang out from the crowd below.

The faces of many sect masters and elders of small sects changed, and their eyes looking at Lie Tianxiong were filled with awe and fear.

Even the high - level officials of sects like the Cold Moon Valley and the Tianyan Sect looked much more solemn.

Lie Tianxiong was very satisfied with this effect.

He slowly sat down, his eyes sweeping across the crowd, taking in everyone's reactions. His heart was filled with boundless pride.

After a long period of seclusion, today, he, Lie Tianxiong, and his Burning Sky Palace were going to take back everything that belonged to them!

He specifically cast his eyes towards the seat reserved for the Ten Thousand Dharma Pavilion, which was still empty.

A faint sneer curled up at the corner of Lie Tianxiong's mouth: "Yun Canghai, let's see if you can still maintain that lofty attitude later!"

Just then, a clear and melodious cry of a crane came from the sky.

A simple - looking, unassuming blue flying boat, guided by several spiritual cranes, slowly landed at the entrance of the martial arts arena. Engraved on the body of the boat were the words "Qingxuan".

"The Qingxuan Sect has arrived."

Everyone's gazes turned towards it, full of curiosity and a bit of scrutiny.

After all, in recent years, the Qingxuan Sect had declined and its power had weakened. It was said that Lie Tianxiong had even led his disciples to provoke them before.

However, something that shocked everyone happened.

The moment Lie Tianxiong, who was sitting on the main seat, saw the people from the Qingxuan Sect, he suddenly stood up, and an extremely enthusiastic and even somewhat grateful smile appeared on his face.

He strode down the high platform and walked towards Xuanyangzi and the others who had just disembarked from the flying boat.

"Sect Master Xuanyangzi! Peak Master Shi! Fellow Daoists! I, Lie, have been waiting for you for a long time!"

Lie Tianxiong's voice was as loud as a bell, with a beaming smile on his face as he took the lead to clasp his fists in greeting.

This scene instantly silenced the entire arena, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was stunned.

Lie Tianxiong actually stepped down from the high platform in person to greet the Qingxuan Sect? And his attitude was so humble and enthusiastic? Was this the end of the world?

Even Xuanyangzi was taken aback. What on earth was Lie Tianxiong up to?

But then, a kind and honest smile appeared on his face. He led Peak Master Shi and several other peak masters forward, clasping their fists in return: "Palace Master Lie, you're being too polite. We're really not worthy of your personal welcome."

However, Lie Tianxiong grabbed Shi Wanshan's thick arm and patted it forcefully, saying sincerely: "Peak Master Shi! In the secret realm, if it weren't for your righteous act of repelling that powerful enemy, I, Lie, might have already met my end! This kindness is like a new lease on life!

Your business, Peak Master Shi, is my business, Lie Tianxiong. And the business of the Qingxuan Sect is the business of the Burning Sky Palace!"

His words were spoken firmly and without any hesitation, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present.

So that's how it is! Everyone recalled that there seemed to have been such an incident back then.

As soon as Lie Tianxiong finished speaking, the Great Elder who followed behind him immediately took a step forward, bowed deeply to Xuanyangzi, and spoke in an almost exaggeratedly sincere tone.

"Sect Master Xuanyangzi shows great righteousness! The Qingxuan Sect has a righteous and kind - hearted sect atmosphere, and is truly a model for the sects in Xuanzhou!!"

The Third Elder quickly chimed in, with a look of admiration on his face. "Yes! All the disciples of the Qingxuan Sect are of outstanding appearance and have solid foundations. They will surely shine brightly in this competition! We've been looking forward to it for a long time!"

The other elders also echoed one after another, with sincere words and endless praises.

They were so enthusiastic that it seemed as if the Qingxuan Sect was not here for a competition but to save them from a dire situation.

Lie Tianxiong watched the performance of his elders and felt extremely proud.

Look! This was the team he, Lie Tianxiong, had led! How united! How grateful!

Once he set the tone, his subordinates could execute it so perfectly and make the scene so presentable!

He increasingly felt that the Fentian Palace was now a cohesive whole, easy to control.

He looked at Xuanyangzi with a smile, as if saying, "Look, how sensible my people are?"

The muscles on Xuanyangzi's face twitched imperceptibly. Fortunately, he was a good actor and immediately pretended to be flattered, waving his hands repeatedly.

"Elders, you're overpraising! You're overpraising! The Qingxuan Sect is just a small one and can't deserve such praises. Under the leadership of Palace Master Lie, the Fentian Palace is truly thriving. We still need to learn a lot from you."

Shi Wanshan, whose arm was held by Lie Tianxiong, could only smile honestly and nod.

Li Muran, Ye Guying and others who followed behind tried hard to maintain calm expressions, but the slightly twitching corners of their mouths showed that they were having a hard time holding back their laughter.

Just then, a sharp eagle's cry came from the sky, and a sharp and domineering aura approached from afar.

A magnificent silver flying boat shaped like a soaring eagle broke through the sky. The words "Ten Thousand Laws" shone brightly on the flag at the bow of the boat.

The Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion had arrived.

The flying boat landed steadily, and the cabin door opened.

Led by Pavilion Master Yun Canghai, with the Great Elder Molingzi closely following, the elders and disciples of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion filed out one by one.

Yun Canghai's face was calm, and his eyes were deep, showing no sign of emotion.

He scanned the whole area with his eyes. The moment his eyes met Lie Tianxiong's, it seemed as if invisible sparks were flying in the air.

When he saw the people of the Qingxuan Sect standing and chatting with the people of the Fentian Palace, his eyebrows frowned imperceptibly for a moment but soon returned to normal.

When Lie Tianxiong saw Yun Canghai, his warm smile instantly disappeared, replaced by a fake and polite one. He arched his hands from afar and said, "Pavilion Master Yun, how have you been?"

Yun Canghai returned the salute indifferently. "Thank you for your concern, Palace Master Lie."

Then he turned his gaze elsewhere and didn't look at Lie Tianxiong again, as if looking at him one more time would dirty his eyes.

This kind of indifference made Lie Tianxiong even more furious than a direct provocation.

After the greetings, each sect took their seats in order.

Now came the highlight - the appearance of the participating disciples from each sect!

Naturally, the host, the Fentian Palace, was the first.

The chief disciple, Lin Lie, was dressed in a flaming battle robe. His violent aura was fully exposed, and his cultivation at the peak of the Condensing Elixir Realm was obvious. He scanned the whole area arrogantly with his eyes, especially pausing in the directions of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion and the Qingxuan Sect, with a burning fighting spirit.

The disciples behind him were all at the middle - late stage of the Condensing Elixir Realm. They had a neat lineup and an imposing manner.

Next up was the Myriad Methods Pavilion. The chief disciple, Liu Chengfeng, stepped forward slowly. He was dressed in a blue robe, with a handsome face and a calm expression.

However, when he stood still, an aura as profound as the sea and far beyond the Core Condensation Realm slowly spread out!

"The Purple Mansion Realm! It's the Purple Mansion Realm!"

"This leaves no room for suspense! The champion must be from the Myriad Methods Pavilion!"

The entire venue erupted in an uproar, and exclamations rang out one after another.

Liu Chengfeng's presence was like a crane standing among chickens, instantly overshadowing the brilliance of all the other geniuses.

Lie Tianxiong's pupils suddenly contracted, and his face darkened slightly. However, the corner of his mouth curled up in a cold arc, as if he had some other means up his sleeve.

There was a flash of satisfaction in the depths of Yun Canghai's eyes.

After that, the chief disciples of the Cold Moon Valley, the Heavenly Evolution Sect, and the Jade Pure Sect made their appearances one after another. They were all at the late stage of the Core Condensation Realm, with a well - balanced lineup in terms of strength, making them the favorites to compete for the top three spots.

Then came the Formation - Breaking Gate. When the sect master, Chen Tieshan, led his disciples over, the atmosphere obviously became more subdued.

The chief disciple was only at the middle stage of the Core Condensation Realm, and the overall lineup of the sect was the weakest among the seven major sects, attracting many looks of sympathy or disdain.

Finally, it was the Azure Profound Sect. Li Xuanfeng led Mu Chenyu, Lin Xiaowan and three other people out.

All six of them had the cultivation base of the Core Condensation Realm. Li Xuanfeng was at the late stage, three of the others were at the middle stage, and two were at the early stage.

The lineup seemed solid, but in the whole venue, especially when compared with the Purple Mansion Realm cultivator from the Myriad Methods Pavilion and the peak - level Core Condensation Realm cultivators from the Blazing Sky Palace, it seemed ordinary, even shabby.

Many people shook their heads secretly, thinking that the Azure Profound Sect was likely to continue its downward trend this year.