chapter 42

The participants' section was also subdivided into several sub-sections according to their levels of martial arts. The higher level fighters had more privileges and advantages than the lower level fighters. For example, they had more comfortable seats, more space, more food and drinks, more and powerful security guards, more access to information and resources, and more respect from others. The sub-sections were marked by different colors and symbols that corresponded to their levels. The colors were: white for Body Tempering level, yellow for Energy Gathering level, green for Gathering sprite qi level The symbols were: a circle for Body Tempering level, a square for Energy Gathering level, a triangle for Gathering sprite qi level,a star.

Xua Yan and his group belonged to the yellow sub-section since they were all at Energy Gathering level. Xua Yan himself was at the 8th stage of Energy Gathering level which meant that he only needed one more breakthrough to reach Gathering sprite qi level. He hoped that he could achieve it during this tournament. They walked towards their sub-section which was located on the left side of the stage. They saw many other people who were also wearing yellow badges that indicated their levels. Some of them looked friendly and curious while others looked hostile and arrogant. Xua Yan ignored them all as he focused on finding his seat. He found his seat which was numbered 8765 according to his registration number. It was a simple wooden chair with a small table in front of it. On the table there were some snacks and drinks provided by the organizers as well as some papers and pens for taking notes from the fights.

As Xua Yan was observing the newly built arena, his attention was caught by a special place constructed within it, which had about 200 seats. He couldn't help but wonder who would be occupying those seats. As he was contemplating this, he overheard the people sitting in the front row discussing the same topic. His curiosity piqued, Xua Yan decided to use his spiritual sense to listen to the conversations happening around him.

With his spiritual sense, Xua Yan could hear the thoughts and conversations of the people around him as if they were speaking aloud. He heard some speculating that the seats were reserved for important officials and dignitaries, while others believed they were for the wealthy patrons of the martial arts world. Some even joked that they were for the gods themselves.

Xua Yan was impressed by the extent of the security measures put in place to guard the special seating area. He could sense that the guards were powerful martial artists and that they had been instructed to prevent anyone from entering the area without proper authorization.

As Xua Yan continued to listen in on the conversations, he learned that many of the people attending the competition were martial artists from different regions and backgrounds who had come to test their skills against one another. He heard stories of some who had trained their entire lives for this moment and others who had been invited by powerful factions to represent them in the competition.

Xua Yan also overheard some gossip about the mayor's involvement in the competition. Some speculated that he was using the event to showcase his power and influence, while others believed he was secretly sponsoring certain martial artists to win.

All of this information was fascinating to Xua Yan, who realized that the competition was not just a test of martial arts skill, but also a complex web of politics, power, and influence.

Meanwhile, Wei Ming and the others were also admiring the arena and discussing the competition. Wei Ming was excited to see so many talented martial artists gathered in one place and was looking forward to seeing some thrilling fights. Li Hua was more interested in the cultural and historical significance of the event, while Jian Cheng was focused on the strategies and techniques of the fighters.

Mei Ling and Chao Feng were more reserved in their excitement, with Mei Ling expressing concern about the safety of the fighters and Chao Feng wondering about the potential outcomes of the competition.

Jun Wang, on the other hand, was more interested in the spectators and their reactions to the fights. He had always been fascinated by human behavior and psychology and was eager to observe how people reacted to the different martial arts styles on display.

Xua Yan and his companions could feel the excitement and anticipation building around them. The air was electric with the energy of the martial artists and the spectators alike. Xua Yan knew that he was in for an unforgettable experience and that the competition would test not only his martial arts skill but also his mental fortitude and strategic thinking.

As Xua Yan eavesdropped on the conversations happening around him, he heard someone say, "I heard that this time the seventh prince of the kingdom is coming to see the competition." This piqued Xua Yan's interest, as he knew that the seventh prince was an important figure in the kingdom. He wondered what could be the reason for his visit to the competition.

Another person chimed in, "It's not only just the seventh prince, I have heard from one of the elders from my family that the seventh prince will be bringing his sister, the fifth princess, with him." Xua Yan's curiosity grew as he heard this. He had never seen a princess before and was intrigued by the thought of meeting one.

The conversation continued as another person said, "I heard that there will also be representatives from the kingdom's official court." Xua Yan wondered who these representatives might be and what their purpose was for attending the competition. Another person added, "I wonder who will be the representatives from the court this time." The person next to him interjected, "If the representatives from the official court are coming, we will finally be able to know why this martial arts competition is being held before the time that it usually happens." Xua Yan realized that this competition was happening earlier than expected. He also wanted to see that the presence of the court officials would provide some answers.

As the conversation continued, another person said, "I have never seen a princess in my entire life, I really wonder what kind of looks the fifth princess has." This comment made Xua Yan chuckle inwardly. He knew that the people of the kingdom held the royal family in high regard, and the curiosity around the princess's appearance was natural.

However, not everyone was pleased with the discussion about the princess. Another person spoke up, "Are you looking to die by talking like this about the princess in public?" Xua Yan understood the gravity of the situation. In the kingdom, it was considered disrespectful to talk about the royal family in an inappropriate manner. He hoped that the conversation would move on to a safer topic.

Overall, Xua Yan realized that the presence of the seventh prince, the fifth princess, and court officials added an extra layer of excitement to the competition. He finally drew the conclusion that this arena and this grand show-off was happening in this place due to this reason.

It was not surprising to Xua Yan that a prince from the Heavenly Retreat kingdom was attending the martial arts competition as it was a significant event. However, the presence of the fifth princess, the younger sister of the seventh prince, was unexpected. The princess's presence suggested that this competition held some importance for the royal family, and they were taking a keen interest in it.

Moreover, the representatives from the official court added another layer of significance to the competition. It implied that the competition might have some political or strategic implications. Xua Yan was curious to know why the competition was being held before the time it usually happened, as one of the onlookers mentioned. He wondered if the presence of the prince and princess and representatives from the official court had something to do with it.

Xua Yan also wondered what kind of person the fifth princess was, as he overheard someone expressing their curiosity about her appearance. Xua Yan knew that the royal family of the Heavenly Retreat kingdom was known for its beauty, and the princess's appearance would undoubtedly be a sight to behold. The news of the prince, princess, and the representatives attending the competition created a buzz among the spectators. People began to speculate about the reasons behind their attendance and what this meant for the future. The presence of the royal family and the representatives from the official court added an air of excitement and anticipation to the competition.

In summary, the conversation Xua Yan overheard helped him understand why a special place was built within the arena and added significance to the martial arts competition. The presence of the seventh prince, fifth princess, and representatives from the official court suggested that the competition had some political or strategic implications. The news created a buzz among the spectators, adding an air of excitement and anticipation to the competition.

Xua Yan continued to listen to the conversation happening around him to find some valuable information that helped him understand this world and this competition in a better way. As he continued to listen he suddenly overheard someone saying " I wonder why the sects, clans and those ancient families are participating in this martial arts competition as they have all the resources they need in order to increase their martial arts and live a long life." Xua Yan was intrigued by this question wad wanted to know more about this topic so he started to listen to this conversation.

As Xua Yan listened to the conversation happening around him about the topic of sects, ancient families, and clans he heard someone questioning the participation of the sects, clans, and ancient families in the martial arts competition. This puzzled Xua Yan, as he too had been wondering the same thing. He concentrated on the conversation, hoping to learn more about this topic.

One person responded to the question by saying, "I think the reason why they participate in this competition is to show off their skills and strength. It's a way to establish their dominance and position in the martial arts world. It's also a chance for them to test their skills against other talented martial artists from different regions and backgrounds."

Another person chimed in, "I think it's also a way for them to recruit new members. By showcasing their power and resources, they can attract talented young martial artists to join their sects, clans or families. It's a way to increase their influence and expand their power."

Xua Yan nodded as he listened, understanding the reasons behind the participation of these powerful groups. He continued to concentrate on the conversation, eager to learn more.

Another person added, "In addition, this competition is a way for them to gain recognition and prestige in the martial arts world. By winning the competition, they can prove that they are the strongest and most talented martial artists, which can bring them honor and respect from their peers."

Xua Yan smiled as he heard this, realizing that the competition was not just about showcasing one's strength and skills but also about gaining recognition and prestige. He knew that it was important to establish oneself in the martial arts world and gain the respect of others.

As he continued to listen to the conversation, he heard someone say, "But I also think that some of these sects, clans, and families participate in the competition for personal reasons. It's a way for them to settle old scores and rivalries with other groups. It's a chance for them to prove that they are superior to their enemies and gain revenge for past grievances."

Xua Yan's smile faded as he heard this, realizing that there were dark and personal motives behind some of the participants' actions. He knew that the martial arts world was full of rivalry and conflict, and that the competition was not exempt from this.

Overall, Xua Yan was able to gain a better understanding of why the powerful groups participated in the martial arts competition. He knew that it was a way for them to showcase their strength, recruit new members, gain recognition and prestige, and settle old scores and rivalries. However, he also realized that there were darker motives behind some of their actions, and that the martial arts world was not always a peaceful or honorable place.