Chapter 41: First Phase of the Preliminaries

Shen Ming addressed the crowd, using a rune to amplify his voice across the vast arena where the tournament was being held.

"I'm pleased to welcome you all to this tournament of geniuses. Allow me to explain the rules. First, all participants must be under the age of 25. If more than five volunteers step into the arena, they will need to go through a preliminary round."

At those words, a voice rose from the crowd, shouting, "Why only five?"

A murmur of agreement spread among the spectators, with someone adding, "That's right. Usually there are eight candidates, and the organizer only chooses the winner of the final match."

Shen Ming gave a shameless smile, ignoring the growing unrest in the crowd. "This year's tournament is hosted by my Sacred Family, so it's only fair I reserve three additional spots for the younger generation of my family," he declared confidently.

This statement caused an uproar among the audience. Some voiced their disapproval loudly, while others whispered in disbelief at Shen Ming's audacity. Furious gazes turned toward him, highlighting the crowd's frustration with a decision that appeared biased and clearly advantageous to the Sacred Family.

Meanwhile, the other families in attendance seemed divided—some were probably used to the questionable practices of the Major Families, while others were visibly angered by this blatant power grab.

Unbothered by the commotion he had stirred, Shen Ming continued, detailing more tournament logistics while maintaining a superior air that only heightened the already thick tension in the atmosphere.

His magically amplified voice rang out once more across the tournament site. "Volunteers, step forward into the arena so we may proceed," he finally declared, despite the palpable irritation from the crowd.

Chan Wei, turning to his brother Nie Li with a determined look, whispered, "Nie Li, lend me 50 million. I'm not entering the fight—I'm going to place some bets." Nie Li nodded silently and handed him a card containing the requested sum, possibly even more.

Meanwhile, Nie Li and Xiao Ning'er leapt onto the stage, joined by several other participants. Chan Wei stayed behind, little Kyu and little Bai perched on his shoulders, watching the arena with interest.

Nie Li scanned the other young competitors preparing for the tournament. Spotting Ye Ziyun among them surprised him slightly. "Ye Ziyun, you're participating too?" he asked, curiosity and surprise in his voice.

Ye Ziyun nodded with determination, adjusting the strap of her light armor. "Yes, Nie Li. I need real combat experience. This tournament is a great opportunity for me."

Xiao Ning'er smiled softly, understanding her friend's motivation. "That's a good decision, Ye Ziyun. Show them what you're made of."

Nie Li turned to Du Ze, who had also stepped closer.

"As for me," Du Ze began seriously, "I intend to claim some of the tournament rewards. They'll help me with my future engagement to Huyan Lanruo."

Nie Li raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really?" he said, his interest piqued by Du Ze's motivation.

Du Ze nodded resolutely. "Yes, I want to show the Huyan Family that I'm worthy of their daughter."

In total, around fifty participants under the age of 25 had stepped into the arena, the space now buzzing with diverse energies and ambitions.

The Sacred Family quickly recorded the names of all participants and launched a betting pool on who would remain after the preliminaries.

Chan Wei, having identified only four people among the contestants, decided to bet 10 million demon spirit coins on each of his friends. The total of 40 million shocked nearby gamblers, who looked at the young man with a mix of surprise and disdain.

"Just another young master who doesn't know what to do with his money," one man scoffed.

"Maybe he's betting on his friends thinking they're the strongest," another mocked, drawing laughter from the crowd.

A single cold glance from Chan Wei was enough to silence anyone who dared ridicule him. The atmosphere around him tightened instantly. After retrieving his betting slips, he calmly walked over to join Yang Xin, waiting with her for the matches to begin.

Yang Xin glanced at Chan Wei with an amused smile. "You really trust your picks that much?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement at his boldness.

Chan Wei nodded with confidence. "Absolutely. My friends won't let me down," he replied, the conviction in his voice leaving no room for doubt.

Both observers turned their attention to the arena, where the participants were now preparing for the first matches—eager to witness how the tournament would unfold.

"Very well, the bets are closed. Since there are five spots and fifty of you, we will hold elimination rounds in groups of ten. If you wish to avoid fighting a friend during the preliminaries, you may choose a different group," declared Shen Ming.

Nie Li joined the first group, Xiao Ning'er went to the second, Du Ze took the third, and Ye Ziyun entered the fourth, while the fifth was filled with strangers to Chan Wei.

"Let the first group begin," Shen Ming declared, initiating the battle.

Nie Li stepped into the arena of the first group, surrounded by an aura that was calm yet intense. The crowd, initially amused by his demon spirit—a massive saber-toothed panda—quickly quieted as they noticed the determination in his eyes. Though some of his opponents were fused with impressive demon spirits like tigers and wolves, they seemed insignificant compared to the overwhelming strength Nie Li radiated.

As soon as Shen Ming gave the signal, the fight commenced. Nie Li moved with surprising agility for his size, skillfully dodging incoming attacks. His mastery of martial arts and perfect synchronization with his demon spirit allowed him to counterattack with devastating precision. With a swift motion, he sent a tiger-fused participant flying out of the ring with a single punch, while another, bonded with a wolf spirit, was slammed into the ground with tremendous force.

The crowd watched in stunned silence, awed by how effortlessly Nie Li eliminated his opponents. His aura dominated the remaining participants, forcing them to act more cautiously. Nie Li, however, moved forward with unwavering confidence, using every opportunity to display his overwhelming superiority.

In the stands, Chan Wei observed with a mix of pride and awe. He had always known Nie Li was a genius, but seeing his strength in action never ceased to impress. He secretly hoped that his friends—Ye Ziyun, Xiao Ning'er, and Du Ze—would perform just as well in their respective groups.

Meanwhile, Shen Ming observed from the side of the arena with a calculating gaze. He was beginning to realize that this tournament would not be the simple formality he had anticipated.

Nie Li quickly ended the battle, standing alone in the arena.

"Nie Li is the first contestant to qualify. Let's give him a big round of applause," Shen Ming announced, now clearly on guard due to the performance the young man had just delivered.

Some members of the crowd cursed at the competitors they had bet on, just as the second group stepped onto the arena floor.

Xiao Ning'er stood at the center of the arena, her eyes intensely focused on her demon spirit. A palpable calm radiated from her as she prepared to merge with her spiritual manifestation. Slowly, golden lights began to dance across her skin, forming intricate patterns that seemed to animate under the arena's dim light.

Her demon spirit took form around her, appearing as a majestic eastern dragon. Its golden scales shimmered with electric light, pulsing with pure, powerful energy. In perfect harmony with her demon spirit, Xiao Ning'er now bore draconic features that elegantly merged with her feminine silhouette.

Her hair became a cascade of shimmering gold, reflecting the flickers of lightning that danced across her body. Her usually gentle eyes now glowed with a fierce intensity. The contours of her hands and feet were subtly marked with scale-like patterns, enhancing the impression of strength and grace she projected.

When she moved, it was with the fluidity of a hunting predator, combining agility and power in every gesture. Xiao Ning'er seemed entirely at ease in this form, as if she and the golden lightning dragon were one. It was a perfect fusion of feminine grace and draconic might, captivating all who watched her in the arena.

Chan Wei felt immense pride as he watched his fiancée's transformation, his cheeks tinged with pink at the sight of her ethereal beauty, radiating with a celestial aura.

Xiao Ning'er's transformation stunned both her nine opponents and a portion of the audience. The golden scales of her demon spirit sparkled under the spotlights, casting an electric glow that lit up the arena like a sunset over a calm sea. Her movements were fluid and precise, each action resonating like a dance in harmony with the electric pulses she emitted.

As the fight began, Xiao Ning'er smiled warmly, as if she already knew how it would end. With a graceful wave of her hand, an electric wave surged outward—a manifestation of her absolute control over her demon spirit's energy. The wave unfolded like a luminous tide, catching her opponents in a dazzling dance of light and lightning.

For her enemies, it was like being caught in a whirlwind of contradictory sensations: the softness of an electric caress and the raw power of a raging storm. The air was filled with the crackle of golden sparks, each one glittering like a fleeting star in the night sky. Xiao Ning'er's opponents were swept away like dead leaves in a strong gust, left unharmed but clearly overwhelmed by her mastery.

The spectators, initially astonished by the transformation, were now captivated by the display of power and elegance. Every movement she made was a visual poem—a perfect fusion of feminine beauty and elemental strength. She had transcended simple combat and become a force of nature: a golden lightning dragon dominating the arena with her majestic presence.

After Xiao Ning'er had swept away her opponents with her electric energy, the arena fell into a respectful silence, broken only by the impressed murmurs of the crowd. Shen Ming, maintaining his composure despite the evident astonishment in the air, slowly stepped forward to the center of the arena, scrutinizing the remaining participants with a critical gaze.

"Congratulations to Xiao Ning'er for her victory in the second group. A truly impressive demonstration of control and power," Shen Ming announced in a loud, clear voice, implicitly acknowledging her dominance in the match.

Meanwhile, Chan Wei, still under the spell of his fiancée's dazzling performance, turned to Yang Xin, who had remained by his side. A mischievous smile played on Yang Xin's lips as she watched the scene with amusement.

"Xiao Ning'er is truly amazing, isn't she?" commented Chan Wei, a mix of pride and admiration in his voice.

Yang Xin raised an eyebrow slightly, her gaze sparkling with mischief. "Oh, she certainly is. But tell me, Chan Wei, are you getting used to constantly being overshadowed by such a dominant woman?" she teased, referring to Xiao Ning'er's strong personality and impressive power.

Chan Wei shook his head with a tender smile. "I'm not complaining. I cherish every moment with her, no matter who shines brighter."

Yang Xin gave him a playful elbow. "It's good that you're so understanding. That promises some interesting times ahead, especially if Xiao Ning'er keeps dominating like this."

Chan Wei chuckled softly, fully aware of Yang Xin's playful banter. "We'll see what the future holds," he replied enigmatically, his eyes still fixed on Xiao Ning'er, who was preparing for the next stage of the tournament, ready to face the upcoming challenges with the same determination and grace she had shown so far.

(Author's note: for those who didn't catch it, I drew partial inspiration for the tournament format from the Tenkaichi Budokai, even though the preliminaries remain a royal rumble.)