Chapter 16: Ten-Person Arena

"In the past two days, I haven't seen this person practicing martial arts. It seems their strength is just that."

"There are still two chances left. Let's see if they can seize the opportunity. But if they seem so struggling, it's likely they'll be eliminated in the next ten-man round." Those standing behind Lin Yuan, who happened to be from the same courtyard, watched Lin Yuan's performance with mixed thoughts.

"This person has no chance in the next round."

Several couldn't help but shake their heads secretly.

Seeing the array lacking light, Lin Yuan's face showed slight tension.

"Sir, I want to try again!" Lin Yuan clasped his hands in salute.

"You may!"

Upon hearing the reply, Lin Yuan shook his head a bit and exhaled a deep breath, as if pressing down the dejection in his heart.

He assumed the starting stance of the Eight-step Breaking Fist at the Small Achievement Realm, then rapidly channeled the Qi-Blood within him, causing his face to flush red suddenly.

"Now!"

Lin Yuan shouted again, using waist strength, rapidly accelerating his right arm as veins bulged, executing a punch onto the array.

Then a faint light shot out.

"The array lights up, passed. You may proceed to the next stage." The person on stage said calmly. As his voice announced, the disciple beside him wrote Lin Yuan's name into the register.

"So difficult!" Lin Yuan wiped the sweat off his forehead.

With the mouth opened the widest, breathing the deepest breath, singing the softest song, indeed it is tough.

"I expected as much; he just barely passed this first stage. But he'll surely be eliminated in the next stage." The person in line behind Lin Yuan stepped forward, now disregarding Lin Yuan.

"Next one."

The person behind Lin Yuan began to charge and strike, an ordinary punch resulting in countless surprises.

"What kind of strength does this person have? The light is so dazzling?"

An ordinary young person, even if succeeding in eliciting a light, wouldn't cause such amazement. But when Lin Yuan's fist landed on the stone, the light flared up so brightly that it made the eyes of everyone in line sting.

"The Li Erniu from my village, with his fierce strength, can't even elicit half the light this person can."

"Such strong prowess."

The crowd's gaze toward the person in cloth garments changed. Now wearing gray cloth clothes, with a somewhat slender figure, in their eyes he appeared immensely tall, a respect for the powerful.

Compared to Lin Yuan, this person seemed like a small matchstick versus a pile of wood, distinctively eye-catching.

"Fair enough." The person finished his punch technique, without saying much, nonchalantly registered and then turned away.

The queue for testing gradually shortened. The teenager from the same courtyard, having only small achievement in the Eight-step Breaking Fist, and no dual cultivation with other martial techniques, was eliminated.

The other two girls could also elicit light, successfully getting through.

But the light was only slightly stronger than Lin Yuan's, entering the second stage, defeat was almost certain.

As time passed, until everyone had finished testing, among those whose strength could reach the force of one ox, only one in four barely succeeded.

After testing ended for the day, those who were preparing for the selection returned to their respective houses to rest.

Lin Yuan just stepped into the courtyard entrance, seeing three people inside the courtyard already packed, preparing to return to their respective villages.

These three lacked Qi-Blood strength, unable to elicit sufficient power, and were eliminated in the first-round test.

"This person also lacks much potential, he and I are already people of two worlds. My success in selection is destined." As Lin Yuan approached, he was scanned with eyes before they shifted back to a girl in front of them.

More turned back indoors, deeming Lin Yuan, who seemed destined for elimination after his first-round performance, unworthy of interaction.

"In our martial realm, how should we confront enemies? I hope you can give us some pointers." One short-haired girl requested from a robust young man in a Chinese-style jacket in front of them.

The jacket-clad young man gave a perfunctory response before turning back indoors, leaving only three people to engage in brief conversation with Lin Yuan.

These three were one male and two females. The male was called Yang Liqi, the females were Tong Qing and He Zhi, their martial abilities roughly on par with his previous showings.

All three furrowed their brows, discussing how to handle the ten-man ring match tomorrow, contemplating strategies for confronting their opponents.

"Good luck, hope the next few days bring good fortune."

Lin Yuan listened silently and offered a few words of encouragement.

On the second day, at the Selection Square.

"The first stage of selection ends, 23,682 people enter the second stage." Following this announcement, the array in the sky lit up, showing the progress of the selection tournament.

"The selection preliminary second stage begins." As the voice fell, the ground of the square suddenly raised three-foot-high arenas, each roughly ten square feet.

Those responsible for registration filed out, taking positions beside the arenas.

Lin Yuan quietly proceeded to the registration point, presented his competition token, registered, and entered the arena, waiting for the matches to begin.

Lin Yuan was ranked relatively early, right on this day. With about an hour until the match began, he had time to observe others' matches.

"The Eight-step Breaking Fist at the Great Achievement Realm, if careful enough, can nearly sweep the battlefield! Strategy selection is equally important!"

"When the time comes, do your best." After some observations, Lin Yuan had assessed the ring matches.

Shortly after, it was his turn to compete.

As he ascended the arena, Lin Yuan saw five others each standing at a corner, their eyes uniformly falling on him as he stepped onto the stage.

"This short-sleeved young man's fists are clenched tight, perhaps a bit nervous." Lin Yuan also examined these individuals: "That girl with her hair tied looks calm, face showing no ripples, formidable strength. As for that confident-looking tall guy, he seems a bit foolish."