As Xuan Kong’s words fell, Li Xuan and the others all looked towards Xuan Kong.
Xuan Kong flicked his finger, and a massive ball of spiritual energy gathered. In the next moment, the spirit talismans that Li Xuan and the others had used to enter the Xuan Beast World in the first stage flew out and converged within the spiritual energy ball.
Seeing this, Li Xuan suddenly understood. This was how the random draws worked. It wasn’t just about strength, but also luck. If a weaker individual encountered a much stronger competitor, they might not even need to fight.
Of course, since this was the Five Regions Heavenly Talent Ranking competition, weaker participants naturally wouldn’t be able to make it onto the rankings. After all, strength was ultimately a significant factor in determining the final outcome.
Regarding the probability of drawing his own talisman, Li Xuan pondered for a moment and shook his head. With over thirty thousand participants, if one could actually draw their own talisman, that would truly be a miracle.
“Everyone, let the drawing begin,” Xuan Kong said, glancing at the crowd.
As Xuan Kong’s voice faded, the participants in the arena waved their hands towards the ball of spiritual energy in mid-air. Soon, spirit talismans appeared in their hands.
“Liuli Holy Land, Liu Zixin…” Li Xuan looked at the talisman in his hand, a strange expression on his face. It was the Holy Son of Liuli Holy Land again. Was he clashing with Liuli Holy Land?
According to this drawing system for matches, each person would fight the opponent they drew in the first round once. That made two matches. The third round of matches would involve another draw for all participants.
The third round also tested luck. If one had a win and a loss from the first two rounds, encountering a weaker opponent in the third round could allow them to successfully pass the second stage.
Sometimes, luck was also a form of strength.
Soon, with the special imprints on the spirit talismans, Xuan Kong listed all the matchups in less than five minutes.
“Participants at the Martial Emperor realm, step forward to the stage!” Xuan Kong announced loudly.
In the next moment, floating stages appeared. Li Xuan looked on in astonishment. Thousands of challenge stages materialized at once. Each stage was about a hundred square feet in size, perfectly adequate for two people to battle.
Moreover, each stage had a referee. Li Xuan observed with surprise; these adjudicators all possessed strength at the advanced or peak level of the Martial God realm.
Li Xuan, currently at the early stage of the Martial Emperor realm, naturally stepped out as well.
As Li Xuan entered the stage, a trace of curiosity flickered in his eyes. At this moment, Li Xuan only knew that one of his opponents was Liu Zixin of Liuli Holy Land. He still didn’t know who the participant who drew his talisman was.
“I concede,” a figure soon landed on Li Xuan’s stage. Before the referee could even announce the start of the match, the person simply declared their surrender. With a cupped-hand salute to Li Xuan, they promptly left the stage.
Li Xuan was momentarily stunned. However, upon recognizing who it was, he couldn’t help but smile wryly and shake his head.
The person was Jun Bieli, a disciple of the Cang Lang Sect whom Li Xuan had met before. Although Jun Bieli was currently at the early stage of the Martial God realm, he knew he was no match for Li Xuan. Rather than engaging in a life-or-death struggle with a formidable opponent like Li Xuan, it was better to conserve his spiritual energy for the remaining two matches.
“This match, Li Xuan wins,” Luo Fusheng said, somewhat speechless. However, since the opposing participant, Jun Bieli, had declared surrender, it was valid. After announcing the match result, Luo Fusheng also looked at Li Xuan with a hint of curiosity.
Time passed, and after half an hour, Li Xuan’s eyes opened. A man had just landed on the stage.
“Did you seriously injure Liu Wenyao with a single sword strike?” the newcomer asked, looking at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. Clearly, this was Liu Zixin of Liuli Holy Land.
“Since you could injure Liu Wenyao with one sword, I naturally am no match for you. This match, I concede,” Liu Zixin sighed helplessly. With that, he offered a cupped-hand salute to Luo Fusheng and turned to leave.
*Pfft!*
Luo Fusheng, who had just taken a sip of tea, immediately spat it out upon hearing this.
What was going on? Another surrender?
This meant that Li Xuan on this stage had already won two matches! If that was the case, what was the point of the third match? Even if Li Xuan lost, he would still pass the second stage of the qualifying rounds according to the rules.
“I’ve been in seclusion for so many years, has something major happened in this world?” Luo Fusheng glanced at Li Xuan, his curiosity deepening. With a movement, Luo Fusheng vanished.
Clearly, Luo Fusheng was going to find someone to inquire about Li Xuan’s exploits.
Nan Haotian, who had been closely watching Li Xuan, was also somewhat bewildered. The prodigies from the Central Region and the Holy Lands had all chosen to forfeit. Although Li Xuan hadn’t displayed his true strength to bring glory to the Southern Region, passing the second stage was still excellent.
Thinking of this, Nan Haotian’s face grew increasingly radiant.
Xuan Ye and the others beside him could only shake their heads with a wry smile. Li Xuan’s existence was truly a loophole in the Five Regions Heavenly Talent Ranking competition. Despite only being at the early stage of the Martial Emperor realm, his combat power was likely beyond that of even a peak-level Martial God realm spirit master.
This was, quite frankly, absurd!
Time passed, and the third round of matches began again.
At this point, many people’s expressions had changed. Li Xuan observed; those who looked nervous were clearly those who had a win and a loss in the previous two rounds. Those who looked calm were like Li Xuan, having won both matches.
As for the participants who had lost both matches, they had already been eliminated.
“This is your last chance. Who you draw is entirely up to your own luck. Begin now,” Xuan Kong said calmly to the participants with one win and one loss.
As Xuan Kong’s words concluded, everyone began drawing. Li Xuan paid it no mind; those who had secured two wins did not need to draw. As for who would be drawn to face him, Li Xuan could only wait.
“Lingyun Holy Land, Cai Jianhao.” Soon, a figure arrived on Li Xuan’s stage.
Li Xuan nodded slightly and then said, “Southern Region, Li Xuan.”
“I know I’m likely not your opponent, but if I were to concede directly, I’d probably be reprimanded back home. Your Excellency, how about this: I’ll make one move. If you can withstand it, consider me defeated?” Cai Jianhao said.
Li Xuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded, “Please, make your move.”
“Your Excellency, be careful,” Cai Jianhao said, stomping his foot. He then clasped his hands together, and spiritual light surged from him.
“Earthquake!”
With a low cry, Cai Jianhao’s spiritual energy surged out, instantly transforming into a massive fist that hurtled towards Li Xuan.
Seeing this, Li Xuan’s brow furrowed slightly. He then clenched his left fist and threw a punch.
*Boom!*
The two fists collided, erupting in a thunderous impact. Spiritual light diffused, and only after more than ten breaths did Li Xuan’s figure gradually emerge.
“I lose.” Seeing Li Xuan completely unharmed, Cai Jianhao smiled bitterly, cupped his hands towards Li Xuan, and said. As soon as he finished speaking, Cai Jianhao turned and walked off the stage.
“This match, Southern Region’s Li Xuan wins.” Luo Fusheng looked at Li Xuan with a complex expression before announcing the result.
During the time he had disappeared, Luo Fusheng had already learned of Li Xuan’s deeds. Although Li Xuan hadn’t exerted much effort in these three matches, Luo Fusheng knew that Li Xuan’s strength must be formidable.
A Sword Dao Grandmaster at seventeen years old, Luo Fusheng felt a sense of awe just thinking about it.
Li Xuan smiled faintly, offered a cupped-hand salute to Luo Fusheng, and then turned to leave the stage.
On Wending Plaza, Li Xuan watched the participants still engaged in fierce battles on the various stages, then took a deep breath.
Next was the ranking matches of the third stage.