Chương 55: Tournament

Cultivation World - Grand Tournament Stadium The massive stadium rose from the crater floor like an ancient colosseum merged with modern cultivation flair. Half carved directly into the red stone cliffs while the other half shot out from the cliff walls for over 500 meters, the arena could seat nearly half a million spectators across hundreds of tiered levels that stepped upward along the crater walls on one half.

Formations embedded in every surface provided structural strength while modern cultivation technology amplified sound and projected visual displays, ensuring that even those in the highest seats could see every detail of the battles below. The arena floor itself was a masterwork of defensive engineering—a perfect circle nearly a kilometer in diameter, surrounded by qi barriers that could contain even Golden Core level techniques.

The ground was made of qi-reinforced stone that could regenerate itself between matches, while overhead, an enormous holographic display system would broadcast every moment to the assembled crowds.

"CITIZENS OF THE CRIMSON CRATER KINGDOM!" Marcus's voice boomed across the stadium, amplified by the speakers that carried his words to every corner of the vast structure. He stood on the royal platform with Elena beside him, both dressed in ceremonial robes that sparkled with embedded spirit stones.

"HONORED GUESTS FROM ACROSS THE MAIN CONTINENT! WELCOME TO THE 87TH INTER-REALM COMPETITION!" The crowd's roar was deafening—hundreds of thousands of voices cheering as one, creating a wall of sound that seemed to shake the very mountains. Banners representing dozens of kingdoms and sects fluttered in the wind, while formation-enhanced fireworks painted the sky in brilliant colors. Elena stepped forward as the cheering gradually subsided.

"For over eight hundred years, these tournaments have maintained peace across the northwestern part of the main continent!" she declared, her voice carrying the weight of tradition and hope.

"Rather than waste lives in costly wars, we have chosen to let our young champions determine the fate of territories and resources through honorable combat!" Marcus nodded, his expression solemn with the gravity of the moment.

"Every two years, the finest young cultivators gather to represent their people, their ideals, and their nations. Today, we witness not just competition, but the continuation of a tradition that has prevented countless wars and preserved countless lives!" The crowd erupted again, and this time the cheering carried a deeper note—respect for the sacrifice and courage of the young warriors who risked everything for their people.

"We thank every sect, every kingdom, every delegation that has traveled here to participate," Elena continued.

"Your presence honors our kingdom and validates the peaceful resolution of conflicts that has defined our kingdoms and sects for centuries!"

"Let the 847th Inter-Realm Competition begin!" Marcus shouted, and the stadium exploded with anticipation. From the eastern entrance, a procession of countless colors and banners drew the crowd's attention.

"Representing the Azure Dragon Empire," the announcer's magically amplified voice declared, "Long Chen!" The young man who strode onto the arena floor moved with the fluid grace of someone born to power. His midnight blue robes were embroidered with silver dragons that seemed to writhe and move in the light, while his long black hair flowed behind him like a banner. At Foundation Establishment level 7, his spiritual pressure was visible as a faint blue aura that made the air around him shimmer.

Long Chen stopped at the center of the arena and bowed formally to the royal platform, then turned to address the crowd.

"I am Long Chen of the Azure Dragon Empire," his voice carried easily across the stadium without amplification.

"I fight for the honor of my ancestors and the glory of the dragon bloodline!" Blue qi erupted around him in the shape of an enormous dragon that roared silently before dissolving back into his aura. The crowd cheered their appreciation for the impressive display.

"Representing the Golden Phoenix Federation," came the next announcement, "Huang Wei!" If Long Chen had been impressive, Huang Wei was breathtaking. She glided onto the arena floor like walking fire, her golden robes seeming to burn with qi flames as she moved. Her beauty was legendary—perfect features framed by hair like spun gold, eyes that held inner flames, and a figure that made even the most disciplined cultivators stop and stare.

"I am Huang Wei of the Golden Phoenix Federation," she declared, her melodious voice carrying to every corner of the stadium.

"I fight for rebirth, for transformation, and for the eternal flame that burns in all our hearts!" Golden fire erupted around her in the shape of a magnificent phoenix, its wings spanning nearly fifty meters as it cried out in challenge before dissolving back into her aura. The crowd's cheers took on an almost worshipful quality.

"Representing the Diamond Fist Confederation," the announcer continued, "Tie Gang!" The man who entered the arena was a mountain of muscle and determination. Standing nearly seven feet tall, Tie Gang's presence was like a force of nature given human form. His simple gray robes did nothing to hide the incredible physique beneath—muscles that looked like they were carved from diamond, hands that had never known defeat, and eyes that burned with absolute confidence.

"I am Tie Gang of the Diamond Fist Confederation," he said simply, his voice carrying the weight of absolute certainty.

"I fight with my fists, and my fists have never failed me." Instead of a flashy qi display, Tie Gang simply punched the air. The resulting shockwave cracked the spirit-reinforced ground in a perfect line extending fifty meters, creating a demonstration of pure physical power that made the crowd gasp in amazement. One by one, the other forty-seven competitors made their entrances, each representing different sects, kingdoms, and cultivation paths from across the continent.

Finally, it was time for the Crimson Crater Kingdom's representatives.

"Representing the Crimson Crater Kingdom," the announcer's voice carried a note of pride, "Varek of the former Flaming Saber Sect and Lia of the former Flowing Water Sect!" They entered together, and the stadium fell into an unusual hush. Everyone knew their story—the viral video of their battle, their romance across sect boundaries, their meteoric rise to prominence. But seeing them in person was different.

Varek strutted onto the arena floor like he owned it, his confident grin spreading wider with each step as he took in the enormous crowd. He raised both arms above his head in a champion's pose, turned in a slow circle to acknowledge every section of the stadium, and had the audacity to blow kisses to the screaming fans in the upper tiers. When a group of young women in the front rows called out his name, he winked directly at them and flexed his arms, making them swoon dramatically.

"Thank you, thank you!" he called out, cupping his hands around his mouth as if the crowd's adoration was exactly what he'd expected.

"Try not to fall too hard for me—I'm already taken!" He gestured grandly toward Lia with a theatrical bow, then straightened and shot finger guns at different sections of the crowd, each gesture accompanied by that infuriating, charming grin that suggested he found the entire spectacle delightfully amusing. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

Lia walked beside him with fluid confidence, her purple eyes glowing with qi as the shadow leech wound itself around her body from toe to neck beneath her robes. She occasionally shot Varek looks that were equal parts exasperated and fond, though a small smile played at her lips as she watched him bask in the attention like a peacock showing off his plumage.

At Foundation Establishment level 4, her spiritual pressure from her enormous amount of qi was impressive, but was that enough to compete against the other geniuses? Many in the crowd wondered. While Varek reveled in the attention like he was born for it, Lia carried herself with the quiet intensity of someone who didn't need to prove anything to anyone.

The contrast between his shameless showboating and her composed power only made both of them more captivating to watch—the cocky playboy who had captured the ice queen.

"We are Varek and Lia," Varek spoke for both of them, his voice carrying across the stadium with quiet authority.

"We fight for the kingdom that gave us sanctuary, for the people who showed us kindness, and for each other." Instead of individual displays, they moved together. Lia raised her hand and summoned a water serpent about ten meters long that coiled through the air above them before bursting into a shower of rain that fell across their section of the arena. Varek stood casually beneath the downpour, his hand resting on his saber's hilt without drawing the blade.

Using his understanding of the Dao of the Saber, he cut each raindrop that fell within arm's reach of him, the invisible cuts so precise that every drop split cleanly in half mid-air. Within moments, he stood completely dry in the center of the falling rain while water pooled everywhere else around them. The display was simple but elegant—Lia's control over water and Varek's mastery of cutting working in perfect harmony.

When the last drops had fallen, Varek looked up at the crowd with his characteristic grin and gave a casual wave, as if staying dry in a rainstorm through pure Dao comprehension was the most natural thing in the world. When all fifty competitors had been introduced, they arranged themselves in a huge circle at the center of the arena floor. As one, they bowed deeply to the royal platform, to the crowd, and to each other—acknowledging the honor of the competition and the respect they held for their opponents.

"Let the tournament brackets be revealed!" Marcus called out. The enormous holographic display above the arena came to life, showing fifty names being randomly shuffled and assigned to tournament positions. The bracket system was elegant in its simplicity—single elimination, with winners advancing through successive rounds until only one remained. As the names settled into their final positions, gasps echoed through the stadium.

The first round would see some incredible matchups: Long Chen would face a beast tamer from the Eastern Reaches. Huang Wei would battle a formation master from the Northern Kingdoms. Tie Gang would fight a sword cultivator from the Western Deserts. And in what many considered either fortunate or unfortunate depending on perspective, Lia and Varek had been placed on opposite sides of the bracket. If they both continued winning, they wouldn't face each other until the final battle.

"The first matches begin in 10 minutes!" Elena announced.

"May the best cultivators prevail, and may these competitions continue to preserve the peace we all hold dear!" Cultivation World - Grand Tournament Stadium The arena floor cleared except for two figures as the first match was announced. The immense crowd fell into expectant silence, broken only by the hum of protective formations activating around the combat circle.

"First match!" the announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.

"Representing the Azure Dragon Empire, Long Chen! Facing the crystal beast tamer of the Eastern Reaches, Yun Feral!" Long Chen stood at one end of the kilometer-wide arena, his midnight blue robes rippling in the wind as dragon-shaped qi coiled around his form. His opponent, Yun Feral, was a striking young woman in crystalline armor that refracted light into rainbow patterns.

Most notably, she wore a huge crystal rock necklace that hung down to her chest—a rough, uncut stone the size of a human head that pulsed with qi and the Dao of crystal.

"Begin!" Marcus called out from the royal platform. Long Chen moved first, his hand sweeping through the air in a complex pattern that summoned three enormous azure dragons from his qi. Each construct was an ethereal looking dragon made of qi twenty meters long, their serpentine ghostly bodies wreathed in lightning as they roared toward his opponent with devastating speed. Yun Feral responded by grasping her enormous crystal necklace with both hands, her qi flowing into the ancient stone.

"Crystal Spirits heed my call!" she called out, her voice ringing like struck glass. The huge crystal began to hum as a crack formed in it and a bunch of small crystals dropped out of the crack. These started to grow larger into beast like shapes. A pack of crystal wolves grew larger their bodies gleaming like living diamonds as they materialized from the released energy. Their eyes glowed with a cool inner light, and when they howled, the sound distorted creating a strange roar.

Behind them came a colossal crystal bear, its faceted fur catching the light and throwing prismatic rainbows across the arena floor. Each step left cracks in the reinforced stone, and when it roared, the sound was like an avalanche of breaking glass. The beasts charged at Long Chen. The collision was spectacular. Dragons and crystal wolves clashed in midair, lightning meeting crystalline hardness in explosions of raw qi that sent rainbow fragments sparkling through the protective barriers.

The bear charged directly at one of the dragons, its claws striking azure scales with sounds like shattering stones. Long Chen's level 7 cultivation showed as his dragons held their ground against her level 5 beasts, but the crystal beasts proved surprisingly resilient. When the dragons struck them, they simply reformed from the floating fragments, creating an endless cycle of reinforcements.

"Impressive," Long Chen called out, genuinely appreciating his opponent's skill.

"Regenerating crystal constructs. But every material has its breaking point." The bear charged with earth-shaking force while the growing pack of wolves circled, more creatures spawning from her necklace with each passing moment. She was going all out. Long Chen's expression grew serious as he realized brute force wouldn't work against regenerating opponents. He needed to find their fundamental weakness.

"Crystal has one fatal flaw," he said, his aura beginning to blaze brighter.

"Resonance frequency."

"Dragon's Roar!" he declared, his voice carrying the authority of his bloodline. Long Chen carefully modulated the frequency of his dragons' roars. He studied the crystal beasts as they moved, analyzing the harmonic vibrations of their crystalline forms, searching for their specific resonance frequency. All three dragons opened their mouths simultaneously, releasing waves of perfectly tuned sonic force.

The sound wasn't just loud—it was precisely calibrated to match the natural frequency of Yun Feral's crystal constructs. The effect was immediate and devastating. The crystal wolves stopped mid-leap, their bodies beginning to vibrate violently as the resonance frequency tore through their molecular structure. Cracks appeared along their faceted forms, spreading like lightning as the dragons' roar found the exact pitch that made crystalline matter self-destruct.

"No!" Yun Feral cried out, trying to reform her beasts from the floating fragments, but the sonic assault was targeting the fragments themselves. The crystal bear's roar turned into a scream of shattering glass as its colossal form began to come apart.

"Crystal Reformation!" Yun Feral called desperately, pouring more qi into her technique. But it was useless. The dragons' roar had found the fundamental frequency that made her crystal constructs impossible to maintain. Every time she tried to reform a beast, the sonic assault would immediately shatter it again. Within moments, her entire army had been reduced to glittering dust that sparkled as it settled across the arena floor. She held her arms up in a cross symbolizing surrender.

"Winner: Long Chen of the Azure Dragon Empire!" the announcer declared. The crowd erupted in cheers as Long Chen's dragons dissolved back into qi. He had won not through overwhelming power, but through understanding his opponent's weakness and exploiting it with surgical precision.

"An excellent match," Long Chen said, bowing respectfully to Yun Feral as she knelt among the remains of her crystal army.

"Your technique was formidable. I simply found the right frequency." Yun Feral nodded in defeat, gathering the crystal dust that remained of her crystal beasts.

"The dragon prince's wisdom exceeds his power. I am honored to have faced such an opponent." In the luxurious royal viewing section, Lia and Varek exchanged a meaningful look as Long Chen's victory was announced. The casual confidence that had marked Varek's entrance to the stadium had been replaced by the focused attention of a warrior analyzing a genuine threat.

"He didn't just overpower her," Lia observed quietly, her purple eyes tracking Long Chen as he bowed to his defeated opponent.

"He studied her technique mid-battle, identified the fundamental weakness, and exploited it with surgical precision. That's not just raw cultivation—that's tactical genius." Varek nodded grimly, his hand unconsciously moving to rest on his saber's hilt.

"Level 7 cultivation, dragon bloodline advantages, and the intelligence to adapt his strategy in real-time," he murmured, watching as Long Chen acknowledged the crowd's cheers with graceful humility.

"We knew he'd be dangerous, but seeing him fight..." He glanced at Lia, his expression serious despite his usual confident demeanor.

"This won't be easy."