Ninety-six people were divided into twelve groups, with eight people in each group.
They would fight in pairs, winners advancing and losers eliminated, until only one person remained in each group. This one person would then proceed to the rematch round.
Twelve groups meant twelve people advancing to the rematch round.
These twelve people would be randomly drawn into pairs to duel. The six winners would enter the winners' bracket, while the six losers would go to the losers' bracket.
In the losers' bracket, the remaining six would be drawn into pairs to duel. The three winners from the losers' bracket would earn a chance to challenge. If they failed the challenge, they would be completely out of contention. If they succeeded, they would replace their opponent. The individuals from the winners' bracket who were challenged and lost would also get a chance to challenge. If they won, they would replace their opponent, but if they lost, they would be disqualified.
Six individuals who were almost undisputed talents secured their spots in the finals.
The four geniuses from the Heavenly Rankings and these six individuals would then decide the finalists.
Although the rules sounded complex, their execution was not.
...
Yang Feilong was assigned to the twelfth group.
Even though it was a group stage, it was an elimination round. With five rings operating simultaneously, the progress was quite fast.
"You told me the Tang family wasn't strong? This Tang Feng, even without using hidden weapons, is still so powerful? He defeated his opponent in one move!"
"Tang Feng is formidable, and Tang Ya isn't bad either. Tang Ya is Tang Feng's sister. Her cultivation is one level lower, and she's two to three years younger, yet her talent surpasses Tang Feng's. In a few years, she'll definitely break through to the Yuan Martial Realm! She's another genius on the Heavenly Rankings!"
"It's only natural to assume these two are extraordinary, otherwise, the Tang family's grand display would be a laughingstock, wouldn't it?"
"However, staying in isolation makes cultivation progress difficult. This is why the Tang family decided to let their young master and young lady emerge into the world. Only by doing so can they break through to the Yuan Martial Realm. It's still difficult to achieve this through seclusion alone!"
As the battles progressed,
discussions in the audience seats grew increasingly fervent!
The first round of four matches in the first group concluded, followed by the first round of four matches in the fifth group, then the third group...
In the blink of an eye, it was time for the twelfth group.
During this period, Mi Lai and Mi Kang also took to the stage. Mi Lai was in the eighth group, and Mi Kang was in the tenth. Mi Lai successfully advanced to the second round of the group stage, while Mi Kang was eliminated in the first round.
Mi Kang's defeat was understandable, as he had only advanced recently and hadn't fully adapted to the internal energy of the Ling Martial Realm.
"Yang Feilong, I bet you didn't expect this! We're in the same group, and we're facing each other in the first round!" On the stage, Luo Shang glared at Yang Feilong, his expression ferocious. "Watch me torture you. This is the price for offending me!"
"Idiot!" Yang Feilong looked at Luo Shang, who was clearly lost in his own thoughts, and uttered two words.
"You..." Luo Shang was so enraged he almost exploded. It was this look of disdain that most pierced his pride.
*Boom!*
The next moment, Luo Shang attacked in a fury, his long sword slashing towards Yang Feilong.
Yes, weapons were allowed in these sparring matches. Although rules were set to prevent lethal or severe blows, there had still been instances of serious injuries in previous battles.
Luo Shang's intention was clear: he couldn't kill Yang Feilong, but he would definitely cripple him, making him pay for his arrogance!
And at this very moment, Yang Feilong moved. He didn't even use a weapon. Facing Luo Shang, a cultivator of the middle stage of the Ling Martial Realm, he was too lazy to even be serious. But since you're playing games and writing your own script, I'll end this play for you!
"En?" Luo Shang was startled. In this instant, he found that Yang Feilong had vanished from his sight amidst the sword's gleam.
"Not good!"
But it was too late. Yang Feilong's fist, imbued with terrifying true qi, descended!
*Bang!*
Luo Shang spat blood and was sent flying backward, directly off the stage.
*Pfft!*
Blood gushed out. His internal organs were severely injured. Even with potent elixirs, recovery would be difficult, let alone complete restoration.
Luo Shang forgot to take any medicine, staring at Yang Feilong on the stage in disbelief. "You, you..."
"Trash!" Yang Feilong spoke these words to him.
Luo Shang was so enraged he fainted on the spot.
A referee from the Tang family below the stage saw this, administered a pill to Luo Shang, and then looked deeply at Yang Feilong. He didn't say much, as he had heard Luo Shang's provocation towards Yang Feilong on the stage.
It was clear these two had a conflict. But this Luo Shang was too overconfident. He clearly had a gap in strength with Yang Feilong, yet he acted as if Yang Feilong were an ant to be crushed at will. This left the referee speechless.
Did he have some talent and strength and become so ignorant of the immensity of the heavens and the earth? The other person, who looked under twenty, could reach the Ling Martial Realm. Was he someone to be trifled with so easily?
"Twelfth group, Yang Feilong wins!" the referee announced the result of the match.
This match also garnered the attention of some onlookers.
"I know that Luo Shang. He's incredibly arrogant, thinking he's better than many people just because he has some talent and strength. Yang Feilong, who is nearly ten years younger and has reached the Ling Martial Realm, is clearly a future prodigy. Yet Luo Shang was so arrogant, it's hilarious. He was heavily injured and defeated with a single punch!"
"Ignorant of the world, conceited and complacent. His future will be limited!"
"He'll fall sooner or later!"
"But speaking of which, this Yang Feilong is truly remarkable! He looks less than twenty and possesses such strength?"
And in a certain area of the stands,
"You're actually paying so much attention to that Yang Feilong? He's just a kid with some talent!" Lei Ba said to Ouyang Tian, who was sitting beside him, his gaze fixed on Yang Feilong.
"He's not simple," Ouyang Tian said in a deep voice.
Although he harbored resentment towards Yang Feilong, he was not someone who was blindly arrogant. While he had lost last time, it was because he hadn't used his most skilled weapon, and he hadn't sparred properly after breaking through to the Yuan Martial Realm. However, Yang Feilong's ability to defeat him at that time did indicate his strength to some extent, suggesting he had reached the Yuan Martial Realm.
"Tsk tsk, even you, Ouyang Tian, say he's not simple? Then I'm interested. But if he wants to truly catch my eye, he'll have to reach the finals first!" Lei Ba shrugged nonchalantly.
He didn't believe Yang Feilong could be that formidable.
Ouyang Tian remained silent. He naturally wouldn't reveal his previous humiliation. Moreover, he was eager to reclaim the disgrace he had suffered.
"Yang Feilong, I hope you don't disappoint me. I'll be waiting for you in the finals!" Ouyang Tian's eyes flashed with a cold light.
The person who defeated him, though not at his best, he didn't want Yang Feilong to be defeated by some nobody. If he had to lose, it should be to him.