Chapter 1026

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Chapter 1026: Defending the Arena!

Yang Baikun pondered for a long time. Like Ran Jianxuan, he had never heard of the Overlord Sect before. However, that boy did have several powerful companions, including a few Beast Emperors, all of whom were incredibly formidable.

But none of that mattered now. Inside Nine Star City, things were different. Here, everyone had to follow the rules, even powerful imperial-level warriors. The union’s regulations prohibited private fights.

And that boy—he was going to participate in the union meeting.

“This is our chance. We must find a way to kill him! As long as that boy exists, my son’s spirit in heaven will never rest in peace!” Ran Jianxuan growled, spitting the words through gritted teeth.

“In two days, we will start guarding the stage. The moment that boy steps onto the platform, he must not leave alive!”

Yang Baikun’s voice carried a cold anger, and his eyes shone with murderous intent.

Private fights might be prohibited in the city, but once the union meeting began, life and death would be left to fate. Even the ten major forces allowed this, and no one would interfere.

“We’ll eliminate the boy first. The imperial-level warriors around him can only watch helplessly. If they dare to intervene, the union will send powerful warriors to take them down. No matter how strong the Beast Emperors are, it will all be useless!”

“This time, I want that boy to have nowhere to be buried!”

Ran Jianxuan spoke in a low voice, and then, with a sudden punch into the air, created a powerful vortex. The force generated such suction that the tables and chairs in the room nearly flew away.

***

In the southern part of Nine Star City, ten high platforms were being constructed, each separated by a fair distance.

These platforms were built from exceptionally strong rock and covered a large area, making them look like small plazas—spacious enough for fierce battles.

Once the construction was completed, several powerful Yuan Emperor Realm experts arrived and set up a robust formation, ensuring the platforms were as solid as gold and impenetrable.

“These are the arenas for the preliminary selection. There are ten in total, representing the ten spots for the League Convention,” someone explained as onlookers gathered to observe the platforms.

“In the next two days, there’s going to be some intense competition here. I can’t wait to see it!” someone muttered excitedly.

“Unfortunately, I’m already over thirty. Otherwise, I’d definitely join the fray and test myself against the young talents of the Chaos Realm!”

“Forget it! Even if you joined, you wouldn’t last more than a few rounds. Besides, this is just the preliminary selection. The real standout young talents from the top forces will be the ones to shine!”

Some bystanders teased each other with playful banter.

“I wonder which ten forces will hold their ground on these platforms till the end.”

“Whoever makes it through will undoubtedly be among the most powerful forces!”

“This year, who knows how many will catch the attention of the top forces and be recruited to join their ranks?”

Similar discussions echoed across various parts of the city as excitement built up. Many were eager to see which young talents from the Chaos Realm’s third-tier and lower forces would rise to prominence this time.

The outcome would undoubtedly shape the future of the Chaos Realm to some extent.

The ten platforms stood silently in a row, with rows of seats nearby. These seats were reserved for the powerful figures from the first- and second-tier forces. When the preliminary competition began, many would come to observe, scouting for exceptional talents to recruit.

As the alliance conference drew closer, the atmosphere in Nine Star City reached its peak.

Countless figures moved through the streets, representing various parts of the Chaos Realm. Despite their backgrounds, everyone followed the rules within Nine Star City. No one dared to cause trouble, for doing so would result in swift and merciless punishment from the ten major alliance forces.

***

On the evening before the alliance conference was set to begin, Su Yi emerged from his cultivation.

After several days of rigorous tempering, four of his ribs had transformed into Yuanyang Heavenly Bones. His progress had been astonishingly fast, thanks to the Spiritual Essence of the mysterious space.

Now, half of his ribs had successfully transformed, particularly those near his heart.

“It feels like I’ve forgotten something important…” Su Yi muttered to himself, a hint of unease flickering in his eyes.

After leaving the customs, Su Yi suddenly slapped his forehead and exclaimed with wide eyes, “Wait a minute!”

Xi Wuqing, the Green Emperor, Yin-Yang Dark Emperor, the Soul Devouring Emperor, and Huang Jian all turned to look at him curiously.

“Could it be that… our Overlord Sect really only has me going into battle?”

It finally dawned on Su Yi that the Overlord Sect currently only had him as a participant, while other factions would send up to twenty fighters at a time. Under normal circumstances, he could have sought out some wandering cultivators to form temporary alliances, but now it was clearly too late.

“For you, this preliminary round shouldn’t be a problem. Just think of it as a one-man battle,” Xi Wuqing said, glancing at Su Yi helplessly.

The real issue wasn’t the preliminary round—it was what would happen after it. In the main competition, where the top ten forces would clash, having too few members would undoubtedly be a disadvantage. Even scattered cultivators could rely on temporary allies to provide some support in a crisis.

“Well, there’s no point worrying about that now,” Su Yi said with a shrug. “Let’s focus on getting through the preliminary selection first.”

He couldn’t help feeling a little regretful about not addressing this earlier. He had recently encountered Chen Chuan, a cultivator at the sixth level of the Yuan True Realm, but that person had already pledged loyalty to the Sun Flame Sect.

Lost in thought, Su Yi suddenly grinned, his expression lighting up.

“Why is your expression changing so much?” Xi Wuqing asked with a puzzled look.

Su Yi chuckled. “I just realized there are some huge advantages to me representing Overlord Sect alone in battle!”

“What advantages?” The others leaned in, curious to hear his reasoning.

“Think about it,” Su Yi began, pacing the room. “Most factions will send about twenty people into battle, but I’ll be the sole representative of Overlord Sect. That alone will make us stand out! People will notice us.”

He paused, then continued confidently, “And when I win, the name of Overlord Sect will spread like wildfire across the Chaos Realm! It’ll be a great way to establish our reputation and attract attention. This could bring us countless benefits in the long run.”

The group nodded in agreement, finding his logic compelling.

“In the Chaos Realm, where there are so many factions, it’s incredibly difficult to rise to prominence. But if the name of Overlord Sect gains recognition, we could attract talent and grow rapidly,” Xi Wuqing said thoughtfully.

“Exactly!” Su Yi exclaimed.

“We should head out now,” Huang Jian interjected. “The preliminary selection is about to begin.”

“Let’s go!” Su Yi said, waving his hand as the group left the inn.

Despite Su Xiaoshuai’s protests, Su Yi insisted on bringing him out of the mysterious space, though he eventually handed him over to Xi Wuqing for safekeeping. Su Yi couldn’t risk taking him to the conference.

When they arrived at the ten platforms, the area was already packed with people, making it difficult to move. They found a spot farther back and waited patiently.

“Those seats over there are reserved for the top three first-rate powers and the seven second-rate powers,” Xi Wuqing said, gesturing toward a row of seats near the platforms.

Su Yi followed his gaze and saw a group of figures seated there—mostly middle-aged or elderly, their restrained auras hinting at immense strength.

“I didn’t expect Chaos Realm to be so chaotic yet still place such importance on cultivating young talents,” Su Yi murmured, observing the scene.

“Chaos Realm is indeed chaotic,” Xi Wuqing explained. “But if the ten major powers didn’t join forces to form an alliance, it would’ve been divided long ago by the Six Continents, Three States, and One Sea. The alliance is what keeps Chaos Realm unified and resilient. Don’t be fooled by their internal conflicts—if an external force threatens Chaos Realm, these powers would unite in an instant.”

He continued, “The grand alliance meeting that takes place every fifty years isn’t just about competition or rankings. It’s also a chance for first- and second-rate powers to scout for talented individuals among the lower-tier factions and cultivate them.”

Su Yi nodded, quickly grasping the bigger picture.

“The meeting is about to begin!” someone nearby announced.

A middle-aged man suddenly flew out from one of the prominent seats and hovered in mid-air, addressing the crowd below. His imposing presence marked him as a Yuan Emperor Realm cultivator.

The noisy crowd immediately fell silent, all ears tuned to his words.

“The grand alliance meeting is now officially starting. I won’t waste time—let me explain the rules!” the man declared, his voice resonating across the area.

“In the preliminary selection, there are only ten spots available. Here, we have ten platforms,” he said, gesturing downward. “Each platform represents a spot. Whoever defends a platform until the end will secure a spot for their faction!”

“So, it’s about defending the platform,” Su Yi muttered to himself, finally understanding the preliminary round’s mechanics.

Judging by the expressions of those around him, it seemed this information wasn’t new to anyone else.