Holy Fist
Chapter 464 - 234 Challenge Race_2

Chapter 464: 234 Challenge Race_2

For a moment, the usually quiet He Xian Martial Arts Hall was bustling with excitement.

The Fierce Bird Sect group walked in, and it was evident that the He Xian Martial Arts Hall had made special arrangements for the Dark World martial arts tournament. Both sides of the street had been widened, decorated with numerous banners, slogans, and signs.

Yellow caution tape had also been set up on both sides to mark the path for the competitors.

Bai Xiao walked forward, and much like yesterday’s exchange meeting, he arrived at a huge martial arts arena. This arena was nearly as big as half a sports stadium, covered in grey concrete tiles. Temporary spectator stands and rest areas had been set up around the circular white wall.

Each martial arts school even had partitions set up to provide some privacy.

It looked much like the arrangement of some restaurants.

In the center of the martial arts arena, a huge circular platform stood tall, its area comparable to a basketball court. Surrounding it were red columns, with four to five evenly spaced steel wires wrapped around them, forming a protective net.

Looking up, one could see pavilions on the east and west sides, with many tables and seats placed on each wooden walkway. They were designed for the sect leaders from various schools to either overlook the matches from above or to drink tea and chat leisurely, forging alliances. As the organizer, He Xian Martial Arts Hall had thought of everything very thoroughly.

Around 8:30, the golden sunlight became increasingly brilliant, penetrating the gaps in the clouds, sprinkling thousands of golden fragments. The sky was azure blue, indicating fine weather.

The Fierce Bird Sect group sat down in the designated area.

This place was close to the entrance.

Bai Xiao took his seat at the very front; he sat down with his legs apart, hands resting on his knees, expressionless, his cold gaze slowly sweeping across the arena.

He saw not far away, Star Water Sect and Light Saber were situated next to each other. He noticed Fang Chao in white robes and Ye Meng in blue robes nodding his way.

Bai Xiao nodded back.

Suddenly, he felt someone watching him from the right.

Bai Xiao turned his head to look.

On the entryway to the martial arts arena, two figures gradually appeared side by side. They had no accompanying sect members, clearly alone by choice. On the right, a masked tall man in a trench coat. On the left, a pony-tailed man cloaked in a cape. Ambiguous in gender, a dark flower pinned to their shoulder.

It was Ghost Mask and Si Yu.

And the gaze that Bai Xiao felt just now belonged to Shadow Assassin Si Yu.

Their arrival caused a stir, as many were aware of the famed Eastern Seven Stars. A number of inscrutable gazes focused on the two of them. However, Si Yu’s expression remained unchanged, his fine dark eyes still fixed on Bai Xiao, as if determined to memorize his figure. Last night’s sparring had clearly left a deep impression on him.

Beside him, Ghost Mask also seemed to glance over, his dark eyes profound.

The strong figure of Bai Xiao with his arms folded over his chest came into view.

The expressionless face opened its lips slightly, muttering a word soundlessly. Plain and unassuming, without any hint of emotion. A flicker in Ghost Mask’s eyes, and he quickly understood the message: "If you want revenge, I’m ready anytime."

To the left, Si Yu also seemed to understand the lip-reading.

He turned his head slightly, speaking in a clear voice, "Ghost Mask, leave this person to me. You’d better focus on the other five. He’s the prey I’ve chosen; after today’s event, I’ll collect some interest..."

"Hmm."

Ghost Mask replied in a deep voice, withdrawing his gaze from Bai Xiao.

Soon, time ticked by, and around nine in the morning, all contestants and spectators had arrived. On both sides of the aisle, workers from the Martial Arts Association dressed in neat uniforms stood quietly as security.

At nine o’clock sharp, the Vice President of the Eastern Headquarters, a bald elder, stepped up to the central position of the platform. He looked around at the positions of the various schools.

Then, he spoke out with a resonant voice.

"The Eastern Dark World Martial Arts Tournament, officially begins!"

"This Dark World martial arts tournament will adopt both a challenge system and an elimination system. There are seven seeded players, pre-selected as champions. Competitors in the standard elimination system can choose to challenge any of these seven at any round. Everyone has one chance; winning means replacing the champion and becoming a seeded player, losing means direct elimination. As for the elimination system, it will proceed as usual, ultimately competing for nine spots to make up the top sixteen with the seven seeded players. For those who didn’t understand, I will repeat now..."

Bai Xiao had already understood it all yesterday.

Clearly, these seven arena masters are the Eastern Seven Stars. As seed players, they are granted direct entry into the top sixteen. However, other contestants in the elimination rounds can challenge these seven and take their place. Otherwise, they must honestly compete in the elimination rounds until the last nine are left.

These nine, together with the seven seed players, will make up the top sixteen.

This arrangement seems designed to prevent the Eastern Seven Stars from encountering each other early in the Dark World martial arts competition and hence, they are placed in the top sixteen.

The contestants don’t find this competition system unfair. The Eastern Seven Stars are too strong; encountering them early on means a high probability of defeat. Some martial prodigies just below the Seven Stars are also somewhat fearful; if they’re unlucky enough to meet them, they might be knocked out in the first round. Now, with the Seven Stars excluded from the elimination rounds, it gives others the opportunity to fight without hesitation.

Contesting for the other nine spots in the top sixteen.

For them, this is confidence-boosting.

Thus, they can at least ensure a ranking in the Eastern top sixteen.

As for the following battles for the top eight, it’s all down to strength and luck.

On the stage, the host quickly announces the list of the seven seed players.

Unsurprisingly, they are the Eastern Seven Stars.

The seven whose names are called leave the audience seats and walk to the central stage. Nearly a thousand gazes from various sects all converge on them.

Liu Xinzong, Xia Houping, Chen Xiu, Ghost Mask, Shadow Assassin Si Yu, Hao Lie...

And someone Bai Xiao has never seen, Gui Luotian.

This member of the Eastern Seven Stars comes from Po Suo’s Hidden Blade Pavilion.

He is dressed in loose black robes, with a mature look that makes him appear to be in his thirties or forties. His appearance is somewhat ugly but uniquely distinctive. He has a slightly wide face, protruding cheekbones, sharp eyes and a nose like an eagle, the overall outline inexplicably resembles a tiger’s shape. There’s also a signature turtle-like mouth.

"In this Dark World martial arts competition, we will use both a challenge system and an elimination system. There are seven seed players who have been pre-selected as arena masters. Contestants in the regular elimination rounds can choose to challenge these seven at any time. Each person has one opportunity; if you win, you replace the arena master and seed player’s spot; if you lose, you’re directly eliminated. As for the elimination system, it will continue as normal to determine the last nine people who, alongside the seven seed players, make up the top sixteen. If anyone didn’t understand, I’ll explain it once more..."

Bai Xiao already understood all this yesterday.

Clearly, these seven arena masters are the Eastern Seven Stars. As seed players, they are granted direct entry into the top sixteen. However, other contestants in the elimination rounds can challenge these seven and take their place. Otherwise, they must honestly compete in the elimination rounds until the last nine are left.

These nine, together with the seven seed players, will make up the top sixteen.

This arrangement seems designed to prevent the Eastern Seven Stars from encountering each other early in the Dark World martial arts competition and hence, they are placed in the top sixteen.

The contestants don’t find this competition system unfair. The Eastern Seven Stars are too strong; encountering them early on means a high probability of defeat. Some martial prodigies just below the Seven Stars are also somewhat fearful; if they’re unlucky enough to meet them, they might be knocked out in the first round. Now, with the Seven Stars excluded from the elimination rounds, it gives others the opportunity to fight without hesitation.

Contesting for the other nine spots in the top sixteen.

For them, this is confidence-boosting.

Thus, they can at least ensure a ranking in the Eastern top sixteen.

As for the following battles for the top eight, it’s all down to strength and luck.

On the stage, the host quickly announces the list of the seven seed players.

Unsurprisingly, they are the Eastern Seven Stars.

The seven whose names are called leave the audience seats and walk to the central stage. Nearly a thousand gazes from various sects all converge on them.

Liu Xinzong, Xia Houping, Chen Xiu, Ghost Mask, Shadow Assassin Si Yu, Hao Lie...

And someone Bai Xiao has never seen, Gui Luotian.

This member of the Eastern Seven Stars comes from Po Suo’s Hidden Blade Pavilion.

He is dressed in loose black robes, with a mature look that makes him appear to be in his thirties or forties. His appearance is somewhat ugly but uniquely distinctive. He has a slightly wide face, protruding cheekbones, sharp eyes and a nose like an eagle, the overall outline inexplicably resembles a tiger’s shape. There’s also a signature turtle-like mouth.

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