Chapter Sixty-Three: Martial Arts Tournament (Begging for Recommendation Votes!!)

Celestial Meteor City—Divine Stone Plaza.

A diamond-shaped meteorite, as large as a small mountain, towered high in the center of the plaza. Most of its bulk was buried deep beneath the earth, leaving a hundred meters exposed above ground, a sight both grand and awe-inspiring.

Legend held that this meteorite had fallen from the heavens a thousand years ago, crashing onto what was then a desolate wasteland—before Celestial Meteor City even existed. In the early days after its arrival, beneath the moonlight, the meteorite would shimmer with radiant silver light each night. With each passing day, the glow faded, and after ten years, it ceased altogether, becoming no different from any ordinary stone.

The Merchant Alliance revered this miraculous meteorite as a divine stone, building Celestial Meteor City around it. Over the years, the city had grown into the largest metropolis of the Merchant Alliance, its very heart and center.

Despite the meteorite losing its celestial glow long ago, it remained, in the eyes of the alliance’s warriors, a heavenly blessing—a divine stone to be honored. Divine Stone Plaza itself was founded because of this celestial relic.

Many couples in the alliance, after falling in love, would come to the plaza, standing before the divine stone to pledge everlasting vows, treating it as the sacred witness to their love.

Every martial tournament held by the Merchant Alliance was hosted here at Divine Stone Plaza.

Today, the plaza bustled with endless crowds. Outside, countless merchants hawked their wares—most were warriors themselves, selling goods and materials for cultivation.

Within the plaza, before the massive meteorite, sixteen martial arenas lay arranged. Each arena spanned a hundred square meters, paved with hard blue ironstone, so durable that even a Human Realm warrior’s full-force strike could not shatter it.

Surrounding the arenas, five stone towers stood tall. One tower soared fifty meters high—the others, forty meters each. Spaced several hundred meters apart, each tower belonged to one of the major families. From these vantage points, they could oversee all sixteen arenas.

On one such tower, Shi Yan stood beside Shi Jian, gazing down at the warriors gathered for the tournament.

This tower belonged to the Shi family, forty meters high. The other four were claimed by the Beiming, Ling, Zuo, and Mo families. The Ling, Zuo, and Mo towers matched the Shi’s at forty meters, but the Beiming tower rose ten meters higher, clearly signaling Beiming's dominant status within the Merchant Alliance.

Even the height of the towers revealed Beiming’s absolute power.

It was the first day of the martial tournament.

Shi Jian, Shi Tie, Shi Dang—core descendants of the Shi family—stood together atop their tower. Han Feng and Han Zhong, two brothers, occupied the center, joined by several unfamiliar faces, whom Shi Yan learned through Han Zhong’s introduction were the family's retainers—normally stationed in other cities, but summoned by Shi Jian for the tournament.

Yang Hai, however, was absent. He had never cultivated martial arts, and with masters recalled from other cities for the tournament, Yang Hai had been dispatched elsewhere to maintain order.

Each year, the martial tournament was divided into five ranks: Postnatal, Innate, Human Realm, Hundred Tribulations, and Earth Realm. The Earth Realm duels were mostly nominal.

Generally, any warrior who reached the Earth Realm would have found their own path of cultivation, and would not covet the prizes offered by the five great families.

Such warriors were considered masters, whether in the Merchant Alliance, the Fire Empire, or the Divine Empire.

They had no need to join the tournament; if they sought a suitable environment, they could take up a retainer position with any major power.

Whenever a major force discovered an unattached Earth Realm master, they would eagerly extend an olive branch, hoping to recruit them.

Thus, while the tournament included Earth Realm duels, nearly no Earth Realm warriors participated. Even Hundred Tribulations masters seldom entered; only a handful joined each year.

Most participants were Postnatal, Innate, or Human Realm—lower ranks, lacking established paths, compelled by necessity to compete either for rare cultivation treasures or for a chance at a retainer position with the five families.

The tournament lasted five days.

The first four days belonged to those seeking prizes or positions. The five families observed, selecting promising warriors to whom they would offer opportunities.

The final day was the true highlight—reserved exclusively for the five families.

On this day, families sent their retainers and core descendants to compete against one another, each probing the strength of their rivals.

It was the moment when the families displayed their power to outsiders.

The duels often included enormous stakes—mines, merchant streets, rare treasures, mysterious martial arts—all served as bargaining chips.

A single tournament could grant a family astonishing wealth—or see its accumulated fortunes wiped away. The last day’s duels became lasting legends, fodder for conversation for years to come.

On this day, the families’ champions revealed their true strength, rare martial techniques and soul powers, and secret treasures emerged in the heat of battle.

Most outside warriors came precisely for this final day, to witness the difference between themselves and the families’ elite, to observe fierce duels and recognize their own shortcomings, broadening their horizons and advancing their cultivation.

Some even found their realms elevated after the tournament, inspired by the contests.

This was the true allure of the martial tournament.

Shi Yan stood atop the Shi tower, calm and composed, gazing down at the competitors below.

Two hundred meters away, atop the Beiming tower, two graceful figures ascended beside Beiming Ce.

Mu Yudie and Di Yalan stood flanking Beiming Ce, gazing down from the highest tower over all the arenas.

Mu Yudie wore a white dress, her black hair flowing, her figure ethereal—a sprite among mortals. Di Yalan, clad in dark red armor, her fiery form accentuated by its curves, though her eyes betrayed a troubled mind.

From afar, Shi Yan glanced at the two women, a cold, mocking smile flickering in his heart.

“Boy, these four days, you’d better observe carefully. You lack real combat experience—watch closely how others fight instead of idling away.” Shi Jian, noticing his gaze toward the Beiming women, showed a hint of displeasure and snorted, “Women are everywhere. With your talents, you’ll have your pick in the future. Don’t let yourself be distracted before you become powerful!”

“Yes, I understand,” Shi Yan replied with a nod.

“Big brother, Kulo from the Pavilion of Immanence is here—he says he has something to discuss with you,” Shi Tie called from the tower’s stairwell.

“Kulo?” Shi Jian’s face betrayed surprise. After a moment’s pause, he nodded, “Invite him up.”

“Grandfather, what’s happening with the Pavilion of Immanence?” Shi Yan asked quietly.

Shi Jian nodded slightly, grunting, “Stay out of this matter, and don’t bring it up again. Understood?”

“Oh.” From Shi Jian’s manner, Shi Yan guessed the details had been settled with Zuo Xu, though he wondered whether the Shi family had sent anyone to assist Chi Xiao, given that Han Feng and the retainers were present.

Kulo ascended with a smile, composed and at ease, coming to stand beside Shi Jian. He said, “Patriarch Shi, I have a request. May I ask where your adopted son Yang Hai is? I’d like to invite him to the Pavilion of Immanence—would that be inconvenient?”

“Yang Hai?” Shi Jian’s face darkened, snorting, “Why is your Pavilion searching everywhere for Yang Hai? What’s your purpose?”

“A friend from the Endless Sea arrived—a relative lost a child named Yang Hai years ago, so she asked me to inquire. I hope you can help,” Kulo replied, cupping his hands respectfully.

Shi Jian’s eyes flashed with a hint of interest. After a moment, he shook his head, “Yang Hai is not in Celestial Meteor City for now. I recalled many people for the tournament, so he’s stationed elsewhere. This matter… can wait.”

“That’s fine—just remember him. When he returns, please send him to the pavilion. I promise it won’t be a wasted trip,” Kulo said with a smile.

“Oh.” Shi Jian nodded ambiguously.

“Then I’ll take my leave.” Kulo departed swiftly once the matter was settled.

…

A melodious, enchanting sound of the zither suddenly drifted from the Beiming tower.

The heavenly music, reaching deep into the soul, resounded throughout the bustling Divine Stone Plaza. Mu Yudie sat cross-legged atop the Beiming tower, playing with focused devotion.

Many warriors drawn by the tournament were captivated by the ethereal notes, their faces dreamy, gazing up at the tower.

Beside Mu Yudie, Beiming Ce stood proud, his lips curled in disdain for the masses, basking in the admiring and jealous gazes of all below.

Mu Yudie’s music flowed like a mountain spring through the hearts of the warriors, seemingly purifying their souls.

When the song ended, awe and wonder shone on every face.

Just then—

Beiming Shang suddenly soared from the tower, his imposing form floating miraculously above the plaza, surveying the crowd like a deity. His voice thundered, “The martial tournament officially begins!”

“Walking on air! A Heaven Realm master!”

A chorus of astonished cries erupted, reverence and shock filling the faces of the warriors at Beiming Shang’s demonstration of power.

…