NOVEL NEXT Chapter 166: The Elimination Round
Chapter 166: The Elimination Round
The elimination round arrived like a storm.
All the arenas below the 3,700th level of the Imperial Capital were dismantled, leaving only those at the 3,701st level and above.
The elimination round used a lottery system, pitting participants against each other in one-on-one matches. The winners would advance, while the losers would be eliminated.
At this moment, on the 3,701st layer of the imperial capital, grand arenas stood tall. The top geniuses participating in the elimination round had already gathered in the waiting area. Spectators crowded the entire street, creating a sea of black heads that stretched as far as the eye could see, resembling a vast, dark river. The scene was spectacular.
The stands were also filled with distinguished guests. Not only were there noble ladies and young maidens, but also princes, dukes, and high-ranking officials who had finished their duties. Representatives from various factions were also present.
“The lottery ceremony begins now,” announced the host of the elimination round. Xu Lian recognized him—it was the old man who had flown on a sword, the Minister of Rites.
“The rules of the lottery are as follows:
The lottery is divided into two stages.
First, all participating geniuses will draw lots. Those who draw odd numbers will be assigned to Team A, while those who draw even numbers will be assigned to Team B. These two teams will face each other.
Second, there will be a lottery box in front of both Team A and Team B. Those who draw the same number will be paired as opponents.
The number on the jade slip corresponds to the number of the arena. Whatever number is drawn, the participant will proceed to the corresponding arena for their match.
During the match, contestants may not use weapons, concealed weapons, magical tools, talismans, or other items beyond their own cultivation level. Violators will be disqualified and ejected from the competition.
If one party surrenders or loses the ability to fight during the match, the other party will be declared the winner.
The Yin Dynasty’s selection of the Royal Son-in-Law Competition emphasizes restraint and harmony. However, swords have no eyes, and fists and feet show no mercy. Injury and death are inevitable. Participants are responsible for their own consequences, and the Yin Dynasty will not be held accountable.
Any grudges or conflicts that arise during the matches are the sole responsibility of the contestants and have nothing to do with the Yin Dynasty.
The rules have been announced. The lottery will now begin.”
With a wave of his hand, the Minister of Rites summoned a massive lottery box in front of the participating geniuses.
“Draw your lots and divide into teams.”
The geniuses stepped forward one by one to draw their lots. They were calm and orderly, neither rushing nor competing. It didn’t matter which team they were assigned to or who their opponents were. If they wanted to become the royal son-in-law, they needed the confidence and strength to defeat all the other geniuses. There was no room for luck or shortcuts.
Thus, it didn’t matter which team they were on or who their opponent was.
Once the lottery was complete, Xu Lian glanced at the number in his hand-44, an even number. He walked over to Team B.
The other geniuses also moved to their respective teams based on the numbers they had drawn.
“You’re very lucky,” sneered Fu Ye, who was carrying a massive wolf tooth bone club. He glanced at Xu Lian, who was also in Team B. This meant that Xu Lian wouldn’t be facing him in this round, which was why Fu Ye made the remark.
Xu Lian replied indifferently, “Actually, you’re the lucky one.”
The young master of the Ghost Soul Sect, Nian, was also in Team B. Having lost the verbal spar with Xu Lian last time, he chose not to speak this time. Instead, he played with the small, tender head that had grown on his shoulder.
His silence did not mean that Xu Lian had forgotten him. “The young master of Commoner’s Gate, Pinecone Head, you’re lucky too.”
Pinecone Head? The other geniuses couldn’t help but laugh. The nickname seemed fitting.
Nian’s expression darkened. Was this Xu Lian, who had risen from the commoners, really going to continue to provoke him?
The Minister of Rites also heard Xu Lian’s words, but pretended not to know him. He maintained a stern demeanor, quite different from the playful old man he had been when Xu Lian first entered the city. “The team division has been completed. Next, we will draw lots to determine the matchups.”
With a wave of his hand, a lottery box appeared in front of both Team A and Team B.
The geniuses from both teams stepped forward one by one to draw their lots.
Xu Lian glanced at the number he had drawn: 8. He made his way to Arena 8.
After a short wait, a young genius entered the arena.
When he saw Xu Lian, the young genius smiled and said, “We’re both quite lucky. We didn’t draw a Grandmaster. It’s a fair match – Ninth Transformation versus Ninth Transformation.”
Little did he know that the person standing before him was actually a fourth-level Grandmaster… Xu Lian didn’t explain. He just nodded with a faint smile.
After all the participating geniuses entered their respective arenas, the Minister of Rites announced in a thunderous voice, “The matches will now begin!
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
In an instant, bursts of light erupted from the various arenas as the battles began.
In Arena 8, the young genius unleashed a barrage of fighting techniques, bombarding Xu Lian with relentless attacks.
However, Xu Lian had decided to hold back. He concealed his true strength as a fourth-level grandmaster and only used enough power to match his opponent.
Ten moves.
Twenty moves.
Thirty moves…
When nearly half of the other arenas had already determined their winners, Xu Lian finally used a bit more power and decisively defeated the young genius.
“Arena 8, Xu Lian wins.”
Although the Minister of Rites only had one pair of eyes, he seemed to be able to observe all the arenas simultaneously, keeping track of every match.
When Xu Lian stepped out of Arena 8, Fu Ye, who was carrying the Wolf Tooth Bone Club, sneered, “You fought so hard against a Ninth Transformation cultivator. If you run into a grandmaster, I doubt you’ll last more than a few rounds. You won’t even have a chance to face me.”
Xu Lian calmly replied, “I don’t know how I’ll fare against other grandmasters, but I’ll have more than enough strength to face you.”
The other geniuses were already used to the rivalry between the two and paid little attention to it. Instead, they focused on the ongoing matches in the various arenas.
After a little more than an hour, all the matches were finished.
Less than half of the geniuses remained victorious.
Why less than half? Because some matches ended in mutual destruction, with both participants losing the ability to fight and being eliminated together.
“Draw lots. Divide into teams.
Draw lots. Determine the matchups.”
The Minister of Rites, obviously experienced in organizing such events, proceeded with the next round in an orderly fashion.
Soon, the lottery was over and a new round of matches began.
Xu Lian’s luck seemed to hold. This time, he was matched against another Ninth Transformation Genius. Of course, it wasn’t entirely luck-after all, the number of top geniuses who had reached the Grandmaster level was small. Most of the participants were still at the eighth or ninth Transformation level, having battled their way up from the preliminary rounds.
Just like before, Xu Lian waited until most of the other arenas had finished their matches before exerting a bit more force to defeat his opponent.
Draw lots. Divide into teams.
Draw lots. Determine the matchups.
Round after round, the number of geniuses remaining in the competition dwindled, and the strength of the opponents Xu Lian faced continued to increase.
In this round, Xu Lian finally encountered a Grandmaster-level genius.
The Grandmaster Genius didn’t take Xu Lian, a supposed Ninth Transformation cultivator, seriously. From the very beginning, he launched a fierce attack, hoping to defeat Xu Lian in a few moves.
However, after twenty or thirty moves, Xu Lian remained steadfast as a rock.
This made the Grandmaster Genius frown. He had no choice but to slow down and engage in a battle of attrition.
Seeing that most of the other arenas were nearing the end of their matches, Xu Lian finally began to exert his true strength.
“Boom!”…
With a wave of his hands, Xu Lian manifested an image of the imperial capital, sending the Grandmaster Genius flying out of the arena and securing his victory.
The dazzling fighting technique caught the attention of the princes, dukes, and high-ranking officials in the stands.
The commoners in the audience cheered wildly, their eyes fixed on Xu Lian. Seeing him defeat a Grandmaster with such ease filled them with excitement.
As Xu Lian walked out of the arena unharmed, Fu Ye couldn’t help but ask in confusion, “Have you broken through to the Grandmaster Rank?”
The other geniuses were also somewhat surprised. Based on the intensity of Xu Lian’s energy during the match, it was clear that he was no longer at the Ninth Transformation Rank.