Soul Emperor Martial God

Today, Star Swapping City is unusually lively.

No, perhaps it should be said, unusually beautiful.

Though it's a sunny day with clear skies, starlight is swirling high above.

The dazzling starlight emits a gentle, light green aura.

The entire starry sky seems to be shrouded in a green glow.

At the same time, within the vast Star Swapping City, more than a hundred factions have all gathered in the City Lord's Mansion.

This includes the experts from the Wind Shattering Hall, the experts from the Wang Family, Mo Family, and Lvu Family, as well as the Family Heads and Clan Leaders from various families and factions.

Indeed, today is Star Swapping Day.

The tri-annual Star Swapping Day is the most renowned and grandest day in Star Swapping City.

In the very center of the City Lord's Mansion, a giant Martial Arts Arena has long been set up.

Surrounding the Martial Arts Arena are rows of densely packed spectator seats.

The city's lord must be the strongest within the city.

Therefore, the City Lord's Mansion is naturally the strongest faction in the entire city.

As expected, the City Lord's Mansion is exceptionally large, accommodating hundreds of thousands without issue.

Let alone just setting up a large Martial Arts Arena and accommodating martial artists from over a hundred factions.

At this moment, a young Heavenly Talent is already on stage competing.

Martial artists from various major factions are watching the battle with great interest.

In the very center of the Martial Arts Arena, on the chief seat, sits a middle-aged man with a stern face and a serious demeanor.

He is the Star Swapping City Lord.

The City Lord is the host of the competition on Star Swapping Day.

But the City Lord has not announced any rules.

Because every three-year cycle of Star Swapping Day adheres to the same rules.

Everyone in Star Swapping City knows the rules.

The City Lord did not say any polite words or any opening remarks before the competition.

Because within the Central Region, to survive and obtain what you want, there are only four words, strength is supreme.

The battle on the Martial Arts Arena has just begun, yet it is already fierce.

Star Swapping Day represents a great opportunity.

Apart from the City Lord's Mansion and Wind Shattering Hall having two slots each and the Three Great Families having one slot each,

everyone else must strive for a slot on their own.

Naturally, every contestant fights with their full strength, seeking a win to secure a slot.

With such fierce competition, where everyone showcases their full strength, every battle concludes quickly.

Ultimately, strength is strength.

If lacking strength, the only outcome is being blown off the Martial Arts Arena.

"Twelve consecutive victories already."

"That must be the Wang Family's Second Young Master, right? Truly impressive."

Exclamations of admiration arise occasionally from the spectators around.

These exclamations are all for a young man on the Martial Arts Arena, about 22 years old.

This person is none other than the Wang Family's Second Young Master, younger brother of Wang Xinghe from one of the Three Great Families.

"Wang Family's bastard?" Lih Fengxing at the Wind Shattering Hall's seats coldly remarks.

"Watch me blow him off the stage."

Lih Fengxing stands up and is about to take action.

"Wait." The Eldest Prince beside him holds him back, "Sub-Hall Master Lih, let me take him on instead."

"I heard the Wang Family has an Eldest Young Master, a legendary figure in Star Swapping City, the top Heavenly Talent, claiming first on Star Swapping Day for five consecutive times."

"With such prowess, it's not too late for you to act afterward."

"Fine." Lih Fengxing responds heartily.

On the Martial Arts Arena, the Wang Family's Second Young Master just blew the 12th challenger off the stage.

At this moment, hearing the surrounding praises, he is full of pride.

Swoosh... the Eldest Prince suddenly leaps onto the Martial Arts Arena.

"Hmm? Another one overestimating themselves?" The Wang Family's Second Young Master sneers.

"Then you'll be my 13th defeated opponent."

The Eldest Prince chuckles arrogantly, "Perhaps I'll be the one to end your winning streak and blow you off the stage."

"Foolish dreams." The Wang Family's Second Young Master sneers.

The battle between the two ignites instantly.

At the Wind Shattering Hall's viewing seats, everyone is watching the fight.

Suddenly, the Kuanglan Sect Master furrows his brow, "Hmm? By the way, where is Deacon Xiao Yi?"

Lih Fengxing is startled and asks, "Deacon Xiao Yi hasn't arrived yet?"

The Kuanglan Sect Master glances at him, looks around, and says, "Can't you see if he's here or not? There's no sign of him."

Lih Fengxing furrows his brow and says, "Deacon Xiao Yi always prefers to ponder things alone."

"I thought he just wasn't at our Wind Shattering Hall's viewing seats and was sitting alone in a corner."

"Why is he not here?"

"He's indeed not here." Senior Li He at the chief seat of the Wind Shattering Hall says solemnly.

"When I left the Wind Shattering Hall today, the door to the seclusion room was still tightly shut; he hasn't exited seclusion."

"Still in seclusion?" Lih Fengxing's expression changes.

"What? Deacon Xiao Yi is in seclusion?" The Kuanglan Sect Master, Yu Feng, and others are shocked.

They just realized now that Xiao Yi was in seclusion.

Yu Feng furrows his brows, "Xiao Yi isn't the type to act without discretion."

"Why choose now to enter seclusion?"

"Doesn't he know martial artists' seclusion can go on for months or even longer?"

"If he falls into an epiphany, he might completely lose track of time, entirely immersed in cultivation seclusion."

"What should we do?" The Kuanglan Sect Master furrows his brow, "Might he not make it here in time?"

"Should we return to the Wind Shattering Hall and forcefully wake him?"

"No." Cheng Suyan and Chu Rou exclaim at the same time.

The two are surprised by their simultaneous response, exchanging an awkward smile.

Cheng Suyan slightly lowers her head, blushing.

Chu Rou smiles, then looks at the Kuanglan Sect Master and says, "If he's truly in an epiphany, forcing him awake would ruin his opportunity."

"Besides, interrupting an epiphany can cause internal injuries if mild, or harm the mind if severe for a martial artist."

The Kuanglan Sect Master says solemnly, "What opportunity can compare to Star Swapping Day?"

"Just let it be." Qin Hongyi sneers.

"If it's an epiphany, losing track of time, unable to make it; or perhaps he's just afraid to fight, not daring to come, perfectly clear."

"Junior Sister Hongyi, what do you mean?" The crowd frowns.

"Hmph." Qin Hongyi sneers, "That little thief is craftier than anyone."

"With such an opportunity as Star Swapping Day, would he not plan his timing accurately?"

"I heard, just the other day, this little thief overestimated himself, struggling against Young Master Xinghe in front of the Ten Thousand Gold Mansion, nearly breaking into a fight."

"If not for the intervention of the Chief Steward of the Ten Thousand Gold Mansion, he might have been dead by now."

"I suspect, he doesn't dare participate in the competition, facing Young Master Xinghe directly."

"Impossible." Cheng Suyan and Chu Rou exclaim simultaneously again.

Lih Fengxing speaks in an icy tone, "Junior Sister Hongyi, with your implication, was I also overestimating myself in front of the Ten Thousand Gold Mansion that day?"

"Should I hide away and not dare participate in today's Star Swapping Day competition?"

"Later, if Wang Xinghe takes the stage, I'll go up and challenge him." Lih Fengxing's tone is chilling.

"If I win, I hope you'll restrain this attitude in the future and never let me hear another word slandering Deacon Xiao Yi."

"I owe Deacon Xiao Yi a life, and my patience is limited."

The cold words shock those present.

Qin Hongyi's face darkens as she closes her mouth, not daring to meet Lih Fengxing's icy gaze.

However, her indignant expression shows she has little regard for Lih Fengxing's words.