Chapter 39: Martial Arts Tournament for a Suitor

In the Northwest region, in the city of Luo, Lin Yi set off to find the "Heiress of the Central Plains" immediately after learning of her whereabouts from an otherworldly demon. Not long after his arrival, news of the woman reached him. It turned out that the so-called heiress was to hold a martial arts tournament in three days’ time to select a husband capable of protecting her. She had chosen the Northwest region because the top factions in the Central Plains were too numerous and their influence ran too deep; she felt she could not manage the complexities there, whereas the Northwest required far fewer considerations.

In the days leading up to the event, many cultivators arrived to register, though most were only in the early stages of the Golden Core realm. Some even from the Foundation Establishment stage came to join in the excitement, while those in the mid-Golden Core stage who met the age requirements were few and far between. Lin Yi observed the crowd carefully and had yet to encounter a single participant with a cultivation level higher than his own. This filled him with joy; as a peak-stage Golden Core cultivator, he was indeed a rare talent for his age. He believed that if he won the tournament in three days, he would secure abundant cultivation resources, making his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm easy and the Divine Transformation realm a distinct possibility in the near future.

Meanwhile, Ye Fan had been searching for clues at the Linghan Sect for the past two days, but had discovered nothing of note. He could not help but wonder if Chu Zhongtian had been telling the truth, though he remained skeptical that the old fox had been entirely transparent. Lacking evidence, he decided to put the matter aside for now. He had originally come out to trade for rare treasures at the Luo City auction house to aid his cultivation, and this detour had delayed his plans. Unwilling to waste more time—as nothing was more important than improving his cultivation—he decided to take four demigods with him to the auction house to avoid any further complications. There was no need to keep guarding the Linghan Sect’s forbidden area; it wasn’t going anywhere.

Three days later, on the main street of Luo City:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Today is the day of my daughter Murong Qian’s martial arts tournament!" she announced. "We are grateful for your participation. To show our sincerity, my daughter has prepared a modest gift for every contestant. Please, accept it!"

As she spoke, she gestured to the pile of colorful storage bags in front of the platform. Each contained one million spirit stones, and every contestant who stepped up to compete was entitled to take one. "Though it is but a small sum of one million spirit stones, it represents my daughter’s goodwill. Without further ado, let the martial arts tournament begin!"

The moment she finished, two young cultivators stepped onto the stage, each taking their gift, much to the envy of the onlookers—those who were too old or lacked the required cultivation to enter.

"The young lady from the Central Plains is certainly generous," one remarked. "A million spirit stones! That’s enough to buy quite a few pills, and it’s just a participation prize. Imagine how many resources the ultimate winner will receive."

"What a pity," another sighed. "I’m only fifty years older than the age limit. If I could have entered, my late-stage Golden Core cultivation would have certainly dominated the field!"

"Oh, forget it," someone retorted. "You’re already that old and haven't even reached the Nascent Soul realm; you have no right to brag!"

"I simply lacked the resources! My talent is no worse than anyone else's."

As the crowd buzzed with conversation, the first match concluded. The second match began immediately, with both contestants giving their all. Amidst a chaotic flash of blades, one was knocked off the stage.

Lin Yi stepped onto the platform for the fifth match, facing a white-clad man in the mid-Golden Core stage. This opponent was considered one of the strongest contenders and a favorite to win.

"Friend, it is your misfortune to meet me," the white-clad man said with confidence, believing victory was merely a matter of time. "But rest assured, I shall go easy on you."

Lin Yi merely sneered and drew his sword. How dare a mere mid-Golden Core cultivator speak so arrogantly before him? As he channeled his spiritual energy, his aura surged, instantly suppressing his opponent. The white-clad man was shocked; he had never expected Lin Yi to possess such unfathomable power. In a single exchange, Lin Yi broke through his defenses and held his sword to the man’s throat. He could have easily pierced it, but to leave a good impression on Murong Qian, he spared him.

"The winner of the fifth match is Master Lin!" Murong Qian announced, her eyes lingering on Lin Yi with interest. Lin Yi smiled and gave a slight bow, causing Murong Qian to blush and lower her head.

The tournament continued. About two hours later, the first round ended with sixteen cultivators, including Lin Yi, advancing. After a short rest, the second round began. Relying on his superior cultivation, Lin Yi won easily and moved to the next stage.

At the same time, Ye Fan and his four demigod companions arrived in Luo City. Seeing the massive crowd in the street, he inquired about the cause and learned of the tournament. Having never encountered such an event, he became curious and decided to watch. With four demigods at his side, the crowd parted for him, and many recognized him as the Young Sect Master of the Lingxiao Sect—the premier sect of the Northwest.

Ye Fan reached the edge of the stage, immediately catching Murong Qian’s eye. Though she did not know him, the reactions of the crowd made it clear that this handsome young man was of extraordinary status. It was a pity, she thought, that he had not signed up.

From his vantage point, Ye Fan saw Lin Yi on the stage. The tournament had reached its final match. Lin Yi was facing a rogue cultivator in the late-Golden Core stage. Although his cultivation was not as high as Lin Yi’s, his combat experience was immense, clearly honed through countless battles. They fought for half an hour, and while Lin Yi gained no advantage in technique, he managed to exhaust his opponent's spiritual energy through sheer force, eventually securing a hard-won victory.

Lin Yi was ecstatic, knowing that his difficult days were behind him and a bright future awaited.

"I hereby announce that Master Lin is the winner of the..."

"Wait!"

Just as Murong Qian was about to declare the result, Ye Fan’s voice rang out from below, cutting her off.