Chapter 560: The Competition Begins

Zhangsun Ning hadn't shown herself for the past few days, but Xiao Fan knew she must be hiding in the shadows.

Xiao Fan had also learned from City Lord Du Ling that the City Lord of this great city had a cultivation base in the Pi Hai Realm.

Although strong, they were still a full major Realm below Zhangsun Ning.

If Zhangsun Ning intended to hide, it likely wouldn't be easy for a City Lord of that level to detect her.

Longwu City had been extraordinarily lively lately.

In the past, Yihuang Province would hold similar competitions for the younger generation, but the scale was never large.

It was rare to see something like this, where all medium-sized cities and above in Yihuang Province were involved.

Furthermore, even the City Lords of the winners would receive rewards, which was truly unprecedented.

In addition to those participating in the selection from the sixty-four cities, a constant stream of people from other cities were arriving to watch the spectacle.

In a flash, the day of the competition arrived.

Including Xiao Fan, there were a total of sixty-four participants.

The event was scheduled to last for three days.

The venue for the competition was the Arena at the City Lord's Mansion in Longwu City.

The massive Arena was several times larger than the one in Linze City, and the competitors from the sixty-four cities stood around its perimeter.

A vast crowd of spectators surrounded the outer edge!

Xiao Fan stood with City Lord Du Ling, representing Linze City.

Behind them was a group of guards who had followed from Linze City, though most of these guards were just for show.

After all, their highest cultivation was only the third level of the Yuanhun Realm; they wouldn't be of much use if real danger arose.

Xiao Fan looked around and could immediately identify the other sixty-three prodigies participating in the competition.

They were all under thirty years old, each possessing a robust aura and an air of inexplicable confidence.

In particular, the young man standing beside the City Lord of Longwu City at the very top had an astonishingly powerful aura.

The highest cultivation among the other contestants was only the fourth or fifth level of the Yuanhun Realm.

But this person had actually reached the sixth level of the Yuanhun Realm and was a Prodigy capable of challenging those above his level.

"Is he Yuan Jingtian?" Xiao Fan murmured to himself as he looked at the man.

The man was handsome and well-built, with a majestic presence, but his gaze was consistently filled with disdain.

His expression was one of extreme contempt and arrogance.

Xiao Fan's expression remained calm; this competition didn't matter much to him personally.

His main goal was to help Zhangsun Ning obtain that sixth-grade wangu pill.

He also wanted to spar with these young prodigies of Yihuang Province to see exactly where his own strength stood.

Back in Wuhuang Province, he could be considered a true Prodigy of the younger generation.

When it came to challenging those above his level, there was likely no one in the entire Wuhuang Province who could suppress him.

Even the Godchildren of the Four Great Forces were no exception.

Because Xiao Fan had risen so quickly in Wuhuang Province, the outside world didn't know much about the full extent of his power.

However, he didn't know how he would fare in other major provinces!

"Everyone, I am City Lord Ming Long of Longwu City. This competition was organized in haste, so there wasn't time to notify everyone in advance."

The City Lord of Longwu City appeared in the center of the Arena, looking around with a smile. "However, the rewards for this competition are generous, and the Yihuang Dynasty has prepared additional prizes for whoever takes first place!"

Additional prizes?

Xiao Fan was startled, sensing that this competition was not as simple as it seemed.

He sent a Divine Thought transmission to City Lord Du Ling beside him: "Are there other rewards?"

"I don't know," City Lord Du Ling replied via transmission; he truly was unaware.

It was just that this competition was sudden and the rewards were generous, including rewards for their respective cities.

Xiao Fan nodded and said nothing more.

"Alright, let the competition begin. It will be a one-on-one tournament via drawing lots; win a match to advance to the next round!"

After City Lord Ming Long finished speaking, he left the Arena…

He was replaced by an old man who was also in the Pi Hai Realm, though his aura was significantly weaker than Ming Long's.

Beside the old man was a wooden box that looked ordinary.

Without a word, the old man moved his Divine Thought, and two slips of paper appeared on the wooden box.

"Zhoushu City, Gaoyuan City. Representatives of these two cities, take the stage."

The old man's voice was sonorous. For this selection, they didn't call out the names of the participants, but rather used the names of their cities.

The young men representing these two cities stepped onto the Arena. Both had robust auras and were geniuses capable of challenging those above their level.

One was at the ninth level of the Xuandan Realm, while the other was at the Great Perfection of the Xuandan Realm.

At the old man's command, the two immediately began their fight.

Xiao Fan watched intently from below. While these two were weak compared to him, to have such strength at their age was truly impressive.

"Under thirty years old… back in Wuhuang Province, few can even reach the Xuandan Realm…" Xiao Fan thought to himself.

This was related to both Cultivation Techniques and the density of spiritual energy.

In Wuhuang Province, someone at the Xuandan Realm could already serve as an Outer Sect Elder in the Four Great Forces.

But here in Yihuang Province, they were just getting started. And these were only the major cities of Yihuang Province.

A City Lord here had a Pi Hai Realm cultivation; that would be unthinkable in Wuhuang Province.

With a Pi Hai Realm cultivation in Wuhuang Province, one could become the Old Ancestor of a great Family, or start their own sect and build a regional power.

And yet…

The gap was too large.

Xiao Fan felt more and more that Wuhuang Province was impoverished.

Conversely, he felt more and more that his future path was still very long.

Tianshen Prefecture!

His goal lay much further away!

For him, even reaching the Yuding Realm wouldn't be enough; he had to far surpass the Yuding Realm.

As the battles continued one after another, the young men sent by the sixty-four cities displayed formidable strength; even some veterans of the Xuandan or Yuanhun Realms might not necessarily be their match.