Chapter 578: First Match
Chapter 578: First Match
"Welcome to the tournament.
"I hope that the competitors would be able to challenge and learn something from each other.
"It is a rare opportunity for us to do so and I hope everyone would try their best.
"But first, I would like to remind you that while we try to make sure that everyone would be safe, we can’t guarantee that there wouldn’t be any serious injuries or even deaths.
"After all, the fist and legs have no eyes, be reminded that you are participating at your own risk.
"If any of you are afraid, you can withdraw from the tournament now, before it is too late.
"And lastly, I would like to thank the organizer Master Lin Xuan Qi, for doing such a good job." Sima Yu said, stretched out his hands towards Lin Xuan Qi, and everyone’s gaze came onto him.
Lin Xuan Qi nodded his head and gave everyone an awkward smile.
He didn’t expect such attention on him.
Sima Long, Liu Shao and Hun Xiong Kun, who were sitting next to him, felt proud of what he had done and they sat up straight with their heads held high.
Old Heng, Master Chew and their friends were also nodding approvingly at him.
They were more convinced after what they had witnessed with the organization of the tournament and its arrangements.
Being business partners with Lin Xuan Qi might be one of their best business decisions ever.
"Let the tournament begin!" Sima Yu raised his hand and said.
His voice boomed in the air and the crowd in the arena gave out a loud cheer.
Sima Yu slowly walked down from the stage and got back to his seat while he stared at Zhao Geng Nian, who was sitting across the competition stage.
Once he sat down onto his seat, a purple glow appeared from the perimeter of the competition stage and slowly rose into the air.
It engulfed the round competition stage and formed into a sphere.
Then, a whistle could be heard, signaling the start of the match.
"Lu, show what the Qing Feng Sect is capable of!"
"Yeah, I’ve bet a few taels of silver on you."
"Be focused and finish him off!"
The crowd got excited and they couldn’t wait to see Lu, the competitor from Qing Feng Sect on the stage, beat his opponent, Sima Yi from the Sima Family, into a pulp.
Most of them had placed their bets on Lu to win.
Sima Yu took a slow breath to calm himself.
Although he was confident in their Artifacts, it was still a huge risk for him to agree to the tournament.
If it didn’t go well, his position as the family head would be at risk.
But compared to letting their reputation go down the drain and being at risk from all the sects and clans that were coming to Hong Feng City, this was the best option for him.
He wasn’t the only one feeling anxious.
Sitting beside him, the other Sima Family members weren’t feeling any better; they frowned and glanced at the competition stage intently.
They had given Sima Yi the best Artifact they could and they hoped that Sima Yi would be able to win the first match.
That would help boost the morale for the others after him.
Zhao Geng Nian, on the opposite side of the competition stage, stroked his beard while he glanced around, looking for anything unusual.
He was suspicious of the Sima Family and felt that they must have had something up their sleeves.
But no matter where he looked and sensed with his Spiritual Senses, there wasn’t anything unusual that he could find.
There were no Artifacts or Formation Arrays that were hidden.
Xiao Feng, his direct disciple who was seated beside him, gave him a smirk and asked, "Don’t worry too much, Master. I’m sure that we can win comfortably."
Zhao Geng Nian shook his head at him and said, "Never let your guard down, even when you are facing an inferior opponent."
"I’ll be sure to always be on alert." Xiao Feng said and glanced back at the competition stage.
On the stage, Lu, buoyed by the support from the crowd, made his first move.
He drew out his sword and lunged at Sima Yi.
The tip of the sword thrust at Sima Yi’s head and a twirling wind shot out from it towards Sima Yi.
All those in the crowd gasped when they saw what happened.
It was the first time they were able to see how the cultivators fought.
And it reminded them how devastating they could be.
Sima Yi took a step to the side to dodge the twirling wind but it caught a bit of his ear, ripping it apart.
Blood and the flesh of his ear splattered onto the competition stage.
The twirling wind didn’t stop and it continued its trajectory.
When the twirling wind got closer to the spectator stand, the crowd sitting in that area raised their arms and closed their eyes instinctively, trying to block the twirling wind coming at them.
But it wasn’t warranted.
The twirling wind hit the purple glow that engulfed the competition stage and dissipated.
All of them gave out a sigh of relief when they realized that they were safe from such an attack.
"It’s only a fight between Qi Concentration Cultivators, I can’t imagine what the others at a higher level could do."
"I thought I was going to die right there."
"Shut up and watch the match, my bet on the Qing Feng Sect is working out."
The crowd marveled at what the cultivators could do and they were eager to win their bets.
Lu, emboldened by his earlier success, turned at Sima Yi and slashed his sword at him horizontally.
Sima Yi ignored the pain in his ear and lunged at the blade of Lu.
Dang!
His body gave out a golden glow when he got near and a loud metallic ring could be heard in the air.
The Sima Family Golden Armor had blocked the attack from Lu.
"Now is your turn to die!" Sima Yi shouted and he used the sword he had to thrust it at Lu’s head from below.