Chapter 8: The Tournament Begins
The week leading up to the Imperial Grand Tournament was a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and spiritual energy. Ling Tian and Lin Yue spent their days exploring the sprawling palace grounds, a place of breathtaking beauty and ancient power. The air was thick with pure spiritual energy, making every breath feel rejuvenating. Lin Yue, with her unique healing talent, felt her own power grow exponentially, her core strengthening with every passing day. She spent hours in the Imperial library, reading ancient texts on medicinal cultivation, her passion for healing blossoming in this new environment.
Ling Tian, meanwhile, continued his own training in their luxurious suite. He no longer needed to meditate for hours to absorb energy; a simple act of breathing was enough to draw in the abundant spiritual power of the Imperial City. He spent his time perfecting the Celestial Serpent Step, his movements so fast and fluid that he could cross the length of their massive room in a single, silent second. He also began to explore the more intricate applications of the Dragon's Roar Palm, learning how to focus its power into a concentrated beam or a wide, sweeping wave.
During this time, Princess Mei Ling became a regular visitor. She would bring them exotic delicacies, share palace gossip, and even offer advice on the tournament's most formidable competitors. Ling Tian found himself enjoying her company. Her initial coldness had melted away, revealing a sharp wit and a surprisingly warm heart. She was a woman of immense talent and intelligence, burdened by the expectations of her royal bloodline.
One evening, as they sat in the palace gardens under a canopy of shimmering, star-like flowers, Princess Mei Ling spoke of the tournament's purpose. "The Emperor does not simply seek a powerful warrior. He seeks someone with a profound understanding of the Dao, someone with a rare and unique talent who can bring glory to the empire. The rewards are immense: an official position in the Imperial Court, a title of nobility, and a dowry of treasures that can make a family wealthy for generations."
She looked at Ling Tian, a flicker of something unreadable in her jade eyes. "But the competition is fierce. The disciples of the Azure Sky Sect, the Black Dragon Guild, and the various royal clans are all here. They are not to be underestimated."
Ling Tian listened intently, his expression calm. He was not intimidated. His journey so far had taught him that true power lay not in brute force or a high cultivation level, but in a deeper, more fundamental understanding of the universe.
The day of the tournament finally arrived. The grand arena, a place of even greater scale than the one in his clan, was a sight to behold. Thousands of spectators filled the stands, their cheers and excited chatter a deafening roar. Emperor Xuan, a man of immense power and presence, sat on his golden throne, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with a benevolent yet piercing intensity. Princess Mei Ling sat beside him, her face a serene mask, though her eyes immediately found Ling Tian in the crowd of competitors.
The tournament was structured in three phases. The first was a preliminary round, a simple show of force to weed out the weak. Cultivators were to demonstrate their most powerful attacks on a massive, reinforced spiritual boulder. Those who could not leave a significant mark were eliminated.
Hundreds of cultivators lined up, one by one, to strike the boulder. Most managed to leave a small dent or a crack. The disciples of the great sects, however, caused explosions of dust and rock, their attacks far more devastating.
Then it was Ling Tian's turn.
He walked to the center of the arena, his movements calm and purposeful. The crowd scoffed, their disdain palpable. They saw a handsome young man, not a powerful cultivator.
Ling Tian closed his eyes, focusing his spiritual energy. He didn't unleash a powerful wave or a furious barrage of attacks. Instead, he channeled the power of the Cosmic Origin Formation, condensing all of his spiritual energy into a single, pinpoint strike. He didn't use a powerful punch or a grand technique. He simply extended a single finger and touched the surface of the boulder.
BZZZZZT!
There was a faint, high-pitched hum, and then a ripple of golden energy spread from his finger across the entire surface of the boulder. It was not a violent explosion, but a quiet, profound disintegration. The entire boulder, a monument of reinforced spiritual rock, crumbled into fine dust, as if it had been made of sand. The dust scattered on the wind, leaving nothing behind.
A deafening silence fell over the arena.
The Emperor, who had been watching with a bored expression, sat up straight, a look of profound shock on his face. Princess Mei Ling gasped, a hand flying to her mouth in a mixture of awe and pride. The crowd, the disciples, the elders—they were all stunned into speechlessness. Ling Tian had not just broken the boulder; he had erased it from existence with a single, seemingly effortless touch.
Ling Tian simply turned and walked back to his place in the line, his expression as calm as ever. He had just made his first real statement on the world stage, and the Imperial Grand Tournament had just found its main character.