Three days passed in a flash. While most of the fighters in the inn spent their time drinking and celebrating their victories, Li Xiuwen and Mu Rong Jian were preparing in quiet seclusion.
Mu Rong Jian spent most of his time practicing his Moonlight Sword Art in an empty training yard. He tried to understand the core essence of his self-created art, attempting to perfectly merge the elegance of the moonlight with unmatched speed and precision.
Meanwhile, Li Xiuwen did not train any techniques. He sat quietly in a corner of their room, his sharp eyes observing the other fighters who passed by. Sometimes, he would subtly use his Second Stage: Qi Generation energy to sense the Qi of others. The information he gathered wasn't just about their raw power; it also included their personalities and any hidden flaws.
On the final night before the tournament, Li Xiuwen called Mu Rong Jian to their private room.
"We have all the information we need," Li Xiuwen said in a level voice, as he absorbed energy from the Twilight Star Ore on the table. "This second round has more fearsome fighters than we expected."
Mu Rong Jian listened with a serious expression. He knew that his and Li Xiuwen's Qi were still only at the Second Stage: Qi Generation. Their last fight was merely a warm-up.
"The most terrifying team is from the Cactus Staff Sect," Li Xiuwen continued. "Their leader, Taishan, is a fighter who has already reached the Fourth Stage: War God."
Mu Rong Jian paused. The Fourth Stage: War God was a level that no ordinary fighter could hope to match. They were masters who could control and use their Qi with perfect precision.
"There are two other teams we must watch out for," Li Xiuwen said without a change in his expression. "The first is a female fighter from the Shadow Venom Sect. Her poison is many times deadlier than Hong Mei's. The other team is a pair of Shadow Assassins who specialize in ambushes."
"It seems this tournament won't be as easy as we thought," Mu Rong Jian said with a challenging smile. "Our Qi cultivation is far behind theirs."
"Qi is not everything," Li Xiuwen replied with a cold, unsettling smile. "Victory in a fight doesn't depend on the strength of your Qi alone, but also on your wits and strategy."
On the day of the second round, they traveled to the new arena: a massive labyrinth made of steel and stone. The labyrinth was designed with complex, winding passages, its tall walls covered in rust and cobwebs, making it seem like a maze with no escape.
As they stepped into the entrance of the labyrinth, the roar of a monstrous beast echoed from within. It was a sign that the labyrinth contained not only other fighters, but also countless other dangers waiting for them.
"Remember… in this labyrinth, we will not be separated," Li Xiuwen said with a chilling voice.
Mu Rong Jian nodded with confidence. He knew that his and Li Xiuwen's power was not enough to defeat every opponent, but in this labyrinth, their teamwork would be the key to their victory.