The day before the Six Cities Tournament, Qin Shangwu gathered the team with a regretful expression. He handed each of them a set of portraits.
“These are the heirs of each city. Memorize their faces,” he said, averting his gaze. “If you encounter them, don’t let them live. The Chief Minister will reward you handsomely.”
Luo Jiaoyang and the others were bewildered. They muttered, “Don’t let them live? The heirs are all formidable. The question is whether we’ll survive.”
Ji Bozai glanced at the portraits and then looked at Ming Yi.
Ming Yi seemed unfazed by this request, not even raising an eyebrow. After scanning all the portraits, she set them aside.
Qin Shangwu sighed, looking at her. “I know this request might be difficult for you. If you can’t kill them, it’s fine. I’ll explain to the Chief Minister.”
“Explain?” Ming Yi shook her head. “The Six Cities Tournament is the perfect opportunity for cities to eliminate each other’s heirs. Once successful, even the strongest city will decline year by year, like Mu Xing City seven or eight years ago. This kill order from the Chief Minister is mandatory for everyone. If you don’t try your best, you’ll be held accountable.”
Chu He straightened up, shocked. “Is this happening?”
“This is absurd. We’re just here to compete…”
“Don’t find it unreasonable,” Ming Yi interrupted. “Even if you don’t kill others, other teams will certainly try their best to take Ji Bozai’s life during the competition. This is an open secret. Your training has been so pure that Master Qin feared you couldn’t accept it.”
Ji Bozai closed the portraits. “It’s a small matter. We’ll act as the situation demands.”
Luo Jiaoyang and the others understood. “It’s a battlefield. Weapons don’t have eyes. We’ll see when the time comes.”
Qin Shangwu felt touched. He had always thought Ming Yi’s special status meant she might not be loyal to Mu Xing City, but her consideration made him feel small-minded.
He sighed and said seriously, “This journey is fraught with danger. Be careful. We have three or four substitute fighters. If you can’t continue, withdraw.”
“Yes, sir.”
On the day of the tournament, with Zhu Yue City’s silver disk hanging high, the Six Cities Tournament finally began.
The first day didn’t require divine artifacts, so Artifact Forgers didn’t participate. Ming Yi sat with Qin Shangwu in the spectator seats, watching the massive Realm of Darkness descend over an entire small mountain.
The tournament grounds were vast, beyond what the eye could see. Special fighters used the Realm of Darkness walls to project six giant mirrors, each focusing on one city’s team.
Initially, the seats around the first three mirrors were the most crowded, as they showed the top three cities. But when Ji Bozai’s face appeared in the sixth mirror, Ming Yi noticed more people, mostly women and noble ladies, sitting down around her.
“Such a handsome fighter. I didn’t believe it when I heard, but there is someone who can rival the moon’s brilliance.”
“That’s Ji Bozai from Mu Xing City. I heard he has black Yuan Power and can already materialize spirit beasts.”
“How impressive.”
Although the Realm of Darkness blocked sound and sight from outside, Ji Bozai seemed to sense the discussion. He suddenly stared at the wall reflecting his image.
His star-like eyes were deep, his thin lips pursed, and his taut features exuded a hint of killing intent.
Ming Yi’s mouth twitched, and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes.
Today was one-on-one combat. Though there were fewer people, it was still dangerous. Yet he had the leisure to pose.
However, his one glance caused the previously restrained noble ladies to become excited. Someone shouted, “Zai Zai! Zai Zai must win!”
“Zai Zai is unparalleled in the world!”
“Zai Zai, you’re auntie’s precious darling!”
The cheers were so loud that they drew glances from nearby seats.
“Did Mu Xing City bring so many supporters?” Bo Yuankui asked, puzzled.
Someone nearby answered with a wry smile, “No, there are nobles from all cities here to watch.”
Bo Yuankui: “…”
It was customary for each city to support their fighters. Ji Bozai was truly inviting hatred.
Not just his face invited hatred, but his strength as well. Today’s one-on-one matches shouldn’t have included him, but since he volunteered, the other cities’ fighters would certainly target him first.
Bo Yuankui’s guess wasn’t wrong. On the mirrors, fighters from other cities didn’t engage each other. Everyone was holding their breath, sensing Yuan Power, and moving towards Ji Bozai’s location.
“He’s about to be surrounded,” Fan Yao watched worriedly. “Why doesn’t he hide? He’s just moving through the forest.”
Chu He looked at the other mirrors and mused, “Perhaps he doesn’t consider those few as threats.”
For the first match on the first day, other cities had sent their weakest team members. Naturally, Ji Bozai didn’t take them seriously. However, even an ant can kill an elephant if there are enough of them. If those five people surrounded him, he’d be in danger.
Ming Yi held her breath, watching Ji Bozai suddenly stop.
There was someone to his front left, and someone approaching from his back right.
Fighters didn’t need close combat. They could engage from ten zhang away. As positions were fixed, purple light burst from three mirrors, all heading towards Ji Bozai.
The sixth mirror was flooded with purple light, obscuring the situation. The spectators grew anxious, standing up and craning their necks.
“Where is he? Where’s Zai Zai?”
“So much purple Yuan Power ganging up on one person, isn’t that too much?”
“More purple Yuan Power is coming!”
“Zai Zai, run quickly!”
Ming Yi was tense at first, but when she saw purple light emanating from Ji Bozai’s position, she relaxed and leaned back in her chair, chuckling, “He’s quite the trickster.”
Qin Shangwu also realized what was happening. He said, both exasperated and proud, “I wonder who taught him to be so clever.”
Ming Yi smiled and nodded, “The master taught him well.”
“Oh, not at all.”
Seeing these two chatting, Luo Jiaoyang grew even more anxious. “How can his cleverness help against so many purple Yuan Power fighters? Please explain clearly!”
Ming Yi raised her chin, gesturing for him to look at the sixth mirror.
It was indeed engulfed in purple Yuan Power, but that power was flying outwards, colliding with several incoming attacks.
Disguising one’s Yuan Power was something many fighters were reluctant to learn. After all, they had spent half their lives cultivating to reach blue or purple levels. These colors displayed their strength, and there was no reason to hide them. Learning to disguise seemed useless.
However, there were people in the world whose Yuan Power color exceeded the seven colors, and they had no choice but to learn this skill.