The Universal Holy War grand finals venue could accommodate millions of spectators and was divided into several viewing platforms—some regular, some suspended in the air.
Two words: Grand!
As sect master of a participating faction, Jun Changxiao was arranged on a suspended platform north of the competition venue.
The view was excellent, allowing a complete view of the entire battle process from every angle.
In comparison, the regular viewing platforms were inferior, as their positions only allowed viewing of a small portion of the battle stages.
Fortunately, the organizers employed projection array formations, with one massive light screen accompanied by countless smaller ones standing high in the sky, allowing the audience to keep track of every battle stage’s situation at all times.
“Quite the production.”
Jun Changxiao sat down and surveyed the entire venue.
Especially the battle stage construction amazed him—because aside from the main venue, there were twelve pyramid-shaped venues surrounding it. Looking down from above, it resembled a Five Elements Eight Trigrams diagram.
“After all, this is the Universal Holy War grand finals. Of course it needs to have presence,” the system said.
Jun Changxiao said, “In the future, I’ll hold the sect competition at this level of scale too, having martial artists from the entire universe come to watch!”
“The host should worry more about the disciples. Though the Heavenly Demon Emperor won’t dare act personally, he might instigate his adopted sons to use underhanded methods,” the system said.
“I believe they can face anything.”
At this point, Jun Changxiao intentionally or unintentionally looked toward the Heavenly Demon Emperor across the fairly distant gap. The other party happened to look over as well, and their eyes immediately locked, sparks of electricity shooting between them.
Just as they were about to collide with sparks of love, a resonant voice rang out in the main venue: “Please welcome the competitors!”
“Buzz!”
“Buzz!”
Array formation light flowed within the twelve pyramid-shaped venues, and competitors striking poses appeared on stage one after another.
“Ahhh!”
Martial artists in the regular viewing platforms saw their favorite idols appear and immediately lost emotional control, shouting loudly. Some even pulled out banners to show support.
Millions of spectators from different star systems.
Almost every genius who appeared had a support group, so the level of noise could be said to shake heaven and earth.
However, when the Eternal Sect disciples led by Lu Qianqian made their appearance on the pyramid-shaped venue, no one cheered for them, no one called out for them. They seemed like a group of poor children with no father’s love or mother’s care, abandoned in a corner.
“Second Senior Brother.”
Su Xiaomo covered his ears and said, “It’s so noisy.”
Before Li Qingyang could respond, Lu Qianqian intercepted first: “Win the match, and they’ll shut up.”
“…”
Everyone thought to themselves, “When did Big Senior Sister suddenly start talking!”
“Right!”
Su Xiaomo placed his hands on his hips and grinned. “Win the match, claim the championship, make the entire venue fall completely silent!”
Fortunately, the cheering voices covered his words. Otherwise, if the audience heard this, they would undoubtedly send all kinds of contempt and mockery.
“Buzz!”
“Buzz!”
The array formation light continued to flash, and competitors kept appearing.
It must be said, the upper cosmic layers had many star systems, and after going through preliminary selection, the competitors who ultimately entered the grand finals were not only numerous but also extremely formidable.
Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement by the organizers, the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted son group also appeared in the same venue as the Eternal Sect disciples.
One adopted son folded his arms and sneered, “If we meet in the competition, I’ll make you all perish.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Su Xiaomo said, “Quite the big talk.”
Li Fei, Tian Qi, and the others behind him laughed dismissively.
In terms of numbers, they definitely couldn’t compare to the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted son group, but in a real fight, they weren’t afraid at all.
Especially.
Yesterday, the sect master had already given orders.
If they encountered the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted sons in the competition, there was no need for mercy—just fight them directly.
“Whoosh, whoosh!”
“Whoosh, whoosh!”
The Eternal Sect disciples and the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted sons were separated by dozens of zhang.
Both sides glared at each other. Though they hadn’t directly fought yet, the auras they unleashed had already clashed in the air, the sinister atmosphere they emitted frightening nearby competitors into trembling.
These two groups.
Neither were easy to mess with!
When drawing lots, they absolutely must not win that lottery!
“Hm?”
He Wudi, who seemed like a wallflower, suddenly felt someone staring at him intently. Following the sensation, he looked over and saw Ling Li at the very back of the adopted son group, clenching his fists, his gaze flashing with rage and killing intent.
“Tsk tsk.”
Su Xiaomo also noticed and said, “This guy recovered from his injuries pretty quickly.”
“Just trash,” Ye Xingchen said disdainfully.
“Crack!”
Ling Li clenched his fists so tightly his fingernails dug into his flesh as he raged internally, “I lost in the preliminaries, but I absolutely won’t lose again in the grand finals!”
“Sigh.”
A nearby adopted brother shook his head and said, “These people have nothing special about them. Yet someone could lose repeatedly. Indeed, Adoptive Father raised a waste.”
“The greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment.”
“If Adoptive Father had sent me to compete in the Cangyun System, I definitely would have easily claimed the championship.”
With the Eternal Sect disciples’ contemptuous mockery in front and his adopted brothers’ cold ridicule behind, Ling Li’s rage and mental state were about to explode.
…
After all competitors appeared on stage, the organizers began their routine speeches.
Jun Changxiao leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, resting. Only when the other party finally finished their long-winded speech and announced the lot drawing did he open his eyes.
The lot drawing was no different from the star system preliminaries. All ten thousand competitors present would select an opponent, with winners advancing and losers eliminated.
According to the roll call, Lu Qianqian, Li Qingyang, and the others drew their number plates in succession. Because there were many competitors in the first round, they didn’t draw their own people and thus avoid starting with internal battles.
“Please, first-round challengers, enter the corresponding teleportation arrays.”
“Phew!”
Li Shangtian took a deep breath, then walked toward the teleportation array ahead, saying, “Senior Brothers, I’m going first!”
He was the first Eternal Sect disciple to fight.
“Junior Brother!”
Li Qingyang and the others encouraged him, “Victory from the start!”
“Swoosh!”
“Swoosh!”
Li Shangtian was transported into the corresponding battle venue.
As the first batch of competitors successively entered the battle grounds, dozens of small light screens in the sky simultaneously displayed images.
“Holy crap!” Su Xiaomo looked up and saw his junior brother and the competitor he faced, saying helplessly, “The very first match and we encounter a Heavenly Demon Emperor adopted son?”
“Sigh.”
Li Shangtian shook his head and said, “Luck is a bit too good.”
His opponent was named Ling Shi, also one of the adopted sons who had just mocked Ling Li.
“Well then.”
Jun Changxiao spread his hands and said, “There’s a good show to watch right from the start.”
“Boy.”
Ling Shi tilted his head and smiled coldly. “If Adoptive Father had sent me to the Cangyun System, you and your fellow disciples wouldn’t be standing in the grand finals venue—you’d have gone to report to the underworld long ago.”
“…”
Li Shangtian rubbed his nose and said, “So arrogant.”
“The match begins!”
Just then, the referee announced loudly.
“Whoosh, whoosh!”
In an instant, dozens of battle stages simultaneously erupted with realm auras, transforming into waves that spread toward nearby viewing platforms.
“Swoosh—”
Before the voice even finished falling, Ling Shi bent at the waist and charged forward with both hands stretched behind him. His face gradually became ferocious, gradually became crazed.
“Kekeke!”
“Accept the fate of death!”
“…”
Hearing this chuunibyou voice, Li Shangtian stood in place shaking his head, then… his gaze suddenly became serious, and a special aura enveloped his entire body.
Gradually.
A shadow appeared behind him.
From ethereal and insubstantial to flesh and blood.
This was an SS-rank heroic soul resembling an ancient assassin. He stood proudly holding a sword, long hair disheveled and half-covering his face, his gaze revealing a sense of vicissitudes.
Who?
Jing Ke!
“Tsk tsk.”
Jun Changxiao said in surprise, “Using his trump card right away?”
“Clang—”
Just then, under Li Shangtian’s control, Jing Ke drew his sword from its sheath and met the attack.
“Not good!”
“Swoosh—”
The battle stage fell into a state of stillness.
Ling Shi maintained his charging posture, standing dazed in place.
Jing Ke stopped behind him, the drawn blade gathering a drop of fresh blood as he said coldly, “If I can’t kill the King of Qin, can’t I kill you?”
“Thud!”
With those words, Ling Shi dropped to his knees, both hands hanging down, his head tilting to one side. There was an obvious sword mark on his neck, though perhaps due to the excessive speed, no blood had spurted out.
The grand finals had just begun, and a Heavenly Demon Emperor adopted son had already been sacrificed to heaven!