The light screen quickly filled with names, until there was no more space left between the numbers.
"Very well, everyone has their slots and opponents. It's time to begin the matches."
Zheng Tao turned his gaze from the screen back to the disciples, who were watching their respective opponents intently, their expressions heavy.
"The matches will occur in blocks of 10 simultaneous duels on the platforms, totaling 5 rounds of 10 and one with 9, completing 59 matches. Every day of the competition will follow this format. At the end, the 25 with the highest scores will become inner disciples."
After verifying that everyone still remembered the rules, he turned to the outer elders standing nearby.
"One outer elder from each sect pavilion will be responsible for a combat platform. They will supervise to ensure everything proceeds fairly."
He nodded to the outer elders, who returned the gesture seriously.
Turning back to the disciples, he concluded his instructions.
"In the following battle, there is no need to hold back. No one can die before our eyes or be crippled. The combat platforms have formations that will ensure everyone's safety. Finally, no talismans or pills are allowed during the match, and violations will be punished. Artifacts above your cultivation level are also not allowed. This tournament evaluates strength and battle potential, not wealth. I hope you're intelligent enough to understand that."
Zheng Tao noticed some disciples were disappointed with that rule, so he added a remark to comfort those affected.
"I know it may seem unfair for those talented in talismans, pills, artifact forging, or other fields that don't involve direct combat, but for such cases, there are recommendation methods. Present your talents directly and honestly to the elders, and it won't be hard to earn a promotion."
Seeing that most seemed more at ease after that explanation, he stopped speaking and stepped away, leaving the disciples slightly confused.
But then they saw the ten outer elders, with whom Zheng Tao had spoken, turn, mount flying swords, and head toward the stone platforms with a relaxed demeanor.
The platforms were perfectly aligned side by side on lower ground in the plains. The distance allowed the disciples, with their enhanced cultivator vision, to easily see what would happen on top of them, as they weren't very tall.
The outer elder responsible for the first platform turned around, hands behind his back. He glanced at the light panel with disinterest, then back at the disciples. With a calm and ordinary tone, transmitted through spiritual voice, his words reached everyone's ears clearly.
"Match 1. Mei Lian vs Yun Zhi. Competitors, present yourselves on platform 1 immediately."
His gentle voice spread across the field, making everyone grow serious.
If there had been any lingering doubt about what was happening, now there was none left.
The fight had officially begun.
The other elders didn't take long to follow, quickly announcing the next matches.
"Match 2. Shui Han vs Chen Wei. Competitors, present yourselves on platform 2 immediately."
"Match 3. Wang Fang vs Li Na. Competitors..."
"Match 4..."
Within seconds, the ten first matches were announced.
The disciples among the 118 called immediately tossed swords beneath their feet and flew toward the platforms.
The new disciples, who had just begun to calm down after so many surprising events, widened their eyes once again in disbelief.
"F-foundation establishment... twenty of them..." An older man with white hair, recruited at Black Rock Mountain, observed with trembling hands as countless disciples suddenly soared from the crowd toward the platforms.
He had already had the sect's techniques for over a week and knew how powerful they were. But seeing that disciples recruited only a few months before him had already reached a realm he had only dreamed of made his breathing heavy.
Foundation Establishment was a level that represented anything but common. A master at that stage could make an entire cultivation city like Black Rock Mountain and its surroundings tremble with a single word. They were untouchable, unreachable... an ideal that could only be dreamed of.
And only now did he realize how close he was to reaching that level after joining the sect. His fists clenched, and his eyes reddened with emotion as he thought about it.
As for the disciples recruited in the Gu family city the day before, who had not yet received their techniques, they were completely unprepared for such a display of power from mere outer disciples.
Their eyes were wide, jaws dropped in absolute shock.
And it seemed it would still take quite a while for them to recover from it.
In the middle of the crowd, Aotian watched from the sidelines, both from the perspective of his main body and his avatars, observing not only the start of the battles but also the complete bewilderment of the disciples — which was quite amusing.
On the stage, at that moment, a show of lights and special effects had begun over the stone platforms.
Normally, cultivators in the Qi Refinement realm didn't externalize their spiritual energy that much. The combat was more focused on runes circulating the body, emphasizing enhancement of defense, speed, or attack power.
Of course, cultivators in that realm could also externalize and generate powerful elemental attacks, but these were usually trump cards that consumed a lot of energy, making them usable only once or twice before completely exhausting their spiritual energy.
At the Foundation Establishment level, however, combat was different. Runes were almost abandoned — though still usable effectively — and cultivators of this level preferred externalized, high-powered attacks. They were like mages, opting for long-range spells to defeat their enemies without even getting close.
Because of that, a light show with spells flying across the stage was quite common. The interesting part, though, was that there were also runes circulating the disciples' bodies. Even though they were at Foundation Establishment, there was still close-combat happening amidst the dazzling spells being cast.
This was due to the fact that Founder-Tier techniques weren't cheap in the sect. With the few missions they had done, after acquiring their cultivation technique, the rest of their contribution points weren't enough for more than one or two Refiner-Tier spells.
Still, upon discovering the power of the spells at that level provided by the sect, the disciples didn't hesitate for a second before acquiring them.
As for the externalized elemental Founder-Tier spells on display on stage, those had been found in tombs during missions carried out for the sect. The disciples had been allowed to copy any techniques and spells they found, and they ended up studying and learning them.
Thus, under Aotian's watchful gaze, the matches unfolded, providing an exciting and fascinating spectacle for all the spectators.
The fights were neither too long nor too short. The last one lasted two incense sticks (30 minutes), while the first lasted half a stick (7 minutes).
As soon as all participants of the first round descended from the platforms and returned to the crowd, the elders started the second round, calling the names for matches 11 to 20 without wasting time.
The first name called was that of the beautiful Rihai.
"Match 11. Liu Rihai vs Chen Hao. Competitors, report to platform 1 immediately."
Zhen Mo, the outer elder of the Formation Pavilion, responsible for the first platform, announced via voice transmission.
In the middle of the disciples, Aotian looked at Rihai with a smile and kissed her on the cheek.
"Good luck!"
He smiled as he straightened up after leaning slightly to kiss her.
"Thank you…"
Rihai smiled softly and nodded, confident, before launching a sword beneath her feet and flying toward the platform.
The new disciples, upon seeing twenty more Foundation Establishment cultivators flying, completely froze. Unconsciously, their gazes turned to the other disciples who were still awaiting their matches.
"I-If they're all… Foundation Establishment cultivators... won't that be hundreds at this level?!"
Shocked murmurs spread throughout the crowd of thousands of new disciples, all stunned and bewildered.
Rihai flew with confidence and serenity, though her eyes showed a hint of seriousness. She was sure of herself, but not recklessly so.
Upon reaching the stone platform, whose floor was covered in golden runes, she jumped off her flying sword, landed before Elder Zhen Mo, and cupped her fists in a respectful bow.
"Disciple Liu Rihai greets Elder Zhen."
She spoke with politeness and humility.
"Disciple Liu."
The elder nodded and smiled kindly.
Rihai was one of that avatar's students in formation classes, so it wasn't strange that the elder treated her naturally.
She smiled politely in return and turned to her opponent, who was just arriving and leapt off his sword.
"Disciple Chen Hao greets Elder Zhen."
The middle-aged man who arrived also greeted the elder respectfully. He had a sparse beard, a serious look, and long black hair tied in a topknot.
His build and mature appearance made him look far more imposing when compared to the young, slender, and delicate Rihai.
"Good."
The elder nodded calmly at him, though more indifferently.
"You two, prepare yourselves."
He spoke directly, and the two wasted no time, quickly positioning themselves on opposite sides of the platform, facing each other.
"Before starting, know that winning or losing does not define your future. Always keep moving forward, so you never lose again. Don't hold back in this battle. Your safety is guaranteed, and you definitely won't have the right to complain if you don't give it your all while your opponent does. So, do your best. Are you ready?"
He explained calmly, encouraging them at the same time, before turning to face the two who stared at each other seriously.
Both took a deep breath and nodded.
Seeing this, the elder didn't hesitate.
"Very well, in that case… FIGHT!!"