“Congratulations to all sixty-four competitors who have passed the first round,” Elder Song proclaimed.

  The remaining participants had formed a square formation on the Golden Arena stage, all facing the seated Overseer. Ishin stood beside his teammates in the second row. Nearly nine hours had passed since the tournament had begun, but now the first day was finally over.

  Looking around, Ishin noted that many of the other competitors were far more battered than his own team. Robes were torn, cut, or stained with blood. Several seemed barely able to stand upright. One unfortunate cultivator, dressed in green, purple, and yellow robes, was even missing an arm. Evidently, the Righteous Mantle Sect’s healers couldn’t reattach limbs.

  Even more telling than the injured state of the competitors was the clash of colors now filling the formation. Aside from his own team, only the Red Burning Comet School had managed to advance all four members to the second round.

  Because Dong Jing defeated half the other teams and golems on his own.

  It was a sobering realization of just how strong some of their rivals were.

  “A special congratulations to the Eight Oaths Resolve School and Red Burning Comet School teams,” Elder Song continued, raising her hands in praise. “Out of the sixty-four teams who participated this year, only these two were able to advance with all of their members.” She brought her palms together in a loud clap. “An extra round of applause for these truly formidable eight!”

  At her command, a wave of applause thundered through the audience. Ishin had to admit—the recognition felt good.

  After half a minute, Elder Song lifted a hand for silence. When the applause finally faded, she resumed speaking. “Tomorrow we will begin the second round of the tournament. As is customary, the remaining rounds will consist of individual duels between competitors.” She flicked her wrist, and a ten-foot-tall scroll appeared in the air above her, glowing with blue light.

  “Behold, the placements for the remainder of the tournament.” The scroll unfurled, revealing a six-tier tournament bracket. Ishin’s eyes darted across it until he found his name on the central right side.

  My opponent is Cao Jie.

  He searched his memory for any recognition of the name but quickly accepted that he didn’t know who it was.

  Who are the others facing?

  Rhee was matched against someone named Gao Heng, Lei was facing Wu Shuang, and Bo was paired with Tan Fei. As Ishin studied the bracket, he realized something critical.

  Lei and Bo are on the same half as me. We’ll have to fight each other eventually. Peering closer at the paths, he frowned. Wait. If they both keep winning, they’ll fight each other in the fourth round. I won’t possibly fight either until the semifinals. He chewed his lip. These placements matter more than I expected.

  “Tomorrow morning,” Elder Song continued, as two names on the far left side of the bracket began to glow green, “our first pair of contestants will fight here. Afterwards, we’ll immediately proceed to the next pair, and so on until the second round is over. Competitors who are absent or more than ten minutes late for their match will be disqualified.”

  So I’ll likely fight in the afternoon then. That’s plenty of time. Should I train in the morning, or is it better to watch the other matches?

  The scroll furled back up and vanished.

  “This concludes the first day of the Exhibition Tournament,” Elder Song announced.

  A swell of commotion rippled through the Golden Arena as the audience rose to leave. The competitors’ formation quickly dissolved into small groups as teammates began talking or making their way out.

  Rhee wasted no time gathering her own team. “Let’s head back to the school.” Her eyes swept the remaining competitors. “We’ll discuss our strategy there.”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  Two hours later, the Eight Oaths Resolve School team and staff were seated around a dinner table in a small private dining room back at the school. The four team members sat along the sides of the table, while Grand Master Zhu Yusheng presided at its head. Plates of steamed vegetables, rice, dumplings, and grilled beef covered the table, though only Lei seemed especially focused on the food.

  “It’s unlucky that three of you share the same half of the bracket,” the Grand Master observed after sipping his oolong tea.

  Lei swallowed a mouthful of rice and beef. “Just means that Bo and I get to fight all the sooner, Grand Master!”

  “If you both progress that far, Disciple Hou Lei,” Grand Master Yusheng chided. His gaze turned to Bo. “Your first opponent defeated a disciple from the Three Blessed Petals School. Don’t underestimate him.”

  Bo bowed his head. “I won’t, Grand Master.”

  Ishin glanced at Rhee, who sat staring into her cup of tea. What is she thinking?

  “Disciple Zhu Rhee,” the Grand Master prompted, noticing her introspection, “your thoughts on the placements.”

  Rhee looked up at her grandfather. “The distribution seems intentional, Grand Master.”

  He raised a brow. “Explain.”

  She let out a sigh. “I noticed that, assuming we all win our fights, Dong Jing, Chu Winxi, and I will all progress to the quarterfinals. It feels like it was designed that way deliberately.”

  Ishin drummed his fingers on his chopsticks. I hadn’t even considered their placements. His respect for Rhee’s tactical insight grew.

  “The Righteous Mantle Sect has probably made alterations for the benefit of the spectators,” Grand Master Yusheng said at last. “While I understand your disappointment, I see their reasoning.”

  “The crowds care that much?” Lei asked, shoveling more food onto his plate.

  The Grand Master didn’t answer right away. Instead, he glanced around the table. Bo spoke up at the unspoken invitation. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, Grand Master, but I think you mean the sect representatives watching, not the average crowd.”

  “Correct.” The old man nodded and took another sip of tea. “And the Kurai Clan, naturally, but yes—you’re right.”

  Rhee nodded. “Because of the Crimson Abyss Sect’s presence?”

  “Partially,” the Grand Master said, “but even without them, the bracket would likely have been manipulated. The sects want to recruit the best of the young generation, and if two talented youths fight too early, it robs one of them of the chance to prove themselves throughout the whole tournament.”

  It’s all a game. The realization soured Ishin’s feelings about the tournament. He set down his chopsticks and folded his arms. They care more about reputation than about proving skill fairly.

  Rhee noticed his change in posture but didn’t say anything.

  “Grand Master,” Bo asked, “do you know why the Crimson Abyss Sect is here this year?”

  “There’s a rumor,” the Grand Master replied slowly, “that the sect has been more active in its recruiting than in past years.” He paused. “Though I don’t know why.”

  “That name sounds familiar,” Ishin said, finally speaking up. His question drew the table’s attention. “Are they another Notable Sect?” His frustration at the tournament’s manipulation overshadowed any embarrassment about asking.

  “How do you not know?” the Grand Master asked in surprise.

  “He’s from the Nine Striped Hills, Grandfather,” Rhee offered. “It makes sense he doesn’t know.”

  Ishin appreciated her support but bristled at the indirectness of it all. Is it that hard to just explain clearly?

  “The Crimson Abyss Sect is one of the Grand Sects,” Bo supplied without judgment. “The Righteous Mantle Sect, the Sea Farer Sect, the Radiant Spear Sect—those are Notable Sects.”

  So there are tiers then.

  “Okay, but what’s the difference between a Grand Sect and a Notable Sect? I get that one’s more important, but how exactly?”

  Bo opened his mouth to answer, but Grand Master Yusheng raised a hand. “I’ll put it simply for you, Disciple Ro Ishin.” Ishin kept his expression neutral, though inside he seethed. “The Notable Sects are the most powerful sects within the West Falcon Province. The Grand Sects are among the most powerful in the entire Heron Empire.”

  Provincial strength versus imperial strength. Despite the condescending tone, Ishin understood. The real question was how could this new development benefit him. I would probably get stronger if I joined a Grand Sect instead of one of the Notable Sects. He would need strength for both of his goals. Perhaps a Grand Sect will have heard about the Hidden Ring.

  “Thank you for clarifying, Grand Master.”

  Without another word, the Grand Master turned back to Rhee. “How do you plan to prepare for the rest of the tournament?”

  She thought for a moment before replying. “It would be a waste of time for all of us to watch every fight. We can have the masters observe and report back while we only show up for our own matches.” She paused, then added, “except for Dong Jing’s and Chu Winxi’s fights. I want to watch those myself.”

  “And the rest of the time?”

  “We train.”