Above the Celestial Martial Arena, three distinct areas were marked out.
They were the Ascension Realm, Celestial Realm, and Mystic Immortal Realm, each divided into competition zones corresponding to their respective realms.
"The hour is getting late, and the various Heavenly Prodigies have mostly arrived. On behalf of the Famous Sword Sect, I announce that the Famous Sword Festival officially begins." Wu Mo stood on the high platform with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the densely packed crowd below. His expression was stern as he declared, "I invite all Heavenly Prodigies to enter the competition zones that correspond to your cultivation realms!"
"This is the first round of elimination. The rules are unrestricted; only one hundred participants from each realm may advance. Anyone else who is knocked off the Celestial Martial Arena will be eliminated."
As Wu Mo's voice fell, the Celestial Martial Arena erupted with excitement from all directions.
"Only one hundred can advance from each realm? This seems a bit harsh!"
"Exactly! Do you know how many Swordsmanship Prodigies have gathered in Famous Sword City? One hundred... that's far too few."
During the Famous Sword City Gathering, countless Swordsmanship Prodigies had come together, with nearly a thousand participants from each realm attending the Famous Sword Festival.
However, Wu Mo's announcement that only one hundred could advance from each realm left many aspiring participants feeling disheartened.
Of course, some strongly agreed with Wu Mo's words and spoke up: "The Famous Sword Sect is the Dominant Force of Sword Cloud Star and its ruler. With three Celestial Kings overseeing it, do you think anyone can just join?"
"Selecting one hundred from each realm to advance is already quite commendable."
"Indeed, and from my perspective, even those one hundred may find it difficult to enter the Famous Sword Sect!"
For ordinary cultivators and those from smaller Cultivation Planets, the Famous Sword Sect of Sword Cloud Star was like a sacred ground—one that not just anyone could enter.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."
Figures suddenly shot out, racing towards the Celestial Martial Arena. It was clear that those who surged ahead were all confident in their own abilities as Swordsmanship Prodigies.
Seeing others continuously rushing towards the Celestial Martial Arena, those who had initially felt discontent had no choice but to follow suit.
Ximen Piaopiao, Ye Fan, Wu Qiuyang, and Heng Yuzhu also arrived at the outskirts of the Celestial Martial Arena.
Gazing at the floating celestial palace, shrouded in ethereal mist and with a hazy view, Ximen Piaopiao furrowed her sword-like brows slightly and said, "It's disappointing that there's no sign of Sword King Prelude..."
Wu Qiuyang and Heng Yuzhu quickly pulled Ximen Piaopiao aside and warned, "The two Celestial Kings from the Famous Sword Sect are seated in that celestial palace. If they hear you say that, you might just get slapped to death."
Ximen Piaopiao pouted and replied, "What’s the big deal? I didn’t say anything wrong!"
Heng Yuzhu interjected, "The Famous Sword Festival has already begun. Many people have already entered the Celestial Martial Arena. Are you going to compete or not?"
"Of course I will! How else can I enter the Famous Sword Sect? If I don’t enter the Famous Sword Sect, how will I ever meet Sword King Prelude?"
Looking towards the Celestial Martial Arena, Ximen Piaopiao urged, "Come on, let’s hurry up!"
With that, Ximen Piaopiao stepped forward but soon realized that Ye Fan was still standing in place, seemingly uninterested in entering the Celestial Martial Arena.
Ximen Piaopiao paused and asked, "Night Fan Brother, what are you waiting for? Aren't you going to compete?"
Ye Fan smiled lightly and replied, "I'm used to being a lone wolf; I don't plan on joining the Famous Sword Sect."
Earlier, when Ye Fan heard Ximen Piaopiao and the others talk about the Famous Sword Sect's Sword King Prelude, he had indeed felt a spark of curiosity and considered joining the Famous Sword Sect to see what this Sword King Prelude was all about.
However, upon arriving at the Famous Sword City, Ye Fan's thoughts were dispelled.
The Famous Sword Sect, as the Dominant Force of Sword Cloud Star, had powerful figures from the Three Great Immortal Kings Realm stationed there.
As for the strong practitioners from the Celestial Mansion Realm and Mystic Immortal Realm, they were surely countless.
Given his current identity and strength, joining the Famous Sword Sect would inevitably bring about some changes and unnecessary troubles.
Therefore, it was simply not necessary.
"You don't want to join the Famous Sword Sect?"
Ximen Piaopiao, Wu Qiuyang, and Heng Yuzhu all looked at Ye Fan in surprise.
Heng Yuzhu said, "Brother Ye Fan, with your strength, if you were to participate in the Celestial Martial Arena, making it into the top hundred would just be a formality. Your abilities would surely rank among the best in the Famous Sword Ranking."
"That's right!" Wu Qiuyang added, "You might even enter the Sword King's Palace and receive personal swordsmanship teachings from the Sword King Prelude."
Ye Fan smiled and glanced at Ximen Piaopiao. "Isn't Brother Ximen always eager to see the beauty of the Sword King Prelude? This opportunity should be left for you!"
Ximen Piaopiao was taken aback and looked at Ye Fan. There was no denying that Ye Fan's strength far surpassed his own. If he participated in the Famous Sword Festival, he would undoubtedly overshadow Ximen Piaopiao. Consequently, Ximen's chances of entering the Sword King's Palace would diminish significantly.
Thus, he nodded decisively. "Since Night Fan doesn't want to participate in the Famous Sword Festival, then it's fine; it wouldn't mean much anyway. If it weren't for my admiration for the Sword King Prelude, I wouldn't participate either."
Ye Fan nodded deeply, appearing to understand.
Ximen Piaopiao chuckled. "Since Night Fan Brother isn't participating, could you please wait for us for a moment?"
"Don't worry, you all go ahead!" Ye Fan smiled.
"Okay." Ximen Piaopiao nodded directly and rushed toward the area where the strong ones of the Celestial Martial Arena and Mystic Immortal Realm were located.
"What a pity!" Heng Yuzhu and Wu Qiuyang both looked at Ye Fan and shook their heads, feeling a bit regretful. He could have joined the Famous Sword Sect and even possibly received guidance from the Prominent Figures of the Ming Sword Sect.
The opportunity was right in front of him, yet Ye Fan chose to give it up.
With a slight sigh, Wu Qiuyang and Heng Yuzhu no longer hesitated and followed closely behind Ximen Piaopiao, stepping into the Celestial Martial Arena as well.
Ye Fan's gaze turned toward the Celestial Martial Arena ahead.
In just that brief moment, each area had already exceeded a thousand people.
However, standing on the Celestial Martial Arena, which was only about a hundred feet in diameter, it did not feel crowded at all; in fact, it was quite spacious.
Ye Fan nodded slightly, realizing that although the Celestial Martial Arena appeared to be only a hundred feet wide, it actually concealed vast space within, as if it had divided into three independent battlefields.
"The competition begins!"
At the back of the Celestial Martial Arena, seeing that no one else was entering, the imposing Wu Mo shouted again.
As his voice fell, chaos erupted instantly among thousands of people in the Celestial Martial Arena, Ascension Realm, and Mystic Immortal Realm.
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