Kyrian kept his gaze fixed on the arena below, but his mind was already elsewhere.
The upper stands were now completely full. Nobles, elders of secondary families, representatives of visiting sects, and even some high-level independent cultivators occupied every seat.
The constant murmur around him was like the buzzing of a beehive.
Names of participants were being mentioned, whispered bets, and quick analyses about who might advance and who would be eliminated in the very first phase.
"Look over there… the young master of the Wei House has arrived. They say he refined a Rank 4 pill at nineteen."
"And Old Master Huo of the Huo Family? He came personally to accompany his grandson. The boy is talented, but he's still Rank 3. Will he be able to handle the pressure?"
Kyrian heard everything without a single muscle in his face moving.
His crimson eyes swept over the crowd in the central arena, now packed with participants.
