"Again, again, I refuse to accept this!"
"No, I didn't want to sign the contract. I was forced into this. This isn't what I wanted. This emperor will never acknowledge it! Damn you, Yi! I'll bite you to death!"
Green Emperor's eyes were filled with blazing fury, almost about to burst out in flames. He lunged again at Yi Tianxing, snapping his jaws.
Heaven bear witness—when did he ever agree to sign that contract? This was clearly forced. Yi Tianxing grabbed his paw and pressed it down onto the contract scroll. How could that count?! Green Emperor wanted to scream: this was just… too underhanded!!
Was there no justice? No rule of law?
"You really are a vicious mutt. But even a vicious dog can be turned into a loyal one. Since you're so rebellious, I'll gift you this extraordinary treasure as well." Yi Tianxing looked at Green Emperor, still full of ferocity and resentment, and with a flash of golden light in his hand, a golden collar appeared.
This collar was covered in dense golden runes, shimmering with divine brilliance.
Swish!
The moment it appeared, the golden collar shot toward Green Emperor.
At the same time, Green Emperor pounced at Yi Tianxing—his movement made it seem like he voluntarily rammed his head right into the golden collar. In an instant, it locked around his neck. The runes flashed, and the collar shrank rapidly, fusing directly into his flesh and blood. It looked like a glowing golden collar had been permanently tattooed onto his neck.
"Damn it, Yi! What did you do to this emperor?!"
Green Emperor's eyes were full of panic, and he let out a loud, angry bark.
"It's a good thing. You'll come to love it… eventually," Yi Tianxing said with a smile.
Extraordinary Treasure — Golden Hoop Collar!!
This was an item Yi Tianxing had seized during the Great Treasure Unveiling. It was no different from the legendary golden hoop worn by the Great Sage Equal to Heaven in myth, though it was only of the lowest grade—Yellow-tier. However, it could absorb the host's vital essence, true qi, and mana, merging with heaven and earth's energies to grow and evolve. The stronger the host, the stronger the collar would become.
It would permanently suppress the host, and once it reached its highest evolution, its power would be utterly terrifying.
At the same time, it could also be wielded by its master to invoke special powers, such as binding abilities. The only thing it couldn't do… was be removed.
Once worn, only Yi Tianxing could take it off. Unless he chose to, Green Emperor would wear it for life.
"No! Take it off me! I'm scared!"
Green Emperor was on the verge of tears.
First a forced contract, now a golden hoop collar… how was he supposed to live like this? He felt like his glorious dog life had fallen into utter darkness.
After completing this, Yi Tianxing and Green Emperor had stepped into a tunnel.
Strangely, after the contract was signed, some kind of mysterious link seemed to form between them. The tunnel no longer rejected Green Emperor. A pet spirit beast was a valid part of a cultivator's strength—one they were allowed to bring.
"Yi! Break this contract right now!"
"Little Green, call me Master."
"I will never yield. Countless dog-girls still await this emperor's affection. My beautiful future is just ahead—why… why do I sense a storm cloud hanging over it?"
"Curiosity… damn this wretched curiosity. Curiosity killed the dog!"
Agonized howls echoed through the tunnel. Moments later, the passageway in the secluded chamber shrank and vanished.
It was eerie.
At this moment, no one knew Yi Tianxing had disappeared from Xuanhuang Town. Most thought he had gone into secluded cultivation.
Only a few had a vague sense that something had happened. Yet even those who suspected something didn't act on it.
Eternal Continent. A mysterious secret realm.
This secret realm existed within the Eternal Continent, nestled like an independent world yet bound to it. Every secret realm had its unique qualities. During the fusion of the myriad worlds, these became special regions.
Swish!
Yi Tianxing felt the world spin, then suddenly light flooded his vision. His body appeared in a strange new area—suspended directly in the void.
Looking around, it seemed endless.
At the very center of this space was a massive platform. No one knew what it was made of, but it resembled jade, glowing with divine light. Countless runes pulsed across its surface, shrouded in an ethereal radiance.
"What is this place? Could this be where the Number One Under Heaven Martial Tournament is being held? That platform—could that be the arena?" Yi Tianxing scanned the area and focused on the platform.
This was completely unfamiliar territory. Beneath him was a dense fog that even his Innate Yin-Yang Eyes couldn't penetrate. The ground's true form was a complete mystery. Clearly, they weren't meant to see it.
All they could see was the platform. It hadn't even been activated yet.
"Where am I? This emperor feels like he's flying!" Green Emperor blinked in astonishment, gawking at his surroundings.
"Number One Under Heaven Martial Tournament! I, Xiang Yu, have arrived!"
Light burst through the void. A voice full of overwhelming dominance echoed out. A figure clad in armor appeared, wielding a Tiger-head Coiled Dragon Halberd, standing over two meters tall. Most striking of all were his dual pupils, glowing with mystical light. His expression exuded innate tyranny.
The moment he appeared, the sheer pressure made even the void tremble.
"The Conqueror—Xiang Yu!! Born with dual pupils!"
Yi Tianxing's eyes grew serious. From Xiang Yu's gaze, he saw those rare dual pupils—one pupil layered over another. This wasn't a normal gaze—this was a divine ocular ability, a natural divine eye meridian. Anyone born with dual pupils was an unparalleled genius with monstrous power.
In ancient times, this was the sign of a Saint.
Xiang Yu's appearance, aura, and presence were unforgettable. The moment you saw him, he etched himself into your memory. That overwhelming domineering aura seemed innate—those around him would instinctively feel inferior.
His tiger-like eyes swept coldly across the void.
The energy radiating from him was unlike anything a mortal could possess.
"He's no ordinary man—already a cultivator. Xiang Yu is a powerful opponent. So he has a pass token as well," Yi Tianxing thought solemnly.
This tournament wasn't open to all experts across the Eternal Continent. Only those with a pass token could enter. Even a mortal with a token could participate, while the world's greatest master without one would be denied.
The token was the only entry requirement.
Obtaining one was already a sign of both luck and strength.
This was the first tournament. Amidst chaos, it hadn't yet drawn wide attention. But future tournaments would stir fierce competition and bloody battles.
Being the first, this was also the most unpredictable.
No precedents existed.
"Liu Bang, you snake! You dare show up too?! This time, I'll personally send you to the afterlife. You think I wouldn't recognize you just because you changed your face? Even if you turned to ash, I'd still know it's you!" Xiang Yu suddenly roared, his gaze locking on a robed youth. Despite the imperial air about him, he also carried a roguish glint.
"Xiang Yu, this is a new world. We've all begun anew on the Eternal Continent. The past belongs to the old world. There's no need to bring those grudges into this one. We should stand united—for the survival of our race." Liu Bang recognized Xiang Yu instantly. Despite his changed appearance, that familiar aura gave him away. Though bitter inside, he straightened his expression and spoke with righteous dignity.
"Hmph. Liu Bang, you shameless schemer. You dare preach in front of me? Others might not know your true face, but Xiang Yu does. If I don't kill you, how can I ever find peace?!"
Xiang Yu was unmoved, glaring coldly at Liu Bang.
Still, he didn't strike.
Upon entering, a mysterious force saturated the air—combat was suppressed. No one could unleash their full power. Clearly, violence was prohibited—at least until the tournament officially began.
More and more figures flashed into existence around them, each emanating a unique aura and presence. Their appearances varied wildly, but nearly all were cultivators. As they gathered in the void, many scanned their surroundings, eyes full of shock.
To see so many humans in one place—especially cultivators—was an experience many were having for the first time since arriving on this world.
Some felt secretly relieved. They now knew they weren't alone on the Eternal Continent. Other human domains existed, though separated and unable to communicate.
Now, thanks to this secret realm and the martial tournament, they had a rare chance to connect.
One light after another flashed in, and the number of people suspended in the void grew steadily. Vigilance filled every face. This wasn't a tea party—this was the Number One Under Heaven Martial Tournament.