It was evident now—nearly half of the cultivators who had appeared in the void were gone. Clearly, many had perished in their search for ferocious beasts, falling prey to accidents, ambushes, or being slain by other cultivators. They had been eliminated on the spot.
The losses from this round of eliminations were, without a doubt, devastating.
Death meant being expelled cleanly from the trial—stripped of everything, not even a pair of underwear left behind.
Only treasures that had already been bound to their owners, or those stored within the body, stood a chance of surviving. Otherwise, everything was lost.
Now, almost everyone hovering mid-air was accompanied by a ferocious beast mount.
These beasts were bizarre and diverse—virtually every strange creature imaginable was present. Some had caught spotted deer, wild boars, rhinoceroses, tigers, leopards—even giant centipedes, pythons, wolves, and dinosaurs. The air was thick with a terrifying aura from this menagerie of beasts. When some met eyes, they roared like mortal enemies—if not for the immobilizing force holding them in place, they would have torn into each other on the spot.
The eastern and western cultivators remained in their distinct formations.
Some had successfully bonded with a mount, while others returned empty-handed.
After all, some cultivators were picky, seeking the perfect match; others simply hadn't encountered a suitable beast. By the end of the day's time limit, they still hadn't formed a contract and had to return without one.
Upon returning and seeing others proudly accompanied by their beast companions, those who had failed looked visibly disheartened.
"That's her…"
Yi Tianxing stood in the void when he suddenly felt a bone-chilling gaze lock onto him. The killing intent within it was sharp enough to pierce his body like an arrow.
He turned to look—and there she was.
A woman in a white palace gown stared him down with murderous rage. It was the same woman he had encountered at the lake before. Her frosty expression clearly showed that she wanted to tear him to pieces.
Yi Tianxing couldn't help but feel a little awkward when he recognized her.
Back then, although he hadn't taken things to the ultimate step, what he had done—touching and kissing—was already considered a grave affront to a woman's purity. It was enough to ruin her reputation forever.
Ruining a woman's honor was akin to murdering her parents.
While Yi Tianxing hadn't thought he was in the wrong at the time, facing her now still made him uncomfortable. He quickly looked away, avoiding eye contact.
"Scoundrel. I finally found you. Lucky you didn't die at the hands of those beasts—I want to send you to the afterlife myself. No one who has taken advantage of me, Yao Yue, gets to live."
Her voice was like ice. She swept a cold glance over Yi Tianxing, a wicked smile curling in her heart.
She would not let this go.
Her beast mount was extraordinarily rare—a giant butterfly glowing with gentle moonlight. Patterns resembling crescent moons flickered across its wings.
It was a mutant species known as the Moonlight Spirit Butterfly—mystical and beautiful. When its wings flapped, they bathed the surroundings in moonlight that could heal wounds and quickly restore true essence and mana. Its speed was astonishing, and it would never bond with someone unworthy.
To obtain such a beast meant Yao Yue's fate was extraordinary. Given the right opportunities, the butterfly's bloodline might even evolve further.
…
"Fellow cultivators!" called out Commander Hei.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" added Brother Xiaosa with a cheerful grin.
"Welcome back, everyone. I trust many of you have found a beast mount suited to you. No matter what mount you've bonded with, allow me to congratulate you. These mounts are a benefit provided to all participants of the World's Number One Martial Tournament. After the competition ends, your mounts will leave the secret realm with you and remain by your side. Please treat your beast companions well."
Brother Xiaosa's tone was lighthearted, but what he said was true.
Even if a participant was eliminated or killed, as long as the mount had been bonded, they would still retain it. Within the tournament, beast mounts wouldn't die either—should they fall in battle, they'd dissolve into motes of light just like their masters.
It was a tangible benefit, no doubt about it.
"Of course," said Commander Hei coolly, "those who have bonded with a mount now officially qualify for the real tournament. But for those who haven't… sorry. You're out."
He raised one hand dramatically.
"Eliminated!"
The moment he finished speaking, beams of light swept across the sky.
All the cultivators who had failed to form a contract with a beast within the time limit dissolved into streaks of divine light. Unlike the dead, however, they suffered no losses—all their belongings remained intact. This was a normal elimination, with no price to pay.
Another group vanished from the skies.
"Master, we have to kill that golden mutt!" grumbled the Green Emperor beside Yi Tianxing. "That guy has tormented generations of my kin. I won't rest until he's dead!"
His eyes were fixed on the golden-haired youth, Arthur, nearby.
Green Emperor's ability to hold a grudge ran deep in his bones.
He would never let Arthur go.
"Now that all eliminations are complete," said Brother Xiaosa, "you who remain are the official contestants of the tournament. And as such, you're qualified to learn what prizes are at stake."
His voice was filled with excitement.
Naturally, cultivators joined the tournament for both fame and fortune. Everyone was eager to know what awaited the victors. In the Eternal Continent, possessing powerful treasures was a foundation for survival and strength.
Shua!
The moment he spoke, all eyes turned to the platform.
"There are ten prizes in total," Brother Xiaosa announced. "But only the top three will receive rewards. First place gets to choose three items. Second place chooses two from the remaining seven. Third place picks one from the last five. Every one of these prizes is a treasure worth fighting for—even Commander Hei wanted to steal them and run."
Commander Hei chuckled. "I really did. These are that good."
"Now, feast your eyes upon the prize vault."
Brother Xiaosa pointed skyward.
Above the platform, ten glowing stars had appeared, drifting like meteors.
Each one represented a treasure.
"These ten stars each contain one of the rewards. To ignite your fighting spirit, allow me to introduce them one by one."
He gestured toward the first star, which instantly expanded, radiating divine light and revealing the treasure inside.
"The first item is called the Nine Heavens Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. It's a heaven-born treasure with immense potential. With proper nurturing, it could become a top-tier supreme treasure. It possesses unmatched power to suppress evil and contains an independent space within. For those who walk the path of justice and demon-slaying, this is an irreplaceable treasure."
A golden nine-story pagoda appeared, covered in glowing runes. Waves of divine music echoed from it, evoking solemn reverence in all who saw it.
The eyes of many cultivators burned with desire.
This was a powerful artifact—perfect for suppressing demons and evil spirits. Given its potential, it could drastically strengthen one's power. It was a true embryonic treasure of heaven and earth.
"With this tower," someone whispered, "life in the Eternal Continent would become so much easier. It's a naturally born treasure embryo. It contains innate divine restrictions and can evolve by absorbing spiritual materials, growing with its owner."
"What an incredible item… I wonder who will end up with it."
Then Brother Xiaosa pointed to the second star.
"The second item is the Spatial Gate—another naturally born heaven-and-earth treasure. It allows for instantaneous travel across space, letting its user mark coordinates and teleport across thousands—even millions—of miles."
The star expanded to reveal a silver-white ancient door: the legendary Spatial Gate.
Used properly, it could turn the tide of any battle.
"A treasure like this is priceless," someone murmured. "With all the dangers and monsters around us, traveling across forests and mountains is incredibly risky. If we had the Spatial Gate, we could link distant places and explore without fear. It would completely transform the development of Xuanhuang Town."
Yi Tianxing's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
With the Spatial Gate, he could build Xuanhuang Town into a true hub of prosperity. The surrounding regions would open up, and contact with the outside world would no longer be a struggle.
That one change alone could elevate Xuanhuang Town's power beyond imagination.
This was a treasure not to be missed.