A competition naturally draws spectators.
All across the Eternal Continent, countless mighty cultivators immediately sensed the invitation from Heaven and Earth. Their divine senses projected into the secret realm, manifesting in the void, silently watching the entire tournament unfold. They had come to witness the first Martial Arts Tournament, to see with their own eyes the emergence of its inaugural champion—the one who would earn the title of "Number One Under Heaven."
Yi Tianxing lifted his gaze to the sky.
Vaguely, he could see countless invisible eyes staring coldly from the void—dense, innumerable. The chilling sensation of being scrutinized made one's skin crawl. No one knew how many great beings resided within the Eternal Continent, but now, in this moment, they had all converged upon this secret realm, their attention fixated on the tournament.
This stirred an intense excitement in many cultivators.
It was a kind of exhilaration that made their blood boil.
To shine in this tournament meant catching the eyes of these powerful figures. Even if no immediate benefit came from it, being remembered by them promised future opportunities. At the very least, one's name would be known across the continent.
This was an enormous chance to make a name.
Cultivators craved reputation—especially those who had founded their own villages or factions. Gaining renown through this grand tournament would elevate them to fame across the Eternal Continent. Such fame translated to prestige, which might seem intangible, but at crucial moments it became a powerful tool—for recruiting talent, for rallying support.
After all, when choosing between a renowned leader and an unknown figure, who would the truly capable people pick?
Even back in the Three Kingdoms era, Liu Bei was able to gather a host of loyal generals and ministers not just because of his charisma, but largely thanks to his reputation. By claiming to be an imperial uncle of the Han dynasty and treating the virtuous with respect, he gradually spread his name far and wide. That reputation earned him the loyalty of countless talented individuals, enabling him to lay the foundation for an empire.
Without the Liu family name, who would've paid him any attention?
"Green Emperor, you better give it your all this time. In this race, show your true colors and bite down hard. I promise, if the opportunity arises, I'll help you kill that Arthur and settle the score." Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and spoke gravely to the Green Emperor beside him.
"Rest assured, Master. As long as you help me get revenge and slaughter that golden-haired bastard, I'll do whatever you say. I'll bite whoever you point at. Never in my life have I suffered such humiliation. If that golden fur exists, there is no room for me, the Green Emperor. If I live, he must die!"
The Green Emperor gnashed his teeth, clearly burning with hatred for Arthur.
"Fellow Daoists, the prizes are already displayed before you. I trust you're more than sufficiently motivated. The audience is here as well. Under the watchful eyes of all the mighty ones across the heavens, whoever wins this race will gain fame across the Eternal Continent. The rewards are immeasurable. I hope all of you will run with everything you've got!"
The loud voice of General Black Handsome rang out.
"And now, let's take a look at the racecourse," Brother Elegant said, pointing below.
Suddenly, the mist below churned and then dispersed—not completely, but just enough to reveal a vast area below, as though an airplane had pierced through clouds, parting them to create a clear path.
This cloud path was the racecourse.
Everything beyond it was still shrouded in mist—even the ground. The path was about three to four kilometers wide, more than enough for all contestants to stand side by side with plenty of room to spare.
But this wasn't some tidy racetrack.
At the very front lay a wild, unfiltered stretch of land: lush forests blanketing the earth, vast mountain ranges, winding rivers, expansive grasslands that reached the horizon, and even a great sea.
How long this track extended was unknown, as most of it vanished into the surrounding mist.
It looked like a path stretching from one end of the world to the other.
"Fellow Daoists, what you're seeing now is the true track of this race—the section not covered in mist. Everyone will start at the same point and head toward the finish line. Along the way, there will be three great calamities and nine deadly trials, as well as numerous traps—some good, some bad. Whether or not you reach the end depends entirely on your own strength. The track spans a total of 18,000 li (~9,000 km). This race is as much an opportunity as it is a challenge. Show your brilliance!"
Brother Elegant chuckled.
Eighteen thousand li—an absurdly long distance.
Even in the modern world, driving nonstop on highways at 120 km/h would take over 70 hours—nearly three full days and nights.
And now, across this vast expanse filled with countless dangers, traps, and unknowns… this wasn't just a test of speed. It was a race of survival.
"Of course," said General Black Handsome coldly, "this race is extremely freeform. As long as you don't stray outside the track, everything else is fair game. There are no rules—only one: stay within the course boundaries. You can even choose to stand still and not run at all. But if you do, don't expect to win any prizes."
"In this race, strength isn't everything. Luck won't carry you all the way either. Best of luck to everyone. Now, I shall send you to the starting line."
He waved his hand, and beams of divine light enveloped every contestant, whisking them away in an instant.
Yi Tianxing felt the scenery around him warp and shift. When he came to, he was back on solid ground.
"Grass," he murmured.
Around him was a lush field. Cultivators appeared one after another, a golden starting line drawn before them. Behind them, only mist. They couldn't retreat. To the sides, nothing but mist as well.
Ahead—an imposing forest, and a mountain blocking the view beyond.
A tense, murderous aura hung in the air. Suspicious eyes scanned every direction.
The first thing many did was leap onto their mounts, ready to bolt the moment the race began.
Yi Tianxing too climbed atop the Golden Roc. The Green Emperor was already bared teeth, ready to lunge, though his eyes kept darting around, searching for Arthur.
"Fellow Daoists, please prepare yourselves. The first-ever Martial Arts Tournament, theme: 'Race for Number One Under Heaven'—begins now!!"
Brother Elegant shouted as a jade bell appeared in his hand. He struck it once.
Clang!
The crisp chime signaled the official start of the tournament.
"Go!!"
"The championship is mine!"
"Unicorn, run like the wind!"
"Treasure Pig, charge!" a loud roar echoed across the field.
One voice stood out—it belonged to a man in a plain robe but with a commanding presence and a look of unwavering confidence. He rode an enormous red-furred wild boar, its tusks gleaming coldly, its body massive—nearly three meters tall.
The image, though ridiculous, somehow radiated majesty.
Riding a pig was not exactly dignified… but that pig moved fast—blazing forward like a red flame tearing through the field.
"Honored audience, I'm Brother Elegant!"
"And I'm General Black Handsome!"
"We'll be your commentators for today's race!" said Brother Elegant.
"This is truly a gathering of heroes. The contestants are all top talents of the Eternal Continent—each one a true prodigy." added Black Handsome.
"Look there! Someone's already broken ahead! The first one out the gate is riding a Flamefire Dragon Pig! That beast belongs to fellow cultivator Zhu Yuanzhang. He's charging forward like a blazing fireball!"
Brother Elegant's eyes lit up as he rattled off details at lightning speed.
"This pig deserves praise! Don't underestimate it just because it's a pig—it's a charging pig! Leading the way—it's not 'first horse' anymore, it's first pig!" General Black Handsome cheered with infectious excitement.
"Haha! Someone's taken off—trying to fly up and soar with the sun! But they might be disappointed. The track is height-restricted—there's a barrier at thirty meters. Even flying mounts will need to be careful. Get too high and they might be shot down by other racers. Of course, you can try to fly higher if you're brave enough… but it's a race after all. What matters is speed!"
Brother Elegant laughed cheerily.
"Damn, there's a flight ban! Can't fly too high!"
Yi Tianxing, who had just ascended into the air on the Golden Roc, quickly realized this critical restriction.