For that expert, the Jade Clear Sect naturally had no familiarity—they say the greatest masters reside among the common people, and there's certainly truth to that.

Many elite disciples regretted it endlessly, as they missed the opportunity to spar with such a master. Because of this, some disciples now entertained the thought of signing up for the tournament.

To be blunt, the essence of the Martial Arts Tournament lies in promoting a martial spirit; secondly, it serves to strengthen the body. When the tournament is held, visitors and travelers to the Immortal Mountain typically multiply compared to usual, making it more of an exhibition for outsiders rather than true contests. Most people, in fact, are inclined toward sightseeing over combat. If one misses this chance, they might have to wait months for another, and since this tradition doesn't seem to exist across the federation, missing out now might mean missing out forever. Hence, it's advised for everyone to stay and watch.

Of course, everyone can still choose to sign up for the competition, but considering the ranks of those present—at least according to the Blade Warrior's ranking—there probably wouldn't be much suspense. Wu Tian didn't have full clarity about Xiu Yi and their group's strength, but since Xiu Yi was Feng Yi's disciple, it probably wasn't necessary for them to participate in this duel.

In Wu Tian's view, Xiu Yi's strength should not fall below that of the Blade Warrior. Even if it were slightly inferior, it couldn't be far off—after all, Feng Yi's judgment was trustworthy.

Hearing these words, Xiu Yi's face turned as red as a tomato. He desperately wanted to explain that his strength was merely at Rank 2, and even their strongest member, Red Ghost, couldn't quite match the Blade Warrior. Of course, in terms of combat experience, Red Ghost could rival the Blade Warrior, as Red Ghost conducted daily missions and belonged to the combat personnel, whereas the Blade Warrior leaned more toward scientific experimentation, wielding power merely for self-preservation.

"What does everyone think? Should we stay for a few days?" The Blade Warrior suddenly spoke at this moment, seemingly showing a faint interest.

"Hey, I think it sounds great."

One has to admit, Zhang Xiaobo had plenty of confidence in his own abilities and was the first to express agreement. When it came to hand-to-hand combat, he wasn't afraid. As a seasoned veteran in martial contests, even in elite squads he was among the top tier. Unless he encountered a First-Order expert, ordinary people had almost no chance of defeating him.

Hearing Wu Tian's perspective, Zhang Xiaobo started thinking—combat can bring rewards, as well as fame and recognition. Why not embrace it? Moreover, as the protagonist of his time, isn't his role exactly to shine and make a name for himself? Yes, making a name—it was decided that Zhang Xiaobo would prove himself.

That being said, back in the team during the mission against the bizarre entity at Twin Stars, he wouldn't have dared to make such bold claims.

Because in that team, everyone's skills surpassed his own—even the least combat-capable member, the young Feng Yi, had battle experience on par with his own. In other words, they were equally matched, although the younger Feng Yi did edge him out in terms of raw fighting ability. Still, Zhang Xiaobo figured, he was an adult with the advantage of greater physicality, so it wasn't a hopeless matchup.

But aside from his clashes with Feng Yi, who else could he hope to beat?

Blade Warrior? Impossible—utterly impossible. Zhang Xiaobo vividly remembered the Blade Warrior's phase of striking against the bizarre entities. Watching it had him thoroughly shaken—the bone-shattering strength of the Blade Warrior's attacks seemed like it could break a man like him into pieces. Luckily, the Blade Warrior typically showed little interest in fighting and rarely flaunted their physical power, which gave Zhang Xiaobo a slight sense of security. But if it ever came down to a fight with the Blade Warrior, he wouldn't stand a chance.

What about Mengdie? No need to even try—he couldn't catch her speed.

That left only Roland and Sky Shadow.

These two were even more terrifying. Zhang Xiaobo had seen Roland in action before, but her moves were so fast during that sparring match with the Cantelu warrior that he couldn't fully observe her techniques. Still, from the comments of those around him, he could infer Roland's immense strength.

As for Sky Shadow, the most representative figure in the Twin Stars operation, their performance in that battle stood out the most. Sky Shadow repeatedly injured the bizarre entities and unleashed the devastating "Destiny Starburst" at the climax—a strike akin to a nuclear bomb, razing an area the size of an entire district. Had the explosion occurred in the sky rather than on the ground, the consequences would've been unimaginable.

In Zhang Xiaobo's estimation, he wouldn't survive a single punch from Sky Shadow—even if Sky Shadow restrained their power in the punch, it would still be enormously dangerous for him.

If Sky Shadow unleashed their full explosive force—the 10 million impact of their deadliest strike—he would be left with no chance of survival.

And then, there's Feng Yi. Once they encountered Feng Yi, everyone assumed Feng Yi's capabilities remained as they had in the past. But upon witnessing Feng Yi in combat with the bizarre entities, they realized Feng Yi's steady combat power had reached the 10 million tier—the equivalent of Sky Shadow's explosive killing strike—making Feng Yi stronger than Sky Shadow, though still slightly below Roland.

However, comparing Feng Yi and Sky Shadow wasn't entirely fair. Sky Shadow possessed the "Destiny Starburst," capable of delivering an attack 11 times their normal strength. From that perspective, Sky Shadow's burst potential was far greater than Feng Yi's.

Thus, if the two were to fight, the result would be uncertain. If Feng Yi could withstand the Destiny Starburst, Sky Shadow would lose their chance. If Feng Yi couldn't endure it, Feng Yi would have no chance at all. Of course, the premise of this matchup was that Sky Shadow needed time to prepare for such a technique. Hence, Zhang Xiaobo believed that if Feng Yi and Sky Shadow were to face off, the victor would likely be Feng Yi.

As for Roland, this woman didn't show much outward strength nor sought the limelight, but everyone agreed she was powerful—so, let's assume she truly was.

Still, no matter how you look at it, these individuals are monsters far beyond the reach of an ordinary person like Zhang Xiaobo.

But now, it was different! Everyone here was an ordinary person. Among them, he could stand out as the best of the lesser ranks. To use Zhang Xiaobo's words: "I may not be able to beat those freaks, but can't I defeat you ordinary folks?!" So, he decided to stay.

When Zhang Xiaobo announced he was staying, Xiu Yi, however, said he didn't plan to remain. To a bounty hunter, the battle ahead was merely a contest.

A contest could measure one's abilities and test their level, but precisely because Xiu Yi understood his own limitations, he knew he had farther to go. He wouldn't linger, distracted by the beautiful scenery along the way. Although such words sounded a bit poetic, Xiu Yi had set his sights far beyond merely this. He needed to demand much of himself, to go further and see higher vistas—just as Brother Feng Yi had done when he saved everyone in those final moments in another dimension.

That kind of true strength wasn't solely about fighting—it was about giving everything to protect what you hold dear. Xiu Yi's response was decisive: he chose to leave tomorrow. In reality, the only reason he had come here was to see those two children and fulfill his responsibility to them, and nothing more.

That said, Xiu Yi added that he would return to visit the children someday. It might take two or three years, or even three to five years. He wanted to see them grow, as he himself grew—learning more, experiencing more. Perhaps by then, he would pass on some of his own teachings, just as Brother Feng Yi had once done for the four of them.

Of course, Xiu Yi knew he lacked Brother Feng Yi's depth of language, but he intended to extend Feng Yi's path through his actions and perseverance, striving to follow in his footsteps.

After hearing Xiu Yi's words, the Blade Warrior laughed. In truth, everyone present was deeply moved by how such a young person as Xiu Yi could harbor such lofty ideals and ambition. What a remarkable demonstration of resolve! He truly lived up to being Feng Yi's disciple. Though seemingly ordinary, Xiu Yi could express sentiments that few could, and carried a firmness of spirit that resonated with all. Perhaps this was what made Feng Yi choose him—judging by someone's inner character rather than superficial appearance.

"Alright then, let's set off tomorrow."

"Huh? Sis, are you not planning to stay?"

"Haha, no, I just remembered…"

The Blade Warrior had wanted to share something Feng Yi had told her before he departed. But realizing such words might stir less pleasant memories for Xiu Yi and the four-member team, she changed the subject, saying instead that she had just thought of something to take care of, and thus wouldn't be staying either.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.