— A Day later —
At the Martial Exchange Grand Stage, Wei Chen surveyed the area to find a good angle and position for broadcasting. He experinted with the broadcasting orb and discovered that it could multiply itself and capture the sa scene from different angles at the sa ti, much like a sports live broadcast with multiple caras capturing the action.
He had already asked around and spoken with people at the venue, and he learned that the qualification round on the second day was reserved only for rogue cultivators.
As for cultivators from sects and clans from the two provinces, their slots had already been locked in. Each province had eight participant slots, with six reserved for clans and sects of that province and two reserved for rogue cultivators.
Rogue cultivators were sowhat special. Since they did not belong to any clan or sect, they could register to participate under any province. For example, a rogue cultivator from the Azure River Province could choose to participate under the Vermilion Bird Province. The sa applied in reverse as well.
As for rewards, aside from honor and fa, rogue cultivators would also receive special rewards from the province they represented. These rewards could include a chance to join a renowned sect or tangible rewards such as pills and artifacts.
During this ti, many clans and sects arrived at the Martial Exchange Grand Stage. Most of them ca for entertainnt, while a selected few ca to participate.
Among the arriving clans and sects, Wei Chen noticed the large flying ark of the Xin Clan and the flying ark of the Murong Clan. These two clans were, of course, participating under the Vermilion Bird Province, since they ca from there.
As for Xin Hao, Wei Chen had not seen him yet. Perhaps the man was resting inside that large, opulent golden flying ark, as if afraid that others might not notice how wealthy they were.
At this mont, Wei Chen was floating in the sky, looking down at the two large arena-like floating stages that the venue had prepared for the rogue cultivators during the qualification round.
Participants began to gather, and it was the perfect ti for him to start broadcasting this event.
Wei Chen summoned the broadcasting orb and began the countdown to go live.
— Azure River Capital City - Immortal Dream Tower —
Atop the Immortal Dream Tower, Dream Butterfly was receiving a special guest. She was playing the zither as usual, but the mont the large screen appeared in the square just outside the balcony, her fingers accidentally struck the wrong string.
Her head unconsciously turned toward the screen in the sky before she regained her composure.
"My apologies, honorable guest. Please allow to start again," Dream Butterfly said. However, her focus was no longer on the zither at all. Her eyes kept glancing back and forth between the instrunt and the screen in the sky.
"It is fine, Miss Dream Butterfly. I happen to want to watch the Martial Exchange as well," a deep and calm male voice replied.
The guest stood up and walked out from behind the hanging curtain that concealed his features.
Dream Butterfly was startled. This guest was of extrely high status and was believed to be an expert beyond the Soul Transformation Realm. That was the reason the Immortal Garden had prepared a hanging curtain to conceal his appearance.
The man was tall and charismatic, with a goatee beneath his chin and a well trimd beard framing his chiseled face. His expression was calm and gentle, and his eyes looked at Dream Butterfly with deep appreciation and nostalgia.
If Wei Chen were present, he would have recognized this man imdiately. He was Hua Zuixian, the Drunken Immortal, also known on the Spirit Net as Drinking till Dawn. But this ti, he was completely different.
There was no haze of intoxication around him. He no longer looked like a man who drank to numb his pain. Instead, he appeared like a refined scholar who enjoyed wine, carrying a quiet charm. Two faint lines of white hair rested at his temples, adding to his composed presence.
Dream Butterfly frowned slightly. She beca guarded, her left hand hidden beneath her sleeve as she tightly clutched a jade slip. This jade slip was an ergency item, ant to be used if a guest attempted to use force against her.
If activated, it would summon the matron, who would then explain Dream Butterfly’s physique to the guest. This was the final asure. The establishnt would rather damage its reputation than offend soone they absolutely should not offend.
She looked into Hua Zuixian’s eyes, her thoughts filled with confusion. His gaze held no lust at all. Instead, it reflected appreciation, deep nostalgia, regret, and sorrow.
Reading people through their eyes, expressions, and deanor was a skill Dream Butterfly had cultivated through many years of receiving guests and training under the matron.
She had encountered countless guests. Even those who were highly skilled at concealing themselves, such as Murong Wen, who pretended to be an enlightened and gentle scholar, still carried traces of lust hidden deep within their eyes.
But this renowned Drunken Immortal showed no trace of lust at all. At most, what he displayed was appreciation...
Yes, appreciation....
It was the kind of appreciation one might see in the eyes of a parent or a relative, the appreciation directed toward a younger generation.
Hua Zuixian smiled faintly and pulled out a white wine gourd hanging from his belt. He walked past Dream Butterfly, who remained on guard, and moved toward the balcony.
Standing at the edge, he took a deep breath as if savoring the air itself. He watched the screen while drinking from the gourd. His eyes closed briefly, his tongue licking his lips as though he were intoxicated by the flavor.
Only Hua Zuixian himself knew whether it was the wine, or the mories it stirred, that left him so deeply intoxicated.
After a brief mont, he show the wine gourd to Dream Butterfly before he sat down without cushion, his arm that hold the wine guard rest on his knee that poped up.
"Let us talk and enjoy our wine while watching the match. I heard the first day is the qualification round. The fights might not be too exciting, but the battle royale format and the last man standing in each arena make it more interesting," Hua Zuixian said.
"Yes, honorable guest. I will accompany you," Dream Butterfly replied obediently as she prepared light wine for both herself and the guest. She was afraid that stronger wine might affect her guest’s rationality, so she chose a lighter brew.
Hua Zuixian understood the small precaution Dream Butterfly had taken, but he did not mind. He was not here for such things. He was here to enjoy the atmosphere, the drinking, the intoxication, and the nostalgia it brought.
....
On the screen, Wei Chen greeted the audience with his usual casual tone.
"Greetings, folks. Wei Chen here. As per everyone’s request, here I am at the Martial Exchange Grand Stage!" Wei Chen said enthusiastically as he let the cara pan toward the arena below.
The cara slowly moved around, allowing the audience to see how grand the stage truly was. It could be said that this grand stage was similar to the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, but even more magnificent, as it was constructed from golden wood. It was literally golden, not just in na.
Its size was also about four to five tis larger, and decorations made of jade, silver, and gold filled the area, making the Bird’s Nest look like an ordinary high school basketball court in comparison.
(Author Note: The Bird’s Nest, also known as Beijing National Stadium, is one of the most iconic modern architectural landmarks in the world. It was built for the 2008 Beijing Sumr Olympics.)
"To day as per schedule we have the qualification round for 4 participant slots 2 for each province! Who will be the most skill and powerful rougue cultivators who will get the seat of the the participant?"
"So... leeet’s find out... together!" Wei Chen announced before the cara switched from himself to the arena below. The large screen was divided in half for each stage, and Wei Chen had already set the broadcasting orb to automatically highlight the stage with the most excitent for the audience.
...
At this ti, many U-Phone owners heard a beeping sound. They all took out their U-Phones to check.
Atop the Immortal Dream Tower, Hua Zuixian was surprised.
"Oh? It has this function? Interesting."
Hua Zuixian then opened the hologram-like function of his U-Phone. He noticed that U-Phone users could choose to focus on whichever stage they wanted to watch.
Dream Butterfly also took out her U-Phone, but after searching for a while, she could not find the option to watch Wei Chen. She could not help but let out a disappointed sigh. For her, the match was not as important as having the chance to watch the one she admired.
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