Chen Xiong had personally overseen Chen Haiming's training since he was a boy, which was how Chen Haiming managed to reach the Postnatal Late Stage at his age. At his age, anyone who reached the Postnatal Late Stage—with the exception of an anomaly like Xu Ke—was considered a top-tier genius.

And now Wong Ting has casually produced five of them? That number is staggering!

"That's right. We have no idea where he found so many geniuses either," Chen Xiong sighed over the phone. It was clear he was even more worried than Xu Ke.

"Everyone knows full well why he's gathering so many people." Xu Ke took a deep breath. "It all comes down to luck now."

Chen Xiong nodded. "Exactly! But where did these people come from? Are they all members of the Martial Alliances from the various cities?"

Xu Ke was puzzled. "Why haven't we seen these city branches trot these people out before?"

Chen Xiong gave a bitter smile. "I've looked at their files. Every last one of them is registered as the son-in-law of some major family, or an overseas relative, or some distant kin..."

Xu Ke laughed. So Wong Ting is forging connections where none exist? Just blatant behind-the-scenes manipulation?

But neither Xu Ke nor Chen Xiong could attack Wong Ting on this point. Because Xu Ke's own registration was the most egregious example of "backdoor dealing" of them all. The others were, at least, actual sons-in-law or distant relatives. He was merely Wong Qifu's fiancé, yet Chen Xiong had strong-armed his registration as a Martial Alliance member.

If Wong Ting were to launch an attack based on their qualifications, Xu Ke himself would be the first to fall.

But his opponent didn't do that. Instead, he deployed his own forces, making his intentions perfectly clear. So, Xu Ke, you want to enter the tournament? Fine, I'll let you. And I'll make you see just how vast the gap between us truly is.

After a moment of thought, Xu Ke asked Chen Xiong, "So what are their real identities?"

"I did some checking. It seems they're a new unit under Wong Ting's command."

Hearing this, Xu Ke heaved a long sigh. "He really does have a deep bench of talent." If a single new unit is this formidable, it's no wonder the Huang Family is so eager to be Wong Ting's dogs.

Chen Xiong remained silent, clearly in agreement with Xu Ke.

"Alright. Thank you, Grandpa Chen. I understand." Xu Ke took a deep breath.

Chen Xiong still sounded deeply concerned. "Mm, you should prepare well. The tournament begins the day after tomorrow at the Tianhai Central Gymnasium."

"Okay!" Xu Ke replied.

Then, Chen Xiong hesitated for a moment. "Xu Ke, if you feel it's too much, you can still withdraw from the tournament." He was worried Wong Ting would arrange for Xu Ke to be killed in this competition. It would be better for Xu Ke to forfeit than to face such a fate. After all, he was only twenty-five years old.

Seeing Chen Xiong's concern, Xu Ke was slightly taken aback before breaking into a smile. "Grandpa Chen, it's not the first time Wong Ting has lost to me."

His voice was neither loud nor arrogant, but it carried an unshakable resolve.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiong was stunned for a moment before letting out a short laugh. "Alright, then!"

Xu Ke hung up.

According to the rules of the Martial Alliance selection tournament, the provincial-level competition would follow a single-elimination knockout format. Each city was to send one competitor to represent their local Martial Alliance. Five of the bottom-ranked cities, whose participation would have made no difference, opted to forfeit entirely. They lacked talent and chose to spare themselves the humiliation. Therefore, a total of sixteen competitors would participate in the tournament.

The drawing would pair them off for one-on-one matches; a single loss meant immediate elimination. However, after the two finalists were decided, there would be an additional match to determine third place before the final championship round.

The schedule was intense, packed into just two days.

This format was somewhat unforgiving. For one, the random draw meant it was highly likely for true powerhouses to face each other before the finals. Secondly, the short schedule could cause top-seeded contenders to be exhausted from previous matches, leaving them with no time to rest and ultimately leading to their defeat in the final.

But to the Martial Alliance, a true powerhouse should not be capable of losing in a provincial tournament. If you lost, it simply meant you weren't a true powerhouse and were unworthy of competing for the title of Alliance Hierarch. After all, there could only be one Alliance Hierarch. All they needed was the absolute strongest.

Besides, if you were genuinely strong but unlucky, your prowess would still be noticed by the visiting Elders from Long Capital. It was always possible they would recruit you privately later.

Xu Ke said it would come down to luck because he knew exactly why Wong Ting had arranged for those five Postnatal Late Stage cultivators to be there. It was nothing more than a way to increase the odds that he would have to fight through a gauntlet of Postnatal Late Stage experts before his inevitable showdown with Qian Jun. By the time he faced Qian Jun, he would likely be significantly drained.

This made Xu Ke's expression turn grave. Wong Ting was too meticulous; he refused to underestimate his opponent.

Before the tournament, Wong Ting arranged for a Long Capital Elder to officiate and moved the venue to Tianhai—all to increase the psychological pressure on Xu Ke and hinder his performance. After all, if Xu Ke failed in his home territory of Tianhai, the loss of face would be immense. How could he not feel the pressure?

And during the tournament itself, he had a whole host of geniuses lying in wait. On the surface, the random draw made it seem possible that Xu Ke might not face a single Postnatal Late Stage opponent. But if Wong Ting wasn't planning to rig the draw, Xu Ke would eat his hat.

And even if Xu Ke managed to take care of that group of Postnatal Late Stage experts, there was still Qian Jun waiting for him.

They had absolutely no intention of letting him win. Every single step of the plan was designed to seal his fate.

Xu Ke even suspected that if Wong Ting weren't so old, he probably would have entered the tournament himself.

That son of a bitch... Xu Ke cursed under his breath.

Then, he took a deep breath. But no matter. In the face of absolute strength, all of them are destined to lose! Did they think a tight schedule and a gauntlet of opponents could wear me down? Wong Ting was dreaming!

After hanging up on Chen Xiong, Xu Ke walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. The Tianhai nightscape was as bustling as ever. In the distance, the dazzling light shows from skyscrapers painted the starless, dim sky in flowing, brilliant colors.

Xu Ke gazed at the Tianhai night sky, the same as it was every night, his expression growing somber.

The day after tomorrow, the Tianhai Central Gymnasium!

As Xu Ke and Chen Xiong were speaking on the phone, a plane from Long Capital was landing. An elderly man with a full head of white hair and a stern face emerged from the domestic arrivals gate, flanked by two bodyguards in black suits. This elder was none other than Jin Hankang, an Honorary Elder of the Martial Alliance.

Peng Hetong immediately rushed forward to greet him, his smile obsequious. "Elder Jin, you must be tired after your long journey! Thank you for making this special trip."

Behind him stood Yuan Shang and three other members of the Tianhai Martial Alliance. As members of the Martial Alliance, it was only natural for Peng Hetong and Yuan Shang to be there to welcome Jin Hankang upon his arrival in Tianhai.

Lin Zhongtian had also wanted to come, but he decided against it as he was waiting for Xu Ke's antidote. In any case, he ultimately represented Long Capital, not the local Tianhai hosts, so his absence was acceptable.

Yuan Shang stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Elder Jin, welcome. It must have been a long journey."

His expression was not particularly warm, but it wasn't hostile either.

But upon seeing Yuan Shang's expression, Jin Hankang sneered. "If I recall correctly, you're young Yuan, are you not?"

"You have a good memory, Elder Jin," Yuan Shang replied nonchalantly.

Jin Hankang, meanwhile, completely ignored Peng Hetong. This left Peng Hetong standing awkwardly to the side, his face a mixture of humiliation and fury.

"Don't be so quick with the praise," Jin Hankang scoffed. "If I recall, you're merely the Vice Alliance Hierarch of the Tianhai Martial Alliance, correct?"

His words dripped with disdain and contempt.

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