The start of the next round caused the atmosphere in the crowd to get heated once again, as new participants sought to join the fight.
However, with Alderens display, many others became hesitant to do so. Alderen had remained undefeated for almost a full day now, with no one able to knock him from his spot. However, they assumed that he would eventually leave, at which point they would join the fight and unleash their full strength.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
However, Alderens might thus far did not dash the hopes of all, as dozens on newcomers took up the task to dethrone him. These were all geniuses from their respective sects and clans, and most of them carried themselves with pride and self-confidence. They would never cower before even undertaking the challenge.
Amongst the newcomers that landed on the arena was an eye-catching pair of youths, mainly due to their cultivations. The eyes of the others in the arena, as well as those in the stands widened slightly as they saw the cultivations of the newcomers, before snickers of laughter echoed out throughout the arena.
"Hahaha, there's actually someone in the Meridian Forging Realm that entered these lands," a taunting jeer came from the stands above.
"Not just one, but two idiots at the Meridian Forging Realm showed up. What power are they from, that they're desperate to use Meridian Forging cultivators?" another jeered.
"They're from the Heavenly Lightning Sect," another chimed in loudly for all to hear. "I thought that sect was quite powerful, but from the looks of it they've fallen on hard times."
As if he had expected such taunts, John completely ignored the insults being hurled at him. He had become used to such reactions already, as he had been fighting an uphill cultivation battle his entire life. However, Iris, who was not used to such treatment, couldn't help but clench her fist as she felt her blood boil with rage.
"What a bunch of assholes," Iris uttered coldly. "They sit up there comfortably instead of joining the fight, and have the gall to insult us?"
"Just ignore them," John replied calmly. "They're not even worth getting angry over. Lions do not concern themselves with the opinions of the sheep."
Iris felt herself calm down slightly after seeing how undisturbed John was. His words did make sense, and she quickly regained her calm and focus.
"Haha, did I just hear that correctly? Did you just call yourself a lion?" a mocking voice sounded out from behind John and Iris, which they turned to look at. Iris's expression instantly darkened as they stared at the unscrupulous youth from before, who had insulted both her and John.
"If anything, you're not even worthy of being sheep," the youth continued. "You're more like shit made to fertilize the lands so that others may grow."
The youths' words were quite clear in their meaning. John and Iris were mere stepping stones, meant to be stepped on and cut down by those stronger than them, acting as fertilizer to help the true geniuses grow.
"I thought I made myself clear," the youth said as he slowly approached John and Iris. His actions caused the others to look over as well, curious as to what was going on. "But since you didn't listen, you only have yourself to blame for what happens next. You really should have taken me up on my offer."
"You sure you'll be fine against him?" John asked Iris again.
Although Iris was strong, and had specialized eye talents, she was still only a Half-Step Heaven Tribulation cultivator. Her opponent was a full fledged Early Heaven Tribulation cultivator, and jumping realms was an incredibly difficult thing to do. Her opponent was a genius from his own power and not a pushover, making the task even more difficult.
"I'll be fine," Iris replied calmly, doing her best to maintain her wits and control her anger. "This idiot will look down on me. That should give me the opening I need."
"Alright, then let me see a good show," John replied, looking forward to watching Iris's battle. Each round lasted two hours, and so he was in no rush to start his fight against Alderen. The youths from the stands continued to slowly pour into the arena as the number slowly approached one hundred participants.
After a few minutes, the one hundredth participant entered the arena, at which point the formation barrier around the arena lit up once more. Another gong sounded out, indicating the start of the next round.
A bizarre energy washed over the arena in an instant, which forcefully lowered the cultivations of all those in the arena to the Early Heaven Tribulation Realm. It was clearly to normalize the fights, and reward those who were the most talented.
'This must be the energy Hareu was talking about earlier. I can sense all the other cultivators are now in the Early Heaven Tribulation Realm, but unfortunately it did not raise my or Iris's cultivation to that realm. We're still stuck in the Meridian Forging Realm, which confirms my suspicions I had earlier regarding the talent level of the Jade Dragon Empire.'
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The start of the round resulted in a flurry of attacks being unleashed, as some attempted to make moves right away. Others focused no defending themselves, doing their best to conserve their energy for the last push at the end of the round.
"You still had time to leave before, but now you're trapped here with me. You can only blame yourself for what's to come," the boy before Iris said as his aura suddenly flared with power.
Anticipating the good show to come, John stepped off to the side as he watched Iris prepare to battle. Without warning, a disciple from another sect appeared behind John and slammed his weapon down onto him. The youth was using a great hammer, and the power contained in the weapon was monstrous.
Without turning around, John raised one arm above his head as he channeled his Supreme Battle Art and Limiter of Power.
Bang!
The hammer slammed down onto John's outstretched hand and came to a complete stop. The shockwave from the attack knocked the youth backwards, while the rest of the nearby youths, as well as those in the stands looked on with shock and awe.
Bang!
John suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the great hammer youth.
Lightning Disintegration!
An incredibly powerful and potent lightning beam exploded out of John's finger and slammed towards the youth, who was still recovering from his previous shock. His great hammer swept out powerfully to meet the attack, but was swept aside in an instant by the lightning beam.
"Gah!"
The youth cried out in pain as his body was tossed across the arena, finally coming to a halt as he slammed into the formation barrier surrounding the arena. A slight trail of smoke rose up from his body as he struggled to stand up, while those in the entire arena and stands above looked on with mouths agape.
"I'll be watching my friend fight," John said out loud for all to hear. "Do not disturb her, and do not disturb me. Or the same fate awaits you."
