"Brother Li, after today’s drinks, we won’t be able to share another cup tomorrow," Li Mingkai said, setting down his wine glass and looking at Li Xuan in the tavern. His expression was filled with a discernible sense of melancholy and disappointment.
Seeing this, Li Xuan offered a slight smile. "Carpe diem, Brother Li. Why fret over tomorrow? Even the Grand Celestial Ranking Tournament has its end. Speaking of which, do you feel confident about this year's tournament?"
Li Mingkai shrugged. "Absolute confidence? No. But perhaps a seventy to eighty percent chance of making the rankings."
Li Xuan nodded with a smile upon hearing this. Li Mingkai was a scion of the Li family, one of the six great clans, and its heir. Such confidence was understandable.
"Brother Li, this year's Grand Celestial Ranking Tournament is said to bring significant changes. My father insisted I participate because the younger generation of our six great clans and four hidden sects have all reached the qualifying strength. This time, it's more about seeing which of our ten successor heirs can prove superior."
Noticing Li Xuan's silence, Li Mingkai revealed more news. Li Xuan's face immediately showed a hint of surprise. If that were the case, this year's Grand Celestial Ranking Tournament would indeed be interesting. The participation of all the heirs from the six great clans and four hidden sects was a grand affair.
"Your strength, Brother Li, should not be inferior to anyone else's. I trust this Grand Celestial Ranking Tournament will bring great honor to your Li family," Li Xuan said with a smile, raising his wine cup.
Li Mingkai, however, gave a wry smile and shook his head. "If only that were true. Let alone the Gu and Lei families among our six great clans, that fatty Qian alone is enough to give me a run for my money. And the Nangong girl from the four hidden sects is no pushover either. Alas, if I can rank somewhere in the middle against them, I'll be truly grateful."
Li Xuan looked at Li Mingkai with surprise. From their time together, Li Xuan had paid attention to Li Mingkai's capabilities. He estimated that even he himself would need to exert eighty to ninety percent of his strength to win. Could the individuals Li Mingkai mentioned be even more formidable?
"Hearing you say that, I'm quite eager to spar with them. However, the tournament rules for the Grand Celestial Ranking are only to be revealed tomorrow," Li Xuan said with a smile. Despite Li Mingkai being from the Li family, he didn't know the rules of the tournament. The secrecy surrounding the Grand Celestial Ranking was quite effective. Of course, based on Li Xuan's past experience, the rules were likely to be quite similar to others.
"Your strength is extraordinary, Brother Li. Perhaps it will lead to a fierce battle. There will be much to see then. But do be careful of that Nangong girl. If you happen to encounter her, you might be in trouble for the rest of your life," Li Mingkai said, his eyes showing a strong interest. He then turned serious, offering a stern warning.
"Why?" Li Xuan asked in surprise.
Li Mingkai chuckled sheepishly. "This Nangong girl is not only participating in the Grand Celestial Ranking to make it onto the fifty-sixth position, but she also has another objective: finding a match."
"Finding a match? You mean that Nangong girl intends to find a husband during this Grand Celestial Ranking Tournament?" Li Xuan was stunned. Such a method seemed rather unconventional.
"As expected, Brother Li is brilliant and understands immediately," Li Mingkai nodded. For some reason, a hint of longing appeared on his face.
Li Xuan's heart stirred at this. He then inquired, "Judging by your expression, Brother Li, that Nangong girl must be exceptionally beautiful."
Li Mingkai's face grew even more embarrassed. Seeing this, Li Xuan smiled slightly and raised his wine cup. It seemed that Li Mingkai's participation in the Grand Celestial Ranking was largely driven by his pursuit of the Nangong family girl. With this thought, Li Xuan also became curious about her.
**Boom!**
Over Danyang City, a roaring sound echoed, and figures rose from all around the city, heading towards the Luoyang Plaza in the city center.
"It's finally starting." In their inn, Li Xuan also slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the roar. With a flick of his body, he vanished from the room. A few days prior, Li Xuan and Li Mingkai had registered for the competition. Now that the Grand Celestial Ranking Tournament was commencing, the rules would be announced today. Furthermore, Li Xuan would be able to see the other participants and gather information about them. He was particularly curious about how the Nangong family girl looked to have captivated Li Mingkai.
As Li Xuan appeared in Luoyang Plaza, he saw ten figures standing on a high platform. Among these ten, only two middle-aged women were veiled. The other eight men, though appearing to be in their forties or fifties, were known to Li Xuan to be over a hundred years old, some even living for hundreds of years.
Countless figures filled the plaza, each standing approximately two meters apart. This spacing was due to the sharp aura emanating from each individual, creating a personal domain for every powerful cultivator. It was also a symbol of strength and status. Only at the edges of the plaza did the crowd begin to become slightly crowded. Later arrivals could only float in the air. As far as the eye could see, there was no end to the assembled participants. Viewing platforms were set up around the plaza, where the leaders of various factions were seated. Alongside the teams from various forces, attending spiritual masters also occupied the seats. The vast viewing platform was completely filled, underscoring the high stakes and prestige of the Grand Celestial Ranking Tournament. Fortunately, Luoyang Plaza was immense; otherwise, practitioners at the Heavenly Zenith realm alone would have filled it.
Li Xuan glanced at the nearly full central area of the plaza and casually took a position at the outer edge, awaiting further developments. After all, the individuals standing in the central area of Luoyang Plaza were already exuding their auras. Even those who did not overtly display their power could be discerned by their attire.
Li Xuan observed a white-robed man in the central area, who was none other than the Li family heir, Li Mingkai. Li Mingkai's gaze was subtly, yet intentionally, drifting towards a graceful figure not far away. Following Li Mingkai's line of sight, Li Xuan saw a figure clad in yellow robes and white inner wear. Under the sunlight, her slender figure was subtly revealed. Though her face was veiled, it was evident that she was a peerless beauty.
"No wonder Brother Li is so smitten. Judging by her figure, this Nangong family girl must be quite attractive," Li Xuan mused with a smile. His gaze then shifted to several other figures. According to Li Mingkai's introduction, the ten people qualified to stand in the front row were all heirs from the six great clans and four hidden sects. Besides Li Mingkai and the Nangong family girl, the other eight were, naturally, the future heirs of the remaining eight families.
"Indeed, none of them are to be underestimated. Their auras seem remarkably similar. It appears the final outcome will depend on individual trump cards and physical prowess. I wonder what the tournament rules will be," Li Xuan remarked with a hint of awe, observing the powerful auras of the eight individuals. The descendants of the great families were truly beyond ordinary comparison. Their current achievements were undoubtedly due to their families' extensive nurturing. In this moment, Li Xuan began to understand why the Hun Tian Continent was more powerful than the Five-Dimensional World. The younger generation here was exceptionally prodigious!