Chapter 96: The Competition
By the time I arrived, the registration hall was packed with outer disciples. The excited chattering of their voices was like a swarm of spiritual insects. I had never seen the usually quiet space so alive with energy. Clusters of disciples gathered around the registration tables, sizing up potential competitors while pretending not to.
“Quite the turnout," Azure noted as I made my way through the crowd.
He wasn't wrong. I'd known the tournament this year would be competitive, but seeing the sheer number of participants drove the point home. Most were gathered in groups of three, already formed into their teams, ready for the first stage.
"Did you notice the look in their eyes," Azure asked, "the way they're all watching each other? Every team here thinks they have a chance of winning."
He had a point. Despite the casual conversations and apparent relaxed atmosphere, there was an underlying tension in the room. Everyone was evaluating everyone else, trying to gauge the competition while simultaneously showing off their own strength. It was like a complicated dance where everyone was both performer and audience.
I found an empty spot near one of the stone pillars and leaned against it, the vantage point would let me observe the room more carefully.
Most of these disciples had been in the sect for years, but cultivation-wise, I wasn't as outmatched as I'd expected. While I definitely wasn't among the strongest, plenty of participants seemed to be around the fifth or sixth stage of Qi Condensation.
"That group by the window," Azure highlighted, "they are all at the sixth stage. And the team near the registration table is mixed – one sixth stage with two fourth stage members."
I nodded slightly. The variety was interesting – some teams seemed built around a strong leader with weaker support, while others had chosen to balance their strength more evenly.