Although the crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder, there was, around these two people, a surprisingly comfortable space to move.

Yet no one nearby noticed this strange sight. It was as if everyone had failed to see the emptiness around them, and not a single person tried to squeeze over.

"Grandpa, just how strong is Big Brother Tang? Did you truly not sense anything yesterday?" the youth beside the old man asked.

"No." Shen Shan frowned as he replied. "That youth's Mental Power is very strong, and the cultivation method he practices is rather strange as well. There wasn't the slightest fluctuation of Spiritual Qi."

Toward Tang Yan, even Shen Shan felt curiosity from the bottom of his heart.

How could such a strange monster appear in a tiny place like the Eastern Region?

"Big Brother Tang is so powerful, so he should be from Fang City. But why haven't I seen him?" Shen He widened his bright black eyes and kept looking toward Fang City's seats.

"The strength ranking of the Eastern Region's cities goes Fang City, Qing City, Song City, Yu City, then Yun City. He is most likely among Fang City, Qing City, or Song City. Look carefully." Shen Shan looked at his grandson with affection, yet the astonishment in his eyes could not be hidden.

At first, he had still harbored some doubt toward the cultivation method Tang Yan had given him.

But after one night of cultivation, not only had the discomfort in his grandson's body eased by a great deal, his cultivation had directly reached Origin Rank Second Grade!

Though such strength was still low, this speed of advancement still shook Shen Shan's heart.

The more this was so, the more he felt he had taken an enormous advantage from Tang Yan.

He had only traded a sword and an Earth Rank martial skill, yet he had obtained such a heaven-defying cultivation method in return?

Because he felt grateful toward Tang Yan, Shen Shan feared that once he left, he would never again be able to find Tang Yan's whereabouts. Thus, early this morning, he had brought Shen He to the grounds of the Grand Competition to inquire after him.

Before long, however, he frowned just like his grandson.

They had looked over Fang City, Qing City, and Song City twice, back and forth, yet they still had not found the person they were searching for.

"Could Big Brother Tang not have come to participate in the Eastern Region Grand Competition?" Shen He asked, somewhat dispirited.

"Look. Fang City still has two empty seats, and Qing City and Song City each have one as well. Perhaps he simply hasn't arrived yet," Shen Shan comforted him.

When Lin Xiao led Tang Yan and the other two toward Yun City's seats, a burst of laughter immediately rang out.

"The ones at the bottom are here!" someone in the crowd shouted.

An even louder wave of laughter swept across the square.

"They've come last in every previous competition. The people of Yun City really do have thick skin. If it were me, I would have given up on taking part long ago."

"You can't say that. For the sake of the other four cities' dignity, they endure endless ridicule and still compete under such immense pressure. Who can compare to such a spirit of sacrifice? Such breadth of mind!"

"Yun City's fifth-place seat has never been successfully challenged. Looks like it's secure again this year."

The surrounding people pointed at Yun City and mocked them.

How could Liu Zhi and Lin Dongxue have ever seen such a scene before? Facing the ridicule of tens of thousands of people, they were both angry and ashamed, and even their breathing grew somewhat hurried.

Lin Xiao seemed long used to such treatment. From his face, no one could tell whether he was pleased or angry.

Only Tang Yan wore a faint smile.

To him, such a scene truly had no effect at all.

"Grandpa, look over there. Is that Big Brother Tang?" Shen He's small mouth parted slightly, his face full of surprise.

A trace of astonishment also flashed through Shen Shan's eyes.

During the past few days since he had arrived in Fang City, even though he had not deliberately asked around, he had still heard all sorts of remarks: "Yun City of the Eastern Region always comes last," "Yun City's number one was defeated in a single move and slapped seven times in a row," and the like.

Although he had not detected Tang Yan's true strength yesterday, he had a feeling that Tang Yan was certainly not weak.

A person like this was not Yun City's number one?

Then just how strong was Yun City's number one?

And if Yun City's number one had been defeated in one move, did that not mean the younger generation of the Eastern Region had all reached an extremely terrifying realm?

Had the world changed after he had stayed away for so many years?

...

"This is too hateful. Once we beat their people until they're in complete disarray, let's see if they still dare to shout!" Lin Dongxue clenched her fists, clearly displeased.

"Respect is won through battle. Whether Yun City can earn respect depends on the three of you!" Lin Xiao encouraged them.

Time passed little by little, and more and more people gathered in the square.

Around the fourth quarter of the Chen hour, a distant bell rang out from the western side of the square.

The sound of the bell seemed to calm the heart. As it spread, the surrounding crowd gradually quieted.

To the north stood a judges' platform. An old man sat in the center, while beside him sat Fang Wentian, City Lord of Fang City.

After the bell faded, Fang Wentian rose to his feet and cupped his hands toward the surrounding crowd. His voice rolled outward.

"Time passes swiftly. Another Eastern Region Grand Competition has arrived. I believe the outstanding talents of each city have long awaited this day.

"For this year's Grand Competition, the judges are not only the city lords of the five cities. We also have an Elder of Azure Dragon Academy present-Elder Mo Bin."

"Azure Dragon Academy!"

At Fang Wentian's introduction, everyone's gaze fell upon the old man seated in the center of the platform.

Most of them were seeing an Elder of Azure Dragon Academy for the first time, and all of them studied him with curiosity.

Mo Bin smiled and nodded to the crowd. His amiable manner won him no small amount of goodwill.

"I will briefly explain the rules of the Eastern Region Grand Competition," Fang Wentian continued. "This time, Fang City has thirteen participants, Qing City has ten, Song City has nine, Yu City has five, and Yun City has three, for a total of forty.

"Contestants will fight one against one, and opponents will be decided by drawing lots.

"The Eastern Region Grand Competition is a trial for the younger generation of the five cities. More importantly, it is an opportunity to be chosen for Azure Dragon Academy.

"As for how each city performs this time, let us wait and see! City Lords, please ascend the judges' platform."

As Fang Wentian's words fell, four incomparably sharp auras erupted from the directions of the four cities.

The four city lords rose from the ground, each displaying their own abilities as they swept toward the judges' platform.

Sensing those four terrifying auras, awe flashed through the eyes of the crowd.

After the four city lords took their seats, Fang Wentian continued, "Next, will the participating talents please come up and draw lots."

The contestants from each city moved one after another, walking up to the judges' platform in order.

The gazes of tens of thousands of spectators fell upon the forty contestants drawing lots onstage, and they began discussing who was stronger and who was weaker.

They had already argued over this topic for more than half a month, yet their fervor had not faded in the slightest.

There were five places for drawing lots.

Tang Yan and the other two walked onto the stage. He reached into the lot-drawing box and took out a token.

Written on it was the number "three."

It seemed his match would come in the third round.

After receiving their numbers, the participants returned to their respective seats.

"I'm number five, so I should be going up very soon. What numbers did you get?" Lin Dongxue asked curiously.

"I'm number one." Liu Zhi's expression was somewhat ugly.

"Number three."

After stating his number, Tang Yan's brows furrowed slightly.

The drawn numbers were this coincidental? The three of them from Yun City had just happened to draw the early numbers one, three, and five?

Perhaps someone wanted to watch Yun City make a fool of itself and had tampered with the draw with ulterior motives.

If Yun City took the stage early and was swiftly defeated, Yun City's reputation would instantly fall to the very bottom.

Tang Yan let out a long breath. A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.

They wanted Yun City to lose face?

Then they could wait and see!