Every champion was now facing another champion in this duel format. The final tournament began. As soon as they walked past the door at the top of the stairways, they would all appear in the same room. But that same room existed as one and many due to a complex space manipulation. Only two contestants would be in the same space, unable to meet any others. Still, they were in fact, in the same folded space. A single room that existed as many realities overlapped. It was one of the greatest array constructions of all times and the reason why the statues had been placed there.

Those statues weren't simply sculptures made of rocks and other minerals. They each depicted one Saint. One being who evolved past the boundary of the 70th stage. And in each of them was the spiritual imprint of will of said Saint. It was a glory for them and a way to pass on their knowledge to the next generations. This place wasn't used solely for the centurial tournament. This particular room was called the 'Room of Predecessors' and was the place where the greatest of the young generation were being taken. The statues would evaluate the kids one by one, separating them from each other and, in some cases, share some of their knowledge and techniques.

Of course, the champions could be considered as the greatest of the young generation in a way. They were elites of elites cultivated solely to be the strongest at their stages. But they weren't the ones taken here to be given enlightenment from predecessors.

No.

Those who had the right to be sent here for inheritances were legacy disciples of the strongest men. Sofia would likely be sent there when the time came for this land to open up for such disciples.

There was however a reason why such a room existed in The Peak and not elsewhere. There was a reason why the final battles of the trial took place there.

Pride.

The forefathers considered the trial of The Peak to be the highest of trials. The reward from it was also the highest. And they left their wills there in order to give it even more meaning.

"Look, your champions will be fighting in front of all the Saints for the ultimate glory!"

This was why they made this place like that. Because they wanted the future generations to never forget the solemnity of the trial and its importance. They left this world long ago but they would forever remain to witness the ultimate trial.

"Win under the eyes of your predecessors!"

The champions had no idea that they were fighting duels under the gaze of the strongest beings to ever walk this world though. They didn't know the opportunities they might be given if they won either...

Only the contestants left in the grand hall were emotional. Well, all the great figures in the grand hall were. Especially the Saints as their own statues were there mingling with those of others.

if you asked the contestants whether there was a point to such a display, they would say yes instantly. It was after all a way to honor the ceremony and their ancestors. Respect for the strong was something incrusted in their blood. Especially their ancestors.

But while it reminded them of the solemnity of the trial, it wasn't what their attention was focused on.

The contestants, those still in and those out, as well as the guests and the Saints, were all focusing on the six battles taking place.

There were only 13 of the supposed 16 champions which meant one of them had been lucky enough to get a free pass to the second round. It meant that there were six ongoing battles too.

...

Jin focused on his opponent, trying to find a weakness. He couldn't figure out any. This thing didn't seem to be the same kind of entity as he was. He could hear many statues speaking words of encouragement and giving him instructions but he filtered most of them out. Quite a few of statues were obviously speaking bullshit. Especially the one that looked like a mix between human and toad. What was it with him, constantly cursing for him to send out his tongue forward and lick his opponent?

Concentrating on the opponent in front was made harder by the surrounding noise. He was thankful for Hae-Hyuk creating an arena for him to duel in back then. He was used to this kind of situation and could filter the sounds as he wished.

The weird being was still trying to break the walls, eyeing seemingly greedily the many statues outside. The closest ones were jeering at it and teasing it, seemingly angering him further. Jin made use of this time to hear what the statues said. A lot of things were useless but some were crucial and useful.

He learnt that this thing was the element of corruption after earning sentience. And that it seemed to also have earned a second element though he didn't hear anyone stating which. Of course, Jin knew what the corruption element was. He had been studying elements for years now. It was close to chaos but worst. It was deemed impossible to truly control as well. It was a greedy element. And its sole weaknesses were certain elements. It could devour and assimilate mostly everything else.

He heard one of the statues say: "What a shame that this youth has yet to enter the 10th stage, he doesn't stand a chance against corruption"

He chuckled. He began to pour out the contents of one of his rings and coat himself with a fine membrane of it. It was the element of 'purification' that he began to make use of after a cultivator cursed him during a duel way back.

The corrupted being turned around instantly, as if it sensed the threat. It glared at Jin with its many eyes while the statues began to cheer. Then, more of that element began to pop out of a ring while the light element was taken out from another. A dozen elemental spears hovered around Jin.

And then, the corrupted being growled and rushed at him.