Today was a grand day for the Peerless Cliff City. Countless martial artists across the State of Xiang have travelled from their isolated temples and tranquil mountains to converge in the city. This even included vagrant martial artists, who with little connections or nowhere near the number of resources of those who had originated from prestigious sects, had come looking for opportunities. Due to the influx of all these martial artists, the city’s population, merchants and the ruling noble clans had prepared well for their arrivals. This made the bustling city only even more animated.

This was all caused by the Rising Dragon Meeting. It was a tournament where all of the Xiang State's major mortal sects gathered to hold a tournament between the younger generations of martial artists, and as a guideline, no one over the age of 20 was allowed to participate. It wasn’t only exclusive to these sects, it was also open to vagrant martial artists and minor sects.

It was a chance for these budding martial artists to bring glory to their sect, assert dominance over other sects and if they placed well enough, earn valuable prizes. In contrast, the only thing vagrant martial artists cared about was attention. If they reached the second stage of the tournament, they would be able to show off their abilities and skills in front of influential seniors and elders who were likewise also looking to recruit talented people into their sect. The prizes weren't anything to scoff at either. For example, third place would receive a bottle of Life Revolving Pills, which would significantly increase the depth of their inner qi. Second, an exotic sabre, and first would receive a nine-hundred-year-old ginseng, something that was heavily coveted by even supreme powerhouses.

If it wasn’t for the fact it was in the possession of the Three Star Pavilion, a powerhouse organisation whose influence reached all across The State of Xiang, a bloodbath would’ve already occurred between several dozens of hot-blooded experts seeking to increase their strength to the next level. Although the Three Star Pavilion didn’t have as many expert martial artists as major sects, they had deep ties to nearly every prominent figure and noble clan. With the combined support of all these factions, it was impossible to unhinge them from their position or lay a finger on them.

If any sect dared to provoke the Three Star Pavilion then they would discover that no one was willing to associate with them, in fear that the Three Star Pavilion would think they are conspiring with them. Thus, the stakes of the Rising Dragon were sky high and no one was willing to lose such a precious treasure.

At this current moment, a young boy wearing unassuming brown robes of an average stature was weaving himself through the ever-changing crowd while staring in awe at the sights around him. His tanned skin and uncute, but average face was very telling that he was a village boy from out in the sticks. This was Ip An.

After training ruthlessly day and night for two years, Manzi had suddenly decided that he needed to gain some experience and sent him to the Rising Dragon Meeting that only occurred once every five years. Fortunately, it just so happens that it held place at Peerless Cliff City so the journey was only a day long.

Most importantly, he was told by his master that if he didn’t achieve first place, Manzi would find a way to kick him out of the sect. With the tricks he potentially possessed, little information as to Manzi’s true origins and the mystery of why a mortal martial artist was in a sect of immortals, Ip An didn’t think for one second he was joking. Ip An had to place first no matter what.

Soon, after finding his way throughout the city, asking for directions from the city’s population, and almost getting mistaken for a pickpocket with a similar appearance by some guards, he now stood in front of a grand hall that had people going in and out of it constantly. To the right side of the entrance a long line could be seen extending out of it. After reading the sign at the entrance of the hall in imposing characters that read, ‘Peerless Grand Hall’, he went to the back of the painfully long line.

It was still five days out from the main tournament that would take place in the city’s main area, which would be made up of the final 32 main contestants. Before then, Ip An would have to first compete in several preliminary fights that were aimed to weed out the weak and foolish, and then another phase based in a more official and refined arena that's sole purpose was to hold fights.

So that he didn’t waste his time, he got the attention of the much taller but lanky youth that was over a head taller than him with a shoulder tap and asked, “Excuse me, is this the line for registration in the Rising Dragon Meeting?”

The lanky youth gave Ip An a look over his head and answered with a smirk, “Yes, but if your plan is to beg for coins after being a sore loser then I think you should leave.”

“Thank you. That’s all I needed to know”, Ip An thanked respectfully, not caring in the least that the youth had insulted him. He had more important things to worry about than the rudeness of a stranger that he would likely never meet again in his life. Ip An was currently focused, he didn’t need someone riling him up before his fight.

This was one of the things that Manzi had endlessly drilled in him during their training. Even under extreme pressure, he had to remain emotionless and empty his mind so that his mental state wouldn’t get in the way of his fight. Even if his opponent was the heavens or someone who had wronged him, he had to stay unchanged lest his emotions lead to his downfall.

Seeing that his provocation hadn’t elicited any reaction the lanky youth's face slightly twitched in annoyance before silently turning around and continuing to play with the pendant in his hand as he had been before. In the time it took to eat a meal, Ip An had made his way out of the stone-tiled streets, into the entrance of the Peerless Grand Hall and now stood in front of a wooden desk. Sitting at it was a stocky man with a tired appearance. In his left hand was an ink pen and used support from his right to prop his chin up.

After the stocky man’s gaze left the lanky youth who was walking further into the hall, he looked down upon Ip An who now stood in front of him.

“Name, age and affiliation”, the stocky man repeated the phrase he had repeated hundreds of times today.

“Ip An, twelve years old, and I am affiliated with the Flowing Jiang Sect”, Ip An responded in tune, with an intelligent tone.

The stocky man raised an eyebrow in alarm, “The Flowing Jiang Sect? You don’t look to be from there”, he stared at Ip An’s robes that he discerned wasn’t of the Flowing Jiang Sect, “If you admit that your lying right now and grovel on the ground right now then I will let you off with just a small beating. I will warn you that if you continue to lie then don’t be regretful that you didn’t listen to me now. Now, what will it be?”

Ip An was slightly stunned by the man’s words for a few seconds. As Ip An looked at the stocky man stupidly, he noticed that the lanky man hadn’t actually left and was actually leaning on the wall just several meters to his left giving him a mocking smirk. This situation had forced Ip An to let out a depressed sigh.

Ip An reached into his pocket and pulled out a small medallion that was the size of a palm and presented it to the stocky man. Letting out a harrumph, the stocky man almost snatched the medallion out of his hands and closely observed it. A couple of moments later, the stocky man’s face turned pale as he sucked in a breath of cold air, “Yi! This one had eyes yet was unable to see the top of Mount Tai! I hope that young master can pardon my behaviour! This one is even willing to compensate if need be.”

This medallion was given to him by Manzi just before he embarked off of the mountain, who mentioned to use it in case he got in trouble. Ip An was confused as to why he was seemingly a guest elder of some mortal sect but dismissed it because it was Manzi he was talking about, the man was a mystery. Who knows? He may even have a bastard child somewhere out in the world. Fortunately, it seems he wouldn’t encounter any more difficulties with such a reaction from the stocky man.

Seeing that Ip An was unexpectedly the disciple of some respected guest elder, the lanky youth’s eyes widened in disbelief before quickly scurrying away. Though Ip An didn’t have any resentful thoughts towards the lanky man, it would be a lie if he were to say that he didn’t feel pleasure from this.

“It is fine! There is no need to compensate me but I might have to bring this matter up to my master just in case. I hope you do not mind!” Ip An chuckled inwardly as he said this, wondering if he was some kind of devil. Ip An’s words definitely gave the stocky man a fright as he thought about having to potentially face the wrath of an expert’s wrath.

“Thank you! Thank you! This one is very grateful for your magnanimity. You need not wait for any more. In fact, I will guide you personally!” The stocky man immediately jumped at the chance to redeem himself.

“You don’t have to waste your effort leading me, simply give me directions and I will be on my way. Anyways, you have other guests waiting in line and I do not wish to waste their time”, Ip An rejected the stocky man politely. After receiving the directions from the regretful man which were pitifully easy to follow, he left. Still, Ip An could just follow behind the lanky youth who was not too far in front of him. There were signs too. It was almost laughable

A few minutes later, he now found himself in a vast courtyard. The hall was merely for logistics and administration. This courtyard that was located directly behind the hall was where the preliminary rounds were supposedly held. Looking around, he saw four slightly elevated arenas where heated battles were currently taking place.

At the closest one to him, a youth that looked to be about seventeen or eighteen with a silver sword was pressuring a younger boy about fourteen or fifteen with a spear. Despite the inherent advantage the youth’s weapons had against the younger boy’s spear, he was clearly winning and dominating with his prodding strikes that never gave his opponent a break. Additionally, his opponent’s spear was receiving strike after strike at the shaft of the spear.

Suddenly, the older youth broke his opponent’s spear with a powerful slash and now held the tip of his blade under the chin of the helpless boy.

“Number 1889 Wins!”,the referee announced with a loud voice while standing at the edge of the arena.