As they were talking about this, the announcer's voice again sounded in the arena, "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the next participants, Fen Ong and his opponent Yawen Lu."

Although the matches continued, Kai Ren was not in the mood to keep watching. Instead, he cultivated in silence to recover his spiritual Qi, and by the end of the eighth match, he had already recovered all of it. But Kai Ren's eyes remained closed as he focused on comprehending the Celestial Genesis technique.

Although he had already comprehended more than fifteen hundred verses, which were enough for him to reach the Qi Grandmaster realm, further deepening his understanding was always beneficial.

As he focused on the Celestial Genesis technique, time seemed to move faster, and more than an incense stick's worth of time went by in a flash.

The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, calling everyone's attention. "Participants, the matchups for the second rounds have been decided!"

As the participants heard this, they all started to pay attention to the announcer and a hush fell over the previously lively waiting area.

After Kai Ren opened his eyes, they beamed with joy at having comprehended another verse of the Celestial Genesis technique, a significant achievement given how much longer it now took him to understand each verse.

After Kai Ren opened his eyes, they beamed with joy because he had comprehended another verse of the Celestial Genesis technique.

Nowadays, it was taking him more and more time to understand just a single verse, and thus comprehending even one verse became a great source of joy for him. He couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment, but he kept his breakthrough to himself, not wanting to reveal his use of the Celestial Genesis technique.

The lanky judge came on the stage once more with a scroll and started to read the matchups in a loud and clear voice.

"Match one: Number one versus number six.

Match two: Number fourteen versus number sixteen.

Match three: Number thirteen versus number two.

Match four: Number seven versus number eighteen.

Match five: Number twelve versus number four."

As the lanky judge finished announcing the matchups, all the participants started looking for their opponents. Kai Ren also found his opponent, a tall and lean young man named Huan Lee. Kai Ren didn't see his match, so he turned toward Jian Li and asked, "Brother Jian, do you know which weapon my opponent uses?"

Jian Li nodded, his expression serious as he recalled the earlier matches. "Yes, Brother Kai. Huan Lee uses a glaive. He's quite skilled with it, relying on both its reach and his agility to keep his opponents at bay. You need to be careful; he's fast and precise with his strikes."

Song Ling added, "Huan Lee also has a strong defense. He’s good at countering attacks, so you'll need to be unpredictable. Use your speed and adaptability to keep him off balance."

Hearing their words, Kai Ren's expression also became serious and he said, "Thank you, both of you. I'll keep that in mind."

By this time, the first match had already started between Jian Nu and her opponent, Chen Wu, who also wielded a sword.

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As the match started, Jian Nu tried to overwhelm her opponent with her superior agility but failed, as her opponent was also as agile as she was.

Thus, the battle came to a stalemate, with neither side gaining an advantage. The battle was quite fierce, with neither side gaining a clear advantage for a while. However, Chen Wu eventually leveraged his slight strength advantage to secure victory.

As Chen Wu stood there with his sword pointed at Jian Nu's neck, both of them were panting, but the fighting spirit in their eyes was still blazing.

As the crowd cheered wildly, the lanky judge announced, "The winner of this match is: Chen Wu."

Kai Ren watched the conclusion of the first match with keen interest, studying the tactics and techniques employed by both fighters. Chen Wu's victory was well-earned, and Kai Ren made a mental note of his skills, knowing he might face him in a later round.

With the conclusion of the previous match, anticipation in the arena grew. The judge announced, "Match two: Number fourteen versus number sixteen." The crowd buzzed with excitement as the participants took their positions.

As the participants took their positions for the second match, Kai Ren sensed the shift in the arena's energy, with palpable excitement and thick anticipation as they awaited the clash between Zhou Feng and Mei Lin.

The combatants stepped forward: a stocky young man with a fierce look in his eyes, who Kai Ren recognized as Zhou Feng, was facing off against a lithe girl with a saber on her back, named Mei Lin. Both had distinct styles that intrigued Kai Ren.

The lanky judge raised his hand, signaling for silence. "Begin!" he shouted, and the atmosphere electrified as the two fighters launched into action.

Zhou Feng charged forward, his fists clenched and ready to unleash a barrage of strikes. He was known for his brute strength and aggressive style, but Mei Lin was quick on her feet. She dodged his initial strikes, weaving in and out of his reach with grace.

Mei Lin's agility allowed her to evade Zhou Feng's powerful punches, and she quickly countered with a series of swift slashes from her saber. Each strike was precise, aimed at exploiting any opening in Zhou Feng's defense. The crowd roared with excitement, their cheers echoing throughout the arena as they witnessed the clash of strength and speed.

As the match continued, the result of the match became more and more apparent.

At this moment Zhou Feng's breathing was ragged and it was clear that his reliance on brute strength instead of technique had backfired on him and he was exhausted.

Although Mei Lin was also breathing heavily, she was in much better condition than Zhou Feng.

Mei Lin, sensing her advantage, pressed her attack. Her saber moved like a flash of lightning, targeting Zhou Feng's weak points. Despite his best efforts, Zhou Feng's defenses were faltering under the relentless assault.

Finally, with a swift and decisive strike, Mei Lin disarmed Zhou Feng, her saber slicing through the air to knock his weapon from his hand. Zhou Feng staggered back, defeated but not broken. He raised his hands in surrender, and the crowd erupted in applause, recognizing the fierce effort both fighters had put into the match.

"The winner of this match is Mei Lin!" the lanky judge declared, raising her hand in victory. Mei Lin bowed respectfully to Zhou Feng before stepping back to join the other participants.

Kai Ren watched with keen interest, noting Mei Lin's agility and precision. Her fighting style was something he would need to consider if they were to face each other in a future round.

The third match was called next. "Match three: Number thirteen versus number two." The crowd's excitement didn't wane as the next set of fighters entered the arena. Kai Ren took this time to steady his breathing and mentally prepare himself for his own match.

The third match showcased another intense battle, with number two, the agile spear wielder Li Wong, demonstrating exceptional precision and technique. His opponent, number thirteen, a wiry girl named Xue Lan, fought valiantly but ultimately couldn't match Li Wong's power. The fight ended with Li Wong's victory, his final move a crushing blow that left Xue Lan unable to continue.

"Winner of match three: Li Wong!" the judge announced, and the crowd cheered loudly for the impressive display of martial prowess.

Finally, it was time for Kai Ren's match. The judge's voice rang out, "Match four: Number seven versus number eighteen. Kai Ren versus Huan Lee!"

Kai Ren took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. He stepped into the arena, his eyes locked on Huan Lee, who approached with the same calm demeanor. The crowd fell silent, the anticipation building to a crescendo.

The judge raised his hand, signaling the start of the match. "Begin!"