Change: Sofia Maxwell ---> Song Ling and Felix Maxwell ---> Song Ming

As the participants dispersed to prepare for their matches, Kai Ren felt a mixture of nervousness and determination. He clenched his fists, ready to face his opponent and prove his worth in the arena.

As the participants started to return to the waiting area, a thick sense of tension filled the air.

Kai Ren also returned to the place where Jian Li and Song Ling were sitting, as they saw him approach Jian Li asked "Brother Kai, which number did you get?" Song Ling was also looking toward him, her big watery eyes filled with curiosity.

Kai Ren simply showed them the token he was given, revealing the number seven.

Jian Li nodded thoughtfully. "Number seven. So you'll be facing number nineteen. Did you see who it was?"

Kai Ren nodded, "That muscular man that is sitting over there," He said as he pointed toward the direction his opponent was sitting. The tall, muscular man might look intimidating, but Kai Ren knew that he was nowhere near as strong as him.

"You can do it, Brother Kai, I believe in you," Song Ling said as she cupped her small fists, her face full of determination.

Looking at the determined expression on Song Ling's face if someone didn't know the whole truth, they would believe that the one participating in the tournament wasn't Kai Ren but her.

Jian Li chuckled at Song Ling's fervor. "She's right, Brother Kai. You've got this."

A gong sounded, signaling that the first match was about to begin. The announcer's voice echoed through the arena once more. "Ladies and gentlemen, the first match of the preliminary rounds is about to commence! Please direct your attention to the stage!"

As the first pair of participants descended onto the stage, the announcer started to introduce them based on the info they had provided.

"On one side, we have the beautiful and skilled sword-wielder, Jian Nu!" The crowd, especially the guys, cheered as a young woman with graceful movements and a determined expression stepped forward, her sword gleaming in the arena lights.

"And on the other side, we have the powerful halberd-wielding warrior, Ji Ren!" A massive man, muscles rippling under his skin, brandished his halberd with a confident grin, eliciting roars of approval from the audience.

The excitement in the arena was palpable as the two fighters faced each other, weapons at the ready. The lanky man stepped forward, repeating the rules one last time before stepping back. The crowd fell silent, the anticipation hanging thick in the air.

"Begin!" the lanky man declared, and the match was on.

For the first few seconds, neither of the contestants moved from their place, trying to probe each other's strength.

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After a few seconds, the halberd-wielding man, Ji Ren, couldn't take it anymore and took the first strike, his massive weapon slicing through the air with a powerful arc. Jian Nu nimbly dodged, her movements fluid and precise.

"Clang"

As Jian Nu circled Ji Ren and tried to exploit the moment of venerability in Ji Ren's defenses, the large man exploded with a speed that defied the size of his large weapon, and a clear sound of metal clashing reverberated in the arena.

Jian Nu was momentarily stunned but got herself together just in time to avoid the halberd that was striking straight toward her, at this moment she had already realized that the speed advantage she held was downgraded by a great amount.

Despite this, she composed herself and started to look for ways to win the battle.

She soon realized that although Ji Ren's strikes were impressive and his agility was fast, it always left him with a moment of vulnerability and consumed a larger amount of his stamina.

Before someone reaches the Qi Ascendant realm they are still confined by the mortal limits. Sure, they might be a lot stronger than a normal mortal but at the end of the day, they had mortal bodies that could not handle excess amount of energy consumption in a short period of time.

Jian Nu realized that she could use this to her advantage because agility was her fort, she had a great amount of stamina, and since Ji Ren was also striking continuously, she could just go on defense and let him tire himself out before making a finisher move.

Ji Ren, sensing her strategy, grew even more aggressive, his strikes becoming more forceful but also more reckless. Jian Nu danced around him, her movements a blur as she dodged each powerful swing. The crowd watched in awe, their eyes glued to the intense battle unfolding before them.

"Stay focused, Jian Nu!" she whispered to herself, her breath steady despite the rapid movements. She could see the sweat starting to bead on Ji Ren's forehead, his breathing becoming labored.

Ji Ren let out a roar of frustration and swung his halberd in a wide arc, hoping to catch her off guard. Jian Nu saw the move coming and leaped back, her feet barely touching the ground as she evaded the attack. She used the momentum to spring forward, her sword flashing as she aimed for Ji Ren's exposed side.

Ji Ren managed to block the strike with the haft of his halberd, but the force of the blow pushed him back a few steps. His eyes widened in surprise at her strength. Jian Nu didn't give him a chance to recover; she pressed her advantage, her sword striking with lightning speed.

Ji Ren struggled to keep up, his movements growing more sluggish with each passing second. Jian Nu's attacks were relentless, each strike calculated to wear him down further. She could feel the tide of the battle turning in her favor.

"Enough!" Ji Ren bellowed, summoning all his remaining strength for one final, desperate attack. He lunged at Jian Nu with a powerful thrust, his halberd aimed straight at her heart.

Jian Nu's eyes narrowed, her mind clear and focused. She sidestepped the thrust at the last possible moment, her body twisting gracefully as she brought her sword down in a sweeping arc. The blade struck Ji Ren's wrist with a precise, controlled force, causing him to drop his halberd with a pained grunt.

Before Ji Ren could react, Jian Nu followed up with a quick, decisive strike, her sword stopping just short of his neck. The crowd held its breath, the tension in the arena reaching its peak.

Ji Ren stood frozen, his chest heaving as he stared at the blade inches from his throat. He knew he had been defeated.

"The winner of the first match: Jian Nu!" the lanky man declared, his voice ringing through the arena.

The crowd erupted in applause, their cheers echoing off the walls. Jian Nu stepped back, lowering her sword and offering Ji Ren a respectful nod. Ji Ren, despite his loss, managed a weary smile and nodded back.

Jian Nu sheathed her sword and walked off the stage, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline of the battle. As she returned to the waiting area, she was greeted with congratulatory smiles and nods from her fellow participants.

Kai Ren, watching the match intently, felt a surge of inspiration. He knew his own battle would be just as challenging, but Jian Nu's victory had shown him the importance of strategy and perseverance.