With an agreement made, Lin Mu felt like it was now time to leave. The earlier he reached the Dao Wind Empire, the better it would be.
After all, he didn't know what else he would have to do there in order to meet the person that had the Tyrant Bull Marrow.
"I'll contact you again if I'm back here early, Alchemist Ruoxian." Lin Mu said.
"And I'll do the same if I'm in the Dao Wind Empire. Though I doubt I'll be there anytime soon." Alchemist Ruoxian before letting out a sigh. "It's a shame, I was looking forward to the tournament too this time." He added.
"Oh? You've been to the tournament before?" Lin Mu questioned.
He could tell that the man was not going there in order to make the pills and focus on it. But knowing more information about the tournament from the person who had been there before was still good.
"Yes. I've seen the last two tournaments of the Four Guardian Beasts." Alchemist Ruoxian answered. "One was held right here in the Holy Topaz Dynasty and the other was held in the Huiqing Empire." He revealed.
"I see… how do these tournaments go usually?" Lin Mu asked.
"Well… Just like how all other tournaments go. Except… on a massive scale." Alchemist Ruoxian spoke. "You'll have matches running on thousands of rings at once. These rings will usually be occupied non-stop as a new match would start as soon as the previous ended.
The earlier rounds take the shortest amount of time usually, but also take the longest time in the entire tournament simply due to how many participants there are. Usually 50% of the tournaments time is taken up by the preliminary rounds that cuts down on the participants.
Since there are no requirements for joining, pretty much any random immortal will try to join it. Heck, half the audience that watches it is also a participant. Even I was one in both the tournaments.
It is only after these preliminary rounds that the real part of the tournament starts.
The matches get tougher and longer, with the participants getting more refined." He explained in detail.
Hearing all this, Lin Mu confirmed that it all matched what the booklet had mentioned.
'Though the number of contestants was far less than what Alchemist Ruoxian is talking about. Guess the ones in the booklet are only the significant ones.' Lin Mu thought to himself before speaking again.
"How long does the Tournament usually last?" Lin Mu asked next.
"That is hard to tell. Since the later matches usually have no time limits, they can last for days. In the ones that I went to, the first one took about four months to be completed while the second one took nearly seven months." Alchemist Ruoxian answered.
"Four and Seven Months? And this is with the matches running non-stop?" Lin Mu was surprised.
"Yes. If they didn't run the matches non stop, the tournament would last several times more." Alchemist Ruoxian replied.
"Hmm… I'm guessing once you get your match number you only have to appear on that day?" Lin Mu questioned.
"Yes. That way most of the participants can watch the other matches. Which is actually one of the major attractions of the tournament. There aren't many places one can get to observe so many matches at once.
And if you wish for it, you can even get recordings of the matches to watch later. Of course, you'll have to pay for it all." Alchemist Ruoxian answered.
"I understand now. Thanks for answering it all." Lin Mu said with gratitude.
"It's no problem. This is something you would have found out eventually anyway." Alchemist Ruoxian didn't mind answering this much. "You should head out then. If I recall correctly the Teleportation array will be opening tomorrow." He suggested.
"It is?" Lin Mu recalled that the working of the Teleportation array had been increased due to the tournament, so as to allow people to go there.
This was the time when the Teleportation array owners made a lot too, thus it was a time of profit for them. There was no way they would be missing out on the opportunity. It just showed how many people and powers benefited whenever the Tournament of the Four Guardian gods was held.
"Very well then, I guess I should prepare for my departure." Lin Mu said before standing up.
"I'll look forward to our meeting again in the future. Goodbye Daoist Mu Lin." Alchemist Ruoxian said with cupped hands.
"Goodbye, Alchemist Ruoxian." Lin Mu said before leaving the Grand Sky Pavilion.
From here, he directly went to book a slot for the Teleportation Array. After all, there was no telling how many people would be booking and whether Lin Mu would get it. Thankfully though, when Lin Mu arrived there, there were still several slots left.
~phew~
"That's one thing done." Lin Mu let out a breath of relief.
He now had roughly twenty hours until the Teleportation Array would be activated.
"What should be done till then… Hmm, let's shop more I guess?" Lin Mu said.
"Yay! More food and ingredients!" Little Shrubby was certainly excited at the prospect.
"Haha, sure. Let's go buy some more." Lin Mu then roamed the markets of the Middle Fort City, buying all kinds of ingredients and food items he could get. Once again, rumors spread about a man with a kitten that was buying out cooking ingredients that would be enough to support a few restaurants for over a year.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
If it was him buying an equivalent value of pills or herbs, no one would bat an eye but with food it was just a bit too strange. Still, no one denied him of course, and were rather pleased to serve him.
Lin Mu especially bought out all that he could since he wanted to deplete all the Immortal stones he had in his crystal card. It wouldn't be used in the Dao Wind Empire, and he didn't know if he would return here for sure.
Thus in order to not waste anything, he went and splurged.