Chapter 30 - The Underground Tournament
The Riverside Open took place beneath a sports arena that ordinary fans thought was closed for renovation.
Cultivators packed the underground stands.
Sponsors projected glowing advertisements above the ring.
SPIRITMART.
HEAVENLY HEALTH INSURANCE.
DRAGON ENERGY DRINK — NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MERIDIAN DAMAGE.
Eli loved modern cultivation.
His first opponent was a finance major named Derek Sloan at Qi Gathering IV.
Derek looked at Eli’s cheap hoodie.
“You’re Carter?”
“Unfortunately.”
“I heard you cultivate garbage.”
“That rumor is hurtful and accurate.”
The bell rang.
Derek used a powerful iron palm technique.
Eli used Street Step.
Every attack missed by inches.
The crowd began laughing.
Derek got angry.
Good.
Angry people committed weight too early.
Eli used Borrowed Force, caught Derek’s wrist, turned with the strike, and sent him over the ring boundary.
Match over.
[VICTORY]
[HIGHER-RANK OPPONENT]
[DEFIANCE +12]
Second match: another Qi Gathering IV.
Eli won with a folding chair he was legally allowed to use because the weapons category said “non-bladed.”
The referee reviewed the rules for ten minutes afterward.
Third match: Qi Gathering V.
Harder.
Eli took two hits.
One cracked a rib.
He still won by trapping the opponent’s ankle with his backpack strap.
By midnight, Eli had reached the Top 16.
His system chimed.
[QI GATHERING IV]
Then the bracket updated.
Next opponent:
TREVOR CROSS.
Trevor stared at the screen from across the arena.
May you like
His purple veins had returned.
