He flew for a long time, and in the distance, he saw a city floating in the sky. He set his course for the city and flew straight towards it. Suddenly, two guards rushed towards him from somewhere. They wore gleaming armor, held long spears in their hands, and had large white wings on their backs. The two exuded an aura that would make any intruder wary. One of them roared fiercely,
"Those without an invitation are not permitted entry!"
He was momentarily stunned. He then searched his spatial ring for a long time before retrieving an item. The item was rectangular, about the size of his palm. It was silver-white, with a single character, 'Heaven', engraved upon it.
He handed the item to the two guards. One of them took it and examined it for a long time before looking at his companion and nodding. The other guard, whose tone had been fierce, now spoke gently,
"The invitation is valid. Please, sir, enter."
With that, one of the guards returned the invitation to him. The other guard produced a ring from somewhere, put it on his finger, and muttered an incantation. Three steps from where he stood, a Golden Gate materialized in the air. The gate was three meters tall and wide enough for only two people to enter at once. Each embedded gem on the gate glowed, and its shimmering golden color would undoubtedly stir greed in any mortal who beheld it.
"Please, sir, step inside. This will lead you to the registration point for the Grand World War."
He asked, puzzled,
"So, this city isn't where it's being held?"
One of the guards shook his head upon hearing the question and patiently explained,
"No, this is merely one of eighteen locations that verify invitations and open Golden Gates to transport participants and spectators to the venue of the Grand World War."
He nodded then and turned to step into the Golden Gate. As soon as he stepped in, sunlight shone directly into his eyes, making him instinctively raise a hand to shield his face. After a long moment, once his eyes had adjusted to the light, he carefully observed his surroundings. He found himself standing in a vast open area filled with stalls, selling all sorts of items: various weapons, elixirs, spirit beasts, and more. Overwhelmed by the bustling scene around him, he unconsciously took three steps back, bumping into someone. He turned to see a middle-aged elder, holding a large book, who spoke to him with a benevolent expression.
"Young hero, do you possess a silver invitation?"
He hesitated, thinking for a moment before finally speaking.
"Yes, that would be me. May I ask, senior, why you seek me?"
The elder looked a little surprised. Generally, those who held silver invitations knew at least a little about the tournament's information. This naive young man, however, seemed utterly clueless, which truly perplexed the elder. The elder cleared his throat, his tone gentle,
"I am your designated supervisor, young hero. Let me provide you with some information about the tournament and how to register. Follow me, and we can talk as we go."
The elder patiently explained, and only then did he understand the rules: The first round was a Free-for-All. One only needed to defeat ten opponents, each worth ten points, to qualify for the second round. However, those with a silver invitation could directly advance to the second round if they wished. As for the second round, its information and rules would only be revealed after the first round concluded.
By the time the elder finished his explanation, they had arrived before a massive main gate. More than ten guards stood watch around it. He sensed that each gate guard was profoundly powerful, their battle prowess hidden but deep, truly formidable. Stepping through the main gate, a vast courtyard, nearly a hundred zhang wide, appeared before him. There were at least five hundred, if not a thousand, people standing in the courtyard. All of them were young men and women. What a crowd!
He stood before the main gate, drawing many gazes towards him, and murmurs began to rise. He couldn't bear it any longer, summoned his flying sword, and intended to fly into the sky. The old man, flustered, also took to the air in pursuit, grabbed the hem of his robe, and pulled him down, causing him to lose balance and fall to the ground. The old man landed, his voice still gentle.
"Flying is not permitted here. I hope young hero will be careful."
He shook his head and sighed.
"This junior truly cannot tolerate the overwhelming presence of so many women, which led to my thoughtless action. Please forgive me. I have yet to learn esteemed senior's name; may I be so bold as to ask for it?"
The old man, noting his polite manner of address and his apparent fear of women, smiled faintly.
"Just call me Chen Lao."
He clasped his hands and bowed, his face flushed.
"Then, Chen Lao, please lead me to the registration area. I truly cannot bear this surrounding scene any longer."
The old man nodded and walked towards the area opposite the main gate. He scurried after him, looking just like a child accompanying his grandfather. The young women in the courtyard watched him, each wanting to embrace him, some even uttering flirtatious remarks. As for the young men, they cast disdainful glances at him, some even openly criticizing him.
He, however, remained oblivious to his surroundings, following Chen Lao directly to the registration area for the tournament. The registrar was an old man of similar age to Chen Lao. He handed his silver invitation card to the registrar, who accepted it, his gaze seemingly growing more respectful as he looked at him. The old man mumbled.
"Zhang Wuji, silver invitation, from the Wudang Sect, disciple-grandson of Grandmaster Zhang…"