Socially anxious people transmigrate to another world; living in seclusion is too difficult.

All that can be seen is a huge stadium, which is circular in shape. The stands surround the central area. Looking inside the stadium, the outermost part is a circle, and the middle part is a square, like an ancient bronze coin embedded in the ground. The stands are divided into three levels: upper, middle and lower. At the same time, the middle stands, which are closest to the stadium, have a ring of areas that look like private boxes, which are separated from the other stands. They are probably for some distinguished guests.

By this time, the various areas of the stands were already filled with students and passersby who had come to watch. Each viewing area could seat at least a hundred people, and now, just the upper level alone, there must be at least nearly a hundred such viewing areas. Roughly estimated, the entire venue should be able to accommodate 30,000 people.

Looking up, one can see a huge square stone tablet standing in the center of the venue, soaring into the sky. It is covered with densely packed characters from bottom to top, but they are too far away to see clearly. The entire venue is still very magnificent.

Su Yang was worried that they wouldn't be allowed to watch since they didn't have tickets, but Tang Wan had already pulled Lin Anlan to find seats. They found three empty adjacent seats and the three of them sat down.

"Can we sit anywhere here?" Su Yang asked Tang Wan with some concern.

"It's alright. The academy's martial arts competition is a grand event. There are no viewing restrictions. Anyone who can get a seat can watch. Otherwise, why would so many people who aren't students come to watch?" Tang Wan's cheerful explanation completely dispelled Su Yang's concerns.

The martial arts celebration has not yet started, and the people around are exchanging information with each other, from which Su Yang has also learned a lot of information.

"Hey, which academy do you think will win this year's martial arts competition?"

"Is there even a question? It's definitely Qinwang Academy!"

"That's not necessarily true. Have you heard? The Heavenly Spirit Academy in the Eastern Territory is doing quite well this year. They have a student in the advanced group who is about to break through to the sixth rank!"

"So what? Being on the verge of a breakthrough means you haven't succeeded... You say you're on the verge of a breakthrough? Doesn't that mean..."

"Just like you think, if you haven't broken through to the sixth rank, then you're still at the fifth rank, which meets the requirements for the competition."

"Then it's hard to say this year."

"What's the panic? Last year's fifth-level students at Qinwang Academy are about to break through to the sixth level."

"That's true, but I have something else you probably don't know."

"What news?" "Tell me about it."

"You've all heard of Master Wu Huo from the Demon Land Academy, right? It's said that his closed-door disciple was selected for the third-tier group this time. This closed-door disciple is extraordinary. Rumor has it that he is invincible within the third tier and can still fight without defeat within the fourth tier."

"Keep bragging. It's acceptable to say that he's invincible within the third rank, but how is it possible to remain undefeated even if he crosses a rank? Unless he's not even in the third rank."

"Don't you believe it? Master Wu Huo's disciple is a demon, and he really is at the third rank. Moreover, his air and fire elemental abilities are both at the peak of the third rank. Do you think he can't defeat a fourth rank?"

"Hmm...that makes sense. What about Yunbei Academy and Qingfeng Academy? Any news?"

"I don't know about that. There are only five top academies in the empire. I don't have the energy to inquire about each one."

Through the gossip of those around him, Su Yang learned that Qingfeng Academy was one of the stronger academies in the empire. It seemed that in addition to the five academies they had just mentioned, other academies would also participate in this competition. It looked like the competition wouldn't end for at least seven or eight days.

The stadium was still bustling with noise when an elderly man, leaning on a cane, walked into the stadium and slowly approached the stone tablet. However, most of the crowd in the stands did not notice him, and those who did notice the elderly man consciously shut their mouths.

The old man came to the stone tablet and groped around it for a while. Then, four light and shadow appeared around the stone tablet in the sky, and the old man's figure could be seen in the light and shadow.

"This is a bit like the legendary holographic projection! How is this done?" Su Yang was astonished. In his mind, holographic projection seemed to be a technology that only existed in science fiction novels. He never expected that this world could easily achieve it through the power of elements.

The old man looked up, then gently tapped the ground with his cane, and rose into the air. The images playing in the surrounding light and shadow changed as he floated. Once in mid-air, the old man stroked his beard, then placed his cane in front of him, and his aged voice immediately echoed throughout the area: "Silence!"

As soon as the old man said this, the entire place fell silent. The old man was obviously very satisfied, and then he continued to speak, which was nothing more than some welcoming remarks. Only after the old man spoke did the people around Su Yang dare to whisper among themselves.

"Master Dongye's aura is still so strong. No matter the year, I feel suffocated by his pressure. This year is no different."

"Alright, stop talking and just listen."

Just then, the old man began to introduce himself, and Su Yang learned his name: "I am Hong Shu, and I am here on behalf of Qinwang Academy to welcome everyone."

As soon as Hong Shu finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted in the arena. Hong Shu was clearly satisfied. He floated down, where a woman was already waiting. After gesturing to Hong Shu, she also took to the air, clearly a high-level elementalist. Once in mid-air, the woman briefly introduced herself and began her explanation:

"Good morning, distinguished guests and students. I am Ye Heyi, who is in charge of the martial arts competition at Qinwang Academy and is also the chief referee for this competition. Welcome to Qinwang Academy. The martial arts celebration will begin shortly. Before we begin, let me explain the specific arrangements for this competition."

"This competition differs from previous ones in several ways. First, the content of the competition is different; the previous literary contest has been eliminated, and only the martial arts contest remains. Second, the number of participating academies is different; this time, only five major academies—Qinwang Academy, Tianling Academy, Modi Academy, Qingfeng Academy, and Yunbei Academy—have been invited to participate. Third, the content of the martial arts contest has changed. Please see below for details."

As Ye Heyi spoke, everyone in the stands turned to look at the arena. The vast arena was changing; the stone slabs that had been paving the ground were shifting, revealing dark holes beneath. Once all the slabs had shifted, accompanied by a rumbling sound, an arena began to slowly rise. Inside the new arena, various natural terrains were fully reproduced, including mountains, forests, lakes, streams, grasslands, and deserts. Su Yang then understood why the arena, which could originally accommodate nearly 100,000 people, was only capped at 30,000. The mystery lay here.

The crowd in the stands gasped in surprise upon seeing the venue, with the gasps from those around Su Yang being particularly loud. It seemed that the appearance of this venue had completely overturned their previous viewing experience.