If this keeps up, the Star Lord might not be able to hold back from cursing, so Tanner Shaw quickly hurried onto the platform with Lexi Lynn and Evan Yang.
Tanner Shaw stepped onto the platform and said, "Star Lord, my father and the Lynn patriarch have some urgent matters and can't be here for now, so we're representing them."
"Brother Shaw, you—" Shaw said worriedly.
The Star Lord, finally unable to hold back under Ronald's comments, gave a cold snort. "What do they mean by this?"
Knowing this would happen, Shaw quickly apologized, "Star Lord, my father really does have something urgent. He's on his way right now."
"On the way? Did they go out of town or something?" the Star Lord said, displeased.
Ronald Santos sneered, "Going out of town at a time like this? Maybe they don't care about the tournament at all."
His words were clearly aimed at everyone, and even the Star Lord heard them loud and clear.
If this kept up, Tanner Shaw had no idea what else Ronald might say, so he quickly explained, "Here's what happened: my father was poisoned, so he's out seeking treatment. He's on his way back now. Please forgive us, Star Lord."
"Poisoned? When did that happen?" the Star Lord asked, sounding skeptical.
Tanner Shaw had to explain everything that happened a month ago. After listening, the Star Lord half-believed, half-doubted, and said, "When they return, have them come see me. I want to see just how badly Cyril Shaw is poisoned."
"Brother Evan, sorry to trouble you." Shaw apologized as they returned to the Shaw Family's seats.
"Don't worry, Brother Shaw. This might not be a bad thing. Maybe I'll find a breakthrough in the process." Evan Yang smiled.
Shaw was surprised by Evan's optimism—he was treating the tournament as a chance to seek a breakthrough.
The Lynn Family had already brought out an elder, thanks to Lexi Lynn's introduction. Shaw looked at the experts behind him and realized that none of them could win against the Out-of-Body opponents.
"I'll do it." Just as Tanner Xiao was at a loss, Evan Yang stepped forward.
As soon as Evan spoke, both Shaw and Lexi Lynn were stunned. The Star Lord up front had no idea who Evan was and just looked him over, thinking he was a Shaw Family disciple.
Shaw hadn't expected the Santos Family to send a bodyguard either.
"Kid, what's your status?" Ronald deliberately asked.
"I'm a guest of the Shaw Family, and I'm close friends with Cyril Shaw. He told me, if he couldn't make it back in time, I should represent the Shaw Family." Evan Yang smiled. This was his first time participating in such a grand event in public, especially as the Shaw Family's representative.
Evan Yang was confident in his own strength. If Cyril Shaw hadn't gotten into trouble, and Tanner Shaw couldn't find anyone else, Evan wouldn't have stepped up like this.
Ronald Santos laughed loudly, "So the Shaw Family has no one left?"
"Brother Shaw, since Cyril Shaw told me beforehand, let me join the tournament." Evan Yang smiled.
Shaw knew Evan was making this up—his father never said anything like that. But if no one competed, it would count as forfeiting, which would offend the Star Lord and have serious consequences.
Tanner knew Evan was making this up—his father never said anything like that. But if no one competed, it would count as forfeiting, which would offend the Star Lord and have serious consequences.
Someone from the Shaw Family had to step up. Evan Yang volunteering let Shaw breathe a sigh of relief, but he still worried—Evan was only at Spirit-Wandering Realm. How could he fight those Out-of-Body Realm opponents?
"Star Lord, let my friend represent our Shaw Family," Tanner finally said, knowing they couldn't stall any longer.
"Alright, everyone get ready. We'll draw lots to decide the matches." The Star Lord didn't think much of Evan Yang, so he agreed without hesitation.
Kade Santos's bodyguard chuckled, "Didn't expect him to compete. Perfect, I'll take care of him myself!"
"I was planning to make trouble for him after the tournament, but now he's delivered himself right to us. The heavens are helping the Santos Family!" Kade Santos said happily.
Ronald Santos was thrilled to see only a Spirit-Wandering Realm participant. With Cyril Xiao absent, this was exactly what he'd hoped for. Now, almost no one could challenge the Santos Family.
"Brother Evan, sorry to trouble you." Tanner Xiao apologized as they returned to the Shaw Family's seats.
"Brother Shaw, how strong is Daniel Wang from the Wang Family?" Evan Yang asked.
"He's early Out-of-Body Realm, only broke through about a hundred years ago, so he's not very steady yet. But he's still stronger than you at Spirit-Wandering, so be careful." Shaw was worried, even though Evan had drawn the weakest opponent.
Lexi Lynn stood nearby, deeply moved by Evan Yang's actions.
"If it doesn't work out, just admit defeat. The Star Lord won't make things difficult for you," Shaw said.
When he saw that the Santos Family had sent Kade Santos's bodyguard, Evan was surprised, but quickly understood. He knew that bodyguard wasn't ordinary—especially the aura he showed when Kade targeted Lexi Lynn, and the bodyguard stepped up to face Evan head-on.
"It's not that I don't trust you, but my father always said the gap between Out-of-Body and Spirit-Wandering is huge," Shaw said awkwardly.
None of the other families expected it, either. Everyone was eager to see the bodyguard's strength. Everyone knew the Shaw and Santos Families were the main contenders this time. With the Shaw patriarch absent, only the Santos Family remained—and they sent a bodyguard, which made the crowd curious.
"I'm serious. If it doesn't work out, just admit defeat. The Shaw Family won't blame you." Shaw sighed at Evan's stubbornness.
Evan Yang hadn't expected the bodyguard to send him a voice transmission right away—and to provoke him, no less. But Evan wasn't afraid at all; he just smiled, "How will we know until we fight?"
"A Spirit-Wandering expert—no matter how strong you are, how strong can you really be?" the bodyguard sneered.
Evan Yang smiled, "Just don't end up begging at my feet when the time comes, or I'll feel embarrassed for you."
The bodyguard hadn't expected Evan to say that, and was about to retort when the drawing began on stage.
"Dustin Du," Evan read his name, thinking to himself.
Thanks to Shaw's introduction, Evan learned that the first contestant was from the Li Family, and the second was Dustin Du.
Each group had two people, so all ten families had a representative in the draw.
Evan Yang was drawn as the first in Group Three. His opponent was from an unremarkable family—the Wang Family.
The Star Lord announced, "Today is the first day. There are eight more days, for a total of nine. Each person will compete in nine matches. If you don't want to participate in a round, you can forfeit. A win earns two points, a loss zero, a forfeit zero, and a draw one point."
Even Shaw and the others didn't understand why the Santos Family made such a move. Evan Yang focused on Dustin Du's every action.
"Half an hour to prepare," the Star Lord said once everyone understood.
Everyone returned to their seats to get ready.
"That's the famous Li Greatsaber. The saber technique is powerful, and the blade is heavy—ordinary people would have trouble wielding it," Shaw explained to Evan Yang.
"He's early Out-of-Body Realm, only broke through about a hundred years ago, so he's not very steady yet. But he's still stronger than you at Spirit-Wandering, so be careful." Tanner Xiao was worried, even though Evan had drawn the weakest opponent.
Evan Yang smiled, "Don't worry."
"If it doesn't work out, just admit defeat. The Star Lord won't make things difficult for you," Tanner said.
"You really don't trust me?" Evan teased.
"It's not that I don't trust you, but my father always said the gap between Out-of-Body and Spirit-Wandering is huge," Tanner said awkwardly.
Evan Yang had killed Out-of-Body assassins before, so he wasn't worried about someone who'd just reached that realm. He was confident: "Just watch."
"I'm serious. If it doesn't work out, just admit defeat. The Shaw Family won't blame you." Tanner Xiao sighed at Evan's stubbornness.
Evan Yang didn't say anything, just smiled—and listened in on the Wang Family's conversation.
The Wang Family contestant, Eric Wang, said excitedly, "Didn't expect to get a Spirit-Wandering opponent. What a bargain for us!"
"Exactly, I didn't expect it either," the elder beside Eric Wang laughed.
Hearing their conversation, Evan Yang thought, "No one knows who'll really get the bargain."
Half an hour passed quickly. The atmosphere was electric, and the crowd began shouting wildly. Finally, at the Star Lord's command, the first pair from Group One entered the arena.
Thanks to Tanner Xiao's introduction, Evan learned that the first contestant was from the Li Family, and the second was Dustin Du.
The Li Family contestant smiled at Dustin Du, "If you want to admit defeat, just say so. I value my life."
Dustin Du replied expressionlessly, "Arrogant."
His words made everyone eager to see what kind of strength the Santos Family's bodyguard had. Instead of sending their patriarch, they sent a bodyguard.
Even Tanner Xiao and the others didn't understand why the Santos Family made such a move. Evan Yang focused on Dustin Du's every action.
At the Star Lord's command, the two began their match.
The Li Family contestant drew a heavy saber and swung it a few times, then looked straight at Dustin Du.
"That's the famous Li Greatsaber. The saber technique is powerful, and the blade is heavy—ordinary people would have trouble wielding it," Tanner Xiao explained to Evan Yang.
Evan Yang had already spread hundreds of strands of divine sense, so he could clearly observe every move on stage. He could judge the saber's power—it was indeed much stronger than an ordinary person.
Everyone wondered what attack Dustin Du would use against the saber. Suddenly, with a bang, Dustin crossed his arms and blocked the blow.
"Whoa!" The crowd was shocked to see the Santos Family's contestant block the saber with his bare hands.
Even Tanner Xiao and the others hadn't expected this outcome, while the Santos Family members smiled strangely.
Evan Yang locked his divine sense onto Dustin Du's arms and noticed something was padded underneath.
"To block it like that, it's not just an ordinary artifact," Evan muttered to himself.