The holy light of heavens welcomed the descent of eight angels to their thrones...

  Though there were no wings, their billowing dark robes gave them the dramatic presence they demanded.

  The intense beam faded out, finally unveiling the faces of the eight elders upon their thrones.

  There was Elder Ma Pei – the old geezer Bubai couldn’t be any more familiar with.

  Right beside him was another old ginger Bubai recognized from the fragments of memories he extracted: Elder Mo Badao – the silly cat’s owner.

  The rest were faces Bubai barely recognized by stitching them to their painted portraits.

  Beside the Mo faction sat two mature lotuses – one face veiled by sandy yellow, the other snow white.

  Both were shrouded in an aura of cool authority that matched their conservative, dark as night uniforms.

  The black mink fur and lotus flowers sewn to the cuffs and hems of their uniforms made them look much different from the common set worn by other officers.

  But if anyone says they had nothing to do with the Law Enforcement Hall... they must be blind.

  Of course, this was hardly surprising, considering which clan they were from.

  That’s right, the Feng clan. They were the golden core matriarchs reigning over the Saintess Garden...

  Feng Luping and Feng Huajin!

  Next to the Feng faction were the male elders of the Taiyin faction, Tai Yinjun and Tai Yinsu.

  Tai Yinjun was an aged man with gray sideburns and eyes sharp as a crow’s.

  A cloak sewn from crow feathers draped over him, but probably thanks to their clan’s obsession with dolls, his frame looked more like a scarecrow on the throne.

  On the other side was Elder Tai Yinsu.

  He was younger in appearance, but just as as scrawny.

  This elder didn’t bother keeping up appearances, and the colorful sunstones rotating over his palms told everybody just how bored he is.

  At the very end, there were a pair of elders with bodies like chiseled granite.

  No doubt about it. These two were from the Jia Clan.

  The middle-aged baldy sitting in a way that radiated martial discipline was Jia Gufan.

  Nothing in particular stood out except all the muscle and might being bared by the loosely hanging vest sewn from black tiger skin.

  He really did looked the type that could snap others like toothpicks.

  Finally...

  Sitting at the head of the pack like a scarred, old mountain was an elder with gray hair braided like silvered storm clouds.

  Complementing this was a braided beard that flowed like an ancient river down a broad chest that seemed to be cast by molten gold.

  Though his muscles weren’t as exaggerated when compared to the bald elder at his side, it was clear the river of time barely left a chip on this body builder.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  This was the grand elder of the Sun Furnace Sect, Jia Wunan!

  He was also the great grandfather of the host sitting right by Bubai’s side.

  Thanks to mooching off this Jia guy, Bubai now got front row seats to these bastions of power.

  Of course, there were definitely more than these eight golden cores in the Sun Furnace Sect.

  Where were the rest?

  Well… who knows.

  Since the coliseum didn’t have a lid on it, divine sense had them covered.

  They could be watching from within a private box, mixed into the audience, or hidden at some corner.

  It really didn’t matter for those folks.

  Bubai only wonders… is the granny and the fairy here?

  Well, they were basically impossible to find out there, and whether they were here or not, time still goes forward…

  Grand Elder Jia Wunan floated up from his throne and hovered in the heavens above the sun disk.

  He spread his arms like wings to command the coliseum's attention, and his thunderous voice filtered right into the private box as if speaking right into Bubai’s ears.

  “Welcome... to the Radiant Sun Arena! And, congratulations to you lot who has the fortune of sitting here today after yet another year!”

  The audience’s cheers could almost be heard even in the soundproof private box.

  But the grand elder simply snuffed them all out with a press of his hands.

  “Hear me, disciples of the Sun Furnace Sect! We bask in the sun’s glory, but that doesn’t mean everybody is worthy!”

  “Here in the Sun Furnace Sect, we want no weak hypocrites staining our desert! We only open our arms to the strong!”

  “Hence, this yearly tradition will be the days for the courageous to rise to the challenge and show the fruits of your cultivation!”

  “Today will be the first round, where the snakes of the desert will brave the challenge to become a rising sun!”

  “I don’t need to mention the dangers of the trial for all those snakes wanting to become dragons. Just know…”

  “A sage once said: Trash should be recycled in the sun furnace! Thereupon, any dragon slayer will be blessed with all the glory hoarded by the dragon you slay! This is the glorious path of the sun!”

  The rays of the sun seemed to glorify the speaker at this very moment and the exploding momentum rattled even Bubai’s little brother!

  “Alright. I know you lot can’t wait to see blood, but there are a few simple rules that must be mentioned.”

  “I personally don’t enjoy being so long-winded. Therefore, we’ll have Elder Feng Luping do the honors.”

  Grand Elder Jia flashed back to his throne.

  No other elder left their seats, but a monotonous yet melodious voice rung out like a bell, crisp and close as if the words aged like fine wine were pouring directly into his soul.

  "The top ten of the Sun Snake List is granted a single right to challenge. All challenges shall proceed in the order of your rank."

  "Only one victory is required to secure your place. Should an outer disciple win, you will be exempted from other challenges until next year."

  “Similarly, the following groups are exempted from challenges. Adepts and masters skilled in production professions, those out on long-term tasks, those under the Law Enforcement Hall, palace servants and courtiers...”

  “Except for those listed, all other inner disciples are open for selection. A challenge must be issued by name.”

  "Once challenged, inner disciples must appear within a stick of incense’s time. Failure to appear when called upon is not an option!"

  "Such actions will be counted as forfeiture unless there is reasonable suspicion of obstruction!"

  "Know that any foul obstruction observed will result in immediate disqualification of related parties and is punishable by death!"

  "In addition to these, there are a few restrictions all fighters must abide by. Number one. Tools are limited to what can be carried on self. Number two. Flight tools are prohibited within the arena. Number three…"

  Bubai sat up straighter, listening intently.

  Restrictions sounds bad, but they are meant for balancing the playing field and to reduce nasty complications.

  For a sect forged by fists that championed might makes right, these fleshed out rules actually sounded... fair enough.

  Though he suspected it wouldn't make the matches any easier for the one being challenged… nor the ones hearing them for the hundredth time...

  The rule read-off made the lazily clapping Mo Tianhe perk up and drawl, "Ugh... more boring rules every year… You lucky youngsters really have it easy."

  "Hey, hey, you don’t say! Back then, the restrictions were way more lax! Took real guts to even walk onto that stage because those bloody devils like hammering hard every thorn they see."

  Old Tai Yinshe hammered his waist as if to hammer that fact in.

  Jia Shizi joined in with a hearty cackle. “Right! That was when real men were forged. Good times…”

  He turned to his two cousins. "Don’t say I didn’t remind you two. Times like these are limited. Be smart and make the most of this opportunity."

  One cousin nodded obediently, "Yes, elder cousin."

  But… only groans came from the stud who was now thinking completely with his lower body.

  Merlin’s beard! What’s going on over there?!