Two weeks had passed since the Tournament of Strength began. Despite the overwhelming number of participants, it proceeded smoothly, without incident.
Although the vast majority of participants were human—and more than half were eliminated—less than one percent of those disqualified were giants.
This showcased the Giant Race's prowess to the rest of the world, just as Kulas wanted. "The giant's performance… is much better than I anticipated," Kulas suddenly remarked.
"What? Aren't they your people? How can you not know their capabilities?" Ren Xia questioned.
"How many giants do you think exist within the continent now?" he replied. "It may have been possible back when I first started this, but nowadays, it's impossible to keep track of everyone. Hell, I am barely keeping track of my own children these days."
"Sounds like it's about time for you to stop making more, then," Ren Xia said.
"Hahaha! You think I am making more children because I enjoy it? This is all to expand the Giant Race's influence. Sooner or later, we'll start expanding our influence outside the continent, and having more children will make that much easier."
Kulas spoke of things that he wouldn't even tell his own children without any hesitation, almost as if he had no restrictions when it came to them.
Ren Xia frowned at his words and said, "So… you're going to use your children for your own political gain. As expected of someone from the Immortal Clans. Even if you claim to have left them behind, your nature remains the same."
Despite her harsh words, Kulas wasn't offended. He knew she had always despised her family because of their arranged marriage—how they had used her for their own benefit. Of course, Ren Xia had never told him the truth. He had merely sensed that her seemingly unreasonable hostility came from somewhere, and as he grew older and more experienced, he came to understand it better.
"Let's not make any assumptions," he said. "I am not saying that I intend to sell my children for connections. I am merely saying that without children, it won't be possible to expand my family outside the continent."
"...Sorry." Ren Xia offered a rare apology.
"Oh? Look who it is." Kulas suddenly said, his eyes fixed on one of the platforms.
Tian Yang and Ren Xia followed his gaze to see a familiar figure. It was none other than Xie Mey.
Sure enough, Kulas' children were also participating in the tournament. Of course, this wasn't an order from Kulas. They simply wanted to show off their skills and hopefully make their father proud.
Xie Mey's match ended almost in the blink of an eye. Using nothing but her innate prowess, she utterly defeated her opponent with a single punch.
Her opponent wasn't an ordinary cultivator, either. He was clearly an experienced body refiner with his muscular physique and bulging muscles. Yet, all it took was a single punch from Xie Mey to cripple his arm.
"Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't know you were so fragile." Xie Mey apologized to the body refiner after destroying his entire arm. Though her words were sincere, they only angered the body refiner even further.
However, the body refiner calmed down after Xie Mey gave him a pill that helped him restore his arm.
"Hahaha! That girl is always like this." Kulas laughed after witnessing the match.
"I rarely see her in her giant form," said Tian Yang. "Meanwhile, I've only ever seen your other children in their giant form."
"She's been like that for as long as I remember," said Kulas. "If you want to know her reason… You should ask her later. Even I don't know."
The tournament continued, and after another two weeks, the tournament reached its final stages.
Unsurprisingly, the last few participants remaining were all giants. As for Kulas' children, they all forfeited toward the end, as they intended only to display their strength and not claim the champion.
In the end, the final victory of the Tournament of Strength was a giant by the name of Grandis.
As the victor, Grandis was granted the title of Champion and the opportunity to fight Kulas.
"Not bad, young giant!"
Kulas leaped from the spectator's area to the platform.
"As the champion, I will grant you a chance to fight me. Do you accept, warrior?"
"This humble warrior accepts, Your Majesty!" Grandis was given a pill to recover his energy before they fought.
To nobody's surprise, the fight was one-sided, lasting barely five minutes.
After the fight—
"It was a good fight, Warrior Grandis," Kulas said afterward. "I have never accepted a disciple before, but you can be my first. What do you say?"
"I-It would be an honor!" Grandis accepted without hesitation, which was a no-brainer.
Thus, Kulas acquired his first true disciple despite his thousands of years of experience.
Although the tournament ended, many visitors lingered on the continent and continued touring the area.
A week later, Sun Rouxi and the Three Pillars of Heaven arrived at the palace to fulfill their appointment.
While the six people from the Three Pillars of Heaven went to speak privately with Kulas, Sun Rouxi and Elder Jing went to meet Tian Yang and Ren Xia.
"Do you remember me?" Elder Jing asked Tian Yang.
Much like Sun Rouxi, she'd barely changed since the last time he saw her. Her cultivation had also reached Silver Immortal.
"Of course, I do, Elder Jing. You were always beside Sister Sun."
"Hm? Sister Sun?" Elder Jing raised her eyebrows at the way he addressed Sun Rouxi.
"Well, I can't call her Elder Sun anymore, and she's like an elder sister to me," he explained.
"There's no need to call me Elder Jing, either, as I am no longer a sect elder. Jing Ruye is my name, but you can just call me Sister Jing."
"I understand, Senior Sister Jing."
As Tian Yang and Jing Ruye continued their conversation, reminiscing about their time in the Immortal Monastery for the next hour, the entire palace suddenly trembled, and an overwhelming pressure filled with killing intent swept through the halls, engulfing the place.
"Wh-What's going on?!" Jing Ruye exclaimed as she jumped from her seat, startled by the immense killing intent.
"This aura… it belongs to Kulas!" Tian Yang frowned.