The instant the dragon’s roar echoed across the heavens, Hidden Dragon City erupted into motion.

Figures shot out from every direction. One after another, countless martial artists leapt into the air and surged forward like an endless tide, converging toward the same destination. From above, it looked like a vast swarm sweeping across the city, dense and overwhelming.

The sheer number was staggering.

There were at least ten million people present in the city at this moment. Most had come merely to witness the spectacle, while only a few million were actual participants of the Hidden Dragon Tournament. Even so, the number of contestants alone was enough to shock anyone.

At that moment, a powerful voice rang out from within the residence of Martial Ascension Gate.

"The Hidden Dragon Tournament has begun. All disciples are to proceed to the center of the city immediately."

It was the voice of Elder Feiyu, and it echoed clearly in the ears of every disciple present.

A sharp glint appeared in Li Yun’s eyes. Without hesitation, he rose to his feet, pushed open the door, and stepped out. Along with the other True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples, he joined the rushing flow of people heading toward the center of Hidden Dragon City.

In less than five minutes, they arrived.

The central plaza of Hidden Dragon City was enormous, occupying nearly a quarter of the entire city. Its vastness alone was enough to leave one in awe.

The plaza itself was shaped like a hexagon, with clearly defined sections. The eastern side belonged to Ice God Valley, the southern side to Burning Heaven Sect, the western side to Boundless Martial Palace, and the northern side to the Martial Ascension Gate. The remaining areas were filled by other sects and factions from across the Southern Martial Domain.

At the very heart of the plaza stood a colossal stone sculpture in the shape of a dragon.

The sculpture was so lifelike that it did not resemble something crafted by human hands. Instead, it appeared as though a true heavenly dragon had been frozen in time and turned into stone. From within it, faint yet oppressive strands of dragon qi continuously seeped out, pressing down on the surroundings with an ancient and domineering presence.

Standing directly before this massive sculpture were five figures.

Each one radiated an overwhelming aura that caused the air itself to grow heavy. These were all experts who had reached the Mortal Core Realm.

They were Elder Binglie of Ice God Valley, Elder Fenyan of Burning Heaven Sect, Elder Youhun of Boundless Martial Palace, Elder Feiyu of the Martial Ascension Gate, and Long Yutian, the City Lord of Hidden Dragon City.

Each of them carried a presence that was impossible to ignore.

Elder Binglie was surrounded by an aura of extreme cold. Even a distant glance was enough to send a chill through one’s bones, as if their very body might freeze solid.

Elder Fenyan radiated intense heat. His presence felt like a raging inferno, as though anything that approached him would be reduced to ashes.

Elder Youhun stood like a dark abyss. His aura carried an eerie pull that seemed capable of swallowing one’s spirit and dragging it into endless darkness.

Elder Feiyu appeared calm and distant, his aura light and ethereal, as though he were an immortal who had descended from the nine heavens.

Finally, Long Yutian stood tall with a domineering presence. Every movement he made carried immense force, and his aura felt closer to that of a ferocious dragon than a human being. As the City Lord of Hidden Dragon City, a place of such importance, his strength was naturally on par with the true elders of the Four Great Sects.

These five Mortal Core Realm experts stood at the center of the plaza.

They were the judges of this Hidden Dragon Tournament.

The four True Elders were honored guests, while Long Yutian was the City Lord of Hidden Dragon City and the host of this grand event. Out of respect, it would not be appropriate for the elders to overshadow him, so the responsibility of delivering the opening address naturally fell to Long Yutian.

Long Yutian stepped forward with steady strides. His presence alone drew the attention of the entire plaza. When he spoke, his voice rang out like a great bell, deep and powerful, spreading across every corner of the massive gathering.

"The Hidden Dragon Tournament is the highest stage for the younger generation within the Southern Martial Domain. It is a gathering of true geniuses, and naturally, not everyone is qualified to take part in it."

His gaze swept across the countless participants below before he continued.

"According to the rules of the Hidden Dragon Tournament, anyone who wishes to earn the right to compete must first pass the Three Trials."

A faint pause followed as his expression remained calm and authoritative.

"This tournament has been held many times before, so I trust that most of you already understand the nature of these trials. There is no need for unnecessary explanation. We will proceed directly to the first trial."

His voice grew heavier.

"The Dragon Bell Trial."

The moment his words fell, Long Yutian let out a powerful shout. He raised both palms and struck upward with tremendous force. A thunderous explosion followed as a brilliant golden beam of light burst forth from his hands and shot straight into the sky.

All eyes turned upward.

A deafening dragon’s roar echoed across the heavens. The golden beam pierced through the clouds and surged into the vast expanse above before suddenly transforming. In the next instant, it took the shape of a majestic golden dragon, vast and radiant, exuding an overwhelming sense of authority.

The dragon soared across the sky, circling above Hidden Dragon City with graceful yet domineering movements. Its body shone with blinding golden light, illuminating the entire region. After completing its arc, it coiled its massive form and descended from the heavens.

A heavy impact followed.

As the golden light gradually faded, the crowd finally saw what had appeared at the center of the plaza.

A gigantic golden bell now stood firmly in place, and wrapped around it was the coiling figure of the golden dragon, as though it were guarding the bell itself.

This was the Hidden Dragon Bell, a renowned artifact of Hidden Dragon City.

The bell was no ordinary treasure. Within the bounds of Hidden Dragon City, its power could rival that of a peak Heaven-grade artifact. However, once removed from the city, its strength would drop to that of a mid-level Heaven-grade artifact.

The reason for this difference lay beneath the city itself.

Hidden Dragon City was built upon a powerful Dragon Vein that contained vast reserves of dragon qi. The Hidden Dragon Bell possessed the unique ability to draw upon and harness this energy. As long as it remained within the city, it could channel that immense dragon qi and greatly amplify its own power. Outside the city, it lost access to this source, and its strength diminished accordingly.

This Hidden Dragon Bell was not only Long Yutian’s personal treasure, but also the core instrument used to conduct the trials of the Hidden Dragon Tournament.