"Let the competition begin!!"
A thunderous roar echoed across the valley as one of the presiding elders' voice rolled through the air, shaking the hearts of all present.
Immediately, an earth-shaking wave of cheers erupted from the stands, countless disciples, elders, and visitors alike swept up by the feverish atmosphere.
On the arena grounds below, nearly a hundred Outer Court disciples who had drawn their lots stood ready. Each one had a glint in their eye, excitement, nervousness, some even showing steeled resolve. Their auras pulsed like waves against one another, rippling through the air with barely suppressed might.
Among them, several powerful presences hid their strength, waiting patiently. Everyone knew: when the time came, these dark horses and hidden monsters would explode forth in overwhelming fashion.
The announcements began.
"Arena 1: Ma Kui versus Shi Hao!"
"Arena 2: Su Qingshi versus Hua Ruxue!"
"Arena 3: Xiao Wusheng versus Lin Ming!"
"Arena 4: Lu Changqing versus Bai Zhenwu!"
"Arena 5: Li Tianheng versus Wu Yu!"
And so the list continued, one battle after another called out.
The contestants approached their stages, each making their own entrances, some flashy, others low-key.
On Arena 1, a tall, burly youth with tattoos running across his arms and back burst forth with a wild, boisterous laugh. A massive saber strapped to his back, he hurled himself into the air like a meteor before slamming down violently onto the first stage. Dust shot upward like an explosion.
Facing him was a strikingly handsome youth draped in flowing golden robes, his delicate, effeminate features at odds with the iron steadiness in his eyes.
On Arena 2, a girl clad in flowing crimson robes appeared. Raven-black hair streamed behind her, and although her lower face was veiled, her sharp blue eyes gleamed like blades. Barefooted, she tread silently across the ground, a slim, deadly sword resting in her grip.
Opposite her stood another beauty in sturdy combat robes, her stance battle-ready.
But it was Arena 3 that drew the most eyes. Two dark horses. On one side sat Xiao Wusheng, dressed in simple black robes, his legs crossed casually as he meditated with closed eyes, ignoring the noise around him.
Approaching him step by steady step was Lin Ming, a youth clad in warrior gear, a long black spear resting casually on his shoulder. His every move radiated confidence, a genius known for a terrifying, innate grasp of martial arts.
The randomness of the lot-drawing ensured that the strongest Outer Court disciples wouldn't clash too early. For now, each stage was dominated by those expected to bulldoze through the early rounds. The battles commenced swiftly.
On Arena 1, Ma Kui hefted his massive saber onto his shoulder, giving a derisive snort as he faced Shi Hao.
"Are you going to surrender like the others?" he rumbled, sweeping a glance at the other arenas where some disciples had chosen to forfeit rather than face the top contenders.
Shi Hao folded his hands behind his back, letting out a calm breath. "I'm a gentleman. It's only proper that I accompany you to the end," he said with a serene smile, settling into a Tai Chi stance.
A few chuckles rippled through the stands.
"At least he's got guts!"
"Shi Hao's no pushover. He's at the peak of Body Tempering!"
Ma Kui barked a laugh and stabbed his saber into the ground with a BOOM, causing the entire stage to tremble. He then crossed his arms arrogantly.
"Alright. One move. I'll give you that much." The crowd buzzed with excitement.
"It's the arrogance for me! The Little Barbarian King gifting a free move?"
"Still... with the Barbarian God Body Technique at the third layer, even a peak Body Tempering cultivator can't scratch him!"
Shi Hao's expression didn't change. He inhaled deeply, his body weaving through flowing movements before striking forward with a golden-lit palm.
"Taiying Emperor Palm!"
The air shuddered as the dazzling palm strike surged out, a golden shockwave trailing behind it.
"That's the advanced form of Taiying Emperor Palm!" someone shouted in disbelief.
"Shi Hao really is a hidden dragon!"
The strike landed squarely on Ma Kui's broad chest. Dust and smoke burst out violently, momentarily obscuring the stage. When the dust settled, gasps of disbelief filled the air.
Ma Kui stood there, completely unmoved, arms still crossed, as if he hadn't even felt it. Shi Hao remained frozen in his attacking stance, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Worthy of being the sect's top physique cultivation technique..." an elder muttered in amazement.
"The Barbarian God Body Technique really is a monster."
Ma Kui grinned wider, easily hefting his saber out of the ground.
"My turn," he said.
"Heavenly Wolf Slash!!" Blue Yuan Power condensed violently around him, forming the shape of a massive wolf's head. With a swing, the ethereal wolf surged forward with a roar, engulfing Shi Hao in an instant.
The battle ended as fast as it had begun.
On the other arenas, most battles had concluded without much resistance, many contestants wisely choosing to admit defeat rather than suffer needless injuries.
All except for one. Arena 3. Xiao Wusheng vs Lin Ming. The crowd's anticipation buzzed higher than ever.
The two dark horses who had risen with unstoppable momentum were now facing each other, far earlier than anyone had predicted.
Xiao Wusheng finally opened his hazel eyes as Lin Ming stepped fully onto the stage. His gaze was lazy, almost bored, as he studied his opponent.
"You.." Xiao Wusheng said lazily, "let's finish this in three moves." Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Three moves?!"
"Arrogant! Lin Ming isn't someone you can underestimate!"
Even the sect master's brows lifted in interest. Beside him, Second Elder Tian snorted coldly.
"That brat... He mastered my Five Elemental Origin Technique completely, then became lazy," he muttered bitterly. A collective gasp swept through the elders.
"A half-step to Manifestation martial art?!"
"Impossible!"
"If that's true, his martial comprehension is terrifying!"
Manifestation techniques were godlike. Capable of altering terrain, changing rivers and mountains, they were the dream of countless cultivators. Martial Arts Techniques were graded from 1-5, each corresponding to a cultivation level, till the Form Creation Stage. After that, Manifestation Martial Arts came next. These were grouped into Half Step, Early, Advanced and Peak.
The peak of Martial Arts Techniques was capped by Soul Grade Martial Arts, which were classified into Low, Middle, High and Peak Grade, powerful enough to affect the world itself.
Xiao Wusheng, barely an Outer Court disciple, had already begun treading that path?! On the stage, Lin Ming's expression grew cold. He raised his spear and pointed it directly at Xiao Wusheng's forehead.
"I was hoping to crush that Chen Zhen," he said, voice sharp like a blade. "But it seems you'll be my warm-up."
With that, he struck. "Luo God Spear Arts!"
Spear shadows flooded the stage, swift as shooting stars, each aiming to pierce vital points on Xiao Wusheng's body.
But Xiao Wusheng's figure shifted effortlessly, slipping into a Taichi-like stance. His movements weren't fast, and yet, every deflection was perfectly timed. His bare hands flicked away the deadly spear shadows like one brushing away dust.
BANG!
With a final step, Xiao Wusheng closed the distance, a palm blasting toward Lin Ming's chest.
Lin Ming barely managed to intercept with his spear, but the impact knocked him flying, dragging grooves into the stone stage before halting precariously at the edge.
Silence. Everyone stared. Xiao Wusheng yawned exaggeratedly and said, "Hmm. I misjudged. Two moves, then."
The crowd exploded into uproar.
"Madman!!"
"Is he really so confident?!"
Lin Ming's face darkened with rage. His Yuan Power flared wildly, revealing his full cultivation, early Earthly Yuan Realm!
With a furious bellow, he unleashed his trump card. "Luo God Spear Arts: Dissonance!!"
The sky trembled. His spear spun like a wheel, generating sound waves that shattered the very ground as they tore toward Xiao Wusheng. Xiao Wusheng sighed and lazily extended his right hand, left arm still tucked behind his back like a grandmaster giving a lesson.
"Five Elemental Origin Technique: Song of Fire and Ice..."
Majestic Yuan Power burst forth.Behind him, a breathtaking vision formed, a wasteland frozen in eternal ice on one side, and a hellscape of raging infernos on the other.
BOOOOM!
The impact rocked the entire sect. Three presiding elders immediately struck out, forming barriers to protect the crowd.
When the dust settled, Lin Ming lay crumpled on the ground, coughing blood.
Xiao Wusheng stood tall and calm, lightly dusting off his sleeves, a faint sigh escaping his lips as if disappointed by the ease of victory.
Order slowly returned. The elder in charge unfurled another scroll, preparing to announce the next matches, when suddenly, every elder froze. A tearing sound split the sky.
They turned sharply upward, even the Sect Master stood up with a solemn expression.
A platform of shattered space descended rapidly, like a meteor falling from the heavens.
Upon it lay a figure, unconscious or barely conscious, hard to tell from afar.The entire sect fell into stunned silence.
MeiYing, who had watched the battles disinterestedly until now, finally smiled, a faint, radiant smile that lit up her cold features.
Beside her, Du Yun, who had been meditating with closed eyes the whole time, snapped them open and laughed in sheer relief. Chen Zhen had returned.
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A/N: I wanted 10 reviews, and after weeks of begging I finally got them. We gotta do at least 20 bro..
Show some love people. Creation is hard.