In the center of the training grounds stood a black arena thirty feet tall, resembling a crouching beast, its surface gleaming with a cold metallic sheen under the morning sun. The arena was carved from a single block of Black Iron Rock, densely engraved with defensive runes that now emitted a faint blue glowthis was to prevent stray battle energies from injuring the watching disciples. Surrounding the arena was already a sea of people. Nearly all three thousand Outer Sect disciples had gathered, along with Inner Sect seniors observing the ceremony, hall stewards, and even several elders who were usually elusive and rarely seen, packing the entire training grounds to capacity. The air was thick with complex emotionsexcitement, tension, jealousy, anticipationas waves of murmuring and discussion surged through the crowd.

  The final round of the three-year Outer Sect assessmentthe arena tournamentofficially began today. This was one of the most important events in the Azure Cloud Sect's Outer Sect, not only determining whether disciples could advance to the Inner Sect but also directly influencing the allocation of cultivation resources for the next three years. The top thirty-two disciples would draw lots to determine opponents; winners would advance to the top sixteen, losers directly eliminated. The rules were simple, cruel, with no room for maneuver. Each battle could change fate.

  Lin Chen stood at the edge of the crowd, his gaze calmly sweeping over the arena. He had changed into a clean gray Outer Sect disciple robe today; though plain, it could not conceal the increasingly sharp edge in his brow. Days of consecutive life-and-death struggles, the time flow difference in the chaos space, the nine-attribute balance brought by the Thunder Core refinement... had caused subtle changes in his temperament. No longer the low-key "waste" of before, but a sword slowly being unsheathed.

  Beside him, Shi Meng carried his chipped giant axe on his shoulder, grinning widely. "So many people! Even livelier than market day in our village. Brother Lin, how many rounds do you think I can win today?"

  "Do your best," Lin Chen replied, but his gaze fell on the high platform due north of the arena.

  There, three sandalwood chairs were arranged. Sitting in the center was the Outer Sect Grand Eldera white-haired, benevolent-looking elder, but the occasional glint of sharp light in his half-closed eyes made no one dare underestimate him. To the left was Law Enforcement Hall Steward Zhao, currently holding a cup of tea, sipping slowly as if the excitement before him had nothing to do with him. To the right was a middle-aged woman in a cyan daoist robe, her aura cool and aloofthis was Outer Sect Transmission Hall Steward Liu, the one who had secretly warned Lin Chen to be careful of Steward Zhao earlier.

  When Lin Chen's gaze swept over Steward Zhao, the latter seemed to sense it, lifting his head to give Lin Chen a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

  That smile was cold, cruel, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

  Lin Chen expressionlessly shifted his gaze away. But in his heart, a strong warning bell rang. Steward Zhao would definitely not let him pass the arena tournament easily. Poison Elder... was likely already hidden in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. Yesterday's threat still echoed in his ears: "Tomorrow, it's your turn." And the appearance of Star Pattern resonance made the situation even more complex and unpredictable. The black-clad girl Yue Liuli... friend or foe?

  "Lottery drawing begins!"

  On the arena, a black-robed referee loudly announced, interrupting Lin Chen's thoughts. The top thirty-two disciples stepped onto the stage one by one, drawing jade tokens from the lottery tube. Numbers were engraved on the tokens; those with the same numbers would be opponents. The drawing process was quick, but each token's fall tugged at the hearts of the thousands of disciples below.

  Lin Chen drew "seven." Shi Meng drew "twelve."

  "Arena seven!" The referee pointed to a small arena on the west side of the training grounds. Lin Chen walked over, steps steady, without the slightest hesitation. Around the arena, many disciples had already gathered; seeing him arrive, discussion immediately erupted.

  "That's Lin Chen... the guy who suddenly rose in the earlier rounds. They say he got a great opportunity in Spirit Qi Valley, his cultivation skyrocketed."

  "More than skyrocketed! From Condensation Stage Level 3 straight to Level 8 peak, all in just a few days? He must have used some evil method!"

  "Evil or not doesn't matter. What matters is his opponent today is 'Swift Sword' Chen Feng... Condensation Stage Level 7 sword cultivator, his Wind-chasing Sword Style fast as lightning. Lin Chen might be in trouble."

  "I wouldn't be so sure. Lin Chen's performances in earlier matches were quite stunning. Zhao Hu, Zhang Kuangwhich of them wasn't defeated by him despite being at higher levels? This Chen Feng might be strong, but can he withstand Lin Chen's stellar power?"

  "Stellar power? Hmph, just luck. Chen Feng's sword technique was personally instructed by Transmission Hall Steward Liu; it's exquisite. I think Lin Chen won't last ten moves."

  Lin Chen ignored the discussions, leaping onto the arena. The arena floor was cold and hard, giving a solid feeling underfoot. He took a deep breath, clearing his mind, focusing his attention completely on his opponent.

  On the opposite side of the arena, a thin, white-robed youth had long been waiting. The youth carried a blue longsword on his back, arms crossed, eyes sharp as an eagle's. This was Chen Fengthe Outer Sect's famous sword cultivator genius, who had shown astonishing sword talent when he entered three years ago, personally instructed by Steward Liu for half a year. His Wind-chasing Sword Style was known for speed; few peers could keep up with his rhythm.

  "Lin Chen?" Chen Feng spoke, his voice like blades scraping. "I've heard of you. Being able to get here shows you have some skill. But it ends here." His tone was flat but carried undeniable confidence. Clearly, he didn't think Lin Chen posed any threat to him.

  Lin Chen responded mildly, "Please advise."

  The referee walked to the center of the arena, announcing loudly: "Arena tournament rules: no restrictions on methods, no restrictions on techniques, only victory or defeat. One side concedes, falls off the arena, or loses fighting capability is considered defeated. Intentional killing is prohibited; violators will have cultivation abolished and be expelled from the sect!"

  "Nowbegin!"

  The moment the words fell, Chen Feng moved. Fast! Extremely fast! Disciples below couldn't even see the sword's trajectory; only a blue afterimage flashed, the sword tip already reaching three chi in front of Lin Chen! This sword strike had no embellishments, pure speed suppression, aiming to end the battle instantly.

  But Lin Chen was faster. Star-shifting Steps·Water Variation! His body moved like a swimming fish, strangely shifting half a chi the moment before the sword light reached him. The blue longsword brushed past his clothes, missing, but the sharp sword qi carved a deep mark on the arena floor.

  "Hmm?" Chen Feng's eyes slightly narrowed. This sword strike, though not at full power, had used seventy percent of his speed; ordinary Condensation Stage Level 8 cultivators would find it hard to dodge. Lin Chen had avoided it so easily? "Interesting." His wrist flicked, the sword sweeping horizontally. "Wind-chasing Three Styles·Whirlwind Roll!"

  Sword light exploded, transforming into dozens of blue wind blades, attacking from all directions! Each wind blade contained the full power of a Condensation Stage Level 7 strike, sealing all angles of evasion! This was an area attack, forcing the opponent to withstand it directly.

  Gasps rose from below. "Using a killer move right from the start? Chen Feng wants a quick finish!" "Lin Chen is done for, this move can't be dodged! He can only withstand it, but if he withstands... Chen Feng's wind blades carry wind-attribute cutting effects!"

  But Lin Chen didn't dodge at all. He stood in place, silver light swirling in his eyesStellar Eye, fully activated! In his vision, the trajectories, energy distribution, and vulnerability points of those dozens of wind blades... were revealed in minute detail. Chen Feng's sword technique was indeed fast, but under Stellar Eye, it was like slow-motion replay. More crucially, Lin Chen could clearly see the attribute distribution within each wind blademainly wind attribute, but the core driver was metal attribute spiritual energy. Metal generates water, but water can also overcome metal, provided... the weak point is found.

  "The flaw is three cun behind the third wind blade on the left rib, where the metal attribute spiritual energy circulation has a trace of stagnation." Lin Chen silently recited in his mind, starlight gathering on his right fist. In his dantian, the Chaos Star Vortex spun wildly, nine-attribute source spirit qi flowing rapidly, with water attribute spiritual energy deliberately mobilized, coursing through meridians into his right fist.

  "Starfall Fist·Meteor Descent!"

  Fist struck like a meteor, carrying light blue water attribute radiance, precisely smashing into Chen Feng's left rib opening! The timing of the fist impact was exactly the moment Chen Feng's old force was exhausted and new force hadn't yet been generated.

  Thud!!! In the dull impact sound, Chen Feng's expression changed drastically, his body staggering back three steps, his longsword nearly leaving his hand. At his left rib, his protective spiritual energy was shattered by a single punch, ribs transmitting intense pain. What startled him more was that a soft water attribute spiritual energy followed the fist force into his meridians, conflicting with the metal attribute spiritual energy in his body, causing his spiritual energy circulation to become disordered!

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  "How is this possible?!" Chen Feng's eyes flashed with shock. His Wind-chasing Sword Style was known for speed; few peers could see through its trajectory. But Lin Chen not only saw through it, but also found a flaw to counterattack in just one move! What puzzled him even more was that the water attribute spiritual energy in Lin Chen's punch was so pure it could suppress his metal attribute spiritual energy? This guy... what kind of monster was he?

  Silence fell below for an instant, then erupted into even greater clamor. "Am I seeing things? Lin Chen forced Chen Feng back with one punch?" "Chen Feng's sword technique... was broken? How is that possible?" "That punch's timing was too precise! And it seemed to use attribute restraint?"

  On the high platform, Steward Liu's eyes flashed with surprise, then turned to appreciation. She could naturally see the sophistication of Lin Chen's punchnot just timing, but deep understanding of attribute restraint. Steward Zhao remained expressionless, but his fingers holding the tea cup turned slightly white. He hadn't expected Lin Chen to progress so fast, even Chen Feng couldn't suppress him.

  In the arena, Chen Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. He realized he had underestimated Lin Chen. This guy's strength was definitely more than just Level 8 peak as it appeared. "Good, very good." He slowly raised his longsword, the sword body blazing with blue light. "Being able to force me to use this move, you can be proud."

  "Wind-chasing Sword Style·Ultimate FormWind God's Wrath!"

  Boom!!! Chen Feng's aura around him wildly surged, blue spiritual energy rising like a whirlwind! The longsword in his hand seemed to come alive, emitting sharp sword cries! The next moment, Chen Feng's figure disappeared. No, not disappeared, but moved too fast, too fast for the naked eye to capture! On the arena, three of Chen Feng's afterimages simultaneously appeared, attacking Lin Chen from three different directions! Each afterimage had a real aura, sword light sharp, impossible to distinguish real from fake!

  "Phantom afterimages! Chen Feng actually mastered this move?!" "It's over, how can Lin Chen block this? Three directions are all real! He can only bet on defending one direction, but if he bets wrong..."

  Disciples below held their breath. Even the elders on the high platform leaned slightly forward, clearly paying attention to this move.

  But Lin Chen remained calm. In Stellar Eye, the energy fluctuations, spiritual energy flow, even soul auras of the three afterimages... were all clear at a glance. "The left afterimage has the weakest spiritual energy fluctuation, it's a feint. The right afterimage has the strongest sword aura, but its trajectory is stiff, it's bait. The real killing move... is in front!" Judgment came in an instant. More importantly, Lin Chen noticed that though Chen Feng's move was spectacular, the consumption was enormous. Maintaining three afterimages simultaneously placed a huge burden on both spiritual energy and soul. As long as he survived the first wave of attack, Chen Feng would inevitably become powerless afterward.

  Lin Chen moved. He didn't evade; instead, he charged towards the frontal afterimage! "Seeking death!" Chen Feng inwardly sneered, the frontal afterimage suddenly solidifying, the longsword striking like a poisonous dragon, aiming for Lin Chen's heart! At the sword tip, a point of blue sharpness condensed to the extremethis was the compressed form of wind attribute sword qi; once hit, it could pierce through all defenses of peers!

  But at the moment the sword tip was about to strikeLin Chen's body suddenly split into three! Star Illusion Body! Three Lin Chen figures respectively met the three Chen Feng afterimages! The left Lin Chen palm shattered the feint, the right Lin Chen fist smashed the bait, and the frontal Lin Chen... right hand index and middle fingers together, accurately clamped the striking sword edge!

  Clang!!! The piercing metallic clash echoed across the grounds. Chen Feng widened his eyes, incredulously watching his sword clamped by two fingers, unable to advance even a bit no matter how he urged his spiritual energy! Those two fingers seemed not made of flesh but forged from eternal black iron, unmoving.

  "You..." He just started to speak. Lin Chen's left hand was already clenched into a fist, starlight dazzling like a comet. "Starfall Fist·Comet Assault!" Fist out, wind stopped. This punch had no embellishments, pure power crushing. Where the fist passed, air compressed into visible ripples.

  Chen Feng felt an indescribable immense force smash into his chest, protective spiritual energy shattering like paper, his whole person flying back like a broken kite, crashing fiercely against the protective light screen at the arena edge! Pfft!! Blood spurted wildly. He struggled to stand, but at least three ribs in his chest were broken, internal organs feeling displaced, even breathing brought intense pain.

  And Lin Chen had already retracted his fist, standing in place, aura calm as before. As if the battle just now was just casually swatting away a fly. He hadn't even shed a drop of sweat.

  Silence. Deathly silence. Not a sound from the thousands of disciples below. Until the referee loudly announced: "Arena seven, Lin Chen wins!"

  Whoosh!!! Uproar exploded like a tsunami. "One move... using just one move?!" "Chen Feng even used his ultimate sword style, yet was still crushed?" "What kind of monster is this Lin Chen?!"

  On the high platform, Steward Liu's appreciation deepened. Steward Zhao put down his tea cup, walked to the railing, his gaze coldly fixed on Lin Chen. Behind him, a black-robed figure quietly appeared, whispering: "Steward, Poison Elder is ready." Steward Zhao nodded slightly: "Tell him, tomorrow... must make Lin Chen 'accidentally' die on the arena. The Star Pattern... must be completely stripped." "Yes."

  In the arena, Lin Chen turned, preparing to leave. But at that momentBoom!!! From another arena on the east side of the training grounds, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted! That aura was cold, evil, like a ghost crawling out from the depths of the Nine Netherworld, instantly covering half the training grounds! All disciples turned in horror.

  On that arena, a black-clad, withered-looking old man slowly retracted his right palm. Before him, a disciple at Condensation Stage Level 8 peak lay collapsed, bleeding from all seven orifices, life or death unknown. The referee didn't even have time to announce victory, because... the battle was already over. One move. Also one move. But that Condensation Stage Level 8 peak disciple didn't even have a chance to resist, was directly crippled!

  "Poison Elder!!!" A disciple screamed in terror.

  Poison Elder. One of the three Dharma Protectors of the Netherworld Palace's Azure Cloud Branch, Spiritual Light Realm·Starlight Stage Level 3, skilled in Netherworld Demonic Arts and Myriad Poison Secret Methods, cruel methods, bloodthirsty nature. He actually also participated in the arena tournament?! And with one move, crippled a Level 8 peak disciple!

  The atmosphere in the training grounds instantly dropped to freezing point. Even the Outer Sect Grand Elder on the high platform frowned. Steward Zhao, however, showed a trace of a smile. Poison Elder... finally made his move.

  On the arena, Poison Elder slowly looked up, his turbid eyes sweeping across the grounds, finally falling on Lin Chen. Their gazes met. Lin Chen felt a cold, bone-piercing killing intent, like a substantial stab! If not for the timely tremor of his brow Star Pattern resisting this killing intent, he would likely have suffered soul damage now!

  "Star Pattern kid..." Poison Elder grinned, revealing full yellow teeth, his voice like sandpaper rubbing. "Tomorrow, it's your turn." After speaking, he turned, leisurely walked off the arena. Wherever he passed, disciples retreated like tides, none daring to approach within thirty feet.

  Lin Chen stood in place, gaze icy. Poison Elder's threat, naked, utterly undisguised. But in his heart, there was no fear, only... boiling battle intent. Spiritual Light Realm so what? Netherworld Palace Dharma Protector so what? On the arena tomorrow, it's either you die or I perish!

  He took a deep breath, suppressing the killing intent within, preparing to leave. But at that moment, he suddenly sensed something, turning to look at another arena on the south side of the training grounds. On that arena stood a black-clad young girl. The girl looked about sixteen or seventeen, slender figure, stunning beauty, yet exuding an aloof, keep-out coldness. She held no weapon, just stood casually there, yet seemed to merge with the surrounding environment.

  And her opponent was a burly man at Condensation Stage Level 8 mid-stage, now full of gravity, facing a great enemy. "Begin!" The referee loudly announced. The burly man roared, whole body muscles bulging, charging like a wild bull! Both fists struck out, fist wind tearing air, power enough to split mountains and crack rocks!

  But the black-clad young girl just gently raised her hand. Fingertip, a point of silver light blossomed. That light pure, vast, as if containing the mysteries of the entire starry sky. The next momentThud! The burly man seemed hit by an invisible giant hammer, flew back, crashed through the protective light screen, falling outside the arena. Unconscious.

  Silence again filled the grounds.

  One move. Yet another one move. But this time, even Poison Elder narrowed his eyes. Because he could sense that the black-clad young girl's strike contained... pure stellar power! And, its purity even surpassed Lin Chen's!

  On the arena, the black-clad young girl withdrew her hand, turned, gaze sweeping across the grounds. Finally, resting on Lin Chen. Their gazes metBuzz! Lin Chen's brow Star Pattern violently trembled! Almost simultaneously, the black-clad young girl's brow also lit with a faint glow! Though it flashed only briefly, Lin Chen clearly sensed... it was Star Pattern resonance! And, stronger than any previous time!

  "Star Pattern bearer..." Lin Chen inwardly shook. The black-clad young girl was also a Star Pattern bearer! Moreover, her Star Pattern grade... seemed higher! What made Lin Chen more alert was that the girl's look at him wasn't hostile, but also not friendly. It was a kind of... examining, curious, even slightly pitying look.

  And now, looking at him, the girl slightly raised the corners of her mouth, revealing a meaningful smile. Then, she turned, lightly departed. Leaving behind words, like whispers in the wind, yet clearly transmitted to Lin Chen's ears: "The Star Pattern path is paved with bones. Tomorrow... be careful of Poison Elder's 'Netherworld Soul-devouring Poison'."

  Lin Chen's pupils sharply contracted. Netherworld Soul-devouring Poison! That was one of the Netherworld Palace's most insidious secret poisons, specifically targeting cultivators' souls; poisoned souls would gradually be eroded, eventually becoming idiots, or even... puppets of the Netherworld Palace! Poison Elder actually prepared this poison?!

  The black-clad young girl's figure disappeared into the crowd. But her warning, like an alarm bell, rang in Lin Chen's heart. Tomorrow's battle wasn't just a life-and-death showdown, but also... the first direct confrontation with the Netherworld Palace!

  The first day of the arena tournament, two Star Pattern bearers appeared. Poison Elder's threat, the black-clad young girl's appearance, Star Pattern resonance's sensing, Netherworld Soul-devouring Poison's warning... everything foretold... a greater storm was about to arrive.

  Tomorrow's battle wouldn't just be a life-and-death duel with Poison Elder. It might also involve unpredictable intersections with this mysterious black-clad young girl. It might even... uncover the tip of the iceberg of father's disappearance truth!

  Lin Chen clenched his fists, silver light flickering in his eyes. No matter who comes... no matter if it's a mountain of blades or sea of fire, or the Netherworld Demonic Abyss... he mustcarve a bloody path! For father, for myself, also for... tearing apart this three-thousand-year bloody net!

  Night deepened. Lin Chen sat cross-legged on the stone bed in his courtyard, beginning to adjust his state. Tomorrow's battle, he must maintain peak condition. And the black-clad young girl's warning made him have to prepare early to counter Netherworld Soul-devouring Poison. That incomplete jade slip in the Star Pattern space, perhaps... could provide some clues. He closed his eyes, consciousness sinking into his brow.

  Tomorrow would be the battle deciding fate.