The air trembled as Shen Yuan's fist surged forward, wrapped in spiraling qi that thundered through the arena like an unchained beast. Even the grade 7 defensive array rippled from the strain, its layers flaring with golden light to contain the violent burst of energy. Beyond its shimmering veil, a deafening boom cracked across the sky, as if the heavens itself were shaken.
The blow landed squarely on Liu Chong's face.
A sickening snap echoed. Liu Chong was launched backwards, skidding across the stage like a broken doll. His Solid Blood Body shattered into fragments, crimson shards dissolving mid-air. Blood sprayed from his mouth, nose, and eyes as he tumbled to a halt, utterly unconscious.
Silence reigned for a minute.
Then came Steward Yan's firm voice, cutting through the stunned air, "winner of this match, Shen Yuan of the Twin Soul Sect! With two victories, Twin Soul Sect claims victory in the singles round and shall advance to the team battles."
The arena erupted.
Cheering, gasping, cursing—every emotion clashed within the roaring crowd. Some celebrated Tang Jiyan's and Shen Yuan's overwhelming display, while others recoiled at the ruthless outcome. Murmurs ran like wildfire.
"Is Shen Yuan even human?"
"That punch… is that even Quasi-Elysian?"
With the announcement, Shen Yuan vanished, when he reappeared he was already in his seating area.
Shen Yuan took his seat calmly, brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. Tang Jiyan gave him a smirk.
"You made quite the performance," Tang Jiyan said, voice tinged with admiration. "Was that intentional?"
Shen Yuan waved lazily. "I just wanted to have a little fun. But honestly, Liu Chong was… disappointing."
Guo Bohai leaned forward. "Then why spare him?"
Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed and nonchalantly said. "Spare? No. I destroyed his Elysian core. He's crippled. That man has no future on the path of cultivation, anymore."
The others fell silent. Even Dong Chen and Tang Jiyan had to avert their eyes. Meanwhile, Shi Meixiu and Xiang Xiaoli exchanged uncertain glances. Crippling someone… was that not a fate worse than death?
Leaning towards Shi Meixiu, Xiang Xiaoli whispered to her, "He always looks calm… but sometimes he's colder than ice itself."
Shi Meixiu wryly nodded slightly.
Inside the VIP chambers, sect elders exchanged grim expressions.
An old man with a very scary look spoke in the Dragonwood valley's robe, "He is only at the Quasi-Elysian stage, and yet… his fist carried that kind of power…"
Another old man spoke, this one was partially bald and a hunched back wearing the Thunder Mirror Sect's robe. "I think we should keep an eye on him, he isn't natural, but if we can somehow lure him with resources… then maybe we can control him, but if we can't then we will have to teach this junior a lesson by breaking him."
Then a third elder spoke, he had a long nose and was wearing an elegant palace robe, he was an elder from Fengyue!
He took a sip of his wine and scoffed, "Hah, so now you want the one, that out Fengyue wants dead? You old timers got guts, but I don't see a talent in him, I see a ghost that should have been buried by now. So wait and see, how young Prince Mo Huan would surely kill this brat today."
All the other elders humped and looked at the Fengyue elder with disdain, but didn't say anything, the country of Fengyue wasn't something they would want to be enemies with.
High above on the energy platform were the sect leaders, world lord and his envoy sitting on their chairs.
Beast Chief Wen Tu, frowning, was first to break the silence.
"I underestimated him," he said, rubbing his chin. "To wield this level of physical strength while still Quasi-Elysian... what sort of body tempering has he undergone?"
The Dragonwood Valley's Valley Master sighed. "Liu Chong needed a lesson. I admit this was beyond what I expected, but Shen Yuan went a little too far… however, I won't pursue this matter."
Jian Weihuang, the sect leader of the Sword God Sect chuckled wryly. "He made fools of us all with that display. Sect Leader Xue… it seems fortune has favored your Twin Soul Sect."
Xue Linghun leaned back in his seat, arms folded. "Even I didn't foresee this level of growth. But Shen Yuan... he's full of surprises."
"Indeed," Jian Weihuang replied. "I'm now even more eager to watch him face my disciples, especially Rong Xiulan. Two cultivators with the Extreme Cold State... it'll be spectacular."
Xue Linghun didn't say much and only gave a slight smile and nod.
Meanwhile, beside the World Lord, his envoy leaned forward toward the World Lord, Han Bolin.
"His physical power is on par with an early stage Elysian cultivator," the envoy said, eyes still locked on Shen Yuan. "But his cultivation remains at the Quasi-Elysian bottleneck."
Han Bolin gave a soft sigh. "An unbalanced foundation. If he doesn't ascend within fifty years, he may never progress beyond it. No pill, no treasure can fix what must be achieved through one's comprehension alone."
The envoy nodded slowly. "And yet, few ever breach the Elysian realm. Even fewer with this kind of potential, this is where the heavens truly test us."
Han Bolin watched Shen Yuan seated, his eyes closed. "He has the will. Now he must find the path."
Then after a long silence Han Bolin's voice rang throughout the coliseum.
"After a rest period of ten hours, the team battles shall begin. All representatives must be ready by then."
With the announcement, Han Bolin left along with his envoy, followed by the sect leaders.
The coliseum slowly emptied as the audience left one by one. Sect disciples filed out. The energy in the air began to settle… but not entirely.
Then Shen Yuan stood, his eyes narrowing, feeling as if someone was directly channeling their killing intent towards him.
As he spread his divine sense, he saw in the shadows of a quiet corridor near the edge of the coliseum, four figures stood. However, he knew them, after all how can he forget these four. Two wore the signature robes of the Sword God Sect—Yi An, proud and composed, and beside him, a veiled woman whose presence pulsed with cold, refined energy, Rong Xiulan!
The other two were no strangers, or more like very well acquainted.
Bai Chen, expression unreadable, arms crossed. And beside him stood Zhou Xiaosi, the young prince of Fengyue, a calm smile on his lips that never reached his eyes, his golden robes flowing elegantly even without air.
Shen Yuan then turned to his teammates.
"You guys rest first and cultivate. I have something to take care of."
Dong Chen looked up, worried. "Meeting them alone… they're all early Elysian cultivators. Shouldn't we all go there together?"
Shen Yuan paused as a rare chill flashed through his gaze.
"Can you fight them?"
Silence.
The group had no answer.
"I'll be back soon and well they won't do anything here," Shen Yuan said with a faint smirk.
He vanished from sight, reappearing a blink later at the secluded corner, face to face with the four figures, the air between them taut with unspoken tension.