MeiYing merely shook her head, lips curled into a half-smile as her eyes swept the stage.
"You're asking the wrong question, Sect Master," she said softly, though her words carried weight like thunder. "At the Body Tempering Realm, he could effortlessly kill Grade 5 Spirit Beasts. The real question is whether he can hold himself back from accidentally killing one of your contestants."
Her words cut through the atmosphere like a blade. Brutal. Honest. Unapologetic.
The Sect Master sucked in a breath, exhaling slowly. "I see… Then I'll have the presiding elders stand by in case of any... unfortunate incidents."
He glanced to the trio of elders stationed near the arena platforms and gave them a nod. They bowed in acknowledgment, their expressions now laced with alertness.
Soon, Gojo's registration was complete. He drew the number 9 token, Platform Nine. Without a word, he walked over to his designated waiting area, settling beside Du Yun.
Eyes followed him like a tidal wave, whispers growing louder by the minute. Some curious, some reverent, others filled with barely concealed envy.
He ignored them. He had bigger concerns. Now that his identity was out, news of his bloodline and combat prowess would spread beyond Heavenly Luo Sect. Other sects, rival clans, hidden forces, they'd all come knocking, eager to test him. Or recruit him. Or kill him. Whatever came first.
He clenched his fist. He needed to grow stronger. Much stronger. Fortunately, with the sect's support, cultivation resources would no longer be a barrier. He had the Voidforge Titan Codex to refine his physique, and the Great Divination Scripture, a technique shrouded in mystery, that awaited his attention.
But there was a complication. When he slew the Flaming Striped Python, something awakened inside him. Not just strength, memories. A torrent of recollections from his past life as the silver-haired ancient master, and his life as Gojo Satoru. And with those memories, he regained access to a relic, an unfathomable power that placed him at the top.
The Limitless. That power which once made him supreme. But now, it felt... strange. Hollow, almost. There was a cap to its utility. A ceiling that he could see but not break through yet. He sighed inwardly.
As incredible as it's spatial manipulation was, it wasn't absolute. There existed beings and techniques in this world that could shatter the fabric of space, tear it apart like fragile parchment.
Compared to such entities, Infinity felt like a parlor trick. But he caught himself. No, he was focusing too much on the negatives. Red, Blue, and even Purple, the fundamental techniques of the Limitless, could bridge the gap in his arsenal. While the Void God's Fist Art and his divine ability, Titan's Step, were excellent for overwhelming force, they weren't sustainable. Titan's Step especially drained him more than he cared to admit.
He needed firepower. And the Limitless could provide it. If he could just power it with Yuan Power...
His train of thought was interrupted.
"Chen Zhen vs. Cang Yuyue!"
The announcement rang through the arena like a clap of thunder.
Gojo stood slowly, wincing as his wound throbbed under the bandage. Blood had begun to soak through, but he paid it no mind. He gave Du Yun a casual wave before walking toward the platform. No theatrics, no flair, just a simple, tired gait.
Across from him stood his opponent. Cang Yuyue.
Voluptuous, blue-haired, and striking in appearance. She looked every bit the icy beauty her reputation suggested.
She squinted her eyes and snorted disdainfully. "After being rejected by Senior Sister Zhao Mei, now you're crawling after Senior Sister MeiYing?" Her tone was sharp, her words colder than her Yuan Power. "Does your leeching know no bounds, Chen Zhen?"
Gojo pinched his nose in exasperation. "Can we do this quickly? I'm kinda in the middle of a crisis here." He pointed to the bleeding wound on his side.
Her eyes flared with rage. "I'll shut that arrogant mouth of yours!" With a roar, she pulled an icy blue sword from her Qiankun bag. Her Yuan Power surged, crystalline, chilling, blanketing the stage in frost.
A blizzard of killing intent swirled around her.
"I'll prove to Senior Sister MeiYing, and the whole sect, that you're nothing but a fraud!" she screamed.
"Icy Phoenix Pierce!"
Wings of frost erupted behind her, transforming the arena into a frozen fortress. She vanished into a streak of glacial light, so fast, the eye could barely register.
A collective gasp swept across the crowd. Even the Sect Master leaned forward in his seat.
She appeared in front of Gojo mid-strike, her blade angled at his throat with murderous precision.
CLANG.
Gasps turned into roars of disbelief. Gojo had caught her sword. Between two fingers.
"No way!"
"He caught it?"
"What kind of monster is he?!"
The audience exploded in a frenzy. Cang Yuyue's strike, her fastest and strongest, was halted like a child's toy. Her eyes widened in horror as she tried to wrest the blade free. It didn't budge.
Gojo looked at her, clearly disappointed. He was bleeding worse now. The movement had reopened the gash on his side. He sighed again, his patience thinning.
"I really would've liked to fight you seriously. But I'm bleeding out, and I can't afford to waste time here." He stepped forward.
Before she could retreat, his hand shot out and pressed gently, almost tenderly, against her abdomen.
BANG!
A shockwave burst from his palm, sending Cang Yuyue flying like a ragdoll. She skipped across the stage, blood spraying from her lips, until she crashed right in front of the Sect Master's podium, unconscious.
The arena fell into stunned silence.
Gojo scratched his head sheepishly, watching her sprawled figure.
"Did I hit her too hard?" he mumbled, then winced and clutched his side. The pain flared again.
The silence shattered into an uproar.
"One strike?!"
"He barely even tried!"
"He's terrifying!"
The Sect Master turned to the First Elder. "I thought his physique was space-oriented. Why is he so... brutal?"
The First Elder didn't answer. His gaze darted between Gojo and MeiYing. And then... realization dawned. She knew something. Something she didn't tell them.
The next round was announced.
"Xiao Wusheng vs. Qi Yue."
"Ma Kui vs. Gu Hongyi."
"Su Qingshi vs. Chen Yuan."
"Lu Changqing vs. Luo Song."
"Li Tianheng vs. Xiao Tianxuan."
Excitement rippled across the spectators. Top-tier outer court disciples were now entering the arena. All eyes shifted to Platform One.
A heavy thud echoed across the stage as Ma Kui descended, like a boulder from heaven. Muscles rippled across his massive frame. The "Little Barbarian King" towered like a moving mountain.
Across from him stood a gentle-looking girl in a pale floral kimono. Gu Hongyi. Her appearance was almost demure, but her smile carried quiet confidence.
She bowed politely. "Senior Brother Ma Kui, I know I stand little chance, but if you can withstand this one technique of mine, I will surrender without question."
Ma Kui blinked, then nodded with a grunt. He had heard of her, an expert in the Dao of Music, ranked 13th. She was no pushover.
Gu Hongyi took out a jade flute. "Then, here I come."
She brought it to her lips.
"Heavenly Resonance Sutra: Parade of a Thousand Spirits!"
The moment she played, reality itself seemed to warp.
A chilling wind swept through the stage. Shadows coalesced, shrouding everything in thick, misty darkness. Phantom whispers echoed eerily close. Ma Kui narrowed his eyes.
Then.....
SHA!
A flicker of movement. He slashed. Nothing.
SHA! SHA!
Another flash, another miss.
Ghostly figures darted around him. Voices taunted. His blade cut through illusions, but not the threat. Then...
SLASH!
A claw struck his shoulder, tearing flesh. Blood spilled.
The crowd tensed.
"He's trapped!"
"Gu Hongyi's illusions are flawless. She's targeting his mind!"
Du Yun leaned over, biting into a peach slice. "She's good. Had Ma Kui not been arrogant, this would've been over already."
Gojo smirked. "He'll win. He's arrogant, but for a reason. It's impossible to outlast a physique refiner in combat, and that's exactly what she's trying to do. She wants to wear him down and then finish him off, but it won't work.."
As if on cue..
BOOOOM!!
An explosion of force blasted the mist apart. The entire stage cracked as Ma Kui roared, swinging his massive blade with unstoppable might. A giant gash split the platform.
Gu Hongyi stood frozen. Had she been a breath slower, she'd be dead. She dropped to her knees, trembling.
"I... I surrender!"
Ma Kui, panting and bloodied, grinned and walked off the stage. Still standing. Still a beast.
Gojo laughed. "Told you."
On Stage Two, Su Qingshi finished her battle in one effortless stroke. It was barely a fight. She walked away barefoot, as serene as when she'd entered.
Then, on Platform Three, Xiao Wusheng stood.
He glanced toward Gojo, eyes unreadable. And then he smiled faintly, too faintly.
Gojo raised an eyebrow.
"Hey, what's with that look? I don't swing that way, buddy," he muttered, exchanging confused glances with Du Yun before wagging his finger dismissively.
A/N: Sorry for the late updates. Busy. But let me have those sweet reviews, powerstones and comments.