The referee's hand dropped.
"Begin!"
The arena floor trembled as two figures surged forward—one cloaked in the calm, refined aura of the Inner Academy, the other carrying nothing but raw defiance and the stubborn will to rise.
A crisp ding rang in Kai's ears.
> [Scanning Opponent: Jiang Hao.]
[Cultivation Level: Qi Refinement, Peak Stage.]
[Stat Comparison Initiated…]
Strength: Opponent exceeds Host by 27%.
Agility: Opponent exceeds Host by 18%.
Constitution: Opponent exceeds Host by 31%.
Technique: Host lacks sufficient data to compare.]
[Warning: Opponent is far above recommended challenge rating.]
[Note: Host rewards scale with risk.]
Kai's lips curled upward despite the flashing warnings. Far above recommended, huh? That means the rewards will be worth bleeding for.
Jiang Hao's eyes sharpened as he closed the distance, each step precise, each motion flawless. He didn't rush blindly—he moved like a swordsman who had cut down hundreds of foes before.
He's measured, Kai thought. No wasted movement. Every strike will count.
The first blow came. A palm strike, deceptively simple.
Kai raised his forearm to block. Impact thundered through him like a hammer striking steel. His bones rattled, his legs skidding back across the dirt.
The crowd gasped.
"That was just a casual strike!"
"Outer disciples can't take that kind of power!"
Dust sprayed as Kai dug his heels in, blood rushing hot through his veins. His arms trembled but didn't break. He shook off the pain and charged forward again.
"Good," Jiang Hao said calmly, "your body didn't collapse instantly. But that only means you'll last longer before I end you."
His palm blurred again. One strike became three, three became six, until his arms moved like the wings of a storm.
Kai's world filled with shadows of hands descending from every angle.
---
Kai's Adaptation
Too fast. Too clean. Kai's instincts screamed as he ducked under one strike and twisted away from another. Even so, two palms landed square on his ribs, making his vision white with pain.
Cough—! He spat blood, but his eyes gleamed. If I fight him head-on, I lose. But he's still human—if he's faster, I'll force him into mistakes.
Kai suddenly shifted, feinting left then dropping low, sweeping at Jiang Hao's legs. The Inner genius sidestepped smoothly, his lips curling in faint disdain.
"Petty tricks."
His heel lashed out, smashing toward Kai's temple.
But Kai had anticipated it—he rolled backward, grit scraping against his skin, and launched himself into a counterpunch aimed at Jiang Hao's chest.
The punch landed. The arena echoed with a sharp crack.
But Jiang Hao had hardened his torso with Qi in advance. Kai's fist ached from the collision while Jiang Hao barely flinched.
"You've spirit," Jiang Hao admitted. "But spirit alone cannot bridge this gulf."
He struck again. This time a genuine technique burst forth—a glowing palm imprint carrying sharp Qi lines that tore grooves into the arena floor as it surged toward Kai.
---
The First Break
Kai braced—too late. The force slammed into him, hurling him across the ground like a ragdoll. His back hit the stone wall, ribs screaming, vision blurring.
> [Warning: HP has dropped below 25%.]
Blood dripped down his chin. The crowd murmured. Some shouted encouragement, others laughed cruelly.
"That's it—he can't withstand even a fraction of Jiang Hao's power!"
"It was luck against Shen Fei. The difference between Outer and Inner is a chasm!"
Kai pushed himself to his feet, swaying. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes never wavered.
"Still standing?" Jiang Hao tilted his head slightly. "Perhaps you deserve to last a little longer."
Kai's laugh was hoarse, mocking even through the pain. "Funny… because I was just about to say the same thing."
---
Battle Trance
At that moment, the ding he had waited for arrived.
> [HP has dropped below 20%.]
[Activating Minor Skill: Battle Trance.]
[Duration: 60 seconds. All senses sharpened. Reaction speed +20%. Attack power +10%.]
The world snapped into sharpness. Every breath of the crowd, every shift of Jiang Hao's muscles, every grain of dust in the air became vivid.
Kai straightened. His battered body moved with fluid precision, his eyes gleaming like sharpened blades.
Jiang Hao's brows furrowed. His aura… changed?
Before he could act, Kai was already there. His fist darted like lightning, grazing Jiang Hao's cheek. Blood sprayed—a shallow cut, but the first blood Jiang Hao had shed in this duel.
Gasps erupted.
"He… he hit him?!"
"Impossible! Jiang Hao was clearly faster!"
Inside the trance, Kai's thoughts burned clear. One minute. That's all I have. I'll carve my path into you with every second.
---
The Storm
Kai moved like a phantom, weaving through Jiang Hao's strikes. Where earlier he lagged a step behind, now he slipped past each blow with hair's breadth precision. His counters struck faster, sharper.
Fist against fist. Palm against elbow.
The sound of flesh and bone colliding echoed like drums of war.
Kai's body was breaking under the strain, but for every hit he endured, he landed one in return.
Jiang Hao's calm face began to shift. For the first time, he pressed forward with real intent. His Qi surged, his palm techniques growing sharper, the floor cracking beneath each step.
Kai gritted his teeth, feeling bones scream under the weight of each exchange. But his grin widened. This is it. This is where I shine.
The crowd was on its feet, torn between horror and awe.
---
The Climax
Thirty seconds remained.
Kai feinted low, then drove his fist upward into Jiang Hao's jaw. The crack echoed. Jiang Hao staggered half a step, eyes blazing. He retaliated instantly, slamming his palm into Kai's chest.
Kai's vision blurred red, but Battle Trance kept him upright.
Ten seconds.
Jiang Hao unleashed a final killing strike, Qi roaring as his palm tore through the air like a divine blade.
Kai roared back, summoning every ounce of strength, every drop of defiance, and drove his fist forward.
The two forces collided.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion of Qi shook the entire arena. Dust and energy blasted outward, forcing spectators to shield their eyes.
---
Aftermath
When the dust cleared, both figures stood trembling.
Jiang Hao's palm hovered inches from Kai's throat—but it shook, unable to push forward. Blood streamed down his chin, his body swaying.
Kai's fist pressed against Jiang Hao's chest, right over his heart. His knuckles were split, his arm quivering, but his will was unbroken.
Then Jiang Hao's knees buckled. He fell backward, collapsing to the ground.
Silence.
Then the arena erupted.
"He—he beat him?! He beat an Inner Academy genius?!"
"Impossible! That's not supposed to happen!"
"Kai… Kai defeated Jiang Hao!"
Elders in the stands were pale, some furious, some awestruck. Elder Zhan merely closed his eyes, whispering, "The fire grows brighter."
---
System Notification
> [Ding! Victory achieved against higher-tier opponent.]
[Reward: +8 Free Attribute Points.]
[Minor Feature Unlocked: Status Scan Lv.1.]
Allows Host to glimpse approximate stats of opponents below or equal rank. Accuracy improves with level.
Kai collapsed to one knee, panting heavily, his body drenched in sweat and blood. But his grin was wolfish.
Status Scan… now I can prepare before every battle. The system's giving me the tools to climb.
The roar of the crowd shook the heavens, but Kai's focus was already on the path ahead.
He had beaten another genius. He had proven again that "trash" could climb.
And in the shadows of the Inner Academy, even more dangerous eyes had begun to fix on him.