Strong Against Strong

Strong Against Strong...

Wang Jue, a Heaven's Chosen from the War Continent's Wang Clan, had once proudly held the #6 position in the Heavenly Fate Rankings. However, this year, he couldn't even secure a spot in the top ten. It was a stinging disgrace for him.

Spectators fixed their attention on Wang Jue, his aura exuding an unparalleled sharpness. Slowly, he advanced toward Qin Wentian, and with each step, the very air seemed to grow keener around him. His Astral Light-clad armor radiated, and behind him, the Vermilion Bird let out an enraged cry, as if issuing a challenge.

In Wang Jue's mind, this battle had only one outcome: victory.

After defeating Qin Wentian, he still needed one more win to enter the top ten. Currently, twelve contenders remained, and two had to be eliminated.

As spectators observed Wang Jue's unwavering determination, they sensed the intent to win emanating from him. His Astral Souls were all geared towards enhancing his attacks. Although his steps appeared slow and deliberate, the intensity of the sharpness within them was overwhelming. Once he unleashed his assault, even the heavens themselves seemed vulnerable to being rent asunder.

Could Qin Wentian withstand Wang Jue's onslaught?

At this moment, Wang Jue appeared to have transformed into a supreme Divine Weapon.

Despite Qin Wentian's fearsome demonic form, Wang Jue epitomized sharpness in every aspect. Even his Mandates were closely related to divine weaponry, ensuring his attacks carried unmatched power and keenness. In the Yuanfu Realm, be it human or demon defenses, they would crumble before him.

However, Qin Wentian wouldn't be so foolish as to rely solely on physical defenses when facing Wang Jue.

A dazzling beam of light erupted from Wang Jue as he lunged forward, akin to a divine spear thrust, carrying an unstoppable force.

In that instant, Qin Wentian also moved. A single step condensed the entire world's force within him. He was one with heaven, one with earth, harmonized with everything.

Wang Jue could feel Qin Wentian's unwavering gaze as another surge of light hurtled towards him.

"You won't be able to stop me," Wang Jue confidently declared. But even before his words faded, Qin Wentian's palm was already on its way.

Strength. Since Wang Jue surpassed him in both attack and defense, Qin Wentian would compete in raw power.

A blinding white light flooded the area, temporarily blinding the spectators. Once their vision cleared, they saw Qin Wentian standing unwaveringly like a mountain, while Wang Jue had been pushed back to the edge of the arena platform, blood trickling from his mouth, his face ashen.

"How could your feeble attacks ever suppress me?" Qin Wentian said as he stepped forward, his every movement exuding total harmony. When Wang Jue saw him approach, his complexion grew even paler. Their previous clash had instantly shattered his confidence. Qin Wentian's strength was beyond belief; how could he be so formidable?

Wang Jue found himself in a quandary. He had unleashed his most potent attack, but it had been effortlessly countered by Qin Wentian. Now, he was left with no other tactics to overpower his opponent.

With every step Qin Wentian took, his demonic aura grew more intense. His devilishly handsome face radiated a charisma that left everyone around him feeling powerless.

Out of sheer frustration, Wang Jue summoned eighteen spears made of Astral Light behind him. The effort of materializing these spears caused him to cough up blood as he struggled to maintain control. Infused with Wang Jue's Mandate, these spears vibrated violently, emitting deafening wails.

In response, golden light erupted, and a pair of massive, golden-hued garuda wings unfurled behind Qin Wentian. In the blink of an eye, Qin Wentian disappeared from view.

Wang Jue's expression turned grave. He signaled the eighteen spears to thrust forward, but just as they were about to strike, beams of golden light shot out from Qin Wentian's wings, creating a fearsome cacophony.

Wang Jue had no time to react. Qin Wentian reappeared before him, unleashing a powerful dragon-shaped imprint that resounded through the heavens. The sound waves it carried held a destructive force, and as the imprint slammed into Wang Jue, he was violently thrown backward, crashing onto the ground and losing consciousness.

Qin Wentian stood calmly on the arena, his demonic aura saturating the entire space. The spectators could only gaze at him in dumbfounded awe, realizing that this young man was becoming increasingly enigmatic. Even a casual glance in his direction was enough to strike fear into their hearts.

At this moment, with Qin Wentian's second-level insight into the Mandate of Demons and his mastery of the third stage of the Fiend Transformation Art, he possessed the ability to instantly transform any part of his body. Whether it was forming a pair of demonic garuda wings, summoning formidable kirin claws, or undergoing a complete demonic transformation, it was all at his mental command. This transformation was different from gathering demonic qi from the demonic divinities in the eight directions; it was reversible. This newfound power allowed him to unleash even more devastating attacks, seamlessly incorporating the eighty-one demonic arts he had learned in the Unmatched Realm. It was as natural as the passage of time itself.

Old Man Tianji's voice rang out, breaking the silence that had fallen over the arena.

"Wang Jue's rank is now officially fixed at #12," he declared with a calm demeanor.

Once a prominent #6 in the past rankings, Wang Jue had now fallen to the twelfth position, failing to secure a spot in the top ten.

With Wang Jue's defeat, Mo Qingcheng, who had been pushed back to #11 due to her loss against the enigmatic black-robed figure, faced the daunting task of challenging one of the top ten contenders. However, it was no easy feat.

Among the top ten were formidable individuals like Chen Wang, Shi Potian, Si Qiong, Zhan Chen, Emperor Azure, Yun Mengyi, Mu Feng, Qin Wentian, and the mysterious black-robed figure. Initially, many had assumed that Qin Wentian would be the least challenging among them, but Wang Jue's recent defeat had shattered that assumption. There were no weaklings in the top ten; each one of them was a true genius of their generation.

Old Man Tianji broke the silence again, his words drawing surprised reactions from the spectators.

"As you are one of the contenders who has found a legacy and demonstrated a certain level of prowess, I shall grant you the status of a top-ten contender," he declared.

Mo Qingcheng's ranking might have fallen to #11, but she was not to be underestimated. Her defeat at the hands of the black-robed figure did not necessarily mean she would lose to the others. Old Man Tianji's decision, while unconventional, was accepted by all.

Now, there were eleven contenders vying for the top positions.

Old Man Tianji continued, outlining the plan for the upcoming battles.

"The battles will be in two rounds. In the first round, five contenders will face off against each other. Chen Wang, as the previous #2, will be excluded for now. The five victors will then join Chen Wang to compete for the top six rankings. For those who lose in the first round, they will still have a chance to challenge for positions #6 to #11. If they win, they take the spot; if they lose, they are limited to contending for rankings from #6 to #11."

Old Man Tianji's eyes rested on the contenders as he explained. His decision to let Chen Wang fight later was met with general approval, as Chen Wang was undoubtedly one of the most recognized contenders, second only to Hua Taixu.

Old Man Tianji's announced pairings sent ripples of anticipation through the spectators. Each battle promised a riveting spectacle, with top-tier contenders facing off against each other.

"Shi Potian versus Qin Zheng; Si Qiong versus Mu Feng; Zhan Chen versus Yun Mengyi; Emperor Azure versus the black-robed figure; Qin Wentian versus Mo Qingcheng," Old Man Tianji declared, his arrangements sparking excitement among the audience.

The matches were carefully set, ensuring that the highly regarded contenders like Shi Potian, Si Qiong, Zhan Chen, and Emperor Azure did not face each other in the initial rounds. However, the pairing that puzzled the spectators the most was Qin Wentian against Mo Qingcheng. Some speculated it might have been a casual arrangement by Old Man Tianji with no deeper significance.

As the first battle was announced, the anticipation in the crowd reached a fever pitch. Shi Potian would face Qin Zheng, a formidable contender who had once emerged unscathed from a battle with Chen Wang in the formation world. Qin Zheng was known for his strength and his profound understanding of the Mandate of Space.

On the platform, Qin Zheng appeared calm and composed, exuding an air of casual confidence that never seemed to waver.

The clash began with a resounding boom as Shi Potian initiated the attack. His primordial beast bloodline surged, encasing him in a golden dragon armor that exuded overwhelming might. In his hands, a golden spear materialized.

With a powerful thrust, Shi Potian sent his spear hurtling forward, accompanied by draconic roars that tore through the very fabric of space. The sound waves alone possessed destructive potential, leaving no doubt about the ferocity of the Golden Dragon Battle Art he wielded.

The spectators were awestruck. This was the pinnacle art of the Shi Clan—the Golden Dragon Battle Art. It granted immense power and the ability to form a protective golden dragon armor. For the Shi Clan, descendants of primordial beasts, it was a perfect fit. Shi Potian's proficiency was evident as his single strike generated spatial rifts from the draconic roars alone.

The spectators recognized the art's significance; it was on par with the Great Solar Universe Art of the Chen Clan, an ultimate technique of Ancient Grand Xia.

Qin Zheng found himself in a perilous situation. However, his Spatial Laceration technique was formidable, capable of slicing through the golden dragon armor and injuring Shi Potian. Moreover, his profound understanding of the Mandate of Space bestowed incredible speed upon him. If Shi Potian weren't exceptionally powerful, he would have been defeated long ago.

Despite facing such a formidable opponent, Qin Zheng held his ground admirably. Their clash shook the entire platform, and the intensity of their battle left the spectators in awe.

"Marvelous! This battle is a true spectacle! I'm sure the upcoming matches will be just as extraordinary. It's a clash among Yuanfu pinnacle experts!" The spectators erupted with excitement and cheered for the thrilling display before them.

Although Shi Potian was powerful, Qin Zheng was no weakling.

Given how intense this battle already was, what scenario would then occur during the fight for the top three positions?

Their hearts were all filled with pure anticipation!