Chepter 15: Dueling Arena (1)
Reon slowly rose from his meditation, the soft sound of knocking pulling him from his cultivation. As he moved toward the door, the faint echoes of his footsteps filled the quiet room.
When he finally opened it, he was greeted by the sight of Xu Yang standing there, his presence almost ethereal against the morning light.
"Greetings, Big Brother Xue. I came to visit you after you returned from the Frost Mountain Cave, but seeing you in the midst of cultivation, I chose not to disturb you," Xu Yang said with a gentle smile.
"I came today because it's the day of our Outer Sect's Weekly Dueling Event. Everyone will be competing and placing bets for Sect Points. Would you like to join?" he added, his eyes bright with excitement.
"Alright, let's head to the Dueling Arena," Reon said, his eyes narrowing with a hint of seriousness.
In the original dueling event, Xue Taiyang, seething from the humiliation he suffered during the Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony, brazenly challenged the protagonist to a life-and-death duel.
His sole aim was revenge—he sought to erase the shame by killing the protagonist in front of the entire Outer Sect. Armed with a powerful Rare-Grade item, a secret gift from his hidden benefactor, Xue Taiyang was certain of his victory.
The item, laced with potent energy, was meant to tip the scales in his favor. Yet, despite his careful preparation and unrelenting hatred, fate had other plans. In the end, his arrogance and the protagonist's sheer tenacity sealed Xue Taiyang's tragic defeat, and he fell, slain at the hands of the very rival he had sought to destroy.
What Xue Taiyang never realized was that he had been nothing more than a pawn in the hands of a shadowy mastermind. This manipulator, one of the top ten most powerful disciples in the Core Sect, harbored a deep-seated grudge against the protagonist, Yang Lie.
The puppet master, hidden behind a web of influence, had ordered Niu Ling—Xue Taiyang's superior and one of the top fifty Inner Sect disciples—to manipulate Xue Taiyang into provoking Yang Lie during the Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony, ultimately driving him to challenge Yang Lie to a life-and-death duel in the Weekly Dueling Event.
The reason? This Core Sect elite despised Yang Lie's rising prominence, his arrogance after securing third place in the Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony, and the growing attention Yang Lie was receiving from the elders, Great Elders, and even the woman he secretly admired.
Blinded by the promise of power and driven by his own pride, Xue Taiyang had never seen the strings that bound him to this greater scheme.
His desire for revenge made him the perfect tool, unwittingly carrying out the will of a villain who remained safely in the shadows, manipulating the unfolding tragedy from afar.
"Since taking over this body, I've sworn to live on my own terms, not as anyone's puppet," Reon thought, his eyes filled with resolve. "That's why I've pushed myself so hard over the past week. Now, I can at least hold my own against Niu Ling's lackeys from Outer Sect. Judging by his attitude from the novel, I doubt he'll bother dealing with me personally.
And if he does? Simple—I'll just run. He can't kill me within the sect without a reason."
As he was deep in thought, they had already arrived at the Dueling Arena of the Outer Sect of the Supreme Dao Sect.
Reon's expression shifted to awe, despite having read about it in the novel. Seeing it firsthand was an entirely different experience. The grand arena loomed before him, far more magnificent than words could have conveyed.
Carved into the mountain's very heart, the colossal coliseum stood as a monument to power and glory, its towering stone pillars etched with the stories of countless duels fought over the centuries.
The central platform, forged from gleaming jade, reflected the soft glow of spiritual energy, making it seem almost alive. Above, shimmering protective barriers pulsated, containing the intense spiritual force of every battle.
What caught Reon's attention most, though, was the sight of thousands of Outer Sect disciples. They filled the stadium's seats, their excited murmurs rising like a wave.
Around the arena, a buzzing betting sector teemed with activity as disciples wagered their precious Sect points on their favorite contenders. Peddlers shouted out odds, spiritual talismans exchanged hands, and the air was charged with the thrill of competition.
The sheer magnitude of the gathering, the tension, and the stakes—this was more than just a duel. It was a spectacle of ambition, strength, and survival.
"Now, the match between Lin Jie and Yang Lie is about to begin!" the announcer's voice echoed through the arena. "On one side, we have Lin Jie, the undefeated champion with nine consecutive victories. On the other, Yang Lie, a promising newcomer to the sect. Place your bets now— the match will start in five minutes!"