Chapter 118: Monthly Dueling Event (1)

As Reon stepped into the Dueling Arena, he was momentarily stunned.

The crowd of disciples was staggering—far surpassing the turnout of the Weekly Dueling Event.

Most were spectators, but this wasn't just an ordinary crowd.

Not only had outer disciples gathered, but even inner disciples had come—some to place bets, some for mere entertainment, and others scouting for potential talents. Their presence only amplified the weight of the event.

Lost in the vastness of the scene, Reon barely noticed when Xu Yang nudged him.

"Big Brother, let's go. Our seats are over there," Xu Yang said, pointing towards the designated area for participants.

Snapping out of his daze, Reon nodded and followed.

As he settled into his seat, he exhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts.

The Monthly Dueling Event had a three-round elimination format. Each participant would fight once per round, and only those who emerged victorious would advance.

Unlike the Weekly Dueling Event, this tournament had a unique rule—if you defeated someone ranked higher than you, you would take their rank in the Outer Sect Rankings.

Opponents were assigned randomly, meaning no one could predict or prepare for their matchups.

The winners of all three rounds would earn 50,000 Sect Points. 

But the real allure lay beyond that—those who triumphed in three rounds would enter a Special Round, where they could challenge a single undefeated participant.

This was what truly captivated most disciples—a rare opportunity to climb the top rankings, gain fame, and challenge even stronger opponents to test their abilities.

Suddenly, a shimmering Spiritual Screen illuminated the sky, displaying the matchups for the first round.

Reon's gaze locked onto the names.

Only 100 disciples had registered this time—a significantly lower number than usual and most of them are top hundred disciple of the Outer Sect.

But then, it made sense.

The Inner Sect Disciple Selection Ceremony was approaching.

Only the strongest outer disciples had chosen to participate this time, each determined to sharpen their skills before the grand selection.

Well, it didn't matter.

After all, he was already within that rank.

In the three Weekly Dueling Events he participated in, he meticulously targeted the strong disciples, provoking them into wagering their ranks within the Outer Sect.

He didn't want to stand out too soon. 

So, he ensured his ranking remained just within the Top Hundred—strong enough to be respected, but not enough to draw unwanted attention.

But then, his gaze shifted to a particular corner of the Spiritual Screen. 

His eyes narrowed as he spotted a name he hadn't expected.

Yang Lie.

Reon's expression darkened.

"Why is he here?"

Yang Lie should have participated in the previous Monthly Dueling Event, after that, he should have been immediately assigned a mission in the Mortal World by the Elders.

This… wasn't supposed to happen.

Was this another shift in fate—one caused by his actions?

He clenched his fist briefly before exhaling.

"Well, whatever. Change is inevitable when someone decides to transform themselves."

With that thought, he refocused on his own match.

And that's when he saw it.

His opponent's name.

Tian Ju.

A deep silence settled in his mind.

Then—

"What the heck?"

His lips twitched.

"Why is my luck… always this bad?"

Tian Ju was ranked 18th in the Outer Disciple Rankings. One of the stronger contenders in this tournament.

And Reon had to face him in the first round.

For a brief moment, he considered his options.

Then, a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Well, no point in complaining. After all, I do want to break into the Top 20."

The competition began.

One by one, disciples clashed in intense duels, testing their strength against one another. Some triumphed gloriously, while others crumbled under the weight of their overconfidence.

Reon waited.

Then—

His name was called.

It was time.

As he stepped onto the fighting arena, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.

"Who is that guy?"

"I've never seen him before in the Outer Sect."

"Yeah! He looks weak. Can he even last a minute against Tian Ju?"

A disciple scoffed, shaking his head. "You guys seriously don't know? Do you even exist in the Outer Sect? That's Xue Taiyang. He's made quite a name for himself over the past half-month—currently ranked 93rd in the Outer Sect Rankings."

"Really? So he's pretty strong… but still."

"A Rank 93 going up against Rank 18? That's just crazy, bro."

"Right? This is why I never participate in the Monthly Dueling Event. A single match could ruin you! I'm not wasting 8000 Sect Points just to get eliminated in the first round."

"Yeah, this guy is just unlucky. Facing Tian Ju so soon… He doesn't stand a chance."

Meanwhile, in the arena—

Reon scanned the field.

Tian Ju was nowhere to be seen.

Then—

A shadow flickered above.

BOOM!

A figure descended from the sky, landing with a resounding impact. Dust swirled around him as he straightened.

A sharp, arrogant gaze locked onto Reon.

"Heh. So you're Xue Taiyang, huh?" Tian Ju sneered. "You're my opponent?"

Reon met his gaze, calm and composed.

"Yes."

Tian Ju clicked his tongue. "Hah! What a joke. I was hoping for someone strong—someone who could actually test my strength. But I get you instead."

Reon said nothing.

Tian Ju's smirk widened. "Where are your beasts? The screen says you're a Beast Tamer. Summon your little puppies quickly, or you'll be beaten red and blue."

Reon's eyes flickered.

"If I summon them, you won't last more than two seconds."

"And besides… not only little tiger even Cloudia's identity is far more complicated than I originally thought. There's no need to draw unnecessary attention."

With a faint smile, he replied, "My beasts… aren't feeling well today. I'll fight you myself."

Tian Ju raised an eyebrow. Then—he laughed.

"Haha! A Beast Tamer fighting in close combat? That's rich! You're just making excuses because you're weak."

Reon summoned his sword. "You'll find out soon enough."

Tian Ju cracked his knuckles, grinning. "Hehe… Fine then. Let's see what you've got."

Without another word—

Reon charged.

One minute later...

The battle was over.

Reon stood calmly, brushing a few strands of hair away from his face.

"Hah! A mere Stage-2 Foundation Establishment cultivator, acting this arrogant with such little skill?" Reon scoffed inwardly.

Tian Ju lay sprawled across the arena floor, utterly defeated.

Blood dripped from his lip as he gasped for air, eyes wide in disbelief.

"H-How… is this… possible?" he muttered, just before losing consciousness.

Silence.

A suffocating silence blanketed the arena.

The crowd, which had been cheering for Tian Ju moments ago, had now fallen eerily quiet.

Disciples stared, their faces frozen in shock.

"W-What… did I just witness?"

"A rank 93 just destroyed rank 18?"

"And in just ten moves?!"

"That's… impossible."

"That weak-looking puppy turned out to be a dark horse!"

But then, someone groaned.

"Wait—NO! My Sect Points! I bet everything on Tian Ju!"

"Me too! Sob… Sob…"

Cries of despair filled the stands as countless disciples mourned the loss of their hard-earned points.

Meanwhile—

From a private viewing room, a young woman watched the battle unfold.

She leaned forward slightly, a glint of curiosity in her eyes.

A small, amused smile played on her lips.

"You're not half-bad, Xue Taiyang."