Facing a Commander-Tier Opponent

Rising Tension in the Arena

After Jiang Chen's shocking victory, the tournament atmosphere changed.

The students who had mocked him now looked at him with curiosity, and some with fear. In the waiting area, a few top-ranked students watched him closely.

> "Wei Tao lost that fast? That ghostly ape is stronger than it looks."

"Jiang Chen wasn't even ranked before this… but now he's a real threat."

Among the top-ranked students, Xu Rong smirked.

> "Interesting. I hope he lasts long enough to face me."

But while some were intrigued, others saw him as a target.

The Second Matchup – A Commander-Tier Beast

Jiang Chen glanced at the matchup board. His next opponent was revealed.

> [Jiang Chen vs. Han Feng]

Han Feng was a rising star in the academy, one of the few students with a Commander-tier beast. His ranking was in the top 20, and he had a reputation for ruthless battles.

A murmur spread through the crowd.

> "Jiang Chen's next opponent is Han Feng? That's bad news for him."

"Yeah, Han Feng's beast is a Commander-tier Wind Shadow Wolf—there's no way an Elite-tier beast can compete with that!"

Jiang Chen showed no reaction as he stepped toward the battlefield. He had expected this.

If he wanted to win the Lord-tier evolution material, he would have to fight opponents like this.

Entering the Battlefield

Han Feng stood in the arena, arms crossed. His beast, the Wind Shadow Wolf, paced beside him.

The wolf's sleek black fur shimmered as the wind swirled around it. Its presence alone was enough to intimidate most students.

Han Feng grinned.

> "Jiang Chen, I'll admit, you're stronger than I thought."

"But there's a difference between us—you're still playing with an Elite-tier pet, while my beast has already evolved beyond that."

Jiang Chen remained calm.

Ghost stood beside him, its hollow eyes fixed on the wolf.

The referee raised his hand.

> "Battle—BEGIN!"

The Battle Begins – Speed vs. Strategy

Han Feng wasted no time.

> "Wind Shadow Wolf—Gale Phantom Strike!"

The wolf vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Ghost in an instant. Its claws gleamed with wind energy as it slashed forward.

A direct hit!

The crowd gasped as Ghost staggered backward, black mist flickering around its body.

> "That's the difference between Commander-tier and Elite-tier," Han Feng smirked. "Your beast isn't fast enough to keep up."

But Jiang Chen's expression remained unchanged.

> "Ghost. Shadow Step."

In an instant, Ghost disappeared.

Han Feng's eyes widened.

> "What—?!"

Before he could react, Ghost reappeared above the Wind Shadow Wolf, claws charged with abyssal energy.

> "Abyssal Severance."

A deep slash cut across the wolf's back. It howled in pain as dark energy spread through its wound.

The crowd erupted in shock.

> "He landed a hit on a Commander-tier beast?!"

"Ghost is faster than we thought!"

Han Feng's smirk faded.

> "You got lucky. But that won't happen again. Wind Shadow Wolf—Wind Veil Defense!"

The wolf howled, and a barrier of swirling wind formed around it, making its body appear almost transparent.

> "Let's see if you can hit me now," Han Feng sneered.

Jiang Chen's Counterattack

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes. The wind barrier was tricky—it distorted attacks, making them miss.

Most tamers would struggle against this, but he had a solution.

> "Ghost. Phantom Echo."

A wave of dark energy spread through the battlefield. The Wind Shadow Wolf flinched, its movements momentarily disrupted.

Han Feng cursed.

> "What kind of ability is that?!"

Jiang Chen's voice was calm.

> "One that makes your defense useless."

> "Ghost—Shadow Claw. Go for the throat."

Ghost flickered and vanished again.

A heartbeat later, it reappeared inside the wind barrier, claws aimed directly at the wolf's throat.

Han Feng's eyes widened in horror.

> "NO—!"

Ghost's claws struck deep, cutting through the wolf's defenses like paper.

The Wind Shadow Wolf let out a choked whimper before collapsing to the ground, unconscious.

A moment of stunned silence filled the arena.

Then—

> "Jiang Chen wins."

The Aftermath – Jiang Chen's Rising Threat

The audience erupted.

> "He beat a Commander-tier beast?!"

"That shouldn't be possible!"

"What the hell is that Skull Ghost Ape?!"

Han Feng stood frozen in shock. His beast had been completely dominated by an Elite-tier monster.

Xu Rong, one of the tournament's strongest contenders, narrowed his eyes.

> "That beast isn't normal. Neither is its tamer."

In the shadows, a cloaked figure smirked.

> "Looks like we need to act soon. If that Skull Ghost Ape really has the potential to reach Lord-tier… we can't let Jiang Chen keep it."

Jiang Chen walked off the battlefield without a word.

He had won again.

But he knew this was only the beginning.