Chapter 19: The Tournament Begins

The day of the Grand Ranking Tournament had arrived.

The entire Heavenly Sword Sect was alive with excitement. Thousands of disciples, elders, and guests from prestigious clans gathered around the Sky Piercing Arena, a massive stone platform large enough to hold a hundred cultivators at once.

The air was thick with anticipation. This was the tournament that would determine who stood at the peak of the younger generation.

And for some… it was a battlefield where personal grudges would be settled.

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A Grand Entrance

Jiang Cheng stood among the crowd of participants, dressed in his sect robes. He exuded a calm confidence, his posture steady and composed.

But as he scanned the competitors, he could feel the intensity in their gazes.

Especially from Mo Tian.

The dark-robed disciple stood on the opposite end of the arena, a faint smirk on his lips. He didn't need to say anything—his eyes alone carried the message:

I'm watching you.

Jiang Cheng ignored him. There would be time for that later.

Suddenly, a powerful voice boomed across the arena.

"The Grand Ranking Tournament… begins now!"

An elder stepped forward, his aura suppressing the entire field. He unfurled a golden scroll and began to announce the rules.

"The first stage is elimination. All 300 participants will engage in free-for-all combat. Only the top 50 will advance."

The crowd roared in excitement.

A chaotic battle royale—where strength, strategy, and survival instincts would be tested.

Jiang Cheng smirked. This should be interesting.

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The Free-For-All Begins

The elder raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Instantly, the battlefield exploded into chaos.

Dozens of disciples clashed, their qi surging. Swords clashed against spears, fists shattered the ground, and the air filled with shockwaves.

Jiang Cheng vanished from sight.

Using his Lightning Step, he avoided the initial surge of combatants. While others blindly attacked, he observed.

The strongest ones aren't wasting energy.

He spotted Zhao Lan, calmly cutting down opponents with precise sword strikes. Wu Fei fought like a hurricane, his spear sending disciples flying. Lu Chen stood his ground, using powerful defensive techniques to conserve his energy.

Then there was Mo Tian.

He barely moved, standing still in the center of the battlefield. But any disciple who approached him would suddenly collapse, their vitality drained in an instant.

Jiang Cheng frowned. That technique again.

He didn't have time to think further.

A group of disciples charged at him—five in total.

"Jiang Cheng! You're not leaving here unscathed!"

They were familiar faces—his former bullies.

Jiang Cheng's eyes turned cold.

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Settling Old Debts

The leader, Zhang Wei, rushed forward, his blade coated in flame.

"Die!" he roared, swinging down.

Jiang Cheng tilted his head slightly, letting the sword pass harmlessly by his shoulder. Before Zhang Wei could react, a palm strike landed on his chest—boom!

Zhang Wei was sent flying, coughing up blood.

The other four hesitated, but it was too late.

Jiang Cheng vanished from sight and reappeared behind them.

Crack! He struck the first on the neck, knocking him unconscious.

Bang! A powerful kick shattered the ribs of the second.

Boom! A single punch sent the third spiraling out of the battlefield.

The last one fell to his knees, trembling.

"P-please…" he stammered.

Jiang Cheng stared at him coldly. "Back then, you never gave me mercy."

The disciple shut his eyes, expecting death.

But Jiang Cheng simply kicked him off the stage.

I have nothing to prove to weaklings.

With that, he turned back to the battlefield.

Only 100 fighters remained.

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A New Challenger

Jiang Cheng was about to advance when a new presence approached him.

A tall, broad-shouldered disciple wearing silver robes. His aura was heavy, filled with the scent of blood.

"Jiang Cheng."

Jiang Cheng turned to face him. "And you are?"

The disciple grinned. "Lin Bai, ranked 10th among inner disciples. I've been waiting to test my strength against you."

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes. Lin Bai was strong—far stronger than the trash he had just dealt with.

Without warning, Lin Bai attacked.

His fist shot forward, carrying the force of a mountain.

Jiang Cheng reacted instantly, raising his arm to block.

Boom!

The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield. The ground beneath them cracked as the two clashed.

Lin Bai grinned. "Not bad. You're stronger than I thought."

Jiang Cheng smirked. "You're not bad yourself."

The battle was far from over.

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The Battle Continues…

With only 100 fighters left, the true battles were about to begin.

Jiang Cheng had made his statement—but now, he would have to fight for survival.

Would he make it into the top 50? And what role would Mo Tian play in the battles ahead?

The answers would come in the next stage.

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