The large oval arena buzzed with energy, its multiple fighting fields filled with eager spectators and participants. Rain sat calmly in a waiting room, his focus unshaken as he prepared for the competition that would grant access to the secret realm. Before arriving in the core area of the White Stone Mountain Range, Rain had been confident about securing first place.
However, when Gao Li informed him about some of the other participants, his confidence soared even higher. Among the competitors were two 7th-rank energy refiners and a 7th-rank warrior—geniuses comparable to himself. Rain acknowledged their talents but knew they weren't the only ones capable of crossing realms. What set him apart, he believed, was his profound understanding of the rules.
As the competition commenced, the scale of it became clear—around 1,000 participants had entered, divided into 10 groups for the initial rounds.
Competition Format:
1. First Round:
- In each group, one-on-one matches will be held, with winners advancing.
- The 50 who lost were grouped into sets of 5 via a lottery system. These groups engaged in battle royales, with the last person standing in each group moving forward to the main bracket, bringing the total to 60 participants per group.
2. Second Round:
- Participants faced one-on-one matches, with winners advancing.
- The 30 defeated participants drew lots again and formed groups of 3 for another battle royale. The winners of these three-way battles rejoined the main bracket.
3. Third Round:
- The remaining 40 participants were split into 10 groups. Within each group, the participants fought one-on-one, with the competitor who achieved the most victories advancing to the next round.
4. Fourth Round:
- The 10 winners from each group will enter a knockout-style competition. Those who won two consecutive matches advanced to the next realm. This process ultimately selected 25 participants.
5. Wildcard Selection:
- The 75 remaining participants who had lost in earlier rounds were divided into 5 groups of 15. Each group competed in a battle royale, with the last person standing from each group earning a spot in the final realm.
6. Final Round:
- Rain's sharp mind quickly grasped the intricacies of the competition rules but chose not to dwell on them. With his strength, he was confident in advancing to the top 30. However, he recognized that the real challenge would lie in competing among the 30 finalists.
- In this stage, every participant would face each other once, earning points based on victories. The 20 contestants with the highest scores would secure entry into the secret realm.
While 30 participants were initially permitted to enter the secret realm, only 20 would secure their spots through combat. The remaining 10 spots were reserved for the winners of a simultaneous formation competition.
Rain, however, chose to focus on the fighting competition. His chances of securing one of the ten spots in the formation competition were slim—so slim that sheer luck would have to play a role for him to succeed. With his half-baked understanding of formations, it was nearly impossible to claim one of those coveted positions.
As Rain heard his number, 14, being called, he rose from his seat and exited the waiting room. Walking through the common area corridors, he observed the mixed emotions etched on the faces of his fellow participants. Some wore smiles of confidence, while others appeared downcast. A few participants displayed fierce determination—likely those in the losing group—resolute in their efforts to fight their way back into contention and secure a spot in the secret realm.
Rain stepped onto the arena ground, making his way toward the designated fighting field for his match. A shout of his name rang out from the stands. Without looking, he immediately recognized the voices of Xie Lin, Gao Li, and Old Gu.
Before sizing up his opponent, Rain's attention was drawn to the ongoing battles on the other fields. His gaze settled on a seventh-rank refining energy cultivator—a woman named Liang Ji. With a single, fluid motion of her whip, she effortlessly sent her opponent flying out of the arena.
Sensing his gaze, Liang Ji turned her head and met his eyes. The two exchanged brief nods of acknowledgment before she returned to the waiting arena. Rain shifted his focus back to his fight, sizing up his opponent—a male cultivator in the 4th realm of refining energy.
As the two competitors stepped onto the fighting field, the referee appeared.
The referee spoke, "Both of you, introduce yourselves."
Rain's opponent was the first to speak. "Fan Xian of the Fan Clan from Jie City, 4th realm of refining energy."
Rain followed with a calm and measured tone. "Yun Ting, a casual warrior, 6th realm of Great Warrior."
The referee's gaze shifted between Rain and Fan Xian before he gave the signal to begin the fight.
'Rain' remained still, making no move to attack. Instead, he waited for Fan Xian to strike first. He already knew the outcome of the fight—it was his to win. What mattered to him wasn't the result but the timing. He sought to observe and understand the techniques of cultivators like Fan Xian—an essential preparation for when he would inevitably face the two 7th realm refining energy cultivators.
Fan Xian, however, was well aware that he stood no chance against Rain in direct combat. In response, he retrieved a disk and stepped onto it, using it to lift himself off the ground. Rain watched calmly as Fan Xian ascended into the air, supported by the disk's power.
Voices from the stands reached Rain's ears:
"The warrior should have attacked first! He'll lose now."
"Look at Yun Ting's face—it's calm. He must have a plan to defeat Fan Xian."
Rain's focus returned to Fan Xian, who had launched his assault. A barrage of wooden arrows streaked toward him, their purple-tinged arrowheads glinting ominously. Rain quickly deduced they were likely laced with poison.
With a calm resolve, Rain thought, "Let's test the new method I created." At that moment, an energy dome materialized around his body, halting the arrows mid-flight.
Undeterred, Fan Xian conjured energy snakes and hurled them at the dome, but the protective barrier remained unbroken. Realizing his spells were ineffective, Fan Xian retrieved a crystal arrow from his space bag.
Rain's expression shifted to one of curiosity as he observed the crystal arrow. He was intrigued to see whether a medium-rank magic weapon could penetrate his dome. At the same time, Rain noted that Fan Xian had seemingly exhausted his arsenal of techniques. Concluding that further combat with Fan Xian would not enhance his knowledge, Rain resolved to act only after the crystal arrow tested his barrier.
The crystal arrow shot out from Fan Xian's hand with incredible speed. One moment, it was in his grasp, and the next, it collided with the energy dome. For a brief moment, the arrow struggled against the barrier before finally piercing through and landing at Rain's feet.
A cheer erupted from Fan Xian's supporters and those who underestimated warriors. Their enthusiasm surged, believing this was a turning point in the fight.
A smile formed on Fan Xian's face, but it lingered for barely a second. In the blink of an eye, a fire spear materialized in Rain's hand, blazing with intensity, and shot toward Fan Xian. He attempted to block the attack, but his efforts were futile. The spear struck, resulting in a deafening explosion. Fan Xian was thrown to the ground, unconscious, as silence fell over the arena.
The audience, stunned by what they had just witnessed, remained quiet. Even those who had expected Rain to win were at a loss for words, unable to fathom how a warrior could use a technique resembling an Immortal spell.
Among the crowd, a few knowledgeable individuals analyzed the scene. They concluded that Rain's method wasn't an Immortal spell but rather the result of fully comprehending a rune.
Rain could hear the murmurs from the stands, with some speculating that he had mastered the Fire Spear Rune or the Fire Control Rune. His focus shifted as the referee approached, announcing his victory. Without acknowledging the whispers further, Rain turned and walked back to the waiting area, his thoughts lingering on the fire spear rune that had become the focus of the crowd's speculation.
My fire spear is formed through my will and the fire control rune, Rain reflected. If I could comprehend the fire spear rune, I could significantly enhance its power. Determined, he decided to ask Gao Li and Xie Lin if they could help him locate the rune.
With that resolve, Rain entered the waiting room. Passing through the common area, he caught fragments of whispers about him but paid them no attention. He returned to his private quarters, preparing for the battles ahead.
In the next ten hours, Rain fought five more matches, winning each with ease. Now, he awaited his final fight, fully aware that victory would secure his place in the competition's next stage.
If he won, he would also advance to the top 30. As his number was called alongside his opponent's, Rain recognized the figure stepping forward. While he didn't know his opponent's name, he was well aware that the challenger was a 6th realm-refining energy cultivator—someone of the same realm as himself.
A smile spread across Rain's face at the thought. Finally, someone who might provide a real challenge. The earlier fights had been far too mundane to hold his interest. Energized by the prospect, Rain quickly left the room.
Within a minute, Rain stood on the fighting field, facing his opponent. Both warriors had their swords drawn, the tension between them palpable as they prepared for the duel. Rain had drawn his sword at the start, knowing he was up against an orthodox sword cultivator. He was eager to test his sword skills against the young master of the Jade Sword Pavilion.
Neither of them attacked immediately. Instead, they carefully assessed one another, searching for weaknesses. Sword cultivators from the Jade Sword Pavilion were renowned for defeating their opponents in a single, decisive strike—a style entirely different from Rain's. Yet, he was curious to see if Yu Lie could find any flaws in his defense.
Ten minutes passed without a single attack. Rain could hear the growing agitation from the audience, frustrated by the prolonged standoff. The spectators had anticipated an explosive clash, but instead, the competitors remained motionless, their sharp eyes locked in silent calculation, each waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Rain, too, began to feel a twinge of impatience. Typically, he avoided making the first move against opponents he deemed a threat, but he was eager to finish the fight quickly and return. Resolving to act, Rain let his sword energy surge and began to walk slowly toward Yu Lie, deliberately leaving noticeable gaps in his defense.
Yet, Yu Lie made no move to exploit the openings. As Rain closed the distance, he swung his sword toward Yu Lie. The young master of the Jade Sword Pavilion countered immediately, his blade meeting Rain's sword with precision. Thus, the duel truly began—a series of rapid attacks and counters, their swords clashing but neither gaining an upper hand.
For half an hour, Rain found himself unable to break through Yu Lie's defenses. However, he knew it was only a matter of time. His Soul Chip had been analyzing Yu Lie's sword techniques, and an idea began to form in his mind to counter them. Slowly, Rain lured Yu Lie into a carefully laid trap.
In just five minutes, the plan came to fruition. With a final, calculated move, Rain's sword pointed unerringly at Yu Lie's defenseless throat, marking the end of the fight.
Rain knew he could have used his overwhelming strength to defeat Yu Lie and end the battle in seconds. However, seeing Yu Lie's sword skills, which rivaled his own, awakened a desire within him—a determination to steal and master those techniques.
It was only after the Soul Chip had fully acquired and analyzed the intricate data of Yu Lie's sword skills that Rain chose to deliver the decisive blow, securing his victory.