The Bronze Arena, a sprawling marvel of engineering, reflected the Li Clan's prestige and foundation. It possessed 10 stages each stage, 50 meters (165 feet) wide and made of spirit-reinforced stone, was built to withstand devastating force. Surrounding the stages, thousands of spectators roared in anticipation, their voices merging into a deafening cacophony.
Massive runic barriers shimmered faintly, ensuring the destruction stayed confined within the stages. The scent of dust, sweat, and faint ozone from discharged energy lingered in the air. As the matches began, the arena trembled with the ferocity of the battles.
The Patriarch, Li Jian, had announced the rules earlier:
Tournament Structure
Objective: The structure manages the large age gap (15–30 years) while ensuring fairness and a clear progression of skill levels.
Preliminary Rounds:
Participants: All first-timers and those eliminated in earlier rounds of the previous tournament.
Age Group: Primarily 15–20 years old, allowing younger participants to prove themselves.
Format: Individual 1v1 battles.
Outcome: 16 winners advance.
Round of 48:
Participants: The 32 victors join the 16 seeded participants (those who reached the lower 16 of the Top 32 in the last tournament).
Age Group: Primarily 20–25 years old, with a mix of younger talents.
Format: Group battles. Each group of six competes, and the top two advance.
Outcome: 16 winners advance.
Top 16 Challenge:
Participants: The Top 16 from the previous tournament challenge the 16 winners from the Round of 48..
Age Group: Primarily 25–30 years old, featuring the most experienced contestants.
Format: 1v1, with the winner advancing.
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals:
Participants: The Top 8, refined through earlier rounds.
Format: Individual 1v1 battles.
Stakes: The quarterfinal introduces the defending champion and runner-up if they meet the age requirements.
The stakes were immense. For the younger disciples, it was a chance to prove their potential. For the older, more experienced competitors, it was an opportunity to solidify their status within the Li Clan.
The first match of the preliminaries commenced with a thunderous cheer. Two disciples stepped into the arena, both appearing barely older than 15. The walls trembled as the energy from the combatants seemed to resonate through the entire structure.
The First Match: Li Zhuo vs. Li Yan
"Begin!"
Li Zhuo's foot slammed into the ground as he charged, his body moving with explosive speed. His right fist flew through the air with a whip-crack sound, aimed straight for Li Yan's head.
Li Yan dodged in the blink of an eye, his body weaving out of the way. But Zhuo's fist still landed with devastating force into the ground, the shockwave sending a ripple of dust across the arena. A deep crack split the floor where his punch had missed, rock fragments exploding outward.
Li Yan spun, his leg a blur of motion. He aimed for Zhuo's ribs, delivering a brutal strike with the edge of his knee. Crack! The sound of bones breaking echoed through the arena. Zhuo's breath hitched as pain flared in his side, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to fall.
"You're not getting away that easily," Li Zhuo hissed, blood trickling from his lips.
Zhuo launched a flurry of blows, his fist a storm of unrelenting strikes. Each punch was filled with raw power, the air crackling as his energy surged. But Li Yan wasn't caught off guard. He countered with precise, fluid movements, his hands weaving a barrier of controlled energy that deflected the oncoming attacks.
But Li Zhuo's relentless assault soon began to crack Li Yan's defenses. With a final, massive swing, Zhuo's fist slammed into Li Yan's chest. Boom! The ground cracked beneath them, the force causing a deep, jagged fissure to stretch across the arena floor.
Li Yan staggered, but his face remained cold. Blood dripped from his lip, but his eyes narrowed with deadly focus.
Li Yan's energy flared, the temperature around him rising. He lifted his hand, channeling energy into it, his palm glowing with a sharp, pulsating light. He thrust his hand forward, sending a wave of concentrated force at Zhuo. The shockwave shattered the air like a sonic boom, the arena floor vibrating with the sheer intensity of the attack.
Zhuo's body was slammed backward, crashing into the stone wall of the arena. A large chunk of rock flew off upon impact, and the wall cracked from the sheer force. Blood spurted from Zhuo's nose, but he stood up again, shaking his head to clear the dizziness.
"You'll have to do better than that," Zhuo spat, and with a roar, he surged forward once more.
He closed the gap in an instant, his fist a blur. Li Yan sidestepped, but Zhuo's momentum was too great. He caught Yan off guard, his fist smashing into the side of his opponent's head with bone-shattering force. The impact sent Li Yan sprawling, the floor beneath him cracking open with the force of the blow.
Li Yan groaned, but quickly rolled to his feet, his eyes seething with fury. He was slower now, his movements becoming more deliberate, but his energy was still a roaring torrent beneath his skin.
Both combatants were covered in blood now. Zhuo's face was bruised, his body battered, but he still pressed on, his rage growing. He launched a series of powerful blows, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. His punches were calculated, his body moving with expert precision. Every strike aimed to cripple.
Li Yan was barely keeping up, his energy reserves waning. He knew this was his final push.
With a roar, Li Yan gathered all his energy into a single, concentrated point. The ground beneath his feet cracked and crumbled as a flash of white-hot energy surged through his palm, sending a wave of destructive force toward Zhuo.
Boom! The blast hit Zhuo head-on, sending him flying backward, his body skidding across the broken floor. The shockwave rippled out, causing a massive crack to shoot across the entire arena, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of burned stone and blood. Zhuo's body slammed into the wall, leaving a deep dent, and his body slumped to the ground.
Zhuo's chest heaved with labored breaths. His body trembled from the force of the impact. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the stone floor.
Li Yan slowly walked forward, his body swaying slightly, but his face remained expressionless. He raised his foot, preparing to finish the fight.
Zhuo's hand shot out, grabbing Li Yan's ankle with surprising force. "I'm not... finished yet!" He spat, his voice ragged.
With a surge of will, Zhuo lifted himself off the ground, driving his knee upward with brutal precision. Thud! The blow struck Li Yan in the abdomen, knocking the wind from him. The force was enough to leave a crack in Li Yan's ribs. Blood poured from his mouth as he gasped for air.
Li Yan stumbled back, clutching his side, his energy flickering.
The two fighters were on the brink of collapse, their bodies covered in blood, each movement slower than the last. The energy around them flickered in dangerous surges, like a storm on the verge of breaking.
Li Zhuo, his body battered and bruised, stood with what little strength remained. He wasn't going to give up.
With a final, desperate roar, he charged forward again, his body propelled by sheer will. His fist slammed into Li Yan's chest, sending another shockwave through the arena. The force shattered the stone beneath them, creating a crater nearly 2 meters wide and 0.5 meters deep.
Li Yan gasped, his chest crushed by the impact. His body went limp, and he crashed to the floor with a sickening thud. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, staining the stone beneath him.
Zhuo fell to his knees, clutching his side, blood dripping from his own wounds. But victory was his.
The arena fell silent. The battle had been brutal, a testament to both fighters' strength and resolve. But only one could stand. Zhuo, panting heavily, stood over his fallen opponent. The arena floor around them was a wasteland of cracked stone, blood, and dust, the ground torn apart by the immense force of their combat.
The Remaining Matches: A Dance of Destruction
The preliminary rounds had been a whirlwind of brutal exchanges, with each fight pushing the combatants to their limits. The arena, once pristine, was now a shattered battleground. The earth trembled with each exchange of power, and the air crackled with raw energy. Each match was a testament to the raw talent and experience of the fighters, but it was clear that the older disciples, even those at the cusp of the age limit, had a decisive advantage.
Li Lei vs. Li Jun
Li Lei, a seasoned disciple of 20, was a master of energy manipulation. His technique was refined, his movements precise. Against the 16-year-old Li Jun, the difference in experience was stark.
Li Jun came charging in with reckless abandon, his fists flying in a blur of youthful energy. But Li Lei anticipated every move. With a deft step to the side, he sent Li Jun crashing into the arena wall with a devastating palm strike. The impact caused a 2-meter-wide crater in the stone, the walls of the arena shuddering under the force.
Li Jun staggered, blood dripping from his lip, but his eyes were alight with determination. He launched another attack, this time using his energy to enhance his speed. He moved too fast for the average person to track, but Li Lei was no average combatant. With a swift pivot, Lei unleashed a shockwave of compressed energy, sending Jun sprawling across the arena.
Jun's energy was nearly depleted, and despite his valiant efforts, Li Lei's experience and control over his power proved to be the deciding factor. With a final, precise strike to Jun's chest, Lei knocked him unconscious, his body collapsing onto the floor as the arena trembled once more.
Li Fang vs. Li Zhao
The fight between Li Fang, a 20-year-old powerhouse, and 17-year-old Li Zhao was another of the more brutal preliminary bouts. Li Fang was aggressive, while Zhao relied on tactical precision, using his energy control to manipulate his surroundings in ways that made it harder for Fang to land a direct hit.
Fang, using his raw physical strength, started the fight with a series of powerful punches that created shockwaves, causing the ground beneath them to crack and shift. But Zhao was quick on his feet, using bursts of wind manipulation to create a barrier that deflected the worst of Fang's blows. The air around him swirled, forming currents that pushed Fang back, keeping him at bay.
But Fang's power was relentless. With a bellow, he enhanced his punch with a concentrated energy strike, sending out a wave of kinetic force that caused the ground to tremble. The shockwave caused a 3-meter-long crack to form in the arena floor. Zhao attempted to dodge, but the sheer force of Fang's energy knocked him to the ground, blood seeping from his mouth.
Despite his injuries, Zhao managed to roll out of the way, narrowly avoiding Fang's next attack. Using his remaining energy, Zhao launched a series of rapid, precise strikes aimed at Fang's joints and vulnerable areas. His energy flickered with the last of his strength as he landed a blow to Fang's side, causing the older fighter to stagger.
However, it wasn't enough. Fang retaliated with a brutal sweep, knocking Zhao to the ground and knocking the wind out of him. The younger disciple's body crashed against the stone, the impact leaving a small crater as the dust and debris flew into the air.
The Conclusion of the Preliminary Rounds
The preliminary rounds were a violent showcase of raw power, tactical genius, and pure martial prowess. The ground had been torn apart, and blood stained the once-pristine stone arena floor. Every combatant had given their all, pushing themselves to the limits of their abilities.
With the last fight finished, the fighters of the preliminary rounds stood in the hall where the tournament was overseen, their bodies battered and broken but their resolve unwavering. Some limped off the arena, while others were carried by their comrades, completely drained of energy.
In the hall where the fights were overseen, the patriarch, Li Jian, stood up and surveyed the room. His eyes, cold and calculating, swept over the surviving combatants. His voice rang out, sharp and commanding.
"The preliminary rounds have ended. The top 32 have been decided. Now, we enter the next phase of the tournament."
His words echoed through the hall, sending ripples of excitement through the remaining contestants. The next round promised even greater challenges, where the fights would be fiercer, the stakes higher, and the combatants older and more experienced.
The atmosphere in the hall was heavy with anticipation. As the surviving fighters stood in the chamber, their bodies battered but their spirits unbroken, they knew that the real test was just beginning.
The fight for dominance was far from over. And only the strongest would remain standing when the final victor was crowned.
Round of 48: Chaos and Carnage
The atmosphere in the grand arena shifted. The cheers from the crowd grew louder, a palpable excitement filling the air. The previous preliminary rounds had been a brutal test of strength, speed, and energy manipulation, but the Round of 48 was an entirely different beast. The stakes had just been raised. The 32 victors from the preliminary rounds now joined the 16 seeded participants — those who had reached the lower half of the Top 32 in the previous tournament. The fighters in this round ranged from 20 to 25 years old, with some younger talents also stepping into the fray.
The Round of 48 began with an explosion of energy, as 8 groups of 6 fighters were thrust into an unforgiving free-for-all. Each participant knew what was at stake: only two from each group would survive to see the next round. The older disciples, seasoned veterans, wasted no time asserting their dominance, immediately shifting the balance of power in their favor.
As the younger combatants lunged forward with determination, trying to land hits, their every movement was met with ruthless counterattacks. The older fighters, many with years of experience and mastery over complex techniques, manipulated energy like a second skin. Every strike seemed amplified by advanced powers, making it clear that the younger fighters were not prepared for the level of violence they were about to face.
Group 1: The Early Bloodbath
The first group was chaos incarnate. The arena trembled as energy blasts and shockwaves clashed. A shockwave from a seasoned combatant sent one of the younger participants sprawling, his body crashing against the stone floor. The air hummed with energy as one fighter twisted the environment to their advantage, manipulating the air currents to redirect blows and throw opponents off balance.
The younger fighters had little time to react. Blasts of plasma scorched the earth, while others used their mastery over kinetic force to send powerful pulses of energy ripping through the arena. The older disciples—grizzled veterans—were quick, precise, and deadly. They didn't rely on raw power alone but executed devastating combos: a punch amplified by energy followed by an aerial spin, crushing opponents with a single fluid motion.
Before long, the younger fighters were knocked out or incapacitated, their bodies broken and bloodied. A massive crater, 3 meters wide, had formed where one of them had been sent flying into the ground.
Group 2: Relentless Domination
The older disciples in Group 2 proved their superiority even further. One of the older fighters, using expert control over kinetic energy, struck the ground with a low kick, sending a shockwave that shattered the arena floor. The younger participants struggled to maintain footing as the stone beneath them cracked open, causing several to tumble.
The fight turned into a vicious exchange of energy techniques. A plasma strike whizzed through the air, narrowly missing its target and instead burning a trail through the arena, turning the stone into molten slag. Combatants moved at speeds so fast that they were barely visible to the naked eye, blurring in and out of combat as the older disciples dominated the arena.
One younger fighter, attempting to strike an older opponent, was countered with a brutal combination—bone-shattering kicks followed by a series of pressure-point strikes that left him crumpled on the floor.
Group 3: A Battle of Attrition
In Group 3, the battle grew more intense. The younger fighters' energy was running out as they were relentlessly battered by the overwhelming force of their older opponents. At one point, the ground itself seemed to shudder under the immense force of an older disciple's full-powered strike, sending shockwaves that fractured the arena in all directions.
A younger participant tried to escape the chaos, but a quick-moving fighter latched onto him, slamming him into the wall with the force of a speeding truck. The stone cracked, and the younger fighter slumped to the ground, barely conscious.
Even as the older disciples tore through their opponents, they did not let up. One plasma-enhanced kick from an older disciple cut through a cluster of rocks like butter, sending a torrent of debris flying into the air. The sound of bones cracking and the screams of the fallen filled the arena.
Group 4 to 8: Ruthless Efficiency
As the tournament progressed, it became apparent that age, cultivation base and experience were the deciding factors. Across Groups 4 to 8, the pattern remained unchanged: the older fighters dominated. The younger combatants were skilled, but they lacked the cultivation base as well as the experience to fight against the brutal, methodical onslaught of the veterans.
The battlefield was littered with the broken bodies of the younger fighters, their bodies slamming into walls, crashing into the floor with deafening impacts, and leaving gaping wounds. Energy blades sliced through the air, tearing apart anything in their path, while electrical discharges zapped through the arena, paralyzing and incapacitating opponents.
In one particularly brutal exchange, an older fighter created a barrier of kinetic energy that reflected an incoming blast of plasma right back at the opponent, sending them into a tailspin. They were instantly rendered unconscious as the plasma blast left an impact crater 2 meters deep in the stone floor. The smell of burnt flesh lingered in the air.
The Aftermath: The Top 16 Emerges
As the last blows were exchanged, the final moments of the Round of 48 saw the remaining younger fighters limp away, barely able to stand. Their bodies were covered in bruises, their faces battered, and their movements sluggish. But they were lucky to have made it this far.
The 16 older disciples emerged as the victors, their bodies standing strong. Their combat styles were precise and overwhelming, each fight more intense than the last.
The victorious combatants stood tall, surrounded by broken bodies and massive craters where the younger participants had fallen. Their power was undeniable—each attack had been ruthless, calculated, and devastating. And as the survivors were dragged from the battlefield, the patriarch's voice echoed across the arena.
"The victors of the Round of 48 have been decided. The top 16 will now proceed to the next round. Prepare yourselves."