Inside the watching gallery, Wei Rutong and Wei Zhuxan maintained their outward composure, but deep within, a cold fear gripped their hearts.
They recognized the monstrosity Wei Jin was about to face—a Hippostral, an astral hippopotamus known for its unparalleled ferocity and raw power.
Stories of the Hippostral were infamous among cultivators.
This beast wasn't just strong; it was a legend.
In the same realm, its kind had once rampaged across entire battlefields, slaughtering thousands of Core Formation cultivators before it was finally subdued. Its hide was said to be impenetrable, its strength unmatched, and its fury unrelenting.
Now, this terrifying creature stood in the arena, its small, cruel eyes fixed on Wei Jin, drool pooling at its massive jaws.
Wei Rutong swallowed hard, his hand instinctively clenching. Even with his awakened Inverse Eyes, he doubted he could bring this beast down unscathed.
Zhuxan was no better. His smug demeanor cracked ever so slightly as he stared at the spiritual projection. "This is madness," he thought to himself. "Does this fool even know what he's up against? He's walking to his death."
But then, a darker thought took root in both their hearts. "Let him die. Let him be crushed beneath those massive feet or devoured in a single bite. Watching his arrogance be repaid with death—what could be more satisfying?"
The crowd roared with excitement as they watched Wei Jin step into the arena, standing defiantly before the towering Hippostral.
"He's insane!" someone shouted. "Facing a Hippostral barehanded? Even the elites wouldn't dare without weapons!"
"Does he even know what he's up against?" another exclaimed. "That thing's hide is tougher than enchanted armor!"
But amidst the jeers, there were murmurs of admiration.
"Arrogant as he is, he's got guts, I'll give him that. To face that monster head-on?"
"Guts or stupidity?" another retorted. "Doesn't matter—this will be his end."
"Such a pity," an elderly cultivator mused. "That young man has spirit, but bravery alone won't save him from the Hippostral's wrath."
The Hippostral let out a bone-rattling roar, its massive form surging forward, each step shaking the arena floor. Its maw opened wide, revealing rows of jagged, yellowed teeth that could crush boulders.
Most in the crowd assumed Wei Jin would evade, perhaps attempt to buy time or look for an opening. But instead, to everyone's shock, Wei Jin charged straight at the Hippostral.
"What is he doing?!"
"He's insane!"
"He's got no fear—that's not bravery; that's suicide!"
Yet amidst the chaos, others couldn't help but marvel.
"This kid… arrogant, yes. But look at him. He's not backing down."
"A true cultivator faces death head-on. Even if he falls here, his courage will be remembered."
"It's a shame. Such spirit—what a waste of potential."
The crowd's voices blended into a cacophony as Wei Jin and the Hippostral closed the distance.
The beast's massive legs thundered against the ground, kicking up clouds of dust, while Wei Jin's footsteps remained steady and unrelenting.
Zhuxan couldn't believe his eyes. He leaned forward, his knuckles white against the railing. "He's running straight at it… Is he crazy?"
Rutong's brow furrowed deeply. "This arrogance of his… It'll get him killed."
Finally, the two clashed. Wei Jin leaped forward with unyielding determination, his fist raised to meet the Hippostral's charge. The moment they collided, a deafening BOOM shook the arena, echoing like a thunderclap.
Dust exploded into the air, engulfing both combatants in a blinding cloud. The spiritual projection flickered under the sheer force of the impact, struggling to maintain clarity.
The crowd held their breath, their voices fading into stunned silence.
All eyes were on the swirling dust cloud, waiting to see who—or what—would emerge.
As the dust began to settle, the spiritual projection slowly came into focus.
At first, the audience leaned in, holding their breath, their eyes wide and unblinking, as though afraid to miss even a fraction of the scene.
The murk cleared inch by inch, revealing an arena littered with deep cracks and debris.
And then, there it was.
The Hippostral, once an embodiment of fear and indomitable power, lay sprawled on the ground, completely unconscious.
Its massive body was motionless, its thick hide battered in ways no one thought possible, with faint steam rising from its flesh.
A creature that had terrorized cultivators for generations was now reduced to a defeated, unmoving heap.
Standing above it was Wei Jin.
Wei Jin's chest heaved as he stood tall and proud, his arms crossed over his chest, his head tilted back, gazing at the sky as though basking in some divine glory.
His robes fluttered slightly from the residual energy of the clash, his figure appearing larger than life. His face radiated with an unmistakable aura of absolute triumph and unshakable arrogance.
Then, suddenly, "WUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Wei Jin's booming laughter echoed across the arena and through the projection, shaking everyone out of their stunned stupor.
"HIPPOSTRAL?!" Wei Jin roared, his laughter ceasing for a brief moment. "MORE LIKE A CHICKEN!" He stomped his foot near the creature's head for emphasis, and the beast's body jolted slightly, causing a collective gasp from the crowd.
The faces of the spectators twisted into grotesque masks of disbelief and shock.
Some clutched their heads as though their minds couldn't process what they were seeing. Others staggered back as though struck by an invisible force.
"IMPOSSIBLE!" cried one. "The Hippostral is undefeatable in the Tenth Mortal Realm!"
"HOW?!" shouted another, his hands trembling. "THAT THING DESTROYED ENTIRE CLANS BEFORE! THIS CAN'T BE REAL!"
One woman fainted, caught by her companion, who was no better off, his jaw slack and his face pale.
Wei Zhuxan's reaction was the most dramatic of all. His face turned red, then pale, then green, his lips quivering as he clutched the edge of the gallery railing so hard his knuckles turned white.
"No… NO! THIS CAN'T BE! HE MUST HAVE CHEATED! HE MUST HAVE! THERE'S NO WAY!" He slammed his hand against the railing, his voice growing more hysterical with every word.
"IMPOSSIBLE! IMPOSSIBLE! THAT MONSTER SHOULD HAVE CRUSHED HIM!"
Even Wei Rutong, who prided himself on maintaining a calm demeanor, couldn't hide his shock.
His eyes twitched, his brows furrowed deeply, and his hands shook slightly. He clenched his jaw and whispered under his breath, "What is this madness…?"
But Wei Jin wasn't done.
He took a deep breath, spreading his arms wide and lifting his head even higher.
His voice boomed through the arena, commanding absolute attention.
"HEAR ME!" he declared, his tone brimming with confidence and grandeur. "I, WEI JIN, HAVE CRUSHED THIS SO-CALLED BEAST WITH NOTHING BUT MY BARE HANDS! NO EYES, NO WEAPONS—JUST ME!"
He pointed at the Hippostral's prone form with dramatic flair. "THIS IS THE RESULT OF TRUE STRENGTH! NOT SOME STUPID BLOODLINE! NOT SOME AWAKENED EYES! JUST SHEER WILL AND POWER!"
The crowd outside the spiritual projection erupted into murmurs, but Wei Jin's speech continued, overpowering their voices.
"FROM THIS DAY FORTH, REMEMBER MY NAME! I WILL BE THE ONE TO RAISE THE WEI FAMILY TO UNIMAGINABLE HEIGHTS! I WILL MAKE OUR NAME REVERED NOT JUST IN THIS REALM, BUT IN ALL REALMS! I WILL BRING HONOR TO OUR CLAN, WITH OR WITHOUT YOUR SO-CALLED 'SPECIAL EYES!'"
He clenched his fist and held it high. "I AM WEI JIN! AND I WILL BECOME THE STRONGEST IN EXISTENCE! ALL WHO STAND IN MY WAY WILL FALL! BEASTS, ENEMIES, EVEN FATE ITSELF—NOTHING CAN STOP ME!"
The spiritual projection flickered slightly, and some in the crowd outside began muttering among themselves.
"He cheated, right?" whispered one.
"He must have cheated," another replied, shaking his head. "There's no way anyone in the Tenth Mortal Stage could take down a Hippostral barehanded!"
"But…" an older man interjected, his brow furrowed, "if he cheated, how did he manage it? The arena is protected against external tampering…"
"Perhaps he used a forbidden technique?" someone else suggested.
Wei Zhuxan, still trembling with rage, pointed at the screen. "He's lying! He's a fraud! I refuse to believe he did that without some kind of trickery!"
Wei Rutong said nothing, his mind racing as he replayed the fight over and over in his head.
Meanwhile, inside the arena, Wei Jin sauntered out of the dust cloud with an expression of pure smugness, his chin held high and his hands casually resting behind his head as though he hadn't just performed an impossible feat.
His steps were slow and deliberate, each one radiating confidence as he approached the exit.
As he emerged from the arena, he turned to face the crowd with a sly grin, his eyes scanning the shocked faces before him. "What's the matter?" he asked, his voice dripping with mockery. "You all look like you've seen a ghost."