The air was still, the very atmosphere trembling from the sheer devastation left in the wake of Jiang Chen's strike. A golden light burned brightly atop the Pillar of Legends, flying up the ranking list at light speed, etching his name into history.
1st Place - Jiang Chen (Peak Qi Condensation) Attack Power: Early Core Formation
The gathered disciples stood frozen, their expressions shifting between shock, awe, and disbelief.
"He… he actually did it…" one muttered.
"That wasn't just a record-breaking strike… that was a complete annihilation of the ranking!" another gasped.
Even Elder Zhao Yan, who had been grinning throughout, found himself rubbing his chin thoughtfully. This brat… He mastered the Heaven Sundering Palm in a single day and then merged it with Chaos Qi to create something beyond reason. Even our most monstrous prodigies needed months to achieve what he just did…
Then, laughter erupted.
"Hah! This is insane! A newbie just wiped out every other record at Qi Condensation!"
"First day in the sect, and he's already causing mayhem! I like this guy!"
The madness of the Heaven Sundering Sect roared to life as disciples cheered, brawled, and debated over Jiang Chen's feat.
Jiang Chen, standing before the ruined stone platform, cracked his knuckles. His entire arm tingled from the residual power of his attack, but deep inside, he knew…
I can take this further.
But before he could even take a breath, a new pressure descended upon the training ground.
BOOM!
The force was not crushing, not oppressive like a Golden Core elder's would be, but rather wild, like a brewing storm barely restrained.
A voice rang out, calm yet filled with an undercurrent of excitement.
"So… you're the one who just stole my spot."
Jiang Chen turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man stepping forward, his black hair tied in a loose tail, his expression relaxed but his eyes gleaming with battle-hungry intensity. His purple-and-gold robes bore the emblem of a True Disciple, and the moment he arrived, the rowdy disciples grew noticeably more focused.
Xiao Dong.
3rd Place - Xiao Dong (Late Qi Condensation) Attack Power: Middle Foundation Establishment.
One of the most talented disciples and the only to gain the rank of True Disciple at the Qi Condensation stage.
One of the strongest Qi Condensation cultivators in the sect.
And he was staring straight at Jiang Chen.
Xiao Dong walked up to the pillar, placing his palm against the inscribed names. His gaze flickered as he saw his own ranking now pushed below Jiang Chen's.
A grin tugged at his lips.
"This is exciting." He turned to Jiang Chen. "You're the first one to push me down the rankings."
Jiang Chen smirked. "And?"
Xiao Dong chuckled, rolling his shoulders. "And that means I need to see it for myself."
He stepped forward, his eyes burning with unrestrained fighting spirit.
"Jiang Chen, let's have a spar."
The gathered disciples erupted in excitement.
"Holy shit, he's challenging him already?!"
"This is perfect! The strongest newcomer vs one of the strongest True Disciples!"
"This is gonna be a bloodbath!"
Even Elder Zhao Yan crossed his arms, his smirk widening. "Heh, looks like the brat's first real challenge is here."
Jiang Chen's smirk never wavered. If anything, his golden-amber eyes burned even brighter.
"A spar?" He stepped forward, his Qi subtly thrumming in the air. "You're not mad I took your spot?"
Xiao Dong scoffed. "Mad? Hell no! I've been waiting for something like this!" He clenched his fists, the very space around his body rippling slightly. "Do you know how boring it's been? No one in the Qi Condensation rankings has been able to push me at all! And now, someone like you comes along and obliterates my record?"
His grin widened, his teeth flashing like a hungry beast.
"How could I not want to fight you?"
Jiang Chen exhaled, rolling his neck. His body was still buzzing from the power of his last strike, but his instincts screamed at him—this guy was strong.
Stronger than the Foundation Establishment cultivators he had fought before.
Stronger than anyone of his generation he had clashed with thus far.
A real warrior of the Heaven Sundering Sect.
And Jiang Chen couldn't wait.
The two warriors took their positions.
The training ground fell into complete silence.
Xiao Dong's eyes gleamed with excitement. "No weapons. Just fists."
Jiang Chen cracked his knuckles. "Fine by me."
Elder Zhao Yan laughed. "Alright, brats! This is just a spar, so don't go killing each other… but also don't hold back!"
BOOM!
The moment the words left his mouth, Xiao Dong vanished.
Jiang Chen's pupils shrank. Fast!
Before he could react, a fist covered in roaring Qi smashed toward his ribs.
BANG!
Jiang Chen barely had time to raise his arms, blocking the hit, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward, his feet carving trenches in the ground.
Xiao Dong grinned. "Not bad."
Jiang Chen smirked. "Not bad yourself."
Then he counterattacked.
BOOM!
His fist blurred through the air, his Chaos Qi infused into his movements. Xiao Dong dodged, weaving around the strike like a phantom before retaliating with a palm strike aimed at Jiang Chen's gut.
BANG!
Jiang Chen twisted at the last second, absorbing the impact and redirecting the force outward.
Xiao Dong raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You're not just brute force, huh?"
Jiang Chen grinned. "Surprised?"
The two warriors took a step back, eyeing each other.
The fight had just begun.
The gathered disciples roared in excitement.
"This is insane! They're evenly matched!"
Although Jiang Chen technically had the power of a Core Formation expert, that was only his strongest move, and Xiao Dong was no slouch.
"Xiao Dong is the most talented True Disciple, but this Jiang Chen… he's a monster!"
Elder Zhao Yan grinned. "Now this is a fight worth watching."
Jiang Chen rolled his shoulders, his muscles tingling with exhilaration.
He could already tell.
This wasn't just a simple spar.
This was the first true test of his strength in the Heaven Sundering Sect.
And he wouldn't have it any other way.
He raised his fists.
Xiao Dong's smirk widened.
"Come on then, Jiang Chen."
"Let's see how strong you really are."
BOOOOOOM!
The battle began.
The air in the training ground was electric. A storm of anticipation swirled between the gathered disciples as two monsters of the Heaven Sundering Sect faced each other.
Jiang Chen and Xiao Dong stood a dozen meters apart, their gazes locked, neither backing down.
Xiao Dong cracked his knuckles, a feral grin stretching across his face. "This is the most excited I've been in a long time. You're no ordinary Qi Condensation brat, Jiang Chen."
Jiang Chen smirked, rolling his shoulders. "I could say the same to you."
The surrounding disciples held their breath.
Then—
BOOM!
Xiao Dong vanished.
Jiang Chen's eyes sharpened. Fast!
In an instant, Xiao Dong was in front of him, his fist already rocketing toward Jiang Chen's ribs.
BANG!
Jiang Chen twisted his body, barely deflecting the blow with his forearm. The sheer force of the punch still sent him skidding backward, his feet carving deep trenches into the stone.
The moment he stabilized—
BOOM!
Xiao Dong was already there, following up with a spinning kick aimed at his head.
Jiang Chen ducked, his Chaos Qi flaring as he countered with a brutal uppercut.
BANG!
Xiao Dong grinned as he blocked the hit, but the impact still sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
Jiang Chen clicked his tongue. His battle instincts are insane!
Xiao Dong wasn't just fast—his reaction speed, footwork, and power were perfectly balanced.
This wasn't just some brute throwing punches.
This was a true warrior.
Jiang Chen's blood boiled with excitement. Now this… this is what a battle should be!
Xiao Dong didn't stop. He launched a relentless assault—his fists like blunt sledgehammers, his kicks like whipcracks of raw force.
Jiang Chen fought back with just as much ferocity, his Chaos Qi-infused strikes clashing violently against Xiao Dong's devastating blows.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The stone floor cracked and shattered beneath them as they exchanged attacks at blinding speed. The entire training ground trembled under the sheer pressure of their battle.
Disciples watching were losing their minds.
"WHAT KIND OF MONSTERS ARE THESE TWO?!"
"They're only Qi Condensation, but they're fighting like Core Formation experts!"
Even Elder Zhao Yan was watching with narrowed eyes. This isn't just a fight… this is a battle between future legends.
Jiang Chen wiped a trickle of blood from his lip and grinned. "Not bad, Xiao Dong. You're the first in a while who can keep up with me."
Xiao Dong laughed, shaking out his sore knuckles. "Likewise, bastard! But let's kick things up a notch, shall we?"
His aura erupted.
A powerful golden-red Qi ignited around him, crackling with sheer destructive force.
Jiang Chen's eyes flickered. This is…
Xiao Dong slammed his foot into the ground, the stone beneath him imploding. "I've been saving this for the ranking, but I guess now's a good time."
His fist glowed with bright energy.
Gasps rang out from the crowd.
"The Heaven Sundering Fist? He's already learning that?!"
"The most destructive technique of the sect?!"
Even Elder Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Chen exhaled slowly, feeling the violent energy radiating from Xiao Dong's body.
His smirk widened.
"Fine," he said, raising his palm. "Then I'll use this."
The air around Jiang Chen collapsed inward, distorting unnaturally.
Dark energy swirled, coiling together with a force that seemed to reject reality itself.
"He's using it too!"
"The Heaven Sundering Palm!!"
Elder Zhao Yan's eyes gleamed with intrigue.
Xiao Dong grinned. "You crazy bastard. Fine then! Let's see whose attack is stronger!"
Jiang Chen and Xiao Dong charged at each other.
The ground ruptured beneath their feet as they closed the distance.
"TAKE THIS!" Xiao Dong roared, his fist exploding forward with heaven sundering might.
"BRING IT!" Jiang Chen shouted, his palm surging with chaotic annihilation.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Their attacks collided.
A wave of pure destruction erupted from the impact point, blasting outward like a raging storm. The training ground collapsed, massive cracks spiderwebbing across the earth.
The very air seemed to rip apart.
Both fighters were launched backward, crashing into opposite ends of the field, the sheer force of the clash sending shockwaves through the entire sect.
The silence that followed was deafening.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then—
A gravelly chuckle broke the quiet.
Then another.
Then laughter.
Xiao Dong grinned through the blood dripping down his chin.
Jiang Chen wiped dust off his face, smirking.
They both stood up at the same time.
Then—they clasped hands.
"You bastard," Xiao Dong laughed, his grip firm. "I've never enjoyed getting my ass kicked this much."
Jiang Chen smirked. "Right back at you."
The surrounding disciples exploded in cheers.
"That was INSANE!"
"Jiang Chen and Xiao Dong are now brothers through battle!"
Elder Zhao Yan just shook his head, chuckling. "Madmen, the both of them."
As the two warriors pulled back, Xiao Dong threw an arm around Jiang Chen's shoulders.
"You're my kind of guy, Jiang Chen." He grinned. "From today forward, if anyone messes with you, they mess with me."
Jiang Chen smirked. "Then you'd better keep up. I don't plan on slowing down."
Xiao Dong laughed loudly. "That's what I like to hear!"
The training ground was still in ruins, the disciples still buzzing with excitement, and the Heaven Sundering Sect had gained two new legends.
And this—this was just the beginning.