The Heavenly Ascendance Arena stood at the heart of Wudang sect, a grand circular battleground surrounded by towering stands.
Hundreds of disciples had gathered, their murmurs blending into an anxious hum.
Above them, seated on an elevated platform, were the sect elders, their gazes sharp with anticipation.
At the highest point, Sect Leader Zhang Taichen sat, his expression unreadable as he observed the unfolding events.
Juwon walked steadily toward the stage, his footsteps echoing across the stone floor. His presence drew a mix of reactions—some skeptical, some intrigued, and others outright hostile.
"He's just an outsider. Does he really deserve this match?"
"But he broke through to Foundation Establishment in record time. That's not normal."
"Even if he's talented, Luo Chen is an elite at the mid Foundation Establishment realm while Seo Juwon just reached Foundation Establishment. This won't be easy."
In the distance, Shen Mu stood beside Luo Chen, his voice low. "You know what to do. An outsider, yet he is given such honor? That alone is troubling. If things don't go our way, make sure he doesn't walk away from this unscathed."
Luo Chen hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, Elder."
Juwon stepped onto the platform, standing across from Luo Chen. The tension was palpable.
Luo Chen exhaled sharply, his gaze fixed on Juwon. "You don't have to do this," he said, his voice low but firm. "This will not end well for you. Even if you are not honored as a guardian, you will still be treated as a guest in Wudang. Walk away now, and you can leave with dignity."
Juwon let out a short, humorless chuckle. "With the techniques I hold? And your elder's viciousness? Yeah right. I suggest you stop wasting my time and just come at me."
Luo Chen's expression hardened.
He shook his head, his grip tightening around his sword. "You brought this upon yourself."
Elder Huang Long raised his hand. "This match will be fought under standard sect rules. No killing. Victory is determined by a clear defeat or surrender. If the match is prolonged, the Sect Leader will call the result. Begin!"
Luo Chen moved first, vanishing into shifting mirages as he executed Cascading Afterimage Steps.
A dozen blurred figures surrounded Juwon in an instant, each moving in tandem, making it impossible to tell which was real.
Juwon remained still, his eyes narrowing with an arrogant smirk. "Illusions? Wow, but I can do that too."
Luo Chen struck from behind, his sword slicing through the air in a Phantom Veil Slash.
But Juwon had already moved. Draconic Mirage Step. A flicker, a blur—his afterimage shattered as he reappeared a few feet away, completely untouched.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"He dodged it? Even against Luo Chen's Phantom Steps?"
Luo Chen's expression darkened. His blade flicked outward, unleashing a flurry of Shadow Fang Strikes—but Juwon didn't retreat. Instead, he shifted forward, weaving through the attacks with precision. His footwork had evolved.
Then came the counterattack.
Juwon's fist blurred, striking out with Flash Fist.
Luo Chen barely twisted away in time, but not before the sheer force of the strike sent cracks through the arena floor.
The battle had only begun, but already, the difference in their combat strength was clear.
"He's… overwhelming him," Yunfei observed, watching from the balcony.
Yuxian smirked. "Of course. Did you think Juwon would struggle against someone in the same realm?"
Luo Chen gritted his teeth. He had expected Juwon to be strong, but this—this was something else entirely. His strikes were relentless, his footwork unreadable.
No matter how many times he tried to create an opening, Juwon was always one step ahead, his attacks growing sharper, heavier.
Luo Chen feinted left and twisted his sword downward in a sweeping arc, aiming to catch Juwon off guard.
But Juwon stepped into the attack instead of away, parrying the blade with his forearm before driving his knee into Luo Chen's ribs.
Luo Chen gasped, staggering back.
Juwon gave him no time to recover.
He slid forward, his movement fluid like flowing water, and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick to Luo Chen's side.
The impact sent him skidding across the stage, his boots scraping against the stone floor.
Luo Chen barely managed to recover before Juwon was on him again.
A flurry of blows followed—a left hook, a spinning back elbow, and a downward hammer fist. Fists laced with Flash Fist, kicks coated in primordial qi.
Luo Chen deflected the first strike, dodged the second, but the third slammed into his shoulder, forcing him down to one knee.
Luo Chen's breathing turned ragged. He couldn't land a decisive blow. His strikes were relentless, his footwork unreadable.
No matter how many times he tried to create an opening, Juwon was always one step ahead, his attacks growing sharper, heavier. Luo Chen's breathing turned ragged. He couldn't land a decisive blow.
Doubt crept into his mind. No, this can't be happening. He tightened his grip around his weapon. If I don't stop him now... I won't be able to stop him at all.
For the first time, hesitation flickered across his face. He took a sharp step back, eyes darting toward Elder Shen Mu in the stands. His mentor's face remained cold, but his fingers curled slightly—a signal.
Luo Chen swallowed hard.
His fingers trembled before they darted toward his sleeve.
A thin, nearly imperceptible weapon slipped into his grasp
Thousand Phantom Needle—a legendary needle, laced with poison that disrupts qi flow within the meridians making them explode.
He hesitated, his conscience warring within him. He hadn't wanted this. Not like this.
But Juwon was still advancing.
Luo Chen clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with forced resolve. "I didn't want to do this… but you leave me no choice."
His hand flicked to his sleeve, and before anyone could react, a thin needle shot out—coated in a venomous, near-invisible poison.
Juwon felt the prick against his shoulder before he even saw it. His body stiffened. His vision blurred.
The crowd gasped.
Juwon staggered slightly, his breath coming out ragged. His limbs felt heavy, sluggish.
Poison.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
A voice cut through the air, sharp and cold. "Kill him." It was Elder Shen Mu.
Juwon tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond properly.
His Qi circulation was in disarray. He barely managed to take a defensive stance, each step each movement weighed heavy.
Luo Chen, gritting his teeth, lunged forward with a kick to Juwon's ribs.
The impact was brutal.
Juwon was sent flying, crashing hard against the stone floor. Smoke and dust erupted around him.
"Tch, I told you," Shen Mu sneered, stepping forward. "He was a fake. A fraud. The Celestial Guardians are long dead—this outsider is nothing but a pathetic liar."
"Elder Shen Mu!" Zhang Taichen's voice boomed across the arena, his expression dark. "It is forbidden to use hidden weapons in sect duels!"
Shen Mu turned, his tone smooth yet unwavering. "Yes, esteemed sect leader." While bowing down, wearing a sly smirk. "In sect duels between disciples. But Juwon.... is not a disciple of Wudang. And you, Sect Leader, were the one who demanded he prove himself."
Yuxian's Qi surged in fury. "You coward! You poisoned him and still call this a fair fight?!"
Yunfei placed a hand on Yuxian's shoulder, stopping him. "Not now," he murmured, his voice unusually serious.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"He's right. If he was truly a Celestial Guardian, would he really die to mere poison?"
"But what if he was a Celestial Guardian?"
"Tch, but we could have taken in such a talent… Why did the Sect Leader send him to die?"
Sect leader frowned "So that's how you are playing it elder"
Then, suddenly—A wave of energy surged through the arena.
The smoke was blasted away, revealing Juwon standing in the center of the battlefield, completely unharmed.
Silence. Absolute silence.
The entire sect watched in stunned disbelief.
Juwon's hand was wrapped around Luo Chen's throat, effortlessly lifting him off the ground.
His breath was heavy, his vision sharp despite the lingering effects of the poison. His entire body radiated fury.
A deep growl rumbled from his throat. "You." His grip tightened. "What did you do to my body?"
A surge of energy swirled behind him.
From his shoulder, a dragon emerged, coiling around his arm, its form shimmering with raw, unrestrained Qi.
The energy spiraled faster, the air around it distorting violently as if space itself was trembling under its presence. The dragon's mouth opened, its spiraling form drilling forward toward Luo Chen's neck.
The audience froze, their eyes locked onto the impossible sight. The sheer force emanating from Juwon's body made even the elders lean forward, their expressions shifting from doubt to disbelief.
Luo Chen's breath came in shallow gasps. He knew what was coming. "I—I was only doing what Elder Shen Mu asked—"
"You insolent fool!" Shen Mu shot forward, his Qi exploding outward as he launched toward Juwon.
Juwon's gaze snapped toward him. Without a second thought, he threw Luo Chen aside and faced the elder directly.
"Elder, don't—!" Zhang Taichen stood from his throne.
"Brother! No!" Yuxian shouted, trying to move.
Yunfei stopped and exhaled, his expression unreadable. "It's too late."
Juwon inhaled. Deeply. Eyes Closed.
And as he opened them with qi bursting out from his eyes.
—he roared.
Heaven Devouring Dragon Roar