The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, steady and clear.
"Presenting the top ranks of the tournament: First place, Xiao Yan. Second place, Feng Liwei. Third place, Mu Rong Feng. Fourth place, Nalan Yanran. From fourth place onward,all other ranks will be up for grabs. But keep in mind, only the final five will be able fight in the semifinals. "
A banner unfolded revealing the names of the first ten contestants. " to reach the semifinals, you must defeat the current rank five, Xiao Chen!"
A ripple passed through the crowd — some in disbelief, others sizing up the new challenger to the elite.
"Contestants, the fifth rank is up for grabs. All who dare may enter the arena. Fight with honor. No deaths permitted." The fifth rank was a prize fiercely fought for, and now it was open for challenge.
The massive gates swung open with a grinding creak. A flood of challengers spilled in — a mix of middling cultivators, schemers, and covert operatives sent by the sects. Their eyes locked on the calm figure who stepped in from the opposite side.
Xiao Chen's expression was unreadable beneath the faint shadow of his cloak. Slowly, the air around him thickened with a sinister chill — the malice that permeated his very being, unseen but unmistakable.
With a low, resonant hum, the earth beneath him quaked. Rising from the cracked ground, the Three Fold Yaksha took shape — a monstrous phantom nearly fifteen feet tall, triple-headed and six-armed, each arm brandishing a gleaming green saber carved from raw, malevolent energy.
The beast's heavy footsteps sent tremors rippling outward, scattering a cluster of challengers who dared approach too closely.
A frenzy erupted.
Opponents swarmed in waves, their faces masks of desperation and fury. Spears, blades, and arcane weapons flashed in chaotic arcs, desperate to breach the phantom's defenses.
Xiao Chen's fingers twitched subtly, commanding the Yaksha to swing. Massive sabers sliced through the air with a whistling fury — a low, grinding slash sending multiple challengers crashing into the dust. Others were hurled back like ragdolls, their cries lost beneath the roar of the crowd.
Around the edges, a squad of sect-placed agents moved in quiet coordination, their eyes sharp and calculating. These were not mere competitors — they were hunters, tasked with wearing down Xiao Chen's energy and breaking the phantom's form.
Two cloaked figures feigned retreat, drawing the phantom's attention. When it lunged forward, they spun, releasing a volley of dark energy bolts aimed precisely at the phantom Raksha
The phantom absorbed the blasts, its glowing green sabers flashing in a devastating counterattack that scattered the pair.
Amid the chaos, Xiao Chen's own senses sharpened. His Scourge of Heavens activated — pupils glowing a fierce red — piercing through the smoky haze, revealing every hidden motion, every feint and stratagem the challengers attempted.
A pair of challengers, sensing their advantage, darted in close to the phantom's legs, stabbing viciously at the ground. Dark energy spikes erupted — a manifestation of Xiao Chen's Ground Quake — sharp and cutting, ripping through the earth to intercept them before they could land fatal blows.
The fight escalated into a savage melee, challengers pressing with ruthless aggression, each seeking a crack in Xiao Chen's defenses.
Despite their numbers, their blows were met with uncanny fluidity. The phantom's sabers sweeped low, throwing cultivators like they were ragdolls I'm a display of pure might. Xiao Chen's body moved with calculated economy, conserving energy as he refined the flow of malice within his Daoist canon with each strike.
As the battle dragged on, the arena became a maelstrom of swirling dust, clashing energy, and bloodied warriors. The crowd held their breath as fighters were hurled aside, some slumped unconscious, others forced into desperate retreat.
Still, more came — relentless waves of challengers hungry for the coveted fifth rank.
Behind the scenes, whispers rose among sect leaders and spectators alike. Some decried the fairness of the contest — how the elites waited to fight only at the final stages while others were bled dry in this crucible.
Xiao Chen remained unfazed. For a demon, this was nothing but a floor to dance.
The planted fighters didn't stay idle. They couldn't use too much power in case of being disqualified for cheating. So they took another approach. They began gathering others. As long as they took down the unstoppable Xiao Chen, they might have a chance at the fifth place.
Attackers began coordinating. Under the guidance of the plants, they began working together, using formations to bind him down, and exhaust him while using combinational arts to chip away at his impressive might.
"Great dragon halberd"
A wave of energy, taking the shape of a dragon formed and it wrapped itself around the yaksha, squeezing it, clawing at it, while the sword users gathered their energy from the other side.
" heaven breaking sword"
Xiao Chen let his blades dissolve, his phantom two arms grabbing the dragons maw while another grabbed its tail. The other two clasped the sword between its palms as it tried to fall on to him, while his last hand was busy blocking a stream of elemental energy that continuously broke its body apart.
"You might be strong,Xiao Chen" one.of the plants faked exhaustion as he tried to rile up the weakening dozen of cultivators. ""But you will never be able to defeat us all."
Xiao Chen said nothing. His gaze furrowing as he tried to maintain his phantom.while keep ng the snapping maw of the dragon at an arm's length. But despite this, he kept his lower up stubbornly.
"Give up, you cannot win this!"
" thats right. You aren't against just one opponent. Your opponent is everyone.Do you hear us!? You will never win!"
The contestants chanted. "Give up!"
"Give up"
"Give up"
At the top of the observing box, an elder from the misty clouds sect couldn't help himself as he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha," his laughter echoed even inbidst of the noise. "Do you see brat, this is what will happen when you try to go against heavens! Ha ha hah ha"
Xiao You gripped her fist. There was no happiness. But there was vindication. She gritted her teeth as she glared at the struggling demon. She prayed from the bottom of her heart.
'LOOSE'