After Kane saw the masked figure slipping past the crowd, he took a step forward and the log he was standing on was shattered into splinters in an instant. His body was launched like an arrow out of a bow as his figure headed straight for the unsuspecting Kyle. He activated one of the techniques his father had secured for him before the match; techniques were incredibly hard to come by, especially in a small city like Kegal. After using the full extent of his influence, Kabal could only get him four different techniques. The amount might have seemed small, but in such a city just one of them was a treasure. The guards only had one of these techniques each. Even then, they had to repeat techniques between themselves. Right now he was using the technique known as sonic punch. His hand vibrated like the tail of a rattlesnake as he prepared to strike, the figure of his magic heart suspended in the air behind him, enhancing the power of his attack. His hand slammed towards Kyle and a cracking sound was heard. The log Kyle had been standing on also shattered into splinters. The sonic punch lifted the chi river in the air like the walls of a castle, before the river came back down and splashed. Many of those around stumbled as the waves rolled outward. They soon fell into the river of chi and were eliminated. To balance on this river one would need incredible control over their chi—something Kyle had mastered for his level. Kane looked around for his opponent and was shocked to see him already standing past the finish line. His face turned red from anger as his magic heart, the blue snake, hissed in the air, making chills run down the contestants still on top of the log.
"Who the hell is that guy? Although he has a mask on, I can tell he's smirking under that mask."
Kane thought as he scoffed at the figure across the battlefield. There was no rush; he would deal with this guy later. He turned his gaze toward the other contestants still trying to reach the finish line, ignoring the powerful heirs so as not to wear himself out. He prepared to attack once again. Those on the chi river were forced to release their magic hearts in return, trying to stand against Kane's attack, but it was futile. His blue serpent heart was just too powerful. The first match didn't disappoint; the people cheered while the guests wore complicated expressions—especially Vera. She was shocked at how Kyle had evaded Kane's attack; he had done it with ease. She looked at Felix and saw him smiling back at her; he seemed to be enjoying the bet they made. She tried to knock him down a peg.
"Don't get a big head. That masked man was just lucky; it doesn't mean he's as powerful as the other heirs here." Felix only chuckled while rubbing his beard. Only time would tell how strong Kyle truly was; they only needed to wait. The next match soon began and the crowd became more excited. The competition was becoming fierce and only three hundred people remained among the contestants, despite thousands going from the start. The crowd watched as Elder Dru waved his hands again. They couldn't help but be eager. The last time the elder waved his hands like this, a river of chi flowed out of an artifact. What sort of amazing things would happen this time? A huge bell came out of the old man's storage ring. This item was a level-one magical item. It settled in the ring like a weapon with a crash. The elder flew on top of the bell and gazed at the contestants before speaking.
"Your chi control has already been tested and everyone here passed. However, the strength of your chi—that has not been tested. The rules are simple. Anyone who can hit the bell with enough force and cause it to clang will pass the test. This time, there will be no fighting among yourselves. And anyone who has the highest strength of power will be boosted in the next round, giving them a bit of edge over their opponents. Begin!"
He stepped on the ground lightly and floated into the air, leaving the stage clear for the participants to begin. The crowd watched as one of the contestants was forced onto the stage by the people at the back; since he stood at the forefront, he couldn't stop himself from stumbling on the stage. No one wanted to go first. It was better to sit back, observe, and prepare for their turns. The figure that had stumbled onto the stage could feel his legs shaking as he prepared to strike. Since he had no techniques, he made the raw chi flow into his palms and sent his hands forward. The energy he released was so low that the high level of the steel immediately repelled the attack. His own energy blasted outward and sent him flying back into the crowd. Not even a tremble came from the bell; it stood still as if only a light breeze had passed through the arena. The crowd went deathly silent; they weren't feeling excitement at the moment, only anxiety as they watched one of the competitors who had already passed the first difficult round not even be able to score a decent mark during the second round. Despair appeared in the eyes of those who felt they were around the same level as the man. No one needed to tell them; they knew they wouldn't be able to ring that bell even if they blasted it with all their strength. It was time to separate the sheep from the goats and bring forth the true competitors in the competition. Right after the man had failed, an arrogant voice rang through the crowd.
"Step aside, peasants! You're blocking my path." Not even a moment after the voice was heard, two of the contestants were seen flying out of the arena like kites that had their strings cut—apparently these were the men blocking the speaker's path. The person speaking stepped forward. His flowing black hair resembled Kyle's. Kane didn't even linger as he lifted his hands and raw chi flowed from his body, then he unleashed his magic heart and a thick blue serpent once again appeared in front of the onlookers. He used his second technique while drawing out his sword. "Whisssh!" The sword cut through the air and hit the bell. The next scene shocked everyone, including the sect leaders. Kane was truly a talented individual.