The arena trembled.
Dust and stone rose from the shattered platform where Jiang Chen and Jiang Lei faced each other. Both radiated immense pressure—qi coiling like serpents around their bodies. For the first time, the crowd sensed that this was no longer a routine assessment. This was a battle between two geniuses.
"Finally… someone worthy," Jiang Chen muttered under his breath, his aura calm but lethal.
Jiang Lei's grin widened. His stance was solid, his arms like iron. "You've grown strong. But can you withstand real power?"
---
**Clash!**
The first strike was like a thunderclap. Jiang Lei's fist, carrying the weight of a Body Tempering Layer 4 cultivator, slammed toward Jiang Chen with terrifying force. The ground beneath them fractured into jagged shards.
Jiang Chen activated **Shadow Step**, moving almost imperceptibly. He avoided the brunt of the attack—but the edge of the strike grazed him, tearing his sleeve and sending a shockwave through his side.
*Pain? Yes. But control? Perfect.*
He exhaled slowly. This was the first opponent who could actually **limit his mobility**. Jiang Lei was not just relying on strength; he was predicting moves, controlling the battlefield, closing escape routes.
---
Another strike. Another.
Jiang Chen dodged and blocked, relying on his enhanced meridians and **Primordial Strike** reflexes. Each movement consumed qi, each dodge brought him closer to the edge of exhaustion—but he was learning. Every attack from Jiang Lei revealed a flaw, a rhythm, a hidden pattern.
*This is real combat.*
---
The crowd was breathless. Even the elders leaned forward, whispering among themselves.
"Never have I seen a young master push a Layer 4 to such strain," one muttered.
"Watch closely… this is a rare talent."
---
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed. He felt the qi in his body tighten, spreading from his core to his limbs. **Primordial Strike** coursed through him like molten metal.
The next clash came—Jiang Lei's full-force punch collided with Jiang Chen's palm in the center. Qi exploded outward, cracking the platform and sending a shockwave across the arena. Both fighters stumbled slightly, sweat dripping, breathing heavy.
---
Jiang Lei's grin didn't falter. "You're faster than I imagined. But speed alone—will not win against raw strength!"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "Then I'll make it more than speed."
He condensed qi into his limbs, compressing it with precision. Every meridian pumped in unison. Every strike, every movement, was amplified.
A faint golden aura shimmered around him, the first visible sign of **Primordial Body Layer 2 fully synchronized with his fighting style**.
---
Jiang Lei's eyes widened slightly. "Ah… I see."
He charged again, fists raining down like a waterfall of steel. But this time—Jiang Chen was ready. **Shadow Step**. Sidestep. Palm strikes. Kick. Each movement perfectly calculated.
*Bang! Bang!*
Jiang Lei staggered slightly, but he recovered instantly. "Not bad…" he muttered, a new respect forming.
---
The battle escalated. Strike after strike, block after block. Neither had landed a decisive blow yet, but the tension was electric.
Jiang Chen's mind was clear. No fear, no hesitation. Every attack from Jiang Lei was now being cataloged, every weakness noted.
And in his heart… a single thought:
*This is only the beginning. I will surpass him. I will dominate.*
The system panel flickered subtly in his vision:
**[Warning: Opponent scaling detected. Challenge level extreme.]**
**[Reward for victory: Rare Technique + 150 Primordial Points]**
Jiang Chen's lips curved into a faint, dangerous smile.
"Good," he whispered. "Now it gets interesting."