238: Chapter 237 Winning Streak

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the drawing of lots ended.

Eight groups, fifty-six people, each took their respective positions.

Jiang Hanzhou walked to the arena area where the lower group was located. Seven people had already gathered here—including himself, there were eight in total.

His gaze swept across these seven people, quickly evaluating them in his mind.

Three men and four women, with cultivation ranging from the Initial Stage of Yuanxiang to the Late Yuanxiang Stage. Two of them, with steady auras and faint Sword Intent swirling around them, were Disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak. One refined young man dressed in azure robes had fluctuations of Water True Intent swirling around him—

Bibo Pool, Senior Brother Su Jingyuan.

Late Yuanxiang Stage.

The moment his gaze met Jiang Hanzhou's, he nodded slightly as a greeting. His attitude was neither warm nor cold.

Jiang Hanzhou also nodded slightly in return.

Then, his gaze landed on the last person.

It was a burly young man, about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, dressed in the blue and white martial attire of Heavenly Sword Peak, with a cold face and gloomy eyes. A broadsword hung at his waist, its scabbard engraved with fine frost patterns.

Late Yuanxiang Stage Peak.

Zhou Han.

The third-ranked Inner Sect Disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak.

His gaze swept over Jiang Hanzhou, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes before he looked away, as if looking even once more would be a waste of time.

Jiang Hanzhou didn't mind.

He simply walked to the edge of the arena and waited quietly.

—

Soon, the first match of the lower group began.

The referee was a middle-aged deacon from Tianji Peak, with a stiff expression and a resonant voice:

"Lower group, first match: Number One versus Number Eight."

Two Disciples leaped onto the arena.

One was a Disciple of Bibo Pool, at the Yuan Xiang middle stage, practicing water-attribute Cultivation Techniques; the other was a Disciple of Red Fire Peak, at the Initial Stage of Yuanxiang, practicing fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques.

Water and fire countered each other, making for a lively fight.

But Jiang Hanzhou only took one look before withdrawing his gaze.

The gap in their strength was too obvious. Although the Bibo Pool Disciple had a higher cultivation, his Moves were too rigid, following the rules for every strike without any flexibility. The Red Fire Peak Disciple, despite being a stage lower in cultivation, fought fiercely, putting his full strength into every Move, showing some spirit.

But spirit could not make up for the gap in strength.

After thirty Moves, the Bibo Pool Disciple forced his opponent off the arena with a Move called "Thousand Layers of Jade Waves," winning the match.

The referee announced the result expressionlessly and then looked at the list in his hand:

"Lower group, second match: Number Two versus Number Seven."

Number Two.

Jiang Hanzhou's brow twitched slightly.

Number Seven was him.

He leaped onto the arena, stood on the white jade floor, and looked across.

Opposite him, a delicate-looking woman was slowly walking onto the arena. She wore the azure robes of Bibo Pool, a soft sword hung at her waist, and a faint water-blue light swirled around her.

Yuan Xiang middle stage.

She looked at Jiang Hanzhou, a hint of nervousness flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"Su Waner of Bibo Pool." She cupped her fists in salute. "Senior Brother Jiang, please guide me."

Jiang Hanzhou nodded slightly and returned the salute:

"Jiang Hanzhou of Red Fire Peak. Please."

The referee glanced at the two and waved his hand:

"Begin!"

The moment the words fell, Su Waner moved.

She didn't attack rashly; instead, she formed hand seals, and the layer of water-blue light around her suddenly surged!

The light condensed in the air, transforming into countless fine water threads that shot toward Jiang Hanzhou! Wherever the threads passed, the air became filled with a moist aura—this was "Thousand Silk Binding" from Bibo Pool's signature Cultivation Technique, the Jade Wave True Scripture.

It used Water True Intent to condense into fine threads to entwine the opponent and restrict their movement.

If one were entangled by these water threads, it would be like falling into a quagmire; the more they struggled, the tighter it would become.

Jiang Hanzhou looked at the incoming water threads, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

He didn't retreat, nor did he dodge.

He simply raised his right hand and spread his fingers.

Inside his body, Tidal True Intent suddenly surged!

An invisible fluctuation spread from his palm, like tides crashing against the shore, instantly enveloping the entire arena!

The incoming water threads trembled violently the moment they touched that fluctuation!

And then—

They turned uncontrollably and surged back toward Su Waner!

Su Waner's expression changed drastically!

She wanted to stop, but it was already too late. Those water threads entwined and tightened around her, trapping her in place!

"This..." Her eyes were full of disbelief.

She had practiced the Jade Wave True Scripture for seven years and believed her control over Water True Intent was pure enough. But in that instant, she clearly sensed that the water threads she had released were forcibly taken over by a more powerful Water True Intent.

Tidal True Intent, Thirty percent peak.

His control over water-element power was far superior to hers.

Jiang Hanzhou looked at her and did not press his advantage.

He just stood there and said calmly:

"Junior Sister Su, do you wish to continue?"

Su Waner bit her teeth and desperately circulated her True Intent, trying to break free from the restraint of the water threads. But those threads were her own power, now controlled by Jiang Hanzhou's Tidal True Intent; they were like iron chains, tightening the more she struggled.

After three breaths, she gave up.

"I admit defeat." Her voice was somewhat hoarse.

The referee glanced at Jiang Hanzhou, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Lower group, second match: Number Seven wins."

Jiang Hanzhou cupped his fists in salute and turned to walk off the arena.

Behind him, Su Waner stood on the arena, watching his back with eyes full of complexity.

One Move.

He only used Tidal True Intent and hadn't even drawn his blade.

—

At the edge of the arena, the Inner Sect Disciples watching the battle all showed varying degrees of surprise on their faces.

"He won in just one Move?"

"Even though Su Waner isn't top-tier, she's still at the Yuan Xiang middle stage..."

"Tidal True Intent at Thirty percent peak? What's this guy's background?"

"You don't know? He's the Disciple Elder Xue recently took in, Jiang Hanzhou. The one who forced Ao Zhan back three steps during the Dragon Gate Trial."

"It's him? The one who manifested four types of True Intent at once?"

"Yes. Seeing him today, he truly lives up to his reputation..."

Discussions rose and fell.

Jiang Hanzhou turned a deaf ear to it, simply walking back to his corner to continue meditating and regulating his breath.

But his Divine Sense remained focused on the battles on the arena.

Lower group, third match: Number Three versus Number Six.

Number Three was a Disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak, at the Yuan Xiang middle stage, with fierce swordsmanship; Number Six was a Disciple of Danxia Peak, at the Initial Stage of Yuanxiang, with a slightly inferior cultivation. After thirty Moves, the Heavenly Sword Peak Disciple emerged victorious.

Fourth match: Number Four versus Number Five.

Number Four was Senior Brother Su Jingyuan of Bibo Pool, and Number Five was Zhou Han of Heavenly Sword Peak.

This match drew everyone's attention.

Senior Brother Su Jingyuan, ranked second in the Bibo Pool inner sect, at the Late Yuanxiang Stage, practicing the Jade Wave True Scripture, was said to have refined Water True Intent to Thirty percent peak.

Zhou Han, ranked third in the Heavenly Sword Peak inner sect, at the Late Yuanxiang Stage Peak, practicing the Cold Ice Sword Scripture, with Ice Soul True Intent at Thirty percent.

The two leaped onto the arena and stood facing each other.

No nonsense.

The moment the referee's words fell—

Two figures erupted at the same time!

Senior Brother Su Jingyuan formed hand seals, and the water-blue light around him exploded! The light condensed, transforming into a massive water dragon that lunged at Zhou Han with bared claws!

Zhou Han drew his sword!

The moment the blade left its scabbard, a bone-chilling cold shot out from the tip! The cold condensed into ice, forming a layer of deep blue frost on the blade!

He struck with his sword!

The sword light was deep blue, three zhang long, carrying a chill that could freeze all things, slashing straight at the water dragon!

Boom—!!

The moment the water dragon collided with the sword light, it was split down the middle, turning into a sky full of mist! But the mist did not dissipate; instead, under Senior Brother Su Jingyuan's control, it reconsolidated into countless fine water needles, enveloping Zhou Han!

Zhou Han's expression remained unchanged as his sword Moves shifted!

He swept his sword horizontally, and the frost on the blade exploded, turning into a circular ice wall that froze all the water needles!

The two traded blows, fighting for nearly a hundred Moves, yet the outcome remained undecided.

In the end, Senior Brother Su Jingyuan used a Move called "Thousand Layers of Jade Waves" to force Zhou Han back three steps and win the match.

But anyone with a sharp eye could see that Zhou Han had not used his full strength.

In that match, both sides were testing each other.

Their true killing Moves were still hidden.

Jiang Hanzhou stood in the corner, taking all of this in.

Senior Brother Su Jingyuan's Water True Intent was indeed pure. However, he focused too much on the grandeur of "momentum" and neglected the concentration of "force."

Zhou Han's Ice Soul True Intent was sharp. But he relied too much on the variations of sword Moves, losing the essence of the Way of the Sword.

Neither of them was as strong as Ao Zhan.

He withdrew his gaze and continued to regulate his breath.