27: Extreme Arena Challenge

The afterglow of ten thousand transmission light pillars had not yet completely dispersed in the Void Realm when an ancient bell chime, shaking the universe, suddenly exploded! Ten colossal Bronze Battle Arenas, carrying the aura of ten thousand years of history, tore through the heavy clouds and descended forcefully!

At the edge of the battle arena, the coiled Dragon statues were not inanimate objects; their eyes flickered with a cold, sinister glint that seemed to choose people to devour. The Dragon scales shimmered with the cold, hard luster of metal under the light. The thousand-zhang giant platform in the center was like the spine of a Primeval Behemoth. The blood-colored runes carved on its surface seemed to come alive, emanating a terrifying pressure that made one's Divine Soul tremble, causing the air to solidify.

"Extreme Arena Challenge Tournament, commence!"

The announcement, piercing through time and space like billions of thunderbolts exploding simultaneously, shook countless people until their blood and Qi churned: "A total of one hundred and twenty-eight arenas are established—one Supreme Arena, nine Overlord Arenas, and one hundred and eighteen Hero Arenas!"

Above the sky, a ten-thousand-zhang light screen descended, starkly displaying the trial data of everyone from the first two heavens. Lin Yuan's name hung high above the Nine Heavens, flashing with Purple-Gold Divine Radiance that looked down on all beings, so dazzling that people dared not look directly at it.

"The position of Arena Master shall be determined by trial performance!"

Before the words finished, a hundred-zhang diameter purple-gold pillar of light, solidifying into substance, crashed down like divine punishment, instantly engulfing Lin Yuan's figure. The next moment, he appeared in the center of the Supreme Arena, like a deity descending upon the mortal world.

Nine slightly inferior but equally massive light pillars followed closely, drawing top experts like Bai Li and Purple Rakshasa toward the Overlord Arenas. The remaining light pillars, like a sudden storm, selected the Arena Masters for the Hero Arenas.

"Rules announced:

One: Seventy-seven rounds of bloody battle;

Two: One hundred and twenty-eight challengers are selected per round;

Three: The victor ascends the stage, the defeated returns to dust;

Four: Successful defense of the arena grants Star Radiance Power: ten stars for the Supreme Arena, five stars for the Overlord Arena, and three stars for the Hero Arena!"

Lin Yuan stood in the center of the Supreme Arena, feeling a chilling coldness and hardness beneath his feet that made his heart palpitate. He looked down closely, his pupils contracting—this thousand-zhang arena was actually forged from the melted bones of countless massive, pale, unknown creatures!

Where the bone plates were joined, savage claw marks, deep enough to expose the bone, crisscrossed, seemingly narrating ancient, horrific battles. The main arena section where he stood was slightly concave, naturally forming a bloody gladiatorial arena.

"At this moment—" the voice suddenly took on a hint of unsettling mockery, "do any of the nine Overlord Arena Masters possess the valor to seize the Supreme position and replace him?"

Nine gazes, some burning hot, some cold and sinister, some greedy, instantly focused on the center. Purple Rakshasa's crimson nails nearly dug into her palm as she licked her fangs and whispered, "If we join forces..."

"The iron rule is that only a one-on-one challenge can break it." Bai Li's clear, cold voice severed the fantasy; the still-wet bloodstains on her moon-white battle robe were particularly glaring.

The single eye of Black Robe You Quan flickered with a venomous, serpentine glow in the shadows: "Fighting alone... the chances of winning are slim."

"Since there are no courageous ones..." the voice sounded again, carrying a hint of imperceptible disappointment, "Hero Arena Masters ranked in the top thirty may initiate challenges against the Overlord Arena Masters!"

"Roar!" A world-shaking roar exploded, and sixteen figures shot out from the Hero Arena section like arrows released from a bowstring! Among them, a giant man carrying a massive axe, whose muscles coiled like horned Dragons, was the most terrifying. Every step he took caused the arena beneath his feet to groan under the unbearable weight, and strange Azure Demonic Marks writhed across his skin.

"Blood Axe Sect, Tu Gang! Challenging Overlord Arena Number Three!" The sound waves rolled, carrying savage killing intent.

The challenger was a green-robed woman holding a Jade Flute. A cold arc curved at the corner of her lips. She held the Jade Flute to her lips, and a wisp of clear sound suddenly transformed into a death shriek that tore through the air! The sound waves condensed into countless crescent-shaped Azure Wind Blades, overwhelmingly slashing toward Tu Gang!

Tu Gang laughed wildly, swinging his twin axes to raise a bloody hurricane! On the axe blades, dense blood-colored eyeballs suddenly opened, shooting out filthy, evil red light!

"Pfft—!"

Blood splattered! In just three breaths, a massive head, bearing an expression of disbelief, shot into the sky! The green-robed woman elegantly wiped away a warm drop that had splashed onto her cheek. The flute music shifted again, becoming sharp like a ghost's wail! Tu Gang's headless corpse was instantly crushed by an invisible giant hand, exploding into a sky full of bloody mist and shredded flesh!

The remaining fifteen challenges instantly turned into an Asura Field! Screams, roars, the sound of cracking bones, and the explosive noise of Magic Treasures intertwined.

In the end, only one fierce man, with a savage centipede scar on his face and wielding a heavy chain hammer, emerged victorious from the bloodshed and ascended the Overlord Arena. The fifteen failed Hero Arena spots were filled by lower-ranked challengers, who brought with them the relief of surviving a disaster or an even deeper fear.

"The first round of challenges, begin!"

The Void Realm tore open, one hundred and twenty-eight spatial rifts appeared, and the first batch of challengers descended. The one who landed on Lin Yuan's Supreme Arena was a dwarf less than five feet tall, whose skin displayed a strange indigo blue color.

He wore a spine-chilling sinister smile on his face, cupped his hands, and said, "Poison Heart, please grant Fellow Daoist Lin your guidance!" Before his voice faded, colorless and odorless poisonous mist, like a living thing, silently emanated from his sleeve, wrapping around Lin Yuan without a sound!

Lin Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm and unwavering. Just as the bone-eroding, soul-destroying poison mist was about to touch the corner of his robe, he slightly parted his lips and uttered one cold word:

"Break!"

"Boom—!"

The True Word left his mouth, like a divine decree! Space shattered immediately like fragile glass! The lethal poison mist seemed to hit an invisible barrier and abruptly rolled back!

The sinister smile on Poison Heart's face instantly turned into extreme terror. He watched helplessly as the poison he released violently backfired, his indigo-blue skin festering and oozing pus at a visible rate! He frantically pulled out a handful of detoxification Medicinal Pills and shoved them into his mouth, but—

Lin Yuan's figure appeared before him as if teleporting. A single finger, without the slightest trace of visible power, gently tapped his glabella.

"Bang—!"

Like a ripe watermelon smashed by a heavy hammer! The dwarf's head instantly exploded, scattering red and white matter everywhere! The headless corpse stiffened for a moment, then slumped to its knees, quickly dissolving into a pool of foul-smelling, bubbling blue blood.

"Lin Yuan successfully defended the arena, granting ten stars of combat power!" The cold announcement echoed through the heavens.

The intensity of the fighting surged wildly as the rounds progressed!

In the second round, the Mechanical Beast Inheritor commanded twelve Bronze Mechanical Beasts, several zhang tall with joints spewing steam, forming a Great Death Array designed to annihilate everything.

Lin Yuan joined his fingers like a sword, and purple-gold Sword Qi burst forth, like a startled swan or a wandering Dragon. Three strikes swept across the field, forcibly dismembering the indestructible bronze behemoths! The fourth strike, Sword Qi piercing the Void Realm, accurately penetrated the operator's Dantian, crippling his cultivation!

In the third round, the Golden Body Buddhist Cultivator, known as "Indestructible Vajra," glowed with dazzling golden light across his entire body, causing the bone arena to crack with every step. Lin Yuan discarded his sword and met the challenge purely with the power of his Physical Body! "Dong! Dong! Dong!" Three punches!

Punch after punch connected with flesh, sounding like a massive bell! The first punch dimmed the golden light; the second punch covered the Golden Body with cracks; and when the third punch landed, the supposedly indestructible Buddha Golden Body exploded like a shattered glass Buddha statue! Golden blood sprayed across the sky!

In the fourth round, a masked female Cultivator displayed astonishing Illusion Techniques, transforming into the likeness of Mu Qingge, smiling sweetly and directly attacking Lin Yuan's mental defenses. The Purple-Gold Divine Light in Lin Yuan's eyes suddenly surged, like two blazing suns!

The false illusion melted away like ice and snow under the Divine Light! A trace of icy fury flashed in his eyes. He thrust out a palm, shattering her heart meridian through the air! The female Cultivator fell softly, her eyes filled with shock and unwillingness... Seventh Round!

A Blue-Robed Swordsman, carrying seven ancient-looking swords with Star Runes carved on their sheaths, stepped onto the arena. Before the swords were drawn, an overwhelmingly fierce Sword Intent had already sliced through the air!

He formed a Sword Seal with his hand. "Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!" Seven ancient swords simultaneously left their sheaths, and the sounds of Dragon roars and Phoenix cries resonated through the Nine Heavens! Sword Qi shot up into the sky, condensing in the Void Realm into the dazzling Big Dipper Seven Star Killing Array, enveloping the entire Supreme Arena!

"Sword of Heavenly Pivot, slash!" The first sword strike, like the Nine Heavens' Milky Way bursting its banks, crashed down with the might to destroy stars! Lin Yuan's figure flickered slightly, easily dodging the sharp edge. The Sword Qi grazed past him, carving an abyssal thousand-zhang trench at the edge of the arena, sending bone dust flying!

"Sword of Heavenly Spin, trap!" The second sword strike transformed into an invisible Sword Prison, instantly solidifying the space! Lin Yuan snorted coldly, unleashing a punch. The Purple-Gold Fist Imprint turned into a roaring angry Dragon, mutually destroying the invisible Sword Prison and erupting in dazzling energy turbulence!

"Heavenly Balance!" "Heavenly Authority!" "Jade Measure!" "Opening Yang!"... The sword momentum was continuous, each strike faster and stronger than the last! Lin Yuan's figure darted like lightning through the sky full of sword shadows, using finger strikes to break, punches to collapse, or palms to slap, neutralizing the world-destroying Sword Qi one by one!

"Flickering Light—! World Destruction!" The seventh sword strike! The Blue-Robed Swordsman's hair stood on end as he poured his life's cultivation and the power of the sword array into it! The ancient sword named "Flickering Light" shone with ten thousand rays of light, seemingly transforming into a falling star! The terrifying sword pressure caused the entire Supreme Arena to let out a groan of unbearable stress, and countless bone plates cracked inch by inch!

Facing this ultimate sword strike, Lin Yuan finally moved!

His right hand pressed against the ancient sword hilt at his waist—the Grand Purity Azure Firmament Sword!

"Zheng—!"

It only left the sheath by three inches!

A Purple-Gold Sword Light, as thin as a strand of hair yet seemingly capable of dividing Yin and Yang and severing time and space, arrived later but struck first, silently slicing through the core of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array!

Time seemed to freeze for an instant.

The next moment—

"Crack! Crack! Crack..." Seven crisp snapping sounds rang out almost simultaneously! The seven ancient swords, shining with ten thousand rays of light, were cut in half as if by invisible shears of fate! The broken swords fell, wailing.

The Blue-Robed Swordsman stared blankly at the hilt remaining in his hand, the color draining from his face. He gave a bitter smile: "...I am completely convinced." He crushed a Teleportation Talisman, and his figure vanished.

As the arena battles entered a white-hot abyss, the atmosphere of the entire Third Heaven was like boiling magma. Killing sounds shook the heavens across all the arenas, and the light from energy collisions rose and fell. However, the Supreme Arena fell into a suffocating silence.

"The thirty-first round of challenges, commence!"

Spatial rifts reappeared in the Void Realm. The challenger who landed on Lin Yuan's arena was a middle-aged Daoist priest in a faded grey robe. He stood at the edge of the arena, his legs trembling slightly uncontrollably, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking his temples.

"Qing... Qingyun Temple... Xuan... Xuan Chengzi..." His voice was dry and tight, barely forming coherent speech, "Please... Senior Lin... grant... grant your instruction..."

Below the stage, a huge burst of laughter and jeers instantly erupted:

"Ha! Another one tired of living!"

"This is already the thirty-first round! Which of the previous thirty didn't end up either dead or crippled? The Blue-Robed Swordsman, who lasted the longest, didn't even hold out for ten moves!"

"Look at how weak his legs are; it's a miracle if he can even stand steady!"

Lin Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, purple-gold Divine Runes faintly visible beneath his robe, exuding a terrifying aura like a primeval Vicious Beast. He didn't even lift his eyelids, merely uttering one faint word: "Proceed."

Xuan Chengzi gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and abruptly summoned his Lifebound Treasure—a Bronze Ancient Mirror covered in verdigris. A faint light circulated on the mirror's surface, attempting to lock onto Lin Yuan's figure. Wherever the light reached, space twisted and folded bizarrely.

Just as he fully activated his magical power—

Lin Yuan finally raised his eyelids!

“Boom—!!!”

It was just a single gaze!

A spiritual pressure, vast and irresistible, crashing down like the collapse of an ancient divine mountain, descended with a roar! The Bronze Ancient Mirror let out a mournful 'buzz,' and its surface instantly became covered in spiderweb-like cracks! Xuan Chengzi felt as if he had been struck by a ten-thousand-pound hammer, spurting out a mouthful of fresh blood with a 'poof,' his knees buckling as he fell straight onto the cold bone platform!

“I surrender! I surrender!!” His Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, he shrieked hysterically and crushed the Teleportation Talisman, his figure vanishing wretchedly into the light, as if staying for one more moment would result in the complete destruction of his body and spirit.

“Lin Yuan successfully defended the arena, accumulating 310 Star Combat Power!” The announcement voice was still icy, but hearing it now, everyone felt it was only natural.

The crowd below discussed animatedly, awe having replaced the initial clamor:

“Another one... who didn't even have the courage to strike...”

“You go up and try? That gaze from Lin Yuan... I felt like my Divine Soul was about to be crushed!”

Meanwhile, the battles on the other arenas were reaching an extreme level of brutality:

Overlord Arena No. 3. Bai Li gently stroked her Nine-Stringed Zither, and the 'ding-dong' zither melody that flowed out transformed into fatal sound blades that cut through space! Her opponent, a Buddhist Cultivator from the Western Regions whose entire body shone with golden light, had an Eight-Armed Mingwang Dharma Idol towering behind him, wielding Demon-Subduing Magical Artifacts. However, under the continuous onslaught of the Nine Questions of Heavenly Sound, the Mingwang Dharma Idol crumbled piece by piece like a sandcastle, finally collapsing with a roar! The Buddhist Cultivator spat blood and retreated rapidly.

“Yuqing Palace's Heavenly Sound is truly worthy of its reputation!”

“Forty-nine consecutive victories! She must be the uncrowned King of the Overlord Arena, right?”

Overlord Arena No. 7. Purple Rakshasa’s figure was like a blood-colored ghost, flickering erratically across the arena. She playfully toyed with a young swordsman, and with every flash, her sharp dagger left a bloody wound on his body, neither deep nor shallow.

“Little Brother~ Don’t fall so quickly~” She licked the warm blood off the dagger, a morbid and mesmerizing light of excitement flickering in her eyes. “Your blood tastes really good~” The young swordsman was covered in wounds, his eyes filled with despair.

Overlord Arena No. 5. Black Robe You Quan's battle was the most eerie and sinister. No matter how powerful his opponent was, their movements would inexplicably become sluggish and stiff, as if they had fallen into an invisible quicksand. Eventually, they would be completely engulfed by a mass of viscous, ink-like black mist that exuded an ominous aura. When the black mist dissipated, only a desiccated corpse, skin and bones, with all essence drained, remained on the arena.

“Hiss... he is devouring his opponent's vital essence and cultivation!”

“This... this is a Demonic Technique! It’s too sinister! Is there no one who can stop him?!”

Challenges to Lin Yuan's Supreme Arena had almost ceased. Those occasionally selected by the light pillar invariably turned ashen-faced and immediately shouted their surrender.

The forty-fifth round! The light pillar enveloped a figure as imposing as an iron tower. With every step he took, the bone platform violently trembled, emitting a muffled echo. The Bronze Greatsword on his back, the size of a door panel, exuded Evil Qi that soared to the sky, its blade wrapped in dark red blood light that corroded spiritual energy.

“Northern Barrens War Department, Tuoba Ye!” His voice was like a savage war drum. He slammed his Greatsword onto the ground with a 'rumble,' and the incredibly tough bone platform was actually smashed with spiderweb-like cracks! His brass-bell-like eyes locked onto Lin Yuan, burning with wild Battle Intent.

Lin Yuan finally showed a hint of interest, his gaze slightly condensed: “Please.”

“Fight!” Tuoba Ye roared wildly, his Greatsword stirring up terrifying gale force winds that tore the air, hacking down directly without any fancy moves! The sword momentum was as heavy as a mountain, and the Evil Qi transformed into countless resentful spirits howling fiercely, attempting to erode Lin Yuan’s protective spiritual light!

Lin Yuan neither dodged nor avoided! He actually used his Physical Body alone to meet the attack head-on!

“Clang—!!!”

A deafening roar, like the clashing of divine iron, exploded! Violent Qi waves spread out centered on the two of them!

When the dust settled, Lin Yuan stood firm like a deep pool and a towering Peak, not even the corner of his clothes fluttering! Meanwhile, the blade of Tuoba Ye's Greatsword, which exuded Evil Qi that soared to the sky, had a shocking, massive gap chipped out of it!

“Wh... what?!” Tuoba Ye’s tiger mouth split open, dripping with blood, his arms so numb they were almost senseless, his eyes filled with extreme shock and terror! The strength and Evil Qi he was so proud of were like child's play in front of the opponent!

“War Soul! Possession!” Tuoba Ye's eyes turned crimson, completely frantic! His Bloodline Power erupted like a volcano, his physique instantly swelling by more than double. His skin took on a cold metallic sheen, and his aura surged violently! He once again swung the broken Greatsword, pouring all his strength into it with the desperation of mutual destruction, hacking down again! With this strike, space itself seemed to be crushed and collapsing!

A sharp light flashed in Lin Yuan's eyes, yet he still did not retreat half a step! He raised his right hand lightly, seemingly slow but actually faster than lightning, and pressed his palm onto the blade of the roaring Greatsword!

“Crack—!!!”

A crisp cracking sound was particularly jarring on the silent arena! The incredibly heavy Bronze Greatsword snapped into two pieces with a resounding crash, just like rotten wood! A terrifying colossal force transmitted through the broken sword, and Tuoba Ye's massive body was sent staggering backward uncontrollably, as if struck by an ancient behemoth, falling straight off the arena boundary with a 'thud'!

“Lin Yuan wins! Accumulated 450 Star Combat Power!” The announcement sounded, carrying a hint of formulaic numbness.

The Ultimate Realm Experts watching below had long lost the ability to exclaim, left only with deep numbness and reverence:

“The Berserker of the Northern Barrens... defeated in one move...”

“Monster... he is definitely a Primordial Vicious Beast wearing human skin!”

Meanwhile, in the Hero Arena region, an obscure youth dressed in coarse linen clothes rose unexpectedly! He held an ordinary Green Bamboo Staff, his movements as elusive as a ghost, always managing to avoid fatal attacks by a hair's breadth at the last moment. The Green Bamboo Staff's points, deflections, lifts, and thrusts seemed random, yet were always executed with perfect subtlety. He had already consecutively defeated twelve challengers!

“Is that... the long-lost 'Carefree Roaming' movement technique?!”

“Heavens! Is he the successor of the 'Old Man Green Bamboo' who travels the world and whose head is never seen like a Dragon?!”

At the Supreme Arena, challenges had completely ceased. Any Cultivator selected turned pale and immediately shouted their forfeiture.

The sixty-fifth round! The light pillar finally once again enveloped a figure daring enough to step onto the Supreme Arena!

The newcomer was a tall, exquisitely beautiful woman with a crystalline jade horn on her forehead, holding a Jade Long Spear entwined with wisps of purple electric light! Her body exuded a noble and powerful Dragon Might.

“Eastern Barrens Dragon Palace, Ao Li!” Her voice was clear like a Dragon's roar, and Battle Intent blazed in her eyes. “Daoist Friend Lin, please grant me your full instruction!” She knew this was the last chance.

Lin Yuan nodded slightly, a hint of seriousness finally entering his gaze: “Please.”

“Ang—!” Ao Li shouted softly, her Dragon Power erupting! The Jade Long Spear danced, and the Crashing Waves Spear Art instantly unfolded! Spear shadows overlapped, like a towering tsunami, wave after wave, containing boundless water elemental power and destructive lightning! Even more alarming, three hundred-zhang water Dragons condensed from pure water essence and purple lightning roared behind her, baring their fangs and claws, carrying the momentum to tear everything apart as they lunged at Lin Yuan from three directions!

Facing this earth-shattering blow, Lin Yuan finally drew his sword again!

The Grand Purity Azure Firmament Sword, drawn three inches!

“Zheng—!”

The sword cry was clear and sharp, yet it drowned out the Dragon roar and the tsunami!

A Purple-Gold Sword Light, condensed to the extreme and seemingly capable of slicing through Chaos, arrived after the opponent's move but struck first. Ignoring the distance of space, it flashed past the necks of the three lightning water Dragons as if teleporting!

“Puff! Puff! Puff!”

The heads of the three ferocious, roaring water Dragons were severed at the neck! Their massive Dragon bodies instantly collapsed, dissolving into a sky full of heavy rain and lightning! The Jade Long Spear in Ao Li's hand snapped into two pieces with a faint 'crack,' and the spear tip 'clanged' as it fell onto the cold bone platform.

Ao Li stood rooted to the spot, looking at the broken spear in her hand, utterly lost. After a long time, she raised her head, her eyes filled with unwillingness and deep shock: “C-can you tell me... how much strength you used just now?”

Lin Yuan sheathed his sword, his tone calm and unwavering: “Thirty percent.”

“Whoosh—!!!” The entire arena instantly erupted! Thirty percent?! With merely thirty percent of his strength, he had effortlessly severed the Dragon Palace's Supreme treasure and shattered the full-power attack of a true Dragon descendant?!

Ao Li's face lost all color, then twisted into an extremely bitter smile. She gazed deeply at Lin Yuan, her expression complex and difficult to understand: “I hope... to see you again in the Fourth Heaven.” She crushed the Teleportation Talisman, leaving behind a long, sighing Dragon roar before her figure vanished.

The seventy-seventh round. The light pillar finally landed on a skinny Cultivator who was hiding in the furthest corner of the crowd, trembling. The Cultivator’s face was as pale as paper. He scrambled and crawled to the edge of the arena, screaming hysterically: “Forfeit! I forfeit!!!”

Amidst the tremendous laughter, the Heavenly Stele, which bore the final glory and power, descended with a rumble:

【Supreme Arena: Lin Yuan! Seventy-seven Battles! Seventy-seven Wins! Granted 770 Star Combat Power!】

【Overlord Arena Champion: Bai Li! Seventy-seven Wins! Granted 385 Star Combat Power!】

【Hero Arena Champion: Green Bamboo Youth! Seventy-five Wins! Granted 225 Star Combat Power!】

Lin Yuan’s name stood tall at the Peak of the Heavenly Stele, illuminated by purple-gold light for all eternity! His latest combat power data was branded upon it like a divine oracle:

【Base Combat Power: 2160 Star】

【Divine Weapon Enhancement: Grand Purity Azure Firmament Sword +600 Star】

【Purple Gold Divine Body (50%): +3050 Star】

【Divine Thought Transforming into Sword (1200×5): +6000 Star】

【King of the Extreme Realm (Title): +648 Star】

【Peerless Combat Skill (Bonus): +2160 Star】

【Primordial Body Refining Art (Perfection): +4500 Star】

【Peak Combat Power: 19118 Star!】

When the teleportation light pillar piercing the heavens and earth descended again, Lin Yuan's gaze penetrated the obstruction of the light pillar, casting toward the Fourth Heaven. There, a towering colossal tower that pierced the clouds and whose tip was submerged in an endless sea of bloody clouds was faintly visible, emanating an even more ancient and dangerous aura.

“The next level...” Lin Yuan murmured softly, his voice calm but containing the solitary arrogance of one who looks down upon the ages, “I have no rivals.” He took one step, his figure vanishing into the light pillar leading to the unknown, leaving behind only a world of dead silence and reverence on the arena.