155: Chapter 155 Breakthrough in the Melee

Three days later in Kyoto, the morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the area around the martial arts platform was already packed with people.

This massive platform, floating above Kyoto, was forged from millennium dark iron mixed with Spiritual Vein crystals from across the Dragon country, its surface engraved with runes to buffer spiritual power.

At this moment, one hundred figures from across the country were scattered across the platform; the oldest was no more than 29, while the youngest appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen, yet all had already stepped into the Domain Realm.

Being able to reach this Realm before the age of 30 already made them the elite of the Dragon country's cultivation world.

Zhang Wen stood in the eastern corner, the sky-splitting startling thunder spear slung diagonally across his back, the plates of his Lightning Radiance armor gleaming with a cold, hard luster in the morning light.

His gaze swept across the arena, quickly locking onto several familiar figures.

Ye Chen from Dongmo University stood in the north, his hands in his school uniform pockets, a translucent sword shadow floating before him; faint black mist flowed along the sword's body, clearly a secret technique for concealing one's presence.

Several Dongmo University Disciples surrounded him, whispering among themselves, but he never spoke, his eyes gazing indifferently into the Void Realm as if this selection trial had nothing to do with him.

On the high platform to the west, a young girl in a moon-white dress was looking up at the sky; as her fingertips traced through the Void Realm, fine, fragmented Star Power flowed along with them.

Zhang Wen recognized her as Murong Wu of the Murong Family—though the Star Power around her was restrained, it acted like an invisible net, shrouding a three-zhang radius around her, and any approaching presence would be sensed by her.

Not far from Murong Wu, a bare-chested, burly man was lowering his head to wipe his fists; his bronze skin was covered in dark red markings that rose and fell slightly with his breathing.

That was Xiao Zhan of the Xiao Family; his Overlord Body had been trained to the seventh layer, and it was rumored that his skin could withstand Low Grade Magical Artifacts.

Just as they entered, a blind Loose Cultivator had accidentally bumped into him and was sent flying three zhang away by his unconscious Protective Aura.

"Is that Zhang Wen from Azure Mist? I heard he broke the Li Group's rune array single-handedly in the Misty Forest."

"And Ye Chen from Dongmo University, it's said his sword can sever space!"

"The Murong Family and the Xiao Family have really gone all out this time; an SSS-Rank Talent, huh? I'm afraid us Loose Cultivators are just here to make up the numbers."

The surrounding chatter came in fits and starts; as Zhang Wen concentrated on observing, a wave of scorching heat suddenly rolled up on the east side of the martial arts platform, and a crimson figure landed on a wave of flames—it was his senior from Azure Mist, Zhou Tong.

The core of the Heaven Burning Flame Breath rising from his palm was a ghostly blue, but the flames were not as intense as in the past—he had damaged his Foundation while attempting to break through to the Domain Realm last year, and although he had stabilized his Realm now, he was only lingering at the Early Stage.

"Zhang Wen, haven't seen you in a year; your Lightning Radiance has grown quite robust."

Zhou Tong grinned, his fingertips grazing Zhang Wen's Lightning Radiance armor, leaving a small scorch mark.

"Even though this senior's strength is a bit weaker, it's still enough to block a few small fries for you."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Xiao Zhan, and the heat waves of his Heaven Burning Flame Breath surged involuntarily, causing ripples in the red light of Xiao Zhan's Protective Aura.

Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow: "Are all the people from Azure Mist so fond of sticking together?"

"It's not sticking together; it's protecting our own."

Zhou Tong's fingertips suddenly flared with flames, transforming into a fire whip that lashed out at a Loose Cultivator attempting to ambush Zhang Wen nearby.

"This kid has been cooped up in the Hundred Refinements Pagoda for a year; someone has to help him adapt to the excitement outside."

The Loose Cultivator's clothes were grazed by the fire whip, instantly igniting into a raging inferno, and he hurriedly beat out the flames and retreated off the platform.

Zhou Tong then turned to Zhang Wen, lowering his voice: "Murong Wu's Star Orbit can influence celestial phenomena; don't look up at the sky when fighting her. Xiao Zhan's Overlord Body fears extreme cold and extreme Yang power; your Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder is the perfect counter, but you must guard against him getting close—that guy's fists can shatter Spiritual Veins."

Zhang Wen nodded, catching a glimpse of the bandage faintly visible on Zhou Tong's cuff—the injury sustained while attempting to break through his Realm.

Just as he wanted to say something, Zhou Tong had already turned to face another opponent, his Heaven Burning Flame Breath transforming into a half-foot fire blade; though not as powerful as in his Peak state, it still deftly parried the opponent's long saber.

"None of the people from Azure Mist are easy to deal with," someone whispered from below the platform.

Zhang Wen tightened his grip on the sky-splitting startling thunder spear, watching his senior's figure maneuvering through the flames, and suddenly understood.

A true powerhouse is not defined by the height of their Realm, but by the conviction to stand in the way for those behind them, no matter the circumstances.

"Everyone, be quiet!"

A resonant voice echoed across the martial arts platform; it was the principal of Azure Mist—Gongsun Hongyi, who was also the chief judge of this selection trial.

He hovered in the center of the platform and unfurled a golden scroll: "The rules of the selection trial are simple: a 100-person melee. The last ten people remaining on the platform will be members of the Dragon country's representative team!"

The crowd below was instantly in an uproar.

"What? A melee? Doesn't this mean we have to kill each other?"

"People from the Eagle Country and the Sakura Country are still watching below; won't it be too embarrassing to do this?"

The chief judge's eyes turned sharp, his spiritual power surging: "The path of cultivation is inherently cruel! If you can't even defeat your own people, how can you talk about resisting foreign enemies?"

"Remember, your opponents are not just the ninety-nine people on the platform, but those foreign guys eyeing us covetously! Now—"

He threw the golden scroll high into the air, and the scroll transformed into a curtain of light, shrouding the entire martial arts platform: "The match begins!"

Before the words had even faded, Xiao Zhan had already charged like a cannonball toward the densest part of the crowd.

He didn't use any Moves, relying solely on the strength of his Physical Body to charge through, and any cultivator touched by his fists spewed blood and flew backward, clearing an area in the blink of an eye.

"Exhilarating!" he laughed loudly, the markings of his Overlord Body turning even brighter red, "Who else is unconvinced?"

"I'll come and face you!"

An ice-blue figure streaked past; it was Chu Yao, a senior who had already graduated from Azure Mist.

With a wave of her hand, she condensed dozens of ice spears, which pierced toward Xiao Zhan with a sharp, piercing sound as they broke through the air.

But as soon as those ice spears approached within a three-zhang radius of him, they were shattered into powder by his Protective Aura.

"Tricks!"

Xiao Zhan punched toward Chu Yao; before the force of his punch even arrived, the ground had already cracked with several fissures.

Chu Yao's face turned ghastly pale, and she hurriedly condensed an ice shield, but she was blown away by the force of the punch, crashing into the light curtain and fainting.

Just then, Ye Chen moved.

No one saw how he attacked; they only saw a streak of black lightning flash by, and the three Loose Cultivators who had been surrounding Murong Wu suddenly froze in place.

A tiny blood hole appeared between their eyebrows, and they collapsed to the ground—their spiritual cores had been shattered by the sword energy.

Murong Wu glanced at Ye Chen, her fingertips forming a seal, and seven bright stars suddenly appeared in the sky, forming a massive star sword that slashed down toward the chaotic crowd below.

Wherever the star sword passed, spiritual power was thrown into chaos, and over a dozen cultivators with weaker cultivation were instantly knocked off the platform.

"Get it straight, our goal is the top ten."

Ye Chen's voice appeared behind her, "Wasting energy on these people will only give others an opportunity."

Murong Wu didn't look back, only reining in the power of the star sword slightly: "At least let them know that a Hidden Family is not to be trifled with."

Zhang Wen had not moved the entire time. He was observing, observing everyone's Moves and weaknesses.

It wasn't until a speed-type Loose Cultivator held a dagger and stabbed at his back that he sidestepped to avoid it, simultaneously flicking his finger, and a wisp of Lightning Radiance spread along the opponent's arm, instantly paralyzing his Meridians.

"Go down."

Zhang Wen gave a gentle push, and the Loose Cultivator stumbled out of the light curtain.

"Thank you for showing mercy," the Loose Cultivator shouted from below the platform, his expression complex.

Zhang Wen ignored him, his gaze falling on Su Qing, who was fighting Lu Yan of Jinlin University.

Su Qing's rusted sword looked ordinary, yet she was always able to dodge Lu Yan's fists by a hair's breadth.

Her movement technique was bizarre, sometimes like a gentle breeze brushing against a willow, other times like a fierce tiger pouncing on its prey; her sword Moves were completely without pattern, yet every Move pointed toward Lu Yan's weak points.

Lu Yan, on the other hand, was purely tanking the hits, allowing the rusted sword to strike him, leaving only faint white marks, while his fists rained down on Su Qing like a storm, forcing her to retreat repeatedly.

"Your sword is not bad, but it's a pity the force is too weak."

Lu Yan laughed and stomped hard on the ground, his whole body spinning like a top, his fists sweeping toward Su Qing with a sonic boom.

Su Qing's eyes narrowed, and she suddenly bit the tip of her tongue, spraying a mouthful of vital blood onto the rusted sword.

The cloud patterns on the sword's body instantly lit up, erupting with a blinding red light; she used the momentum to leap backward, the sword following her body, carving out an arc of blood-red light—she was actually trying to take Lu Yan down with her.

"Interesting." A flash of surprise passed through Lu Yan's eyes, and he immediately retracted his fists, crossing his arms to protect his chest.

"Clang—"

The blood-red light struck Lu Yan's arms, emitting the crisp sound of metal clashing against metal.

Lu Yan took three steps back, a shallow blood mark finally appearing on his arm, while Su Qing was shaken by the recoil, her blood and Qi surging, and she knelt on one knee.

Just then, Xiao Zhan's roar came: "You two brats, daring to act in front of me?"

He had actually abandoned the crowd surrounding him and was punching toward Su Qing—clearly wanting to take the opportunity to eliminate two opponents.

Zhang Wen's eyes turned sharp, the sky-splitting startling thunder spear instantly appearing in his hand, three inches of Lightning Radiance condensing at the spear tip, and he hurled it toward Xiao Zhan's fist wind!

The moment the Lightning Radiance collided with the fist wind, the martial arts platform trembled violently, and a ring-shaped wave of energy expanded from the two of them as the center, blowing everyone around them away.

Xiao Zhan took half a step back, looking at the scorched mark on his fist, and grinned: "Kid, that's interesting!"

Zhang Wen walked slowly toward the center of the arena, the sky-splitting startling thunder spear flying back into his hand automatically, the Lightning Radiance at the spear tip flickering: "Your opponent is me."

When Xiao Zhan's roar came again, Zhang Wen raised his spear and met him, catching a glimpse of Zhou Tong's fire blade as it grazed the wrist of an ambusher, clearing the way for him.

Murong Wu and Ye Chen in the distance stopped their movements simultaneously and looked over.

Lu Yan helped Su Qing up and shook his head at her, signaling her to watch the show first.

Below the martial arts platform, the representative of the Eagle Country's S.H.I.E.L.D. sneered at the recorder: "The Dragon country people really only know how to fight among themselves."

And the Sakura Country's Onmyoji narrowed his eyes, staring at the Star Power at Murong Wu's fingertips: "That girl's Star Power is very similar to the legendary 'Yamata Star Orbit'..."

On the platform, the Aura of Zhang Wen and Xiao Zhan climbed continuously, the Lightning Radiance and the red light of the Overlord Body intertwined, as if signaling that the true climax of this melee had only just begun.