24: Chapter 24 Fifteen-Game Winning Streak

Twelve matches! The opponent was a woman from the Snake Tribe at the Peak of the Guiyuan Realm. Her movement was eerie and as flexible as if she were boneless. Her fighting style was completely different from previous opponents; instead of head-on clashes, she focused on grappling, attempting to use her body to strangle Chen Yuanji. The snake woman's body was like a giant python, coiling around from every angle. Her raw strength wasn't immense, but she excelled in flexibility and endurance. Once ensnared, an ordinary Martial Artist would find it impossible to break free.

This was the first time Chen Yuanji had encountered an opponent with such a style. He did not panic, instead responding with the 'Neutralizing Force' of Taiji. When the snake woman coiled toward him, he used Pengjin to bounce her away; when she tried to strangle him, he used Roll-back Force to redirect her energy. Their bodies were pressed together, appearing to outsiders like they were dancing, but in reality, every second was a life-or-death struggle. The snake woman's body suddenly tightened, intending to crush him. Chen Yuanji's gaze sharpened as his hands shot out, precisely gripping two key points of her body—the lumbar and cervical vertebrae. Hidden Force erupted as two oscillating forces simultaneously seeped into her spine. The snake woman's body stiffened, all her strength instantly dissipating, and she collapsed limply onto the arena stage.

“The winner, Chen Yuanji! Twelve consecutive victories!”

The thirteenth match. The opponent was an elder from the Crane Tribe, at the Peak of the Guiyuan Realm and a Half-step Shentong Realm. His method of attack was entirely different from those before him; he used neither brute force nor speed, but rather 'Concept.' The Crane Tribe elder stood there with his eyes slightly closed, his entire being radiating a profound Concept. Every movement he made was like a dance, elegant yet lethal. For the first time, Chen Yuanji felt the suppression of this 'Concept.' It wasn't the suppression of Yuan Qi, but a form of mental pressure. The Crane Tribe elder's 'Concept' was like an invisible net, enveloping Chen Yuanji's senses and making his every movement a beat too slow.

“Is this... Martial Will?” Chen Yuanji's heart stirred.

The key to a Breakthrough from the Guiyuan Realm to the Shentong Realm is comprehending 'Martial Will.' Martial Will is a mental-level power capable of transforming a Martial Artist's intent into a physical attack. The Crane Tribe elder had already touched the threshold, becoming a Half-step Shentong Realm. Chen Yuanji took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The perception of Neutralizing Force didn't require sight; he used his own 'Force' to sense the Crane Tribe elder's 'Concept.' Concept is ethereal while Force is substantial, yet the gap between the ethereal and substantial is not insurmountable.

The Crane Tribe elder moved, striking with a palm. It seemed light as a feather, but it actually contained the pressure of Martial Will. Chen Yuanji did not dodge but met it head-on with his own palm. The two palms collided without a loud bang or a shockwave; both men simultaneously retreated three steps.

The Crane Tribe elder opened his eyes, a flash of surprise crossing them: “You can actually withstand my Concept?”

“Your Concept isn't strong enough,” Chen Yuanji said indifferently. “If it were a true Shentong Realm expert, I might not have been able to take it. But you are only at Half-step; your Concept is scattered rather than focused, and your strength is hollow rather than solid.”

The Crane Tribe elder was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Good eyes. This old man admits defeat.” He turned and walked off the stage, decisive and clean.

“The winner, Chen Yuanji! Thirteen consecutive victories!”

The fourteenth match. The opponent was a bladesman from the Mantis Tribe, born with twin blades for arms that were incredibly sharp, cutting through iron as if it were clay. His speed was extremely fast, his attacks like a violent storm, every strike aimed at vital points. Chen Yuanji did not meet them head-on, instead using Bagua Footwork to maneuver around while using Listening Force to sense the opponent's blade paths. Although the Mantis bladesman's attacks were fierce, they had a fatal weakness: his blades were part of his body and could not be let go. As long as one could avoid the edges and close in to attack his body, victory was assured.

After thirty rounds, Chen Yuanji caught a flaw and lunged inside the guard, striking a palm against the Mantis bladesman's chest. The power of Neutralizing Force knocked him back several steps. The twin blades had sliced a few openings in Chen Yuanji's robes, but failed to wound his flesh. The Mantis bladesman looked down at the palm print on his chest, remained silent for a moment, then retracted his blades and withdrew.

“The winner, Chen Yuanji! Fourteen consecutive victories!”

The audience stands had gone wild. Fourteen consecutive victories—only one match away from challenging the Shentong Realm.

The final match, the fifteenth. The opponent was an Old Wolf Demon. Not the one from the registration desk, but the Coliseum's 'Guardian Expert,' a true Half-step Shentong Realm. It was said he had attempted to charge into the Shentong Realm a hundred years ago; although he failed, his strength far exceeded an ordinary Peak Guiyuan Realm. The Old Wolf Demon walked onto the stage with a staggering gait, appearing old and frail, but his eyes were as sharp as knives.

“Lad, it wasn't easy for you to make it this far,” the Old Wolf Demon said in a raspy voice. “But this old man won't go easy on you.”

“Please,” Chen Yuanji said, cupping his hands.

The Old Wolf Demon moved. His speed was startlingly fast, not at all like an elderly body. An afterimage flashed, and sharp claws were already in front of Chen Yuanji. Chen Yuanji dodged to the side, a piece of his robe being torn away. The Old Wolf Demon's attacks came wave after wave, each claw strike accompanied by a whistle that tore through the air. His strength wasn't as great as the Iron Rhinoceros, and his speed wasn't as fast as the Mantis bladesman, but his combat experience was the richest of them all. Every attack landed precisely where Chen Yuanji was most uncomfortable, preventing him from smoothly executing his footwork.

“This Old Wolf Demon is indeed not simple,” Chen Yuanji thought to himself.

He no longer held back, fully utilizing the third stage of Hidden Force: Entwine. He struck with a palm, his palm force like silk threads wrapping around the Old Wolf Demon's claws. The Old Wolf Demon felt as if his claws were entangled by countless invisible threads; every swing required double the effort. Chen Yuanji used the Entwining Force to drain the Old Wolf Demon's strength. After fifty rounds, the Old Wolf Demon's stamina began to drop, and his attack speed slowed significantly. Chen Yuanji seized the opportunity and struck a palm onto his shoulder. The Entwining Force seeped into the shoulder, making the entire arm feel incredibly heavy.

The Old Wolf Demon stumbled back, staring down at his right arm which he could no longer lift. He was silent for a long time. “This old man loses.” He turned and walked off the stage, his silhouette looking somewhat lonely.

“The winner, Chen Yuanji! Fifteen consecutive victories!”

The Coliseum erupted. Fifteen consecutive victories—the record for the highest winning streak at the Guiyuan Realm level had been broken by a youth of the Human Race. Chen Yuanji stood on the stage, his expression calm and his breathing steady. After fifteen battles, his robes were torn in several places, but he had not sustained any injuries.

“Chen Yuanji! Chen Yuanji! Chen Yuanji!” In the stands, the Yao Race members chanted his name in unison.

The Old Wolf Demon (the one from the registration desk) walked onto the stage holding a tray. On the tray lay a golden token. “This is the Coliseum's 'Victory Streak Token',” the Old Wolf Demon said. “Holding this token, you can challenge a Shentong Realm opponent at any time. If you win, the prize money is tenfold, and you can earn the title of 'Gold Medal Fighter' of the Coliseum.”

Chen Yuanji took the token; it felt heavy in his hand.

“To challenge the Shentong Realm, you need to make an appointment three days in advance,” the Old Wolf Demon added. “You can choose any opponent at the Early Stage of the Shentong Realm.”

“Help me book the strongest one,” Chen Yuanji said.

The Old Wolf Demon froze for a moment, then grinned. “Alright then.”

By the time he walked out of the Coliseum, it was already late.

Chen Yuanji gripped the golden token, calculating the challenge three days from now. The Shentong Realm and Guiyuan Realm were qualitatively different. No matter how strong the Guiyuan Realm was, it was only an accumulation of quantity; the Shentong Realm involved comprehending Martial Will and being able to transform intent into physical attacks—that was power on another level. With his current cultivation of Neutralizing Force, could he defeat an Early Stage Shentong Realm? He could give it a try!

Behind him, a familiar voice rang out. “Big Brother Chen!” Su Xiaohu ran over from the crowd, followed by two guards from the Demon Emperor Palace. She reached Chen Yuanji, panting for breath. “Big Brother Chen, this is bad. Granny Hu asked me to tell you that people from the Tiandao Sect have arrived in Heavenly Demon City.”

Chen Yuanji's eyes narrowed. “Where are they?”

“I don't know. But Granny Hu said they brought at least three in the Faxiang Realm, and one person who is... unfathomable.”

Chen Yuanji was silent for a moment. “I understand. Go back, and don't leave the Demon Emperor Palace for the next few days.”

“Big Brother Chen, what about you?”

“I have a way.”

Su Xiaohu looked at him, bit her lip, and ultimately didn't ask further, turning to leave with the guards. Chen Yuanji stood in place, watching her figure disappear into the crowd, and tightened his grip on the golden token.

Three days! In three days, he would challenge the Shentong Realm. Before then, he had to achieve a Breakthrough.