332: Turn-based combat and the shadows in progress

"Bang bang bang! Boom boom boom!"

"Ora ora ora ora!"

"Useless useless useless useless!"

In a forested arena, two bare-chested men stood rooted in place, their fists moving so fast they left afterimages.

The fierce gusts from their punches whipped up dust around them, and their feet gradually carved deep pits into the ground.

One of them was Wang Yao, the other a monk with burn scars on his head.

This was the battle between Wang Yao and a Disciple of Lingyuan Temple in the third round of the competition.

The intensity of the fight was evident—the upper garments of both had been completely shredded in the fierce struggle.

"Still not finished?"

Long Tianxing pushed open the door at that moment, swaggered in, and dragged a chair over to sit down.

Originally, he had wanted to find an excuse to temporarily keep the Magic Treasure and return it after the competition ended.

Who knew the other party would just toss out a line like "win with his share" and leave in tears.

But the outcome was good overall—at least he could use several Nascent Soul-level Magic Treasures in this competition.

This gave him the confidence to face Zhou Yan directly, leading to the scene just now: he came straight to Zhou Yan's viewing platform to watch the match alongside his "rival" (as he saw it).

It was just that there was no chair, so Long Tianxing had to go out specifically to fetch one.

When he returned, he saw this stalemated battle.

Keep in mind, Wang Yao's match had actually started earlier than Long Tianxing's.

Long Tianxing had not only finished his own fight, but also visited his opponent afterward, obtained permission to use the Magic Treasure, luckily found Zhou Yan's location, and even had time to go back and grab a chair in between. Yet Wang Yao was still locked in a dead heat, which Long Tianxing found hard to comprehend.

Zhou Yan no longer dwelled on why everyone seemed to know where he was, nor did he bother scolding these guys who had their own areas but insisted on crowding into his.

Partly because he was mentally exhausted, and partly because he was genuinely tired of watching.

After Wang Yao advanced to the Core Formation Stage, he threw himself into Alchemy, pushing forward his so-called potion plan.

Over the past year, Zhou Yan had barely seen him, only hearing that his potions had achieved some success and his Body Refining level had improved significantly as a result.

But when Zhou Yan saw his panel again today, he was still taken aback.

[Wang Yao]

[Realm: Early Core Formation Stage]

[Vitality: 250w/250w]

[Mana: 10w/10w]

When Zhou Yan saw this panel, he almost couldn't hold back from cursing again.

After all, Wang Yao's Physical Body strength was originally twenty times that of an ordinary person, yet it had still grown, now reaching twenty-five times.

But considering this guy had hardly left the Pill Refining Room all year, combined with his special Physique that always produced poison in Alchemy, it was easy to guess who the test subject was and how they were tested in such a short time to develop the envisioned potion.

What a ruthless man.

Not only did he create his own medicine, but he also injected it into himself without hesitation, not even afraid of his head being poked into a point.

At the same time, because Wang Yao had entered the Core Formation Stage, the effects of his dao body truly began to manifest.

After achieving Mixed Origin Unity, his powerful recovery and physical constitution allowed him to hold his own even against some Nascent Soul Cultivators for a while.

But even so, he shouldn't have been able to fight this long.

The reason for such endurance was partly due to his opponent, who was also a Prodigy—clearly at the Nascent Soul Stage, yet fighting a Core Formation cultivator to this extent.

Similar to Long Tianxing, Wang Yao was also fighting above his level, and luckily, his opponent was clearly a type he countered.

This monk was also a Body Cultivator, but he hadn't trained in anything else, specializing only in a Cultivation Technique called "Immovable Vajra."

According to the knowledgeable Bai Ling, this technique was defensive and extremely difficult to Cultivate, making it hard to practice other methods before achieving success.

And before reaching Major Achievement, this technique lacked offensive means, only able to absorb damage dealt by the opponent and counter with their own power.

If it didn't absorb damage and relied solely on its own output, it was very limited. For example, despite having Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, the actual power he could unleash might only be at the Core Formation Stage level—essentially putting all attribute points into defense.

Thus, an awkward situation arose.

A super shield monster versus a super healing monster, each trying to outlast the other, with the burden of output falling entirely on the super healing monster.

But this healing monster was only at the Core Formation Stage, with low output that barely tickled the opponent, and the reflected damage was easily recovered.

The opponent lacked attack methods, only able to absorb the power Wang Yao unleashed to counterattack, since even the damage Wang Yao dealt was higher than what he could produce himself.

This led to a long, drawn-out battle where a proper fight turned into a turn-based slugfest, with each taking turns throwing punches.

After fighting for so long, aside from their upper garments being shattered, the ground dented, and the surrounding trees blown away by the gusts, there was no other progress.

Even more absurdly, neither showed any sign of conceding; instead, they seemed to develop a mutual respect, looking like they would keep fighting indefinitely.

"Arena A, third round: Qingxu Grotto-Heaven, Zhou Yan, versus Loose Cultivator, Chen Jiao."

The referee merely glanced at the two who hadn't finished, then announced the next match.

Hearing it was his turn, Zhou Yan straightened his clothes and stepped onto the arena.

Upon seeing his opponent, he was somewhat surprised.

The other party immediately shook his hand, saying he had long admired him and expressing great admiration.

Zhou Yan found it strange at first but quickly understood.

"I knew it—how could Long Tianxing and Wang Yao both be so lucky? It turns out the rigging is in play."

"So my opponent this round is also arranged, right? But for me to face this in my first round, with the rigging so obvious—isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

Zhou Yan couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Meanwhile, Chen Jiao smiled on the surface but was inwardly thrilled.

Not because he met his idol, but because the thought of crushing this famous Prodigy underfoot filled him with delight.

The admiration and friendliness were all an act. He didn't dislike Zhou Yan, but he didn't have much goodwill either—at best, slightly above a stranger.

The real reason for his excitement was that as a sect's Saint, Zhou Yan's cultivation was only at the Middle Nascent Soul Stage, perfect for a fight before he fully matured, to establish his own reputation.

Chen Jiao was no ordinary Loose Cultivator; he had encountered an Opportunity earlier in life.

He once discovered a dead giant serpent in a Secret Realm, which had died from cultivating an ancient ruin technique called "Dragon Transformation Art."

This technique required devouring large amounts of Dragon Clan Bloodline Power to temper the Physical Body, gradually transforming toward the Dragon Clan.

Relying on this method, Chen Jiao advanced rapidly. After exploring multiple ruins and absorbing vast amounts of Dragon Clan Bloodline Power, he had reached the Middle Nascent Soul Stage.

Keep in mind, his Middle Nascent Soul Stage was extraordinary—infused with immense Dragon Clan power. The strength of the Dragon Clan was formidable; even if the opponent was the Saint of Qingxu Grotto-Heaven, before fully growing, there was no way he could win.

"Hehe, idol oh idol, this title isn't for nothing... soon you'll be my stepping stone."

Soon, the two entered the Small World.

As soon as they stepped in, they channeled mana to their feet, as the landing point was a lake.

Gazing at the vast, calm lake surface, Zhou Yan understood.

Sure enough, there's rigging.

Knowing my main methods involve water techniques, they arrange a water-based environment—but with the rigging so blatant, you really went all out.

Faced with such a straightforward arrangement, Zhou Yan was also speechless.

"Even at this age, they don't bother hiding the rigging properly. Though the higher-ups might know, at least put on a show for those below—doesn't this damage my reputation too?"

Just as he thought this.

Chen Jiao's expression changed, suddenly revealing a ferocious smile.

Then, his pupils slightly reddened, water exploded under his feet, spraying a large mist.

In the eyes of the spectators, the originally calm lake surface "bang bang bang" erupted with countless huge water columns, the falling droplets raining down like a shower, reflecting a curved rainbow in the air.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yan felt a tremendous force slam into him, sending him skipping across the water surface several times like a stone, flying backward.

Zhou Yan's expression also changed.

"The gold-medal actor is in action!"

"That's more like it—no wonder the rigging is so obvious, they brought in an acting master. This is way more professional than the one hired for the Saint Ceremony!"

Zhou Yan looked serious on the surface but couldn't help laughing inwardly.

This punch didn't even scratch his health bar, yet the spectacle was so grand—clearly, the other party was an expert in this field, a good actor indeed.

But Chen Jiao was stunned.

What's going on!

He hadn't held back, striking with full force from the start.

So why did the other party just get sent flying, appearing completely unharmed?

Watching Zhou Yan calmly stand up, casually brush off the water as if nothing happened, Chen Jiao's body trembled uncontrollably.