"Since everyone is here, the Outer Sect Competition will now officially begin!"

Zong Rui slowly rose to his feet. His gaze swept over the dense sea of Outer Sect Disciples before the Earth Martial Hall as he announced coolly, "A total of eighty-nine thousand disciples are participating in this Outer Sect Competition. The top one thousand will all receive generous rewards, and the prize for first place is especially unprecedented. You must all give it your best. Next, you will be assigned to one hundred arenas based on your Identity Tokens. The top ten from each arena will advance to the next round. The Third Elder will now take charge of this competition!"

"Your Highness Prince Gong, there’s nothing much to see in these elimination rounds," Zong Rui said to Prince Gong, his eyes crinkling into a smile. "I recently came into possession of some fine Jade Dragon Beard Tea. Would Your Highness be interested in sampling it? We can return for the top one hundred matches."

Prince Gong froze for a moment.

He had intended to stay and watch. That way, if Li Yunlong and Luo Qing really tried to kill Jiang Chen, he could intervene.

This would be the perfect opportunity to win Jiang Chen over.

But Zong Rui’s invitation was too earnest to refuse. Prince Gong gave an inward, wry smile and nodded. "Very well. Let us go and sample that Jade Dragon Beard Tea."

"This way, Your Highness."

The smile never left Zong Rui’s face as he led Prince Gong into the Earth Martial Hall. A cold glint flashed in his deep-set eyes as he made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Third Elder.

The Third Elder nodded, a cold sneer spreading across his lips.

A short while later, once Zong Rui and Prince Gong had departed, the Third Elder cleared his throat and spoke. "I am Third Elder Zong Han of the Outer Sect, and I will be overseeing these elimination rounds. As the Grand Elder has already stated, there are one hundred arenas, and the top ten from each will advance to the next round. I must now ask the Elders to summon the Blood Battle Arenas!"

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!

A series of sonic booms ripped through the air.

They were all Elder-level powerhouses from the Outer Sect, each one a master of the Heavenly Destiny Realm.

The plaza before the Earth Martial Hall was immense. The one hundred Elders hovered in the air, each forming a series of mysterious Seal Techniques.

VMMMM—

A surging, violent wave of True Essence rippled across the Celestial Vault, coalescing into one hundred blood-red vortexes. From within these vortexes, blood-red arenas emerged one by one.

Moments later, one hundred ancient arenas, each glowing with a grim, bloody light, floated in the sky above the Earth Martial Hall.

Each arena was a Profound-tier Profound Weapon, impossibly durable. Even a newly ascended Heavenly Destiny Realm master would struggle to damage these Blood Battle Arenas.

Each of the one hundred arenas was presided over by an Elder powerhouse, who would act as its referee.

Third Elder Zong Han’s voice boomed, "All participating disciples, proceed to your respective arenas as indicated by your Identity Tokens. When your Identity Token resonates, you must immediately ascend the stage to fight!"

"I declare... the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s Outer Sect Competition... has officially begun!"

DONG! DONG! DONG!

Three deafening chimes, like the tolling of a great temple bell, rang out.

"Boss, I’m at Arena Fifty-Three!" Lui Yifa said, waving the Identity Token in his hand.

Jiang Chen smiled. "I’m at Arena Thirty-Two, so we won’t run into each other. Afa, work hard and aim for the top one thousand!"

"I won’t let you down, Boss!" Lui Yifa declared, thumping his chest.

The two then parted ways, heading toward their respective arenas.

「Before Arena Thirty-Two.」

Jiang Chen stood amid the crowd, but the people around him automatically parted, keeping their distance as if terrified of being associated with him.

Jiang Chen rubbed his nose, happy for the quiet.

"So you’re Jiang Chen? With your strength, you might have made it into the top ten. A pity you ran into me." A sinister voice sounded beside him. It was Zhong Yi, ranked ninth among the Ten Great Prodigies.

"Oh? And you’re so certain you can defeat me?" Jiang Chen asked, raising an eyebrow.

’This Zhong Yi is also one of the Celestial Alliance’s masters!’

’And one of the Ten Great Prodigies at that.’

Jiang Chen had already noticed that the Ten Great Prodigies, and even the other well-known experts, had been separated so they wouldn’t face each other in the elimination rounds. Yet here was Zhong Yi, assigned to the same arena as him. He’d never believe it was a coincidence.

’He’s clearly here for trouble.’

Zhong Yi snorted with contempt. "You think beating Lu Jie makes you worthy of being ranked among the Ten Great Prodigies? Let me tell you something: Lu Jie was at the very bottom. Any of the other nine of us could have beaten him easily. Junior Sister Jiang has already issued a Blood-colored Killing Order. Any member of our Celestial Alliance who encounters you will use their full strength to kill you!"

"You. Are. Dead! HAHAHA..."

With a mocking laugh, Zhong Yi turned and walked away.

’A Blood-colored Killing Order?’

Jiang Chen stood rooted to the spot, his hands clenched into tight fists. ’Jiang Ziyou, Celestial Alliance... If you’re determined to hunt me to extinction, then don’t blame me for being merciless!’

VMM...

The Identity Token in his hand vibrated faintly. Jiang Chen started. It was his turn to enter the arena.

He took a deep breath and leaped onto the Blood Battle Arena.

His opponent, an Outer Sect Disciple at the Fifth Stage of the True Martial Realm, gave a wry smile the moment he saw Jiang Chen. "I forfeit!"

Jiang Chen was speechless.

The referee for Arena Thirty-Two was taken aback for a moment before nodding. "Jiang Chen wins!"

"My thanks."

Jiang Chen cupped his fists toward the man and stepped down from the arena.

A man’s reputation precedes him.

After killing Lu Jie, Jiang Chen had earned a fearsome reputation. What average disciple would dare to cross him? Of the first hundred matches, Jiang Chen only had to actually fight in two; all the others were forfeit.

Of course, the same was true for Zhong Yi.

The two were tied for first place, each with one hundred consecutive victories.

’This is getting boring... I wonder how Afa is doing.’ Having won another match by forfeit, a bored Jiang Chen glanced over at the adjacent Arena Thirty-Three.

Lui Yifa was on the stage at that very moment.

His opponent was none other than Hex Junchen, ranked seventh among the Outer Sect’s Ten Great Prodigies.

Jiang Chen shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "Afa’s luck is terrible, running into one of the Ten Great Prodigies so soon. He’s bound to lose this match."

Lui Yifa was also well aware of the gap between him and Hex Junchen. He cupped his fists toward Hex Junchen and began, "I am no match for Senior Brother Hex. This match, I conce—"

But before he could finish his sentence...

a glint of icy light flashed in Hex Junchen’s eyes. Tapping his foot against the arena floor, he became a blood-red blur, instantly appearing before Lui Yifa.

He thrust a palm toward Lui Yifa’s chest.

The palm strike radiated a frigid light. Lui Yifa’s expression changed drastically as he hurriedly raised his hands to block.

BAM—

With a sickening thud, Lui Yifa was sent flying backward.

The bones in his arms shattered instantly. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he crashed heavily to the ground.

"W-Why? I... I already conce—" Lui Yifa sputtered, blood pouring from his mouth, his face a mask of confusion.

He hadn’t even managed to get the word out.

Hex Junchen struck again, stomping his foot on Lui Yifa’s left leg. CRACK! The entire limb was twisted out of shape.

"ARGH..."

Lui Yifa let out a pained scream.

"A dead man doesn’t need to know why!" Hex Junchen sneered, raising his leg again.

But just as his leg began to descend, a terrifying stream of Sword Qi shot through the air.

It flew straight for Hex Junchen. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Damn it!"

Hex Junchen’s expression darkened. He thrust out a palm to intercept it. The force of his palm collided with the Sword Qi, unleashing a terrifying shockwave of energy.

Hex Junchen was thrown backward.

Jiang Chen leaped onto Arena Thirty-Three and rushed to help up the blood-soaked Lui Yifa. Jiang Chen’s eyes were crimson as he glared at Hex Junchen, his voice dangerously low. "Afa had already conceded! Why did you still try to kill him?"

"Why? Because he’s your brother, that’s why. You offended our Celestial Alliance, so you must die. And anyone associated with you deserves to die as well!" Hex Junchen sneered, his scarlet tongue darting out to lick his lips.

Rage burned within Jiang Chen, mixed with a sharp pang of guilt. His crimson eyes turned to the referee of Arena Thirty-Three. "Elder! Couldn’t you see that Lui Yifa was no match for him? Why didn’t you stop it?"

The referee glanced at Jiang Chen, his expression indifferent. "I didn’t hear him concede," he said coolly. He then glanced at Hex Junchen and smiled faintly. "This match goes to Hex Junchen. Furthermore, Jiang Chen, for trespassing on another’s arena and interfering with a match, five thousand of your Contribution Points will be deducted after the competition ends. Let this serve as a warning to others!"

"You..."

Jiang Chen was furious.

He finally understood. This Elder was also with the Celestial Alliance; they were all in this together.

Seeing the smug expressions on the faces of both Hex Junchen and the Elder, Jiang Chen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the inferno in his heart. He stared at Hex Junchen and said, enunciating each word, "Hex Junchen, I will remember this debt. I will personally get revenge for Afa!"

"Hahaha! That’s only if you live long enough!" Hex Junchen sneered back.

With a cold snort, Jiang Chen leaped off the arena, carrying Lui Yifa.

"Little Black, take care of Afa," Jiang Chen instructed the Black Emperor.

The Black Emperor nodded, then looked up at Jiang Chen. "What are you going to do?"

Jiang Chen’s face was devoid of expression, but the chill in his eyes grew ever more intense. He uttered a single, bone-chilling word: "Kill."