The first bout had ended, yet it was not a conclusion, but a prelude to the fierce battles to come.
In contrast to Jian Qingtian's spectacular duel, Duan Qianchou's second match was effortless—and consequently dull.
Duan Qianchou, contestant number two, faced a mere second-layer True Essence cultivator, a foe he could dispatch with ease. Once the two stepped onto the arena, his opponent drew his weapon: a three-ring steel saber, massive and unwieldy.
The second-layer True Essence warrior charged at Duan Qianchou, lifting the saber high as the metal rings along its spine clattered violently. Facing this ferocious strike, Duan Qianchou merely flicked the blade with his finger. The saber flew from the man's grasp, stabbing deep into the distant ground and quivering violently.
Faced with such overwhelming dominance, the opponent wisely conceded defeat.
The third bout, featuring Wen Rensi, was even more straightforward. The moment he unleashed his fourth-layer True Essence aura, his opponent surrendered at once.
"Third match: Wen Rensi is victorious!" You Canghai's voice echoed across the arena. "Next: contestant four, Gao Han, versus contestant ninety-six, Xu Shichang!"
At the sound of You Canghai's voice, Gao Jianfei's heart jolted violently in the spectator stands. Gao Yong and Gao Zhi, beside him, wore expressions of shock.
"Clan Leader! Could this Gao Han be Brother Han?" Gao Yong blurted out, his gaze fixed anxiously on Gao Jianfeng. Even Gao Zhi turned to him, unable to contain his curiosity.
Gao Jianfeng fell into thought for a moment, then shook his head. "It cannot be. Not even the most gifted genius could advance so rapidly."
"But what about Third Uncle? He reached that level in just a few years!" Gao Zhi replied, referring to Gao Jianshang, who had left the clan at the True Essence realm and returned years later as a Spirit Fusion expert—a feat that defied all reason.
"Your third uncle's case is unique. The reasons behind it are not for you to know yet." Gao Jianfeng's lips twisted into a bitter smile. Even he had not known the secret until his younger brother had told him.
Li Changtian, seated high upon the witness platform, was equally astonished, though he quickly regained his composure and muttered to himself, "The world is vast. There are bound to be those who share the same name."
Gao Han had been admitted into the Misty Sect by Li Changtian himself, and he knew the boy's cultivation perfectly well. When Gao Han had left the sect, he had been at the early peak of the ninth layer of Qi Condensation. How could he have reached the True Essence realm in merely three months? Even if his talent was extraordinary, reaching True Essence would not have earned him a place in this tournament.
Yet despite their doubts, all three stared intently, eager to see what kind of warrior this namesake Gao Han might be.
Upon hearing his name called, Gao Han rose to his feet and strode toward the arena. Clad in pure white robes with twin swords at his waist, his handsome and unruly features lent him an air of effortless grace and cold resolve.
"Clan Leader! It really is Brother Han!" Gao Yong exclaimed, his body trembling slightly. Gao Zhi appeared outwardly calm, but his tightly clenched hands betrayed his intense excitement.
Gao Jianfeng's expression was a mixture of joy and worry. "It is indeed Han'er! He has broken through to the True Essence realm… but…"
"But what, Clan Leader? Brother Han's breakthrough is wonderful news! A blessing beyond measure!" Gao Yong cried, gesturing wildly with excitement.
Gao Zhi, more perceptive, spoke in a low tone. "You fear Brother Han is outmatched."
"Exactly. Han'er is, at most, first-layer True Essence. Every competitor here is at least second-layer, and every one of them is a prodigy capable of battling across realms. How can he stand against them?"
CRACK.
Li Changtian's fingers crushed the armrest of his chair into splinters. "Impossible," he muttered, his eyes widening in utter disbelief.
Unlike Gao Jianfeng and the others, Li Changtian had been informed of the first two rounds, even in his absence. He knew that numerous second-layer True Essence cultivators had been eliminated. For Gao Han, a mere first-layer expert, to advance to the third stage could not be attributed to luck alone.
Then a thought struck him: He is a Misty Sect disciple, and his sister is my personal apprentice. His strength is to my benefit. A wave of delight washed over him.
Thinking of his prized pupil Gao Yang, Li Changtian felt a surge of pride and joy. In just three months, she had reached the third layer of Qi Condensation. Though she had taken many medicinal pills, such progress brought great honor to him as her master.
Li Changtian's unusual reaction did not go unnoticed by the other elders.
"Old Li, what has you so agitated?" Xiang Wentian of the Qianling Sect asked in confusion. As the Misty Sect's Elder of Alchemy, Li Changtian was short-tempered, but he remained composed unless provoked.
"Brother Changtian, do you know this Gao Han?" Zheng Mufeng and Situ Wei asked, aware that Gao Han was a Misty Sect disciple.
Li Changtian laughed heartily. "Gao Han was admitted into the Misty Sect by my own hand. And his sister is my one and only personal apprentice!"
Zheng Mufeng nodded, pleased. He had thought Gao Han was an ordinary Misty Sect disciple, but his status was far more remarkable—especially with his sister being the apprentice of Li Changtian, the number one alchemist in the Spirit Kingdom.
"Gao Han is also an honorary disciple of the Zheng clan. In that case, our two factions are hardly strangers," Zheng Mufeng said with a warm smile.
Li Changtian understood at once. He was well aware of the bitter rivalry between the imperial Lu clan and the Zheng clan. Since Gao Han had sided with the Zhengs, he could not afford to dismiss Zheng Mufeng. "Ah, Brother Mufeng. After this tournament, let us share a drink together."
Zheng Mufeng smiled and nodded. "Naturally. As your host, I shall insist on paying."
Situ Wei laughed helplessly. "You two take all the glory. How I wish the Situ clan had disciples worthy of note! All the limelight is yours."
The Situ clan had sent few participants, only a handful of first-layer True Essence cultivators to show their presence, all eliminated before the second round. Even Situ Jian had fallen in the second stage.
Though an eight-star power, the Situ clan ranked among the lower tier of eight-star forces, lagging far behind the others. Its position was awkward: protected by the Zheng clan, it enjoyed the privileges of a major faction, yet was widely seen as unworthy of the title. Thus, the Spirit Kingdom officially recognized only ten major powers, and even within the imperial capital, only four great clans were named—excluding the Situ clan.
What the Situ clan lacked was foundation. Every great power possessed hidden, elite warriors: the masked Spirit Fusion expert serving the Zhengs as a servant, the unfathomably powerful elder guarding the Misty Sect's scripture pavilion…
While the Zheng clan rejoiced, the Lu clan seethed with resentment. The Zhengs had unexpectedly gained the backing of Li Changtian of the Misty Sect, putting Lu Shuang in a foul mood.
None of the commotion above concerned the battle unfolding below.
Facing Gao Han was Xu Shichang, a disciple of Fire Cloud Manor, a second-layer True Essence swordsman. On the Tianwu Continent, the sword was the most widely wielded weapon, favored by countless cultivators.
Xu Shichang was small and scrawny, with narrow, beady eyes, a flat nose, and a scar running from his nose to his lip, making him resemble a rat.
He twirled his sheathed sword a few times and thought to himself, Luck is on my side. I've drawn the only first-layer True Essence opponent in the entire tournament.
He snickered to himself, his expression utterly repulsive. Gao Han could only stare in exasperation. What on earth is he so happy about? Did he not watch my fight with Lu Zhengteng? Does he truly believe he has already won?
"You're a Misty Sect disciple, aren't you? Surrender won't save you. I'm going to torture you, tear your skin to shreds…" Xu Shichang muttered to himself, as if savoring some delightful fantasy, until he threw his head back and laughed loudly.
Gao Han's patience wore thin. "Is this fool mad? Has he caught the plague?"
A bizarre scene unfolded on the arena: Gao Han stood with his head lowered, while Xu Shichang laughed maniacally.
"Idiot," Gao Han finally muttered. He began walking toward Xu Shichang at a steady, unhurried pace.
"Die!"
Xu Shichang abruptly stopped laughing, drew his sword, and charged at Gao Han like a gust of wind, stabbing straight for his chest.
Gao Han continued forward without changing speed or making any defensive move. The sword closed in to within three feet of his chest. Xu Shichang's face lit up with glee—he believed Gao Han was too late to dodge, and his strike would land for certain.
At the very instant the sword was about to pierce him, Gao Han's body twisted and vanished from sight, reappearing behind Xu Shichang in the blink of an eye. He extended a palm and tapped Xu Shichang lightly on the back.
Xu Shichang's vision blurred as Gao Han disappeared. He immediately sensed danger, then a tremendous force slammed into his back.
He stumbled forward, nearly face-planting into the stone. Quick-witted, he stabbed his sword into the ground to steady himself, spun on one foot, and faced Gao Han once more.
"Impressive movement art! I suppose your luck in the first two rounds came from this. But…" Xu Shichang's voice cut off as he suddenly accelerated, his sword flickering with a faint red glow.
"Your strength is pathetic—you can't even tickle me. Twin Shadow Fire Swords!"
The sword split into two afterimages, each rippling with such overwhelming power that it tore at the air, sending shrill whistling sounds echoing into Gao Han's ears.
Gao Han could not believe how badly he was underestimated. He swayed to evade the two sword images, then reached out and clamped the sword blade between his index and middle fingers.
To his shock, Xu Shichang grinned. "Hahaha! How foolish! Fire Cloud Manor's sword arts heat the blade to scorching temperatures. You've trapped your own fingers—they're as good as ruined. Don't blame me; you brought this upon yourself."
Gao Han's expression did not shift in the slightest. "Is that so? I truly cannot understand what you keep smiling about. Did practicing Fire Cloud Manor's arts fry your brain? Or were you born witless?"
Xu Shichang's smile faded when he saw Gao Han's fingers unharmed and his face perfectly calm. Panic crept in. He tugged violently at his sword, yet no matter how hard he pulled, he could not free it from between Gao Han's fingers.
Worse still, the red glow on the blade faded, replaced by a thin layer of ice that spread steadily toward the hilt.
Xu Shichang no longer felt a sword hilt in his grasp, but a block of eternal frost. He tried to let go, only to discover a terrifying truth: his hand was frozen fast to the hilt, as flesh sticks to ice in frigid cold.
He could only watch as the ice crept over his hand, fusing it to the hilt.
Gao Han spoke calmly. "I had no wish to harm you. But your laughter was insufferable."
He released his grip on the blade and tapped Xu Shichang lightly on the chest with his frost-tipped finger.
THUD.
Xu Shichang's body flew backward, his red robes stained white with frost. He slammed into the protective barrier and crumpled to the ground.
"AAAAGH!"
He screamed in agony, yet his body remained frozen in the posture of holding a sword. He did not clutch his chest or attempt to rise.
His screams carried no true essence, yet they shook the arena. Within moments, his voice grew hoarse, and blood cuts appeared on his throat.
Gao Han nodded faintly. "At least you put on a good show. It is not pleasant, but far better than your senseless laughter."
Gao Han's strike had carried almost no true essence, but it was infused with strands of soul power, granting it fearsome freezing potency. This ice carried the power to harm the soul itself. Xu Shichang felt as if his spirit were being sliced repeatedly by icy blades, searing with cold and pain.
A figure flashed down from the high platform: Ma Liang appeared beside Xu Shichang and reached toward his body. Before his hand even touched Xu Shichang, a bitter cold surged from the boy's body toward his fingers.
Ma Liang's expression darkened. His hand blazed crimson like fire, and though the cold was fierce, it was isolated and easily dispelled.
He finally laid his hand on Xu Shichang's body, which was in terrible shape: fully a quarter of his meridians were frozen solid.
Ma Liang channeled his power to expel the frost, shatter the ice, and repair the damaged meridians. By the time he finished, even his forehead glistened with faint sweat—healing another's body was perilous without intimate knowledge of its inner workings.
This would not have happened had Xu Shichang possessed a deeper cultivation base. But expecting him to resist such ice was wishful thinking: Gao Han's frost existed on a higher, almost transcendental plane.
Ma Liang stared daggers at Gao Han, narrow eyes radiating cold killing intent. Gao Han felt as if strands of bloodthirst wrapped around him.
"Little brat! What a vicious and insidious technique you wield!" Ma Liang hissed, making no attempt to hide his malice.
Gao Han chuckled lightly. "Is everyone in Fire Cloud Manor this shameless? When you win, it is righteous. When others win, their techniques are evil. Do you mean to say Fire Cloud Manor intends to dominate the entire Spirit Kingdom?"
Ma Liang was left speechless, his face darkening. "Sharp tongue."
You Canghai appeared between them, his gaze heavy with authority as he fixed Ma Liang with a stare. "Elder Ma, what is the meaning of this? You pick a quarrel simply because your disciple lost. May I take this as disrupting tournament order? Or perhaps you believe the title of Iron-Armed Wanderer means nothing? That you hold me, You Canghai, in contempt?"
You Canghai was furious. I should have let the boy die. Saving such an arrogant fool was a waste.
He cleared his throat and announced loudly, "This match: Gao Han is victorious!"
"Yes! Clan Leader, did you see? Brother Han won! He won!" Gao Yong shouted, drawing stares from all around. Gao Zhi, too, was moved. "Yes. Brother Han no longer bears the label of trash. He is a true prodigy!"
Tears glistened in Gao Jianfeng's eyes. No one knew how Gao Han had suffered these past five years as he did. The bitter, unyielding look in his eyes after each humiliation, the lonely silhouette after losing to those weaker than him, the silent tears behind his indifferent expression when mocked by servants.
Every day for five years, Gao Jianfeng had watched his son from the shadows, his heart breaking at the boy's pain and helpless to ease it.
He blinked back his tears and smiled. "My son has grown. He has proven with his own actions that he is not a worthless worm, but a great dragon stranded in shallow waters."
"Brother Han! Brother Han!" Gao Yong stood and cheered loudly, ignoring the strange and annoyed glances of those nearby.
Gao Han nodded slightly to You Canghai and prepared to return to his seat. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice. He spun around, his gaze locking onto Gao Jianfeng, Gao Zhi, and Gao Yong.
"Father! Brother Zhi! Brother Yong!"
He turned to You Canghai. "Senior, may I go up for a moment?"
You Canghai thought highly of Gao Han and smiled. "Return before your next match. If you are not here within a quarter of an hour, you will forfeit."
"Thank you, Senior."
Gao Han bowed slightly, then activated his movement art and vanished from the spot, leaping toward the spectator stands. He covered the three-hundred-zhang distance in merely ten seconds.
"Father! Brother Zhi! Brother Yong! Why are you here?" For once, Gao Han was truly overwhelmed with emotion. He had not seen his brothers in four years, and their reunion filled him with joy.
"Han'er! When did you break through to the True Essence realm?" Gao Jianfeng asked, clapping him on the shoulder with a smile. Yet the slight tremor in his hand revealed that he was far calmer than he appeared.
Gao Han smiled faintly. "One month ago."
All three froze. A one-month breakthrough meant he had reached True Essence in a mere two months.
His talent was nothing short of monstrous. Gao Jianfeng knew full well that a tree rising above the wind will be broken by it. He said no more of Gao Han's cultivation.
Gao Zhi was just as shrewd as Gao Jianfeng, and he kept Gao Yong from asking questions about Gao Han's progress.
Gao Han spent a short while with them in the stands, arranging to meet after the tournament ended for a long-overdue gathering.