The arena had yet to calm.
Even after Jiang Chen's overwhelming victory, the air still trembled with the remnants of golden qi. Cracked stone stretched across the battlefield, a silent testament to what had just occurred.
But the noise—
The cheers, the whispers, the disbelief—
Only grew louder.
"Jiang Chen… defeated him…"
"The hidden elite… lost?!"
"This changes everything!"
High above, the Inner Clan elders stood in silence. Their expressions were no longer calm. Something had shifted.
A new force had emerged.
And it was no longer possible to ignore him.
A deep, resonant voice echoed across the arena:
"Jiang Chen."
All sound stopped.
Instantly.
As if the world itself had paused.
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
He turned.
At the far end of the arena…
Someone stood there.
No explosive aura.
No overwhelming pressure.
No dramatic entrance.
Just… presence.
A young man in flowing white robes stepped forward slowly. Each step was measured. Controlled. Precise.
His expression was calm—almost indifferent.
But his eyes…
They were terrifyingly sharp.
Danger.
For the first time since his rebirth, Jiang Chen felt it instinctively.
Not from power.
But from something deeper.
The system activated on its own.
[Warning: Unknown Entity Detected]
[Threat Level: Extreme]
[Analysis… Interrupted]
[Result: Cannot Fully Calculate]
Jiang Chen's pupils contracted slightly.
It can't… analyze him?
The young man stopped at the center of the arena. His gaze rested on Jiang Chen—not with hostility, not with curiosity…
But with evaluation.
As if he were solving a problem.
"You're inefficient."
His voice was calm. Flat. Absolute.
The crowd froze.
"What… did he just say?"
"Who is that?"
Jiang Chen didn't react immediately. His golden qi flickered faintly as he observed the man carefully.
"Explain."
The young man tilted his head slightly.
"Your movements. Your strikes. Your growth."
A pause.
"All inefficient."
A ripple of shock spread through the arena.
He was… criticizing Jiang Chen?
After everything they had just witnessed?
Jiang Chen's lips curved faintly.
"Then show me what efficiency looks like."
Silence.
Then—
The young man moved.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just one step.
He vanished.
A gust of wind tore across the arena.
Before anyone could react—
He reappeared in front of a nearby Inner Clan disciple ranked within the Top 10.
The disciple's eyes widened. "Wha—"
One strike.
Boom.
The disciple was sent flying across the arena, crashing into the stone wall with a thunderous impact.
Unconscious.
Defeated.
In a single move.
Silence followed.
Heavy. Crushing silence.
The young man stood where he had struck, his robes barely disturbed.
No wasted motion.
No excess energy.
Perfect execution.
Jiang Chen's gaze sharpened.
That wasn't just speed…
That was calculation.
The system flickered again:
[Combat Pattern Analysis Failed]
[Conclusion: Opponent operates on predictive combat logic]
The young man turned back to Jiang Chen.
"Luo Tian."
The name echoed.
Some elders stiffened instantly.
"It's him…"
"The one they mentioned…"
"He's already returned?"
Jiang Chen took a step forward. Golden qi stirred faintly around him.
"Jiang Chen."
Their eyes met.
Golden.
And calm abyss-like clarity.
For a brief moment—
The air between them seemed to distort.
Luo Tian spoke first.
"Your ability… is irregular."
A pause.
"Unpredictable."
Jiang Chen smirked slightly.
"And yours?"
Luo Tian's gaze remained steady.
"I don't rely on unpredictability."
A single step forward.
"I eliminate it."
A faint pressure filled the arena—not explosive like qi, but suffocating in its precision.
As if every possible movement…
Was being restricted.
Jiang Chen felt it immediately.
My movement… is being read.
The system reacted:
[Warning: Movement prediction detected]
[Opponent calculating trajectory paths]
Jiang Chen's smile widened slightly.
Good.
"Then try."
For the first time—
Luo Tian moved toward him directly.
Step.
Pause.
Step.
Each movement carried a strange rhythm.
Not fast.
Not slow.
But… inevitable.
Jiang Chen's instincts flared. He activated Phoenix Shadow Step instantly, his figure blurring into golden light.
But Luo Tian didn't chase.
Didn't react.
Didn't even turn his head.
He simply spoke:
"You'll appear… behind me."
Jiang Chen's eyes widened.
Because he already had.
Before his strike could land—
Luo Tian turned.
Perfect timing.
Perfect angle.
Their attacks collided.
BOOM!
The shockwave spread across the arena, but this time—
Something was different.
Jiang Chen's movement…
Had been intercepted.
For the first time—
His evolution…
Was being countered.
The two separated instantly.
Both standing still.
Both watching each other.
The crowd held their breath.
Luo Tian spoke quietly:
"You evolve during battle."
A pause.
"I calculate before it begins."
Jiang Chen's golden aura flared slightly.
Excitement flickered in his eyes.
Finally—
A real opponent.
The system panel flickered violently:
[New Rival Detected]
[Designation: Luo Tian]
[Threat Level: Beyond Current Limit]
[New Objective: Survive and Analyze]
Jiang Chen smiled.
Not calmly.
Not coldly.
But with pure, burning anticipation.
"Good."
Luo Tian's gaze sharpened slightly.
For the first time—
A hint of interest appeared.
And in that moment…
Everyone in the arena understood one thing:
This wasn't just a meeting.
This was the beginning of a rivalry…
That would shake the entire world.