The arena no longer felt like a testing ground.
It felt like a battlefield.
By now, the crowd had completely shifted their focus. No longer were they watching dozens of matches—they were watching one name rise again and again.
Jiang Chen.
From rank 45 to 42 in mere moments, and now… climbing still.
The gong sounded once more.
"Next match: Jiang Chen vs Rank 40—Zhou Yan!"
A tall figure stepped forward, his aura steady and oppressive. Unlike the previous opponents, Zhou Yan did not speak. His eyes were calm, calculating—dangerous.
Jiang Chen narrowed his gaze.
This one… is different.
The system activated instantly:
[Opponent Detected: Zhou Yan]
[Rank: 40]
[Threat Level: High]
[Combat Pattern Analysis: Initiating…]
Golden qi flowed through Jiang Chen's body as he stepped forward. The air between them tightened, as if even space itself anticipated the clash.
Zhou Yan moved first.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
But precise.
His fist shot forward with terrifying control, targeting Jiang Chen's shoulder—not to destroy, but to disable.
Jiang Chen reacted instantly.
Golden Shadow Step!
He vanished from the strike's path, reappearing at Zhou Yan's flank. Without hesitation, he countered.
Primordial Strike!
Bang!
The impact echoed—but Zhou Yan didn't move.
Instead, he redirected the force, sliding back a single step, absorbing the attack with minimal damage.
The crowd gasped.
"He blocked it?!"
"That's Jiang Chen's strike!"
Jiang Chen's eyes sharpened.
He didn't block it… he redirected it.
The system pulsed rapidly:
[New Combat Insight Acquired]
[Opponent Technique: Force Redirection]
[Counter Strategy: Incomplete]
Zhou Yan attacked again, this time faster. Each strike came with layered intent—feints within feints, power hidden beneath control.
For the first time since the ranking battle began…
Jiang Chen was pushed back.
Interesting… Jiang Chen thought, dodging another precise blow.
Every step he took was calculated, but Zhou Yan's rhythm disrupted his flow. It wasn't overwhelming force—it was efficiency taken to a frightening level.
And then—
A flicker.
A faint ripple of qi from the stands.
Jiang Chen's instincts screamed.
Again?!
Without hesitation, he twisted his body mid-dodge.
A thin blade sliced through the space where his neck had been a split second ago.
Another assassin.
But this time… faster.
Deadlier.
Jiang Chen's eyes flashed cold.
Phoenix Shadow Step!
He disappeared and reappeared behind the attacker, striking with pinpoint accuracy.
Crack!
The assassin collapsed instantly.
The arena erupted into chaos.
"Another one?!"
"What is happening?!"
But Zhou Yan didn't stop.
The moment Jiang Chen turned, Zhou Yan's strike was already there—perfectly timed, aimed at the exact opening created by the distraction.
So that's it… Jiang Chen realized.
He's not ignoring the chaos—he's using it.
Boom!
The strike landed.
Jiang Chen slid back several meters, his feet carving deep lines into the arena floor. Dust rose around him as golden qi flared instinctively to stabilize his body.
Silence fell.
Then whispers.
"He got hit…"
"Jiang Chen… was pushed back…"
Jiang Chen slowly straightened.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Not anger.
Not frustration.
Excitement.
"Good," he said quietly.
Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Golden qi surged—stronger than before.
But this time… it wasn't just power.
It was refinement.
Compression.
Evolution.
The system flared brightly:
[Combat Pressure Threshold Reached]
[Primordial Strike Evolution Progress: 15%]
[New Variant Unlock Condition Approaching…]
Jiang Chen stepped forward.
This time, his movement changed.
No wasted motion.
No excess force.
Just like Zhou Yan…
Efficient.
Zhou Yan's calm expression finally shifted—just slightly.
"You're learning," he said.
Jiang Chen smirked.
"Of course."
The two clashed again.
But now, the rhythm had changed.
Jiang Chen no longer simply attacked—he adapted within every exchange, subtly adjusting his strikes, refining his timing, compressing his qi further with each movement.
Zhou Yan struck.
Jiang Chen redirected.
Jiang Chen struck.
Zhou Yan countered.
The arena trembled under the collision of two perfectly controlled forces.
In the stands, Luo Tian watched.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Now… this is worth observing."
His eyes glowed faintly.
"He's evolving mid-battle… faster than expected."
Back in the arena—
Jiang Chen inhaled deeply.
Everything slowed.
Zhou Yan's stance.
His breathing.
The timing of his next strike.
All of it… clear.
This is it.
Golden qi condensed into Jiang Chen's palm—denser, sharper, more refined than ever before.
Not just power.
Precision.
Primordial Strike — Refined Convergence!
BOOM!!!
The impact exploded across the arena.
This time—
Zhou Yan's control shattered.
His body was sent flying backward, crashing into the arena's boundary with a thunderous force.
The ground cracked violently.
Silence.
Then—
The crowd erupted.
[Victory Recorded]
[Primordial Points +100]
[Primordial Strike Evolution Progress: 22%]
[Current Rank: 40]
Jiang Chen stood still, golden aura flickering.
But his eyes… shifted.
Toward the stands.
Toward the shadows.
Toward Luo Tian.
For a brief moment—
Their gazes met.
Luo Tian smiled.
Not mockery.
Not arrogance.
But recognition.
Jiang Chen's smile deepened.
Finally…
A worthy rival is starting to take shape.
But the system pulsed one more time.
Urgent.
Cold.
[Warning: Multiple Hidden Threats Detected]
[Next Phase Risk Level: High]
Jiang Chen exhaled slowly.
The ranking battle was no longer just about climbing.
It had become something far more dangerous.
And this… is only the beginning.