The arena no longer belonged to individuals.
It belonged to factions.
Whispers no longer centered only on victories—but on who stood with whom… and who would fall next.
The massive stone platform had been divided into multiple active battle zones, but one area remained the center of attention.
Jiang Chen.
Now standing at Rank 38, after his overwhelming victory.
But he wasn't alone anymore.
Behind him, not too close—but not distant either—stood two figures:
Zhou Yan.
Chen Yu.
"I don't usually stand around after losing," Zhou Yan said calmly, arms folded. "But something about this doesn't feel right."
Chen Yu cracked his knuckles, scanning the surroundings.
"Yeah… too many eyes. Not the normal kind."
Jiang Chen didn't turn, but his voice was steady.
"You noticed too."
Above them, in the stands, Lin Xue watched the trio.
Her sharp gaze flickered between them.
"An unstable alliance…" she murmured. "But effective."
A disciple beside her frowned. "Should we intervene?"
Lin Xue shook her head.
"Not yet. Let's see who survives."
The gong rang again.
"Next match: Jiang Chen vs Rank 35—Chen Yu!"
Silence.
Then confusion.
Chen Yu blinked.
"…Well. That's awkward."
The crowd leaned forward, anticipation rising instantly.
Two rising forces.
Now forced to clash.
Jiang Chen finally turned.
For a brief moment, the three stood in silence.
Chen Yu sighed, rolling his shoulders.
"Guess we don't have a choice."
Zhou Yan stepped back slightly.
"I'll observe."
Jiang Chen nodded once.
"Let's make it clean."
They moved at the same time.
Chen Yu's fighting style was direct—overwhelming force, no tricks, no deception.
His fist tore through the air like a cannon.
Jiang Chen responded instantly.
Golden Shadow Step!
He vanished, reappearing at Chen Yu's flank—but this time, he didn't strike immediately.
He watched.
Analyzed.
[Combat Pattern Analysis: Active]
[Opponent Style: Direct Power-Type]
[Weakness: Minimal Defensive Recovery Time]
Chen Yu turned mid-strike, adapting fast.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Their fists collided.
BOOM!
The shockwave rippled outward, cracking the already damaged arena floor.
But something was off.
Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed.
"…They're holding back."
Lin Xue noticed it too.
"They're testing each other… not fighting to win."
And then—
It happened.
A ripple.
Not one.
Not two.
Multiple.
The system exploded with warnings:
[CRITICAL ALERT]
[Multiple Hostile Signatures Detected]
[Threat Level: EXTREME]
"Now," a cold voice echoed faintly from the shadows.
Five cloaked figures burst into the arena at once.
Not targeting one person—
But three.
Jiang Chen.
Chen Yu.
Zhou Yan.
The crowd erupted into chaos.
"ASSASSINS!"
"Five of them?!"
Chen Yu reacted instantly.
"So much for a clean fight!"
Zhou Yan stepped forward, aura sharpening.
"They're coordinated."
Jiang Chen's golden qi surged violently.
His eyes turned cold.
"Then we don't hold back."
The first assassin struck—fast, silent, lethal.
Jiang Chen intercepted.
Primordial Strike!
Crack!
The assassin's body collapsed instantly.
But the others didn't hesitate.
Two targeted Chen Yu, overwhelming him with speed.
One moved for Zhou Yan.
And the last—
Vanished.
Jiang Chen's instincts screamed.
Behind him—
A blade emerged from nothingness.
Phoenix Shadow Step!
He twisted at the last second—but the blade still grazed his shoulder.
Blood.
The arena froze.
Jiang Chen looked down briefly.
Then smiled.
"Good…"
The system pulsed violently:
[Damage Received]
[Adaptive Combat Response Triggered]
[Primordial Strike Evolution Progress: 30%]
His aura exploded.
Stronger.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
Chen Yu roared, slamming one assassin into the ground with brute force.
"Stop spacing out!"
Zhou Yan moved like a shadow, disabling his opponent with precise, surgical strikes.
"They're testing us… working together!"
Jiang Chen stepped forward slowly.
Golden qi spiraled around him.
"No…" he said calmly.
"They're trying to eliminate threats."
His gaze lifted—
Toward the stands.
Toward Luo Tian.
Luo Tian watched.
Silent.
Uninterrupted.
Their eyes met again.
This time—
There was no distance.
Only understanding.
Jiang Chen turned back to the battlefield.
"Then let's show them…" he said quietly.
"…why we're still standing."
He moved.
Faster than before.
Primordial Strike — Refined Convergence!
BOOM!!!
Two assassins were blown away instantly.
Chen Yu grinned wildly.
"Now THIS is a fight!"
Zhou Yan's voice was calm—but sharp.
"Stay focused. There's still one missing."
Silence.
Then—
A whisper.
Right behind Jiang Chen.
"You've grown… too fast."
The final assassin revealed himself—
Closer than anyone expected.
Stronger than the rest.
The system screamed:
[ELITE ASSASSIN DETECTED]
[Threat Level: CRITICAL]
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed.
And for the first time since the ranking battle began—
He felt it.
Real danger.
This one… is different.