NOVPUB
Chapter 72: Ch-72: Sect Competition–2
He blocked it barely with his sword, skidding back.
So fast.
Tian Shen’s hands blurred, taking his sword—he launched a fireball, followed by a slash. The arena filled with haze.
Lin Mo didn’t flinch. His sword pulsed, releasing a wind slash that blew the smoke away like a gust through a paper screen.
But Tian Shen had already moved—appearing behind Lin Mo with a blazing palm, his sword resting.
Lin Mo spun around just in time to parry—but not the pill flame that followed. It singed his robes and forced him back two steps.
The crowd gasped.
"He actually pushed Senior Lin back?"
Lin Mo’s expression sharpened.
"Impressive. Then I won’t hold back."
Suddenly, the arena shivered—Lin Mo’s sword flared with golden energy, and he pressed into his core: a half-formed realm of spiritual pressure.
Tian Shen gritted his teeth. His limbs felt like they were wading through molasses.
"I can’t move too long in here..."
He focused inward.
Ignite.
The spiritual flame blazed up, pushing his meridians to their limit. Spiritual energy surged through him like a tidal wave.
Lin Mo slashed—once, twice, thrice. Sword beams rained down like a meteor shower.
Tian Shen dodged two—then took the third with a shoulder roll and countered with a pill-enhanced uppercut.
Boom!
Both fighters flew back.
The bell rang again—this time not for defeat, but for draw.
The crowd erupted into applause.
"Draw?! Against a Core Formation disciple?!"
"Tian Shen’s fire arts... that’s not just raw power. He’d calculated that."
Lin Mo walked over, offering his hand. "That was a good fight."
Tian Shen took it, panting. "You too."
...
As the day drew to a close, names were reshuffled again.
[Tian Shen – Rank: 9]
...
He had made it into the top ten.
At sunset, Elder Duan stepped onto the central platform again.
"The final rounds will begin tomorrow. One-on-one, single elimination. Victory will earn access to the Pavilion’s Heart Chamber. The final five shall be remembered as this generation’s strongest."
Tian Shen stood among the top-ranked disciples as golden light bathed the arena.
Feng Yin joined him briefly, handing over a new talisman.
"Explodes twice," she said with a wink. "Just in case."
Tian Shen laughed softly, flame flickering behind his eyes.
Tomorrow, the real fire would begin.
Next Morning.
The sun rose behind the mountains like a burning ember, casting golden rays across the Feilun Sect’s vast arenas.
Tension hung thick in the air as disciples gathered in the stands, whispering names and predictions like gamblers before a storm.
At the center, the grand combat platform had been expanded and reinforced with layers of spiritual arrays. It was no longer just a test—it was a proving ground.
Tian Shen stood at the edge of the arena, his sword resting on his back, his gaze calm but alert.
The talisman Feng Yin had given him, sealed within his robes, pulsed with faint heat. He’d tested it in the morning—it did explode twice.
From the crowd, Feng Yin stood near the edge, arms crossed over her jade robes, eyes sharp.
Her expression was unreadable, but beneath it lingered trust. Her talisman wasn’t just explosive—it was precise.
A gong echoed across the sect.
[Tian Shen vs Jiang Qingyue]
The crowd murmured in excitement.
"The fan girl?"
"She’s ranked seventh. Didn’t she win in one of the categories last year?"
"She’s fast, Graceful too. Like a dancing blade."
Tian Shen stepped into the arena and across from him emerged a woman in flowing pale green robes.
Her black hair was tied into a braided bun, and twin folding fans rested delicately in her sleeves.
Jiang Qingyue bowed lightly.
"I’ve seen your fight with Lin Mo. You’re good."
Tian Shen gave a nod.
"Likewise."
The bell rang.
And she moved like a whisper.
In an instant, wind coiled around her fans as she spun and released a wave of crescent wind blades.
They curved through the air like elegant serpents.
Tian Shen side-stepped the first volley, activating his spirit fire to scorch the wind’s edge.
He retaliated with a spiraling fireball, then dashed forward to close the gap.
But Jiang Qingyue’s fans weren’t just weapons—they were extensions of her movement.
She ducked, twirled, parried with one fan, then retaliated with a burst of wind that knocked Tian Shen back.
He landed on one knee, breathing calmly.
She’s fast... but her defense drops just slightly after every burst.
He took out his sword, launching him forward with a sudden burst of speed.
Jiang Qingyue’s eyes widened.
He vanished—only to reappear above her with a downward arc.
She blocked with her fans, but the sheer power forced her to shift her stance. That’s when Tian Shen struck.
His palm crackled with spiritual fire and hit her shoulder—not to injure, but to push.
She staggered.
And then—
*Boom*
The explosion occured behind her. A ring of smoke shot out, making her stumble again, this time losing her footing.
The bell rang.
[Winner: Tian Shen]
The crowd roared.
"Unbelievable!"
"He used the fire explosion spell in perfect coordination!"
"He didn’t overpower her—he outmaneuvered her!"
Jiang Qingyue blinked through the smoke, then laughed softly, offering a hand.
"You’re quick. And clever."
Tian Shen gave his in return.
"Thanks for the fight."
She walked off the platform with grace, while Tian Shen returned to his corner to breathe and replenish. A hand pressed a pill into his palm—Feng Yin.
"You didn’t even use the double blast."
"I saved it. Might need it for Li Cheng."
Her smile turned knowing.
The competition roared on.
One by one, disciples fell to stronger opponents. Spiritual arts clashed, and the crowd’s excitement reached a fever pitch.
By noon, only four disciples remained.
Li Cheng, still untouched—his scarlet robes flowing like blood-soaked silk. His expression was calm, distant, his hands never once gripping his blade with full strength.
A bewitching young woman with icy silver eyes, who controlled shards of floating crystals. Her name was Yue Lanyin, and even the elders took note of her precision.
An inner sect beast tamer, who used spirit snakes and venomous smoke to overwhelm his opponents.
And Tian Shen.
His next opponent was the beast tamer—Han Ziguo.
They stepped into the arena as dusk approached.
Han Ziguo smiled darkly.
"Fire boy, huh? Let’s see how you fare when you can’t breathe."
He released two spirit snakes, one red and one blue, which slithered toward Tian Shen with inhuman speed.
Alongside them came a creeping miasma—thick and noxious.
Tian Shen stayed calm. There’s a fluffy little dangerous thing on his side after all.
Little Mei jumped out, breatheling fire, burning the toxins before they touched his skin.
"Nice try," he muttered.
Then he struck—.
The snakes reeled, charging at the fox that appeared out of nowhere. He seized the moment, slashing forward.
It was blocked midair by Han Ziguo, but just enough to scatter his control for a breath.
And a breath was all Little Mei needed.
She closed in with speed, her flame paws roaring, and landed a clean hit on the beast tamer’s chest. The snakes hissed and retreated.
The bell rang.
"Tian Shen advances to the final!"
The crowd surged in cheers and gasps.
"That guy... he’s just a Foundation Establishment disciple, right?!"
"Moreover, he’s a beast tamer too!"
"How is he taking down Core cultivators?!"
"That beast is a 3-star Blood fox, right? But Blood foxes shouldn’t be of 3-star Rank."
Night fell.
In the preparation hall, Tian Shen sat quietly. Across from him stood Li Cheng.
The final match.
Li Cheng looked up from polishing his blade.
"I underestimated you."
Tian Shen cracked his neck.
"You still might."
Li Cheng smiled faintly.
"Good. It’s been a while since I could cut loose."
As the bell for the final round echoed through the sect, both cultivators rose.
Outside, the arena blazed with lights.
Feng Yin watched from the stands, her hand clenching tightly around a talisman not yet given.
The final battle was about to begin.
...
Day of the Finale.
The arena had never been this quiet.
Not even a whisper escaped the lips of the thousands of disciples and elders who had gathered.
The moon floated high above, casting silver light upon the battleground. Wind danced softly across the arena, as if nature itself was holding its breath.
At one end stood Tian Shen. His robes fluttered faintly, eyes burning with quiet resolve.
At the other end stood Li Cheng, the top-ranked inner disciple. His crimson robes bore the insignia of the Elder Hall.
His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his spirit blade—a long, slender weapon humming with faint sword intent.
An elder stepped onto the platform. Elder Duan, solemn as always, raised his hand.
"This final round shall determine the one who will gain access to the Pavilion’s Heart Chamber and the title of Prodigy Disciple. No rules, no interference. Only the victor remains."
He glanced between the two.
"Begin."
The bell rang.
Tian Shen moved first. Deciding to battle with his sword only.
’Let’s try out the sword intent, shall we?’
