Chapter 85: Extreme Humiliation, End of the First Round

Zhou Chen remained expressionless, his heart calm and undisturbed, even feeling a bit like laughing.

Soon, all Disciples were teleported to their assigned arena stages based on their draw numbers.

Zhou Chen also stepped onto arena stage 17.

Instantly, hundreds of Loose Cultivators from different Sects, families, and various regions appeared on the stage, warily distancing themselves from each other as a tense atmosphere filled the air.

Wei Yan stood at the other end of the arena stage, his eyes locked firmly on Zhou Chen. A Wenxian Sect Core Disciple beside him also seemed to follow his lead, lurking like a venomous snake in the dark.

"First round of the Great Competition, begin!"

With the order from the City Lord's Deacon, a chaotic melee instantly erupted!

"Roar!"

"Kill!"

Spiritual light exploded across hundreds of arena stages, with the sounds of clashing weapons, roars, and screams rising and falling one after another.

Violent energy impacts struck the arena stage Restrictions, creating ripples.

Wei Yan had a clear objective, pouncing directly toward Zhou Chen's position!

"Zhou Chen, die!"

He shouted fiercely, holding an Earth Rank High Grade spirit sword that radiated a biting chill. His speed was astonishing as he aimed straight for Zhou Chen's face, clearly intending to finish him in one strike amidst the chaos.

The moment the sword light pierced Zhou Chen, Wei Yan's face lit up with joy. However, in the next instant, Zhou Chen's figure became blurred like a reflection in water and completely vanished from the spot!

"Wha… what?!"

Wei Yan's sword struck empty air. Unable to retract his power in time, he stumbled and nearly fell over.

He scanned the surroundings in shock and uncertainty, his spiritual sense frantically sweeping the arena stage, yet he could find no trace of Zhou Chen!

"Where is he? Find him for me!"

Wei Yan roared at his followers in a fit of rage.

The man was also bewildered and could only search blindly through the chaotic crowd, but found nothing.

The subsequent melee became even more chaotic.

Wei Yan had to guard against attacks from all directions while also being distracted by searching for Zhou Chen, making it impossible for him to focus on the fight.

Several times, he was besieged by other Cultivators, leaving him in a somewhat pathetic state.

In his fury, Wei Yan vented his anger on the Loose Cultivators and began a slaughter. For a while, no one dared to cross him.

As time passed minute by minute, the number of people on the arena stage rapidly decreased.

People were constantly knocked off the stage or forced to concede and leave due to heavy injuries.

"Only eleven people left!"

Someone shouted.

Wei Yan's spirits lifted!

He didn't see Zhou Chen, and his follower was gone too; it seemed they had both been eliminated. Lucky for Zhou Chen, Wei Yan thought, feeling it was a pity!

With a ruthless gaze, Wei Yan finished off another weaker Loose Cultivator.

Just as Wei Yan eliminated a Loose Cultivator and thought victory was within his grasp—

Bang!!!

Wei Yan didn't even have time to react before he felt a violent, heavy blow to the back of his head!

Bang!!

The heavy sound echoed from behind his ear again, dull and solid, like hitting a sack full of grain.

"Ugh…"

Wei Yan's vision went black as he felt the world spinning. The exaggerated stinging pain instantly stripped him of all consciousness.

His body went limp, and he fell flat on his face in a "dog eating dung" position, his sword hitting the stage with a "clang."

The surroundings fell silent for a moment.

The Loose Cultivator who was about to be eliminated by Wei Yan was stunned, everyone on the arena stage was stunned, and the audience below was also dumbfounded!

In the Wenxian Sect viewing area, Third Elder Li Qingxuan suddenly stood up. His face turned ashen instantly, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief, followed by uncontrollable disgust!

Wei Yan, the nominal Eldest Senior Brother of the Wenxian Sect, was actually knocked unconscious and eliminated at the final moment by a Brick that appeared out of nowhere?!

This wasn't just embarrassing; it was an absolute disgrace to the Wenxian Sect!

Fortunately, Liu Qianru had advanced cleanly and efficiently; otherwise, the Wenxian Sect's reputation would have been completely ruined by Wei Yan.

"Useless trash!"

Li Qingxuan squeezed the words through his teeth and sat down with a flick of his sleeve, not sparing another glance at the unconscious Wei Yan on the stage.

At the same time, Zhou Chen's figure slowly revealed itself on the other side of the arena stage. His expression was calm as usual, as if he had just gone for a short stroll.

He even had the leisure to straighten his robes.

That Brick, after continuous material reinforcement, had long since become an Earth Rank Peak Grade item.

However, behind Wang Yue, Ye Chen in the stands seemed to recall past events. He was staring at Zhou Chen with eyes nearly splitting with rage; this scene was far too familiar, and he knew without thinking that Zhou Chen was behind it.

His eyes were bloodshot, wishing he could kill Zhou Chen right now!

Wang Yue seemed to sense Ye Chen's killing intent and couldn't help but frown. In her eyes, Ye Chen was too easily swayed by emotions, and his Dao Heart was somewhat lacking.

In the first round, Zhou Chen advanced easily, while Wei Yan became a total laughingstock to everyone.

On another side, Blood Wuhen used his terrifying blood claws from the start, ending the battle cleanly. The other nine people were just glad to be alive rather than celebrating their advancement.

Sword Wuxin of the Qingshan Sect, Han Li of Huangfeng Valley, Xu Kong and Xu Ming of Tianlong Temple, and even Yin Caidie of the Yinshan Sect all passed the first round of the assessment.

"The first round of the Great Competition is over!"

As the Deacon's voice fell, the ten successful candidates from each arena stage were randomly cross-assigned to simulated Wilderness Platforms to serve as the arena stages for the second round.

The rules for the second round of arena battles were equally cruel: among the ten people who advanced, only one could emerge victorious!

Fortunately, Zhou Chen didn't encounter anyone he knew.

As soon as the battle began, it was exceptionally intense.

The remaining ten people were all experts who had fought their way through thousands of Cultivators, with the lowest cultivation being at the third level of Core Formation.

The light of various Magic Treasures and Spirit Arts lit up the battlefield, accompanied by constant booming sounds.

Zhou Chen's figure was like a ghost. Divine Concealment Art combined with Taiyi Golden Light Step allowed him to move through the Wilderness Platform as if no one were there.

He didn't participate in the fight directly but instead found a tree and lay down comfortably to watch the battle.

Occasionally forced to act, he would merely flick his finger to gently block the aftershocks of the combat.

On Zhou Chen's other side, two seventh-level Core Formation Cultivators were teaming up to besiege a powerful eighth-level Core Formation saber Cultivator, aiming to eliminate the strongest opponent first.

The saber Cultivator swung a broad-backed saber so fast it was airtight, releasing a towering Evil Qi. For a moment, he actually held off the two attackers and even gained a slight upper hand.

Zhou Chen glanced at it casually and lost interest.

His gaze swept across the entire battlefield, landing on the battle projections of several other arena stages.

Blood Wuhen's fighting style was still so simple and violent.

At the start of the battle, blood-colored Devilish Qi erupted, transforming into a giant Blood Palm that blotted out the sky. Carrying a terrifying pressure, it slammed down toward the five Cultivators closest to him!

Those five Cultivators were terrified. Under Blood Wuhen's overbearing and matchless Blood Palm, they were instantly crushed!

With just one palm strike, only Blood Wuhen and four others remained on the battlefield!

The remaining four turned pale. Looking at Blood Wuhen's cold and heartless bronze mask, their Battle Intent vanished completely.

"I withdraw!"

One of them screamed and immediately crushed their entry number plate to be teleported out.

As the other three hesitated slightly, Blood Wuhen's figure had already closed in. His crimson demonic claws easily pierced through their bodies…

Sword Wuxin stood alone with his sword, standing still in the center of the field.

Nine Core Formation Cultivators surrounded Sword Wuxin with great tacit understanding and launched an attack simultaneously. Sword Wuxin merely drew his sword slowly.

No one saw how he unsheathed it; by the time they could see clearly, Sword Wuxin's sword was already back in its scabbard.

In the next moment, nine sprays of blood shot out at once. The entire process was incredibly clean and efficient.