Chapter 9: Arena Match

Everyone's attention was placed onto the centre of the arena.

There, 2 people could be seen facing off against eachother.

Both looked extremely proud and dignified. One was wearing red robes while the other was wearing black robes.

Simultaneously, both summoned their weapons from their spatial rings. Ashel was using a spear while the other was using a saber.

Sorin could see the resemblance to Ashel and his brother Verin. They both had brown hair and emerald eyes.

The other man had short black hair and a sharp gaze.

It was then that Ashel spoke, his demeanour composed and somewhat arrogant.

"Suho, haha, you actually dared to challenge me? Aren't you a little too quick? You still haven't reached the 300 ranks yet. Don't tell me you still hold a grudge towards me during the fragmented world?"

"You mongrel! I vowed to myself that I will repay what you did to me back then 10 fold! Today I will take you down!"

"Hmph, just a mere rank 3 at the earth stage!" Ashel snorted in disdain.

It was then that Suho suddenly unsupressed his aura as the undulations of a rank 4 initial stage exploded out.

"Haha, I'm not the same as back then. Today, you will be my stepping stone!"

Ashel showed a hint of surprise as he laughed in a mocking tone and said.

"So what? Even a stray dog if fed a few good things would be a little healthier. What makes you think the outcome would change?" He also unsupressed his aura as he revealed the undulations of a rank 4 upper stage.

Once he revealed his aura, sparks of lightning also began discharging out of his spear.

Seeing this scene, the crowd exclaimed.

"That is Ashel's esoteric spiritual art that let's him turn spiritual energy into lightning! Paired with his piercing lightning technique, he is quick and has formidable strength! Suho doesn't stand a chance!"

"It is not as simple. Suho was blessed with a strength innate talent. Paired with the fierce and tyranical nature of the saber, his strength is even scarier. Although his esoteric spiritual art doesn't give him an attribute, his beast saber technique is also formidable."

Sorin pondered. 'The Spiritual Condensation realm... It is where a Spirit Masters journey truly begins. The Assimilation realm merely sets the foundations.' He knew that the spiritual Condensation realm had 9 minor ranks and each Rank had 4 stages which are initial, upper, earth and heaven.

As the crowd was discussing the strengths and weaknesses of their techniques and arts, the two fighters had already charged at each other.

Within a breaths time, both were already in close distance as they both sent out an attack. Ashel pierced towards Suho while the latter slashed.

Peng!

Spiritual energy and sparks of lightning were released. The aftershock of their collision was felt by the entire audience.

With their collision, Suho had taken 3 steps back whilst Ashel took 8, coughing up a mouthful of blood.

Laughing, Ashel spoke.

"So you've gotten a little stronger... but if this is everything you got, merely relying on your innate talent, I'll be really disappointed."

"Hmph, you really are arrogant. Despite losing miserably in the exchange, you're still trying to save your dignity? Hmph! Just give up, I don't want to hear your nonsense!"

Ashel's eyes turned cold as he said.

"Haha! Fine... I'll show you the difference between a core disciple and an inner disciple..."

After saying those words, spiritual energy began exploding out of his body. It then transmuted and turned to lightning, enshrouding his body in an armour of lightning!

Taking a breath, his aura suddenly exploded out as he infused his spear with energy. At this moment, his aura was equivalent to someone at rank 5!

He then walked to Suho with spear in hand, each step scorching the ground.

At this moment, the entire audience thought of one thing.

He was like a thunder god!

"T‐This... Ashel is really a genius! He's already reached the master attainment of his esoteric spiritual art!"

Seeing Ashel walking towards him and feeling his suffocating aura, Suho gritted his teeth. After that humiliation in the fragmented world, he had trained tirelessly. But would he actually still lose?

No! He couldn't accept it!

With his spiritual energy exploding out, Suho rushed at him, raising his saber as he unleashed the most powerful slash he had ever created.

A blade of spiritual energy shot out, creating deep cut marks on the arena.

Boom!

Smoke and dust emerged due to the impact of Suho's attack.

Breathing heavily, his eyes held a hint of hope. But the words he suddenly heard behind him made him feel helpless.

"Just this speed and power? Too slow and weak." Ashel remarked. His speed outstripped even Suho's senses, appearing instantly behind him.

With a swing of his spear, Suho's body was sent flying and crashing onto the arena walls. He had used all his spiritual energy in that attack so his defences were at its weakest.

Emerging out the rubble, Suho coughed up a mouthful of blood. His right arm also seemed to be completely broken.

Weakly, he spoke.

"Ashel... I admit my defeat today. But next time, I will definitely beat you!" His eyes pierced through him.

Ashel merely sneered. "Haha, the result will always remain the same..."

Suho didn't bother to listen as he walked out the arena. Despite his miserable loss, his ambition for the true path didn't falter.

Seeing the battle end, the entire audience were left in awe. Slowly, they began leaving.

"Junior brother, what will you do now?" Stelle asked.

"I want to stay and watch a few more matches."

"Oh, I see! Captivated already? Well, I'll be leaving. I have to focus on my cultivation!"

"Alright, sister Stelle."

Once Stelle left, Verin also left, following her like a loyal dog.

Of course, Sorin wasn't here to watch more battles. He was going to participate in the outer arena to get a good rank and some astral tokens.

Sorin began walking to the main building of the arena.

Once he was there, he immediately noticed a massive stone with countless names written on it.

Walking over to the counter, there was someone behind it as he spoke.

"Anything I could help you with?" The man spoke.

"I'd like to sign up and participate in an outer arena match."

"Sure. Please tell me your name and send a strand of spiritual energy into this stone so we can get your spiritual signature."

Sorin nodded as he sent a strand of spiritual energy and told him his name.

After finishing everything, the man continued.

"That massive rock lists all the names of every disciple in this academy that are in the arena. It shows their rank and whether or not they can be challenged. You can interact with it through your spiritual energy and using your thoughts."

The man then explained the rules of the arena.

"You can only challenge someone 100 ranks above you. In the outer arena, every 100 rank rewards you with 1 astral token. Every 1000 ranks rewards you with 5 astral tokens and every 10,000 rewards you with 100 astral tokens. Every 100,000 ranks rewards you with a thousand astral tokens, and the top 10,000 ranks have more unique rewards. If someone has already been challenged in the outer arena, they can choose not to accept for a week."

Sorin nodded. He needed 100 astral tokens for the examination, so he will be consecutively fighting until he reaches it.

After the man explained the rules, he gave Sorin a gold medallion with small symbols etched onto them.

"This medallion will signify whenever a disciple wants to challenge you."

After receiving the medallion, Sorin walked to the giant stone teemed with countless names — each displaying the disciples rank. At the very end of the stone, Sorin noticed his name: Sorin Modred. Rank, 917,892.