80: Inner Courtyard Storm, Strong List Challenge

Upon returning to Jia Nan Academy, Xiao Chen opted for a low profile. He carefully stored away the black scroll and bronze ring he had brought back from the Gloomy Ancient Tomb, not rushing to investigate them. Instead, he focused his main energy on consolidating his rapidly increased cultivation and digesting the profound Heaven Opening Axe Intent.

His Four-Star Dou Zong strength, combined with his Spirit Realm Great Perfection soul and his initial grasp of the Power of Space, had already elevated his true combat power to the peak level of the Inner Academy. However, he knew well that a tall tree catches the wind, especially with the Soul Hall lurking.

However, the tree wished for calm, but the wind would not cease. His performance in the Gloomy Ancient Tomb, especially the incomparably sharp intent he unleashed at the last moment, though suppressed by Elder Su Qian's order to seal the news, still circulated faintly within some small circles.

Coupled with his previous identity as the champion of the selection competition and the rumors from the Star Realm, the name "soul sword" Xiao Chen became increasingly prominent in the Inner Academy, attracting more attention, including scrutiny and challenges.

On this day, Xiao Chen was concentrating on comprehending the Heaven Opening Axe Intent in his courtyard, using his hand as an axe, making virtual movements in the air. Although no Dou Qi was released, where his fingertips passed, the air emitted subtle tearing sounds, with a hidden sharpness.

Suddenly, a commotion came from outside the courtyard gate, mixed with undisguised provocative shouts.

"Xiao Chen! Get out here!"

"Wang Chen, number seventy-one on the strong ranking list, has come to learn your high moves!"

"Don't think that just because you have a bit of fame you're something special. The Inner Academy relies on true ability!"

Xiao Chen frowned slightly, stopping his movements. His soul perception quietly spread out, and the scene outside the courtyard gate became clear in his mind. A young man dressed in black, with an arrogant face, was being surrounded by a group of onlookers, full of aggressive momentum.

This person had a cold aura and a cultivation at the Peak Dou Zong Rank, with a faint bloody murderous intent lingering around him. He was clearly someone who had fought in life-and-death situations for many years, none other than Wang Chen, ranked seventy-one on the strong ranking list.

It was said that he came from a notorious mercenary group in the Black-Corner Region, with ruthless methods, and was considered a fierce individual in the Inner Academy.

Xiao Chen initially did not want to bother with such provocations, but on second thought, constantly avoiding battle would only make him appear timid and more likely to attract unnecessary trouble. Appropriately displaying his strength might save him a lot of entanglement.

He tidied his robes and slowly walked out of the courtyard gate.

Seeing Xiao Chen appear, a sneer flashed in Wang Chen's eyes. He sized him up, his tone contemptuous: "You are Xiao Chen? You don't look like much. I heard your soul power is good. What a coincidence, what I'm best at is tearing apart those self-righteous soul cultivators! Do you dare to go to the arena and let Senior Brother teach you the rules of the Inner Academy?"

The surrounding students immediately cheered, and the atmosphere became lively. A strong ranking list expert actively challenging a newly rising star was a rare spectacle.

Xiao Chen's expression was calm. His gaze swept over Wang Chen, and he said lightly, "Since Senior Brother Wang Chen has such an interest, Xiao Chen will accompany him."

Seeing Xiao Chen accept the challenge, Wang Chen burst into laughter: "Good! You have guts! Then I'll see you at the arena!" With that, his body moved, transforming into a black smoke, and he was the first to dart towards the arena. Xiao Chen, unhurried, stepped on the Illusory Spirit Steps, his figure ethereal, following closely behind. A large crowd of onlookers also rushed after them.

The Inner Academy's arena was packed with people. The news of Wang Chen challenging Xiao Chen spread like wildfire, attracting countless gazes. On the high platform, several subtle yet powerful auras even descended, clearly some elders or stronger students of the Inner Academy observing in secret.

On the stage, Wang Chen and Xiao Chen stood opposite each other.

"Kid, don't say I'm bullying you, I'll let you have three moves first!" Wang Chen crossed his arms, his posture arrogant, trying to overwhelm Xiao Chen with his aura.

Xiao Chen shook his head: "No need. Senior Brother, please begin."

"You're courting death!" A cold light flashed in Wang Chen's eyes. He stopped talking nonsense, and his figure suddenly disappeared! It wasn't that his speed was too fast, but that he merged into a rapidly spreading black mist! The mist carried an icy chill and corrosiveness, instantly enveloping the entire arena, cutting off most of the outside view and perception!

"It's Wang Chen's 'Bone-Corroding Poison Miasma'! It can corrode Dou Qi and erode the soul!"

"Xiao Chen is in trouble, his soul attacks will be greatly weakened in the poison miasma, right?"

Gasps of surprise rose from below the stage.

Within the poison miasma, Xiao Chen only felt a slight stagnation in the circulation of his Dou Qi. A sinister and malicious force tried to penetrate his body, and countless dense soul screeches interfered with his mind. This Wang Chen indeed had some tricks up his sleeve.

However, how powerful was Xiao Chen's Spirit Realm Great Perfection soul? This slight interference was like a breeze over a mountain. His eyes flickered with a faint blue light, and his soul perception was like a bright lamp. The true nature of the poison miasma and Wang Chen's ghost-like attacking trajectory were presented with unparalleled clarity in his mind.

"Found you." Xiao Chen muttered to himself. Facing the pitch-black dagger, imbued with highly toxic Dou Qi, that Wang Chen silently thrust from behind, he neither dodged nor evaded. He merely took a seemingly casual half-step to his left-rear.

It was this hair's breadth difference that caused the dagger to graze past his clothes, the sharp gust of wind stinging his skin.

Wang Chen's attack missed, startling him. He quickly retreated, merging into the poison miasma, preparing for another sneak attack.

But how could Xiao Chen give him another chance?

"Illusionary Dream Realm, open!"

Invisible soul fluctuations spread out with Xiao Chen as the center! Within the poison miasma, the scenery suddenly changed! Wang Chen only felt his vision blur, as if he had instantly fallen into an endless purgatory, surrounded by roaring vengeful spirits and rolling magma. Xiao Chen's figure disappeared, and even his control over the poison miasma became slightly chaotic!

"Soul illusion?!" Wang Chen, having fought his way through countless battles, had a ruthless resolve. He instantly realized something was wrong, bit his tongue hard, and the intense pain cleared his mind for a moment. He frantically channeled his Dou Qi, trying to shatter the illusion.

Just as his mind was shaken, Xiao Chen moved! He did not use the immensely powerful Soul Impact or the Heaven Opening Axe Intent. Instead, he highly condensed his soul power, transforming it into dozens of invisible soul threads, like a spider web, silently wrapping around Wang Chen's limbs, joints, and critical nodes of Dou Qi circulation!

Soul Thread Entanglement! This was a subtle combat technique Xiao Chen created by combining his soul manipulation ability with his understanding of Dou Qi circulation, specifically used to interfere with and restrict opponents.

Wang Chen immediately felt his body stiffen, his Dou Qi circulation became sluggish, as if he had fallen into an invisible quicksand, his movements becoming incredibly slow! He was greatly alarmed and struggled desperately.

"The opening has appeared." Xiao Chen's figure was like lightning, instantly appearing in front of Wang Chen. He threw an ordinary punch, the powerful Dou Qi of a Peak Dou Zong Rank condensed on his fist, without any fancy moves, yet as fast as lightning!

"Bang!"

Wang Chen hastily crossed his arms to block, but with his Dou Qi obstructed, how could he withstand this fully charged blow? With a muffled thud, his entire body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily against the protective barrier at the edge of the arena. He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, struggled a few times, but failed to get up!

The poison miasma slowly dissipated, and the scene on the arena became clear. Xiao Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his aura steady, as if he had only done a trivial matter. And Wang Chen, number seventy-one on the strong ranking list, had already been defeated!

The entire venue was silent! Then, a deafening uproar erupted!

"One move?! Just one move?"

"Wang Chen's poison miasma and assassination techniques were completely ineffective!"

"Senior Brother Xiao Chen's soul power is too terrifying! It's simply impossible to guard against!"

"His close-quarters combat is also that strong?"

On the high platform, those subtle auras also showed slight fluctuations, clearly surprised by Xiao Chen's clean and decisive victory.

Xiao Chen glanced at Wang Chen, who was struggling to get up, his face full of disbelief and resentment, and said lightly, "Thank you for the concession." Then he turned and walked off the arena, ignoring the various gazes and discussions behind him.

In this battle, he did not expose too many of his trump cards. He merely used the interference of the soul illusion and his exquisite control techniques, combined with his solid Dou Qi cultivation, to easily win. His goal had been achieved, and there was no need to prolong the fight.

However, Xiao Chen's easy victory was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, stirring up even greater waves in the Inner Academy. Some of the strong ranking list experts who had been skeptical of Xiao Chen's strength or harbored intentions to challenge him, all put away their contempt.

Wang Chen, ranked seventy-one, was not weak, yet he was defeated so thoroughly. Xiao Chen's strength was probably enough to challenge the top sixty, or even higher, on the strong ranking list!

In the following days, sure enough, several more strong ranking list students, ranked between sixty and seventy, came to challenge him. Without exception, all of them were quickly defeated by Xiao Chen's unpredictable soul techniques and his increasingly mature close-quarters combat style.

Xiao Chen's strong ranking list ranking soared like a rocket, finally settling at fifty-eighth!

Such a rapid rise finally attracted the attention of truly top-tier existences.

On this day, Xiao Chen had just finished cultivating when a sound transmission jade slip flew into his courtyard. The information in the jade slip was simple, yet it made Xiao Chen's eyes narrow slightly:

"Three days later, arena, Yao Sheng, twenty-ninth on the strong ranking list, requests a spar."

Twenty-ninth on the strong ranking list! This was already the true high-level circle of the Inner Academy. His strength was at least that of a Five-Star Dou Zong, or even possibly a Six-Star Dou Zong! Moreover, this Yao Sheng was said to be closely related to Liu Qing... The storm seemed to be escalating.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath. Not only was there no fear in his eyes, but a spark of battle ignited. Perhaps, this battle could allow him to truly test the sharpness of his Heaven Opening Axe Intent!