108: Chapter 108 Big Shots Arrive! Five Hours Until the Arena
The pillar of violet-blue light vanished.
However, the massive arena suspended in the sky remained.
It hovered silently over the Old City District, a kilometer in diameter, composed entirely of an unknown metal with complex runes etched across its surface.
The runes pulsed with violet-blue light, emitting terrifying fluctuations of energy.
Everyone in Donghai City could see it simply by looking up.
It was too massive.
Too dazzling.
It was impossible not to notice.
Lin Feng stood amidst the ruins, head tilted back, staring at the arena.
His head was still buzzing.
universe will...
Gazi Race...
Territory War...
Three duels...
What the hell was all this?
In his sixteen years of life, he had never heard of such a thing.
It wasn't in the textbooks, his teachers never mentioned it, and there was no record of it in the Explorer Association's archives.
It was as if it had suddenly dropped out of the sky.
"Lin Feng!"
Zhao Tianhai's voice over the communicator pulled him back to reality.
"Where are you?!"
"The Old City District, in the ruins," Lin Feng replied.
"I'll be there soon! Wait for me!"
The communicator disconnected.
Lin Feng put away his communicator and was about to find a higher vantage point to wait for Zhao Tianhai.
Suddenly—
The sound of air being sliced apart echoed from the distance.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—
Over a dozen figures were flying in from the horizon!
Their speed was astonishing!
In the blink of an eye, they arrived above the Old City District!
Were those... people?
No, they weren't ordinary people.
Every single one of them radiated a powerful aura!
Auras that were even more terrifying than Zhou Tiannan's!
Lin Feng's pupils constricted.
Who were these people?!
The figures hovered in the air, observing the arena.
Then, they began to converse.
Their voices weren't loud, but Lin Feng could hear them.
"The universe will... how many years has it been since it last appeared..."
"The last time was ten years ago, when the Void Realm battlefield opened."
"The Gazi Race... I've never heard of them; they must be a newly risen race."
"Territory War... the location is Donghai City's Old City District..."
"Dammit, why was this place chosen?"
"There's no point in saying that now. Let's look at the rules first."
A white-haired old man flew to the edge of the arena.
He reached out and touched the runes on the arena's surface.
Hum—
The runes suddenly lit up!
Lines of text manifested in the void.
[Cosmic Arena]
[Contending Parties: Gazi Race vs. Earth Federation]
[War Rules: Best of Three]
[Participant Rank Limit: ≤ Rank 50]
[Match Format: Rotation Match — The winner continues to hold the stage until one side has no one left to fight]
[Current Status: Awaiting Activation]
[Countdown: 5 hours, 45 minutes, 36 seconds]
[The first battle will begin after the countdown ends]
The words hovered in the air, shimmering with violet-blue light.
Everyone saw them.
Lin Feng saw them too.
"Five hours and forty-five minutes..."
he murmured.
The white-haired old man finished reading the rules, his brow furrowed deeply.
"Below Rank 50... Rotation Match..."
He turned back to look at the others.
"Who do we have on our side below Rank 50?"
The others looked at each other.
"My Zhou Family has a few in the younger generation, but the strongest is only Rank 48," an old man wearing a purple robe spoke up.
Lin Feng recognized him—Zhou Tiannan.
The acting head of the Zhou Family.
He had just fought him yesterday.
"My Shen Family also has a few, but they lack actual combat experience," another old man said.
A member of the Shen Family.
"What about the academy?" someone asked.
"The academy's elites are all in the capital. Here in Donghai... the strongest is only around Rank 45," a middle-aged man in a tutor's uniform shook his head.
"And the military?"
"The military's seeds are all in the Void Realm battlefield. There's no time to recall them."
The crowd fell silent.
Those below Rank 50 with the strength to participate in this kind of arena match...
There really weren't many in Donghai City.
Just then, another figure flew in from the horizon.
Its speed was faster than everyone who had come before!
So fast that Lin Feng only saw a golden streak of light!
The next second, the figure appeared at the edge of the arena.
It was an old man.
White hair and beard, wearing a gray robe, with an ancient sword strapped to his back.
He hovered in the air, his body emitting a faint golden light.
Zhao Ritian!
"Master!"
Lin Feng's eyes lit up as he unfurled his Wind Wings and flew toward Zhao Ritian.
Zhao Ritian turned, saw him, and nodded.
"You're here?"
"Yeah." Lin Feng flew to his side. "Master, what exactly is going on?"
Zhao Ritian stared at the arena, silent for a few seconds.
Then, he spoke slowly.
"The universe will is the supreme Law of the Universe."
"It stands above all races, maintaining the basic order of the Universe."
"When two races have a territorial dispute, they can apply for arbitration by the universe will."
"The method of arbitration is this kind of arena match."
"The winner gains ownership of the territory."
"The loser must withdraw unconditionally."
"This is a regulation of the Universal Convention; every race must abide by it."
Lin Feng was even more shocked after hearing this.
"Then... what kind of things are the Gazi Race?"
"I don't know." Zhao Ritian shook his head. "They should be some newly risen race."
"But regardless of who they are, we must win this arena match."
"Otherwise, the Old City District will become their temporary territory."
"When that happens, the entire Donghai City will be exposed to their threat."
Lin Feng fell silent.
He looked toward the arena.
The massive arena hovered silently in the air.
Runes flowed, and light shimmered.
The countdown was still ticking away.
5 hours, 44 minutes, 28 seconds...
5 hours, 44 minutes, 27 seconds...
5 hours, 44 minutes, 26 seconds...
Time was slipping away second by second.
More and more people were flying in from all directions.
Some wore robes, some wore uniforms, and some wore armor.
There were old, middle-aged, and young people.
Every one of them radiated a powerful aura.
They were at least Rank 80 or higher.
There were even a few that Lin Feng couldn't see through.
Those people gathered around the arena, discussing the rules fervently.
"Below Rank 50... who do we have in Donghai City?"
"My Zhou Family's Zhou Yun is Rank 45 with an A-Rank Talent."
"My Shen Family's Shen Yutang is Rank 48 with an A-Rank Talent."
"The academy has a few, but none exceed Rank 45."
"The military's Xiao Zhan is Rank 49 with an S-Rank Talent, but he's in the Void Realm battlefield and can't make it back."
"Then what do we do? We can't just let those in their early forties go up and die, can we?"
"If all else fails, should we call for people from the capital?"
"There's no time; we only have a little over five hours."
The crowd fell silent.
Zhao Ritian stood in the crowd, not saying a word.
He glanced at those people and then looked at Lin Feng.
That look was meaningful.
Lin Feng's heart tightened.
Could Master be...
Zhao Ritian suddenly spoke.
"My disciple, Lin Feng, is Rank 46."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
Everyone turned to look at Lin Feng.
Dozens of gazes focused on him like spotlights.
In those gazes, there was surprise, scrutiny, doubt, and disdain.
"Him?" Zhou Tiannan was the first to speak, his tone laced with mockery. "A Rank 46 junior can do it?"
The elder from the Shen Family also nodded.
"Rank 46 is too low. The Gazi Race will likely send out elites of at least Rank 50, right?"
"And in a rotation match, the winner keeps the stage. How many matches can he possibly survive alone?"
"Old Zhao, I'm afraid this disciple of yours won't do."
Zhao Ritian remained expressionless, simply looking at Lin Feng.
"Can you do it?"
Lin Feng looked at him and smiled.
"Master, what do you think?"
Zhao Ritian also smiled.
"I think you can."
He turned to face the crowd.
"You all think he can't?"
The people looked at each other.
Who dared to say he couldn't?
Who was Zhao Ritian?
He was a legendary grade powerhouse thirty years ago, and it was said he had already achieved a Breakthrough into the Law Domain.
Although he had been in seclusion all these years, who would dare question his strength?
Zhou Tiannan's face was livid; he wanted to say something but ultimately didn't dare to speak.
The Shen Family elder also shut his mouth.
The others dared not make a sound either.
Lin Feng watched this scene, feeling moved.
Master is truly impressive.
With just one sentence, he silenced all these big shots.
Seeing that no one objected, Zhao Ritian nodded.
"Then it's settled."
He looked at Lin Feng.
"Lin Feng, are you willing to participate?"
Lin Feng didn't hesitate.
"I am."
Zhao Ritian smiled.
"Good."
He patted Lin Feng on the shoulder.
"Go ahead."
Lin Feng nodded and turned toward the arena.
The massive arena hovered silently.
The countdown was still ticking.
5 hours, 40 minutes, 12 seconds...
5 hours, 40 minutes, 11 seconds...
5 hours, 40 minutes, 10 seconds...
He took a deep breath, unfurled his Wind Wings, and flew toward the arena.
Behind him, the people watched him with complex expressions.
Some were worried, some expectant, and some were waiting to see him fail.
But Lin Feng ignored them.
He only knew one thing—
He had to step onto this arena.
Regardless of who the opponent was.
Regardless of how dangerous it was.
He had to win.
Because this was his home.
He couldn't let any outsider trample upon his home.
Lin Feng flew to the edge of the arena and landed.
The moment his feet touched the arena, he felt an invisible force rising from beneath him.
That force was warm and heavy, like the pulse of the earth.
[Participant Detected]
[Rank: 46]
[Meets participation criteria]
[Register as the representative for the Earth Federation?]
Information flowed into his mind.
Lin Feng didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Hum—
The runes on the arena suddenly lit up!
A violet-blue light rose from beneath his feet, enveloping his entire body!
[Registration Successful]
[Earth Federation Representative: Lin Feng]
[Rank: 46]
[Current Status: Awaiting Battle]
The light faded.
Lin Feng stood in the center of the arena, looking around.
The massive arena was empty.
There was only him.
And that constantly ticking countdown.
5 hours, 35 minutes...
5 hours, 34 minutes...
5 hours, 33 minutes...
He raised his head and looked into the distance.
There were the ruins of the Old City District.
Further away were the skyscrapers of Donghai City.
Brightly lit and as bustling as ever.
But soon, this place would become a battlefield.
And he would stand on this arena representing Earth.
Fighting for his life against an unknown enemy.
"Lin Feng!"
Zhao Ritian's voice came from outside the arena.
Lin Feng turned to look.
Zhao Ritian hovered at the edge of the arena, watching him.
"Remember, in a rotation match, the winner keeps the stage."
"Be prepared for three matches."
"So, conserve your stamina and allocate your skills wisely."
"Don't go all out right from the start."
Lin Feng nodded.
"Understood, Master."
Zhao Ritian looked at him, silent for a second.
Then, he smiled.
"Fight with ease; you won't die."
"Even if you do die, Master will avenge you."
Lin Feng: "..."
That was a damn hardcore way to offer comfort.
Yet, his heart felt warm.
He knew Master was using his own way to tell him—
Don't be afraid, I'm here.
Lin Feng took a deep breath and gripped his dragon slaying sword tightly.
He looked at the countdown.
5 hours, 28 minutes...
5 hours, 27 minutes...
5 hours, 26 minutes...
It was close.
Soon, the battle would begin.
He closed his eyes and began to adjust his state.
The dragon slaying sword vibrated slightly, as if in anticipation.
Outside the arena, the big shots were still discussing.
But Lin Feng could no longer hear them.
He was immersed in his own world.
Waiting.
Waiting for the battle to arrive.
...
Time passed minute by minute.
The countdown grew smaller and smaller.
5 hours... 4 hours... 3 hours... 2 hours...
When only the last hour remained on the countdown.
A strange ripple suddenly emanated from the horizon.
The ripple spread out like rings on a water surface.
Everywhere it passed, space itself distorted.
Lin Feng snapped his eyes open and looked in that direction.
In the distance, a massive rift was slowly tearing open.
A deep blue light shone from within the rift.
That light was identical to the runes on the arena.
[Gazi Race Teleportation Gate Opening Detected]
[Gazi Race Representative arriving shortly]
[Countdown: 59 minutes, 58 seconds]
Lin Feng gripped his dragon slaying sword and stood up.
They were here.