144: The battle begins

As soon as Real Person Zi Langya announced the start of the Grand Competition, the hundreds of Martial Arts Arenas instantly erupted in activity.

Disciples took out their communication Jade Slips, fingers sliding quickly across the screen to filter for desired challengers.

Yang Kai stood at the edge of the main peak plaza, his gaze fixed on the Azure Cloud Rankings displayed on his Jade Slip, his eyes sharp as a hawk—his goal was clear.

This competition was meant to polish his mana and combat power; after all, his Divine Sense and Physical Body were too monstrous, and his Heavenly Foundation Establishment had infinite potential; he needed a large number of battles to unleash it.

"Let's start with the one ranked ninety-fifth."

Yang Kai stared at the name on the Jade Slip and tapped to send a challenge request.

Yang Kai's cultivation had not had a Breakthrough, so if he only used mana to fight, he would have to probe first.

The communication Jade Slip vibrated for a moment, but there was no response; the challenge failed.

Yang Kai raised an eyebrow, though he wasn't surprised.

The competition had just started, and mid-tier Disciples were often popular targets for challenges, so it was normal for them to be snatched up first.

He slid his finger, his gaze landing on Liu Yan, who was ranked ninetieth.

He sent another challenge request, but the Jade Slip remained silent.

"Fighting again?"

Yang Kai clicked his tongue softly, his gaze moving further up, this time selecting Zhao Feng, who was ranked eighty-fifth.

But after sending the challenge request, there was still no response.

In just half an incense stick of time, Yang Kai had challenged several Disciples between the eightieth and ninety-fifth ranks, but without exception, none were free to accept his request.

Many surrounding Disciples encountered similar situations; lower-ranked Disciples were swarming the mid-ranked ones, making the mid-tier area "hard to find a spot," whereas the lower-ranked area around two hundred was relatively lax with challenge requests.

"Yang Kai, are you also looking for a target to challenge?"

A crisp voice came, and Zi Ning walked quickly to his side, her face showing a hint of excitement.

"I just challenged Lin Song, ranked two hundred and first, and successfully rose to two hundred and first! How about you? Did you find a suitable opponent?"

With her father's help, Zi Ning had already successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, and Yang Kai could sense a powerful breath fluctuation on her.

Yang Kai shook his communication Jade Slip and said helplessly, "The Disciples within the top hundred are basically all fighting; there's no chance for now."

Zi Ning widened her eyes, then smiled, "You're too impatient! The competition just started, why not find a lower-ranked one to warm up first?"

Yang Kai nodded thoughtfully.

Zi Ning made sense.

Instead of wasting time waiting here, it was better to find an opponent to warm up.

He looked back at the Azure Cloud Rankings, his gaze sweeping quickly across the area around two hundred, and soon locked onto a name—Sun Hao, ranked two hundred and sixth.

The communication Jade Slip showed that Sun Hao's current status was "Idle," and he hadn't initiated or accepted any challenges in the last hour, clearly still watching and not having found a suitable target.

Yang Kai tapped his finger to send a challenge request to Sun Hao, simultaneously selecting Martial Arts Arena No. 15 as the combat location—it was not far from the main peak and had just finished a battle, so the law enforcement Disciples were ready, requiring no extra waiting.

Almost the moment the challenge request was sent, the communication Jade Slip vibrated.

Yang Kai raised an eyebrow; this was likely a sign of a successful challenge.

Yang Kai put away the Jade Slip and said to Zi Ning, "I'm going to Martial Arts Arena No. 15. Do you want to come and see?"

"Of course!"

Zi Ning nodded immediately.

"I just want to see how much your strength has improved after your half-month of seclusion!"

The two walked side by side toward Martial Arts Arena No. 15.

Along the way, many Disciples could be seen rushing toward different arenas; some looked hurried, clearly afraid of missing the chance to challenge; others were in groups of three or five, discussing the exciting duels they had just seen.

Martial Arts Arena No. 15 was no different from the normal ones; the surrounding spiritual energy Seal formation had been reactivated, and the light cyan light screen acted like a transparent barrier, isolating the arena from the outside.

Two law enforcement Disciples stood on both sides of the arena entrance, holding record Jade Slips, lowering their heads to check information.

"Yang Kai, ranked two hundred and third, challenging Sun Hao, ranked one hundred and ninety-sixth, confirmed."

The law enforcement Disciple checked Yang Kai's identity and stepped aside to clear the path.

"Sun Hao has not arrived yet, please wait inside the arena."

Not long after, a figure walked quickly into the arena; it was Sun Hao.

"I didn't expect you to challenge me."

Sun Hao gripped the iron sword in his hand, his tone carrying a bit of caution.

"I know you defeated Zhao Qing, but I won't admit defeat easily!"

Yang Kai nodded slightly without saying any nonsense.

He had challenged Sun Hao this time just to warm up, so there was no need to waste words.

He pressed his left hand on the storage ring at his waist, and with a thought, the Azure Dragon Sword slowly hovered in front of him, the sword body wreathed in a faint gold and silver dual-colored halo.

Seeing that both parties had arrived, the law enforcement Disciple held the Jade Slip and announced loudly: "Yang Kai versus Sun Hao.

It is forbidden to kill or cripple cultivation, and forbidden to use prohibited methods.

The battle ends when one party admits defeat or loses the ability to fight.

Now, the battle begins!"

"Start!"

The moment the words fell, Sun Hao moved first.

He deployed his footwork; although it was not the top-tier movement technique of Qingyun Peak, it was quite flexible, and he quickly approached Yang Kai.

He swung the iron sword in his hand, drawing a simple arc, and slashed toward Yang Kai's shoulder.

This was the opening Move of the basic Qingyun Peak sword technique, "Qingyun Sword Technique"—the "Cloud Rise Sword."

The Move was simple but won by being steady.

Yang Kai stood still, his Divine Sense having already clearly locked onto Sun Hao's movements.

He could see the trajectory of Sun Hao's wrist rotation, could predict the landing point of the iron sword, and could even perceive the subtle fluctuations of spiritual power flowing within Sun Hao's body.

It was not until the iron sword was about to reach his shoulder that Yang Kai slowly raised his hand, the Azure Dragon Sword flicking gently, accurately striking the side of the iron sword's blade.

"Clang!"

A crisp metallic collision sound rang out.

Sun Hao felt a soft but irresistible force coming from the iron sword; his wrist went numb instantly, and the iron sword almost left his hand.

He was shocked and hurriedly retreated two steps, looking at Yang Kai in disbelief—he could feel that the spiritual power Yang Kai had just used was clearly only at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, yet it had a degree of refinement far exceeding a normal Early Stage Foundation Establishment!

"You cracked my sword technique so easily? How is that possible!"

Sun Hao exclaimed, which completely exceeded his cognition.

Yang Kai did not answer, only slowly raising his hand.

The Azure Dragon Sword drew a flowing arc in the air, and the gold and silver dual-colored halo on the sword body flickered slightly.

He did not use complicated Moves, only performing the most basic Qingyun Sword Technique of Qingyun Peak, launching an attack toward Sun Hao.

The sword tip tapped lightly, like floating clouds, but every time it accurately pointed to Sun Hao's weak point.

Sun Hao gritted his teeth and wielded his iron sword to resist with all his might.

But no matter how he changed his Moves, Yang Kai's sword tip always landed on his weak point a step ahead, forcing him to retreat constantly.

In just over a dozen rounds, Sun Hao was already sweating profusely, and his breathing had become rapid.

He could feel that Yang Kai was not using his full strength at all, but was deliberately slowing down the rhythm, as if he were toying with him.

"I admit defeat!"

Sun Hao suddenly withdrew his sword and retreated, his face flushed red.

He knew that continuing to fight would only be self-humiliating; Yang Kai's strength was far above his, and persisting would only make him look more embarrassed.

The law enforcement Disciple immediately stepped forward and announced: "The battle is over!

The winner is Yang Kai, the ranking rises to one hundred and ninety-sixth, and Sun Hao's ranking drops to two hundred and third!"

Yang Kai put away the Azure Dragon Sword and nodded slightly to Sun Hao without any pride.

For him, this battle was just a warm-up; the real test was yet to come.

He walked out of the arena and saw Zi Ning standing at the entrance, her eyes full of amazement: "Yang Kai, you are too powerful!

You practiced the Qingyun Sword Technique to this level in just half a month."

Yang Kai smiled and took out the communication Jade Slip to check the latest rankings.

At this time, half an hour had passed since the start of the Grand Competition, and the Azure Cloud Rankings had been updated again.

Many mid-tier Disciples' rankings had changed, and of the several Disciples within the top hundred who were previously fighting, two had already finished their battles, and their status was displayed as "Idle."

"Finally, there are empty spots."

A sharp light flashed in Yang Kai's eyes, and his fingertips tapped on the communication Jade Slip.

The target he selected this time was Han Yuan, ranked ninety-eighth.