Chapter 26 The First Blood
Chapter 26 The First Blood
Chapter 26: Chapter 26 The First Blood
The moment the announcer finished explaining the rules, the massive jade board above the arena began to glow.
Lines of golden light appeared across it.
One name after another emerged.
The sixty participants had been divided into their respective matchups.
The crowd immediately became excited.
"Look at that!"
"Mu Family against the Li Family!"
"Clear River Sect against the White Cloud Sect!"
"The Wang Family has several participants in the first round!"
"And the Lin Clan too!"
People searched the jade board with curiosity.
The Lin Clan had become one of the most talked-about forces in Azure River City after the strange incident at their residence.
Yet nobody knew what to expect from their younger generation.
The announcer raised his hand.
"The first battle!"
"Mu Family’s Mu Tianyu!"
"Against Li Family’s Li Hao!"
The two young men entered the arena.
Mu Tianyu was at the Qi Refining Realm Level 6.
Li Hao was at the Qi Refining Realm Level 7.
The crowd immediately became interested.
"Li Hao has the advantage in cultivation."
"But Mu Tianyu’s close combat is impressive."
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Li Hao immediately charged.
His fist shot toward Mu Tianyu.
Mu Tianyu blocked with his forearm.
BANG!
He was pushed backward.
Li Hao continued pressing forward.
Mu Tianyu kept retreating, carefully observing his opponent’s movements.
Then Li Hao suddenly attacked with a sweeping kick.
Mu Tianyu jumped.
The kick passed beneath him.
Instead of retreating again, Mu Tianyu grabbed Li Hao’s shoulder as he landed.
He twisted.
Li Hao’s balance disappeared.
Mu Tianyu used his opponent’s momentum and threw him toward the boundary.
Li Hao managed to stop himself just before leaving the arena.
The crowd cheered.
"Good!"
Li Hao rushed back.
This time, Mu Tianyu didn’t retreat.
The two exchanged several rapid attacks.
Finally, Mu Tianyu caught Li Hao’s wrist.
He twisted his body.
Li Hao stumbled forward.
Mu Tianyu pushed him.
Li Hao’s feet crossed the boundary.
The referee immediately announced:
"Mu Family wins!"
The Mu Family members cheered.
The tournament had officially begun.
---
The next few battles followed quickly.
A Li Family youth defeated a White Cloud Sect disciple at the Qi Refining Realm Level 6.
A Clear River Sect disciple defeated a Mu Family participant at the Qi Refining Realm Level 8.
Another Li Family participant won against a White Cloud Sect participant at the Qi Refining Realm Level 7.
The crowd became increasingly excited.
Every battle was different.
Some relied on speed.
Others relied on weapons.
Some cultivators used defensive techniques and waited for their opponents to make mistakes.
Others overwhelmed their opponents with stronger attacks.
Then—
The announcer’s voice changed.
"Next battle!"
"Wang Family’s Wang Hao!"
"Against Mu Family’s Mu Chen!"
The Wang Family section immediately became lively.
Wang Hao stepped into the arena.
His cultivation was Qi Refining Realm Peak.
Mu Chen was at the Qi Refining Realm Level 8.
Wang Hao looked at his opponent with a mocking smile.
"You’re not worthy of wasting my time."
Mu Chen’s face darkened.
"Then defeat me quickly."
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Mu Chen attacked immediately.
His palm shot forward.
Wang Hao blocked.
Mu Chen changed direction and attacked again.
This time, Wang Hao deliberately gave ground.
He kept retreating.
The crowd became confused.
"Why is he retreating?"
"He’s waiting for something."
Mu Chen continued attacking.
Finally, Wang Hao suddenly stepped forward.
He caught Mu Chen’s wrist.
Mu Chen’s expression changed.
Wang Hao twisted his arm and struck him across the chest.
BANG!
Mu Chen staggered backward.
Wang Hao stepped forward.
"Give up."
Mu Chen gritted his teeth.
"I surrender."
The referee announced:
"Wang Family wins!"
The Wang Family cheered.
Several Wang Family elders smiled proudly.
"This is only the beginning."
---
Another Wang Family participant soon entered the arena.
His opponent was from the Mu Family.
The Wang Family youth was at the Qi Refining Realm Peak.
The Mu Family participant was at the Qi Refining Realm Level 7.
The battle was fierce.
The Mu Family youth fought desperately.
He even managed to land a strike against the Wang Family participant’s shoulder.
The Wang Family youth touched the spot.
His expression became ugly.
"You dare hurt me?"
The Mu Family youth stepped backward.
"I didn’t—"
The Wang Family youth attacked.
The Mu Family youth defended desperately.
But the difference in cultivation was too great.
Eventually, the Mu Family youth fell.
The referee asked:
"Do you surrender?"
The Mu Family youth raised his head.
"I surrender!"
The Wang Family youth stopped.
The referee announced:
"Wang Family wins!"
The Wang Family section erupted.
Their confidence became even greater.
They clearly believed the tournament belonged to them.
---
Then came the first Lin Clan battle.
The announcer looked at the jade board.
"Lin Clan’s Lin Mo!"
"Against Wang Family’s Wang Lin!"
The crowd immediately became interested.
"Here comes the Lin Clan."
"Let’s see how strong their younger generation actually is."
Wang Lin entered the arena.
His cultivation was Qi Refining Realm Level 8.
Lin Mo calmly followed.
His cultivation was—
Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2.
But the crowd didn’t know that yet.
Wang Lin looked at Lin Mo and laughed.
"An unranked family."
Lin Mo remained expressionless.
Wang Lin cracked his fingers.
"I’ll kill you."
Lin Mo looked at him.
"Why?"
Wang Lin’s eyes became cold.
"This is your final battle."
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Wang Lin immediately charged.
His fist shot toward Lin Mo’s face.
Lin Mo simply moved his head aside.
The punch missed.
Wang Lin’s expression changed.
Lin Mo grabbed his wrist.
With a simple twist—
CRACK!
Wang Lin screamed.
"AHHH!"
The crowd gasped.
Lin Mo released him.
Wang Lin staggered backward.
"You..."
He pulled out a dagger.
The crowd immediately became tense.
"He’s using a weapon!"
Wang Lin charged again.
"I’ll kill you!"
Lin Mo’s eyes became cold.
He stepped aside.
The dagger passed beside him.
Lin Mo struck Wang Lin’s chest with a single palm.
BOOM!
Wang Lin was sent flying.
He crashed onto the arena floor.
His body went completely still.
Silence.
The referee rushed forward.
After checking him, his expression became solemn.
"Wang Family participant..."
"Has died."
The entire arena exploded.
"He killed him!"
"That Lin Clan youth killed a Wang Family member!"
"Wait!"
Someone shouted.
"His cultivation!"
Another cultivator stared at Lin Mo.
"Foundation Establishment Realm!"
The crowd became stunned.
"He’s at the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
The Wang Family elders stood up.
Their expressions turned ugly.
"Another one!"
"That bastard killed Wang Lin!"
One elder clenched his fists.
But the rules were clear.
The Wang Family youth had entered the arena with killing intent.
The Lin Clan had merely answered.
---
The next Wang Family participant entered almost immediately.
His face was filled with rage.
His name was Wang Jun.
His cultivation was Qi Refining Realm Peak.
He pointed directly at the Lin Clan.
"Your Lin Clan people killed my brother!"
His voice echoed throughout the arena.
"I’ll kill you on this same stage!"
A Lin Clan youth stepped forward.
Lin Yu.
The crowd immediately became quiet.
Lin Yu’s cultivation was also—
Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2.
Wang Jun didn’t know.
He charged forward.
"I’ll send you to accompany him!"
Lin Yu didn’t move.
Wang Jun’s fist came toward his chest.
Lin Yu raised one hand.
BANG!
He caught the fist.
The crowd gasped.
Wang Jun tried to pull away.
He couldn’t.
Lin Yu looked at him calmly.
"You should have surrendered."
Wang Jun’s face changed.
Lin Yu pushed his palm forward.
BOOM!
Wang Jun flew backward.
His body crashed onto the arena floor.
He died instantly.
The arena fell silent again.
Then—
"Another one!"
"Another Wang Family member!"
"He’s also at Foundation Establishment Realm!"
"What is going on with the Lin Clan?!"
The crowd was completely stunned.
The Wang Family elders were now furious.
Their faces had become extremely ugly.
Two of their younger generation had died.
And both deaths had come after their own people initiated the confrontation.
One elder slammed his fist against his seat.
"Those Lin Clan bastards!"
Another elder gritted his teeth.
"How many Foundation Establishment cultivators do they have?"
Nobody could answer.
---
The announcer continued calling battles.
The other families and sects continued fighting.
A Li Family participant defeated a Wang Family youth at the Qi Refining Realm Level 6.
A White Cloud Sect participant defeated a Mu Family youth at the Qi Refining Realm Level 8.
A Clear River Sect participant defeated a Li Family participant at the Qi Refining Realm Peak.
The tournament was becoming increasingly intense.
Then—
"Lin Clan’s Lin Feng!"
"Against Li Family’s Li Yuan!"
Both participants entered.
Li Yuan was at the Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2.
Lin Feng was also at the Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2.
The crowd became excited.
"This should be interesting!"
The battle began.
Li Yuan immediately drew his sword.
Lin Feng remained barehanded.
The sword flashed.
Lin Feng stepped aside.
Another slash.
Lin Feng ducked.
Li Yuan changed his angle.
Lin Feng suddenly stepped inside the sword’s range.
He grabbed Li Yuan’s wrist.
The sword stopped.
Lin Feng gently pushed.
Li Yuan stumbled outside the arena.
The referee raised his hand.
"Lin Clan wins!"
The crowd stared.
Another Lin Clan participant.
Another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
Someone swallowed.
"That’s the third Lin Clan participant we’ve seen..."
"All three are Foundation Establishment Realm."
Another person shook his head.
"An unranked family?"
"Are you still calling them that?"
---
The next Lin Clan participant was Lin Tian.
His opponent was a White Cloud Sect disciple at the Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2.
Lin Tian won through patience.
He spent most of the battle defending.
His opponent became increasingly frustrated and exhausted himself.
The moment an opening appeared—
Lin Tian used one precise strike to force him out of the arena.
"Lin Clan wins!"
The crowd was now completely shocked.
"Another one!"
"He’s also Foundation Establishment Realm!"
"Every Lin Clan participant we’ve seen is at that level!"
"Who exactly are these people?"
The atmosphere around the Lin Clan changed.
The spectators who had initially come to watch an unknown unranked family were now staring at them with awe.
---
Then—
"Lin Haojun of the Lin Clan!"
"Against a Clear River Sect participant!"
The Clear River Sect youth was at the Qi Refining Realm Peak.
Lin Haojun was at the Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2.
The battle lasted only a short time.
The Clear River Sect disciple attacked repeatedly.
Lin Haojun calmly avoided every strike.
Then, when his opponent overextended—
One palm.
BOOM!
The Clear River Sect disciple flew outside the arena.
The referee announced:
"Lin Clan wins!"
The crowd erupted.
"Another Foundation Establishment Realm!"
"Six!"
"How many Foundation Establishment cultivators does this family have?"
A middle-aged cultivator stared toward the Lin Clan section.
"That family is hiding something."
---
Then the atmosphere changed again.
The announcer called:
"Lin Clan’s Lin Chen!"
"Against Clear River Sect’s Feng Lei!"
Feng Lei entered the arena.
He was at the Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2.
He was one of only two Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2 geniuses representing the two participating sects.
The crowd immediately became excited.
"Feng Lei!"
"Now this is a real battle!"
"He’s one of the strongest young cultivators here!"
Lin Chen stepped onto the arena.
He was only 18 years old.
His cultivation was—
Foundation Establishment Realm Level 4.
The moment his aura spread across the arena—
Silence.
The crowd stared.
"Level 4?"
"Foundation Establishment Realm Level 4!"
"He’s eighteen?!"
"How is that possible?"
Even Feng Lei’s expression became solemn.
He immediately understood.
There was a huge difference between Level 2 and Level 4.
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Feng Lei didn’t hesitate.
He drew his sword and charged.
His strongest sword strike erupted.
The blade flashed toward Lin Chen.
Lin Chen simply raised one hand.
CLANG!
His fingers stopped the sword.
The crowd froze.
Lin Chen gently pushed.
BOOM!
Feng Lei flew backward and landed heavily outside the arena.
Silence.
The referee stared.
Feng Lei slowly stood.
He looked at Lin Chen.
Then laughed bitterly.
"I surrender."
The referee announced:
"Lin Chen wins!"
The crowd exploded.
"One move!"
"He defeated Feng Lei with one move!"
"That’s Foundation Establishment Realm Level 4!"
"He’s only eighteen!"
The Clear River Sect elders stared at Lin Chen.
Their expressions were extremely serious.
---
Then—
"Lin Qing of the Lin Clan!"
"Against White Cloud Sect’s Bai Xuan!"
Bai Xuan stepped into the arena.
He was the second and only other Foundation Establishment Realm Level 2 genius among the two participating sects.
Lin Qing stepped forward.
She was also 18 years old.
Her cultivation—
Foundation Establishment Realm Level 4.
The crowd was stunned again.
"Another one?!"
"Another Foundation Establishment Realm Level 4!"
"From the same family?!"
"Those two are only eighteen!"
Bai Xuan’s expression became solemn.
He knew immediately that this would be difficult.
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Bai Xuan immediately unleashed his strongest technique.
"White Cloud Palm!"
A massive palm imprint descended toward Lin Qing.
Lin Qing simply raised her hand.
Her spiritual energy erupted.
She struck upward.
BOOM!
The enormous palm shattered instantly.
Bai Xuan was sent flying.
He landed outside the arena.
The referee raised his hand.
"Lin Qing wins!"
The entire arena erupted.
"One move!"
"Another one-move victory!"
"Two sect geniuses!"
"Both defeated instantly!"
The crowd was completely overwhelmed.
They finally understood something.
The Lin Clan wasn’t merely hiding one genius.
Their entire younger generation was abnormal.
One after another—
Every Lin Clan participant who had entered the arena had possessed cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The spectators stared toward the Lin Clan as though they were looking at something unbelievable.
"That’s not an unranked family."
"Then what are they?"
Nobody knew.
But the rumors had already begun.
---
Wang Yue stood silently among the Wang Family participants.
She had watched everything.
Her expression was no longer arrogant.
It was solemn.
She was at the Foundation Establishment Realm Level 3.
Yet Lin Chen and Lin Qing were both Foundation Establishment Realm Level 4.
And they were only eighteen.
She had no confidence against either of them.
Her eyes moved across the remaining names on the jade board.
Lin Mo.
Lin Yu.
Lin Feng.
Lin Tian.
Lin Haojun.
Lin Chen.
Lin Qing.
And the three girls—
Lin Xin.
Lin Wan’er.
Lin Shiyu.
Wang Yue’s palms slowly tightened.
Please...
She silently prayed.
Anyone but the Lin Clan.
She could fight the Mu Family.
She could fight the Li Family.
She could fight the Clear River Sect.
She could fight the White Cloud Sect.
She might even be willing to fight someone stronger than herself.
But the Lin Clan?
No.
Not after what she had just witnessed.
She took a slow breath.
Then the announcer stepped toward the jade board.
The remaining names began glowing.
Wang Yue’s heart immediately tightened.
The announcer looked at the board.
Then raised his voice.
"The next battle..."
The crowd slowly became quiet.
"Wang Yue of the Wang Family..."
Wang Yue’s face became tense.
Her fingers curled tightly.
Please...
The announcer continued.
"And her opponent..."
Wang Yue stared at the jade board.
Her heart seemed to stop.
The announcer turned toward the Lin Clan.
"Lin Shiyu of the Lin Clan!"
The entire arena erupted.
Wang Yue froze.
For several seconds, she simply stared at Lin Shiyu.
Lin Shiyu stepped forward calmly.
There was no fear on her face.
No hesitation.
Only a faint smile.
Wang Yue swallowed.
Of all the people she could have faced...
It had to be the Lin Clan.
And now—
She had to fight one of the three girls whose strength she hadn’t even seen yet.
For the first time, Wang Yue genuinely understood the meaning of fear.