C20

In the stands, several unfamiliar faces were casting icy stares toward the platform, their eyes occasionally sweeping the crowd with a distinctly hostile look, as if they were anticipating something.

By the afternoon, the final round of the tournament was upon us. After three rounds of elimination and a few lucky but less skilled victors, only four remained: Chen Man, Chen Su, Chen Chu, and Chen Yu.

Chen Chu knew the first two well, but the last one was a stranger to him, apparently having only recently returned. The man's wheatish complexion and the long black iron rod slung over his back were telltale signs of a seasoned fighter not to be trifled with.

Of the four, only Chen Chu boasted the strength of the sixth level in the Qi Refinement Stage, a distinction that drew many curious glances from the VIP section, much to his embarrassment.

The competitors approached the stage where a wooden box sat in the center, a hole just big enough to fit a fist on its top. The Third Elder watched them with a grave expression and intoned, "Begin the draw."

Chen Man went first, quickly pulling out a stick marked with the number two at its end.

Then it was Chen Chu's turn. He reached into the box, his fingers brushing against the three remaining sticks. With a casual stir, he unleashed a burst of soul force from his sea of consciousness, which flowed through his palm and into the box. In a flash, he discerned the numbers on the sticks and swiftly selected one, skillfully avoiding a match-up with Chen Man.

Against a martial artist of the Eighth Level of the Qi Refinement Stage, Chen Chu could rely on his combat experience and keen observation. Yet, the gap in power between him and Chen Man was too vast; without playing his ace, victory would be elusive.

"Eh," came a surprised utterance from the opposite side of the VIP section. A middle-aged man in a green alchemist's robe had spoken.

"Dad, what's caught your attention so deeply?" asked a young girl seated beside him, dressed in a similarly hued robe. Barely in her late teens, her refined grace and stunning beauty were matched only by her voice, as melodious as a ringing silver bell, captivating all who heard it.

The nearby youths glanced over repeatedly, their attention clearly drifting away from the stage.

"I just felt a flicker of soul power coming from those four on the stage," the middle-aged man said with a hint of skepticism, as if even he doubted his own words.

The young girl didn't buy it, thinking the man was just pulling her leg. She turned her head away, ending the conversation.

The man dismissed his own suspicion. As a second-tier alchemist, his soul power was exceptional; it was unlikely anyone there had a stronger soul force than his.

Chen Chu had just drawn his lot when Chen Su, unable to contain his eagerness, snatched up one for himself. The number on the stick transformed his expression into one of sheer delight.

"Your streak of luck ends here, you little rascal!" Chen Su taunted, slashing a hand across his chin in a clear threat.

"Fool," Chen Chu muttered internally, eyeing Chen Su's blatant murderous intent. He then returned to his seat to await the first group's contest.

The outcome was predictable, the battle no longer thrilling. Despite Chen Yu's vast experience, he couldn't withstand Chen Man's onslaught and wisely conceded defeat after several attempts.

"Brother Chen Su, you've got to avenge me. Beat him so bad he'll be picking up his teeth—that'll soothe our spirits," urged the youth who had been bested by Chen Chu a month earlier, fanning the flames of conflict.

Chen Su limbered up, his eagerness apparent, as if Chen Chu was beneath his notice.

Following Chen Man's victory, the Third Elder presented a purple token to him with great formality. The palm-sized token, crafted from purple gold, felt cool and smooth like jade. An imposing building was etched on the front, while the back bore the bold characters of Heavenly South Academy.

As Chen Man departed, elated, Chen Su stepped forward without waiting for the Third Elder's cue, his eyes blazing with fervor as he fixed his gaze on the remaining purple token in the elder's hand.

The Third Elder, left with no choice amidst the roaring cheers, declared the competition underway.

"You seem pretty sure of your victory," Chen Chu observed, taking a deep breath and giving Chen Su a smile that held a trace of mystery.

"If you have any sense, you'll step down now. I'll overlook past grievances."

Chen Su, envisioning his future ascent as a student at the Heavenly South Academy, spoke with a tone tinged with pity.

Chen Chu exhaled and ceased his attempts to dissuade him, swiftly shifting into battle readiness.

A flicker of murderous intent passed through Chen Su's eyes as he clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. "You're truly clueless."

Genuine Qi swirled within him, creating a wind pressure around his form. With a light tap of his feet, he began to drift like a willow leaf, employing the same technique Chen Man had previously used, albeit with less speed and grace.

Chen Chu's right hand snapped over, his fingers quickly glowing with a white jade luminescence before he fiercely struck out at Chen Su.

The Vajra Palm technique Chen Chu wielded was formidable, capable of snapping bamboo two inches thick with its several hundred kilograms of force. Despite its power, it was still in its nascent stage.

Both men were adept in palm-based martial arts, yet Chen Su's Thunder Light Palm was a superior Yellow Rank skill, putting them at a considerable disparity.

With a casual flick of his fingers, Chen Su's toes barely grazed the ground as he retreated. Energy pulsed in his palm, Genuine Qi coalescing under his precise control into a massive, semi-transparent palm imprint. With an impassive face, he thrust his right palm downward toward Chen Chu, the imprint descending with a fierce wind pressure and a faint shimmer of lightning.

Only those in the Genuine Essence Stage could shape Genuine Qi into a solid form. This particular skill was unique, able to achieve such a feat. Genuine Qi, typically gaseous, becomes tangible upon entering the Genuine Essence Stage, its potency multiplying. Indeed, the ability to solidify Genuine Qi is a hallmark of Genuine Essence Stage mastery. While this ethereal shadow wasn't a full manifestation, its power was beyond that of ordinary martial arts. Within the Chen Family, only a select few had mastered this technique.

Amidst the gasps of astonishment from the audience, the palm imprint hurtled towards Chen Chu on the stage with incredible speed. The force of the wind scattered the stray hairs on Chen Chu's forehead, revealing his deep, dark eyes.

Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible for Chen Chu to counter such a strike. In that critical moment, his only hope lay in the enigmatic Creation Body Refining Spell.

Chen Chu swiftly steadied his spirit, silently reciting the arcane script etched into his memory. From his Dantian, a faint golden glow emerged, tracing a precise path through his meridians and converging into the center of his palm.