A hushed silence fell over the Grand Martial Arena as Qin Chen and Wei Liang stood atop the Challenge Platform.
The tension was palpable.
Wei Liang, ranked 15th in the outer sect, was a respected spearman, known for his precision, speed, and combat ability.
For him to step forward so boldly meant he believed himself capable of defeating Qin Chen.
But Qin Chen?
He simply stood there, bored.
Wei Liang's Qi surged, golden light coating his spear as his battle aura exploded outward.
His confidence was unshaken.
"I don't know how strong you actually are," he said, spinning his spear in a fluid arc, his grip firm. "But if you think you can win without fighting, then you're making a mistake."
Qin Chen yawned.
The crowd watched with anticipation.
Would this be the first real challenge for Qin Chen?
Would Wei Liang force him to actually fight seriously?
Then—
Qin Chen moved.
BOOM!
Before Wei Liang could react—
Qin Chen's right fist burned with golden fire.
A terrifying, oppressive heatwave erupted from his body, distorting the air itself.
Wei Liang's eyes widened—
Too late.
"Hell Flame Fist."
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A single devastating punch flew forward, ripping through the space between them in an instant.
Wei Liang barely had time to cross his spear in defense—
Then, impact.
The moment Qin Chen's attack connected—
The entire Challenge Platform trembled violently.
A fiery shockwave burst outward, blasting Wei Liang off the stage like a cannonball.
BANG!
His body smashed into the stone wall at the edge of the arena, leaving cracks in the reinforced barrier.
Then—silence.
Wei Liang slumped to the ground, coughing violently, his spear falling from his grip.
He tried to stand, his legs trembling.
But he couldn't.
His arms felt numb.
His entire chest ached, as if he had been hit by a meteor.
The pain was unreal.
His mind raced.
How?
How could a single punch contain this much power?!
No one spoke.
Not a single disciple dared to say a word.
The battle—if it could even be called that—had lasted only a second.
One punch.
That was all it took.
The watching disciples, many of whom had fought desperately to remain in the competition, felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
"W-Was that… was that a joke?" someone finally muttered.
Another disciple swallowed hard.
"One hit… Wei Liang was ranked 15th… and Qin Chen just destroyed him like he was nothing."
Some of the stronger competitors narrowed their eyes.
Xu Ming, standing near the Challenge Platform, gritted his teeth.
"This guy…"
Lin Xue, another top contender, simply watched with sharp, calculating eyes.
She wasn't just shocked.
She was assessing.
Qin Chen was unlike anyone here.
He wasn't just strong.
He was in an entirely different realm.
Wei Liang's name was removed from the rankings as he was officially eliminated.
Qin Chen turned his head slightly, glancing at the gathered disciples.
"Well?"
His voice was calm, indifferent.
"Who's next?"
The response?
Silence.
Even the arrogant geniuses, those who had believed themselves unmatched, felt a deep sense of hesitation.
This wasn't just a display of strength.
This was absolute dominance.
One attack.
One instant victory.
No one here was stupid.
If Wei Liang, a Top 20 disciple, was annihilated in one hit…
Then what hope did they have?
Xu Ming's fists clenched.
"Tch… no one wants to fight him now."
The sect elders watching from above nodded knowingly.
"He's made his position clear," one elder murmured.
"He doesn't belong among these outer disciples anymore."
Since no one was foolish enough to challenge him, Qin Chen simply sat back and observed.
He watched as the remaining battles unfolded.
Though most fights were predictable, a few caught his attention.
Lin Xue's Battle – Speed & Precision
Lin Xue's movement was unparalleled, her footwork flowing like water.
Every attack she made landed with surgical precision, cutting down her opponent piece by piece.
She wasn't just strong—she was fast, sharp, and ruthless.
Qin Chen smirked.
"Interesting."
Xu Ming's Battle – Unrefined Power
Xu Ming was overwhelming, his Qi surging violently as he brutalized his opponent with sheer force.
His attacks were fast and heavy, but…
His movements were predictable.
Qin Chen shook his head.
"He relies too much on power. No control."
If Xu Ming faced a real tactician, he'd lose easily.
As the ranking battles continued, the number of remaining competitors shrank rapidly.
Only the Top 10 remained standing.
They were the only ones with a chance at the championship match.
Xu Ming.
Lin Xue.
A few other notable disciples.
And, of course—
Qin Chen.
The sect elder overseeing the trial stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the remaining contenders.
"The final battles… will now begin."
The arena erupted in cheers, anticipation reaching its peak.
And Qin Chen?
He simply smirked.
It was almost over.
And soon…
He would show them what true power looked like.