Urban God-level Youth

In the center of the martial arts competition arena, there are a hundred floating battle stages, with each round featuring two hundred contestants facing off.

Dozens of elders from the Ancient God Academy stand in the void, responsible for these battle stages.

An elder from the Ancient God Academy began to announce: "Number 1 and Number 6632, proceed to Stage Number 1 for the match."

He continued to announce more than two hundred number plates, and each contestant gradually flew upwards. Everyone who made it into the top ten thousand is far from weak, and each must not be underestimated.

These are the top ten thousand among the young generation from the entire Hidden Dragon Continent.

Any one of them, placed anywhere, would be considered a top-tier prodigy-level existence.

A contestant from the Southern Continent Heavenly Earth Academy ascended to the platform. His name is Chu Chen, the eldest Prince of the Beichu Dynasty, and the elder brother of Chu Feiyun. He is a veteran student of the academy, ranking among the top in realm and combat strength within the academy.

Chu Chen ascended to Stage Number 70, and his opponent was a loose cultivator. That's right, the opponent was indeed a loose cultivator, not affiliated with any faction or force.

Numerous forces present squinted their eyes upon hearing the introduction, sizing up that person. If this individual truly has no affiliation or force, they might consider recruiting him, as he will inevitably become a top-notch expert in the future, serving as the guardian of a sect.

Managing to make it into the top ten thousand as a loose cultivator is extremely terrifying.

Chu Chen's face turned solemn. He also realized how abnormal it was for a loose cultivator to make it into the top ten thousand, as he questioned his own ability to achieve this feat.

But he had no way back; victory would propel him into the top five thousand, while defeat would mean elimination. Entering the top five thousand would grant him access to the secret realm, which, although not the most elite, would greatly aid his cultivation—something unavailable in their Beichu Dynasty.

Only the top forces have secret realms that are beneficial for cultivation. The Heaven and Earth Academy's Heaven and Earth secret realm is one type, but the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm is the most elite on the continent, a cradle for nurturing talent.

Forces like the Beichu Dynasty have no existence of secret realms.

In the Southern Continent, only the Heaven and Earth Academy possesses a Heaven and Earth secret realm; otherwise, why would top forces flock to the Heaven and Earth secret realm? They go to the Heaven and Earth Academy precisely for its secret realm to enhance their strength.

...

On the floating battle stage, once all contestants were ready, they began the duel at the command of an elder from the Ancient God Academy.

This round of battles didn't feature Ning Huang, such an unparalleled prodigy, so the Southern Continent Academy's attention was almost entirely focused on Chu Chen's duel. Many from various forces also watched Chu Chen closely because his opponent was a loose cultivator.

"Bang bang bang"

"Boom boom boom"

As the match commenced, Chu Chen charged forward. He wielded the sword technique, with the stage resounding with Sword Qi, thousands of Sword Qi condensing in the void.

The rules in this fight were the same as before; no external powers could be used, only personal strength could be employed.

Chu Chen transformed Qi into a sword, his understanding of the Sword Dao reaching an extremely deep realm.

The loose cultivator across had a calm expression; wings sprouted from his back, and his figure suddenly vanished, his speed astonishingly fast.

The spectators couldn't track his figure as it was too fast.

The experienced veterans saw this, their expressions changed dramatically, exclaiming: "Is this the wind rule? He's actually mastered the wind rule?"

The face of many powerful figures from various forces showed shock; even many experienced veterans present hadn't grasped this rule—how could they not be astonished?

Many of the participants on the battlefield witnessed this scene, their pupils contracted, and their hearts were immensely shaken—this loose cultivator has indeed mastered the wind rule?

Chu Chen's face also turned overwhelmingly solemn; at this moment, he couldn't see the person's figure nor knew where he was.

"A thousand swords unleashed"

Chu Chen shouted loudly, instantly enveloping himself completely with Sword Qi, creating not only an impenetrable defense but also a strong offensive capability.

No matter how fast you are, trying to breach my thousand swords is nearly impossible.

Chu Chen believed that with just this move, he could achieve invincibility.

But soon, he ceased to smile as his opponent indeed did not attack him but kept shuttle around, yet Chu Chen found himself nearing his limit.

Maintaining thousands of Sword Qi around him, he continually consumed a vast amount of Spiritual Energy every moment.

"Kill"

Knowing he couldn't wait any longer, Chu Chen exclaimed thunderously, and in an instant, countless Sword Qi traversed the entire stage.

Visually, the stage was filled with Sword Qi, rendering the interior unseen; the stage trembled slightly.

Qin Hao, with a mild tone, remarked: "Chu Chen lost!"

Lan Manshuang and Nangong Yuya's faces were startled: "How could it be? His thousand swords unleashed is immensely powerful, those in the same realm can't withstand it. This is a formidable move from Beichu Dynasty's Sword Emperor Skill."

As soon as the words fell, the situation on the battlefield suddenly shifted sharply; Chu Chen was kicked in the chest by the opponent and flew backward.

His thousands of swords unleashed hadn't injured the opponent; the opponent's comprehension of the wind rule reached a terrifying level, completely evading Chu Chen's Sword Qi assault.

Chu Chen flew backward, spitting a mouthful of blood, his heart already in turmoil—he had bypassed my attack of thousands of Sword Qi?

"Sword Emperor descends"

Without hesitation, upon landing, Chu Chen unleashed the Sword Emperor Skill's most potent attack move.

The void trembled faintly, and an illusory shadow manifested above Chu Chen—a supreme Sword Emperor's shadow, wielding a gigantic sword in the air.

The stage being no larger, the man knew escaping this move was useless; this move would decide the outcome.

Chu Chen's decision was correct, if he dragged the fight on, he risked being wearied into defeat; a decisive blow was the best choice.

The man exerted all his might, his hands waving, utilizing endless wind rules, forming an invisible barrier before him.

"Boom"

The Sword Emperor's shadow descended heavily, smashing onto the wind barrier.

Yet, Chu Chen's attack didn't shatter the opponent's wind barrier, remaining locked in a stalemate.

After a dozen seconds, the Sword Emperor's shadow dimmed, fragmented, and dissipated, Chu Chen spraying a mouthful of blood, kneeling on one knee.

He had lost; the opponent's understanding of the wind rule reached a terrifying level, capable of both offense and defense—frightfully strong.

"Jiang Yusheng."

Even the elder from the Ancient God Academy couldn't help but cast a few more glances at Jiang Yusheng, then announced.

The crowd, upon hearing the elder's words, turned their eyes to Jiang Yusheng. So this loose cultivator is named Jiang Yusheng—a powerhouse; not daring to claim the top ten, but certainly a place among the top hundred.

Lan Manshuang and Nangong Yuya expressed a certain shock: "Chu Chen lost just like this? His combat strength was among the top in the academy."

The Southern Continent Academy's mood turned somewhat heavy, with Zhou Liuxing, Zhou Wanqing, Mao Yunlong, and others not looking too well; none expected Chu Chen to be eliminated in the first round.