WHAT! I Have To Kill Heaven's Son To Live!

And thus, Reon passed Round Two and advanced to the Third.

'Whatever… I'll think about Elder Qin Shi later. Whatever he wants can wait.'

With a casual shrug masking his curiosity, Reon made his way back to the waiting area, his steps steady, even as the storm he had stirred continued to churn.

The tournament resumed, and as Round Two continued, countless hopefuls gave their all.

But in the end—after intense battles, eliminations, and bitter compromises—only one hundred disciples were selected to move forward.

The rest… faced heartbreak.

Cries of despair and frustration echoed across the arena floor like waves crashing against stone.

"Ahhh!! Five years of sweat and blood, and I still failed to enter the Inner Sect!"

"Nine years! I've been stuck in the Outer Sect for nine damn years! And now I've failed again this year... I'm definitely going to be demoted to a Servant Disciple!"

"My fiancée's family said they'd annul the engagement if I didn't make it this year… What will I do now?!"

"Junior Sister… I'm really sorry. I guess I really can't be with you in this lifetime."

"Mother… I'm so sorry. I've failed you. Please forgive this useless son…"

"P-Please… Just give me one more chance!"

Tears, despair, broken dreams… the losers left the stage like ghosts, shoulders heavy with regret.

But among the victors, it was the opposite—an eruption of joy and disbelief.

"I… I made it! I really got into the Inner Sect! I… I still can't believe it!!"

"Mom… Dad… I finally succeeded. You don't have to worry anymore."

"AHHH!! My name will echo across the entire Eastern Province now!"

"Junior Sister, you once said I wasn't good enough for you. Well now… you're not good enough for me!"

"I'll definitely become a direct disciple of an Elder! Just wait and see!"

The emotions that swept through the arena were like night and day—grief and elation crashing against each other like opposing tides.

And then, the dust settled.

The defeated were escorted off the Arena Floor, leaving only the top 100 standing tall beneath the Grand Platform—a vast stage formed by merging the ten smaller platforms into one.

"Attention, everyone!"

A loud shout from the Minor Elder echoed from up ahead.

"I'll now explain the rules of Round Three."

He raised a hand, and a glowing formation lit up across the Arena Floor.

"In this final round, all of you will remain inside this arena at once. It's a free-for-all. Use any means necessary to defeat your opponents until only ten disciples remain standing."

Murmurs and gasps rippled through the group.

"Huh? They're doing the final round like this this year?"

"Yeah, it's completely unexpected. I thought it would be like the previous years—one-on-one duels."

"Exactly. This format is not only unexpected… it's downright dangerous."

"If we end up near the top disciples or get caught in their battles, we could be seriously injured."

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind skipping this round altogether."

"Me too!"

"Me three!"

"What are you all saying?! Have you no guts to face the top disciples?!"

"Nope, not a shred. You're welcome to fight them yourself. Most of them took down a Minor Elder like it was nothing, while we barely scraped through."

"Goddess Yi Ran defeated that Minor Elder without even using a proper combat technique..."

"...And that Mimic Lord guy didn't even lift a finger. The Minor Elder just collapsed!"

"Exactly. Just because we passed Round Two and qualified for the Inner Sect doesn't mean we're anywhere near their level. Don't kid yourself."

"They're on a whole different level... true monsters."

The enthusiastic one who had shouted before lowered his head, his voice small now.

"Y-Yeah..."

The Minor Elder continued:

"Once we have the final ten, your scores will be determined by your performance across all three rounds."

"If you wish to forfeit during the battle, simply raise your hand—you'll be teleported out immediately. Otherwise, be warned: serious injuries are likely."

"As for those who don't wish to participate in this round, you may leave now. It won't affect your qualification to join the Inner Sect."

"This round is only for those seeking rewards."

Reon listened silently, hands behind his back.

'So they do care about injuries now, huh? Well… they have to. These 100 are the future of the sect—the most talented, the most promising. Losing even one would be a shame.'

The Minor Elder's voice echoed once more across the arena.

"You have two minutes to leave if you don't wish to participate. Those who are joining—step onto the Grand Platform. Round Three will begin shortly."

The atmosphere grew tense as hushed murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Whoa! That's actually a pretty fair rule. We don't have to fight in this third round to join the Inner Sect? Then I'd rather sit it out."

"Same here. There's no way I'd make it into the top ten anyway. And if there's no reward for the rest, what's the point?"

"Yeah, forget the reward—I'm not about to get my arms broken by a pack of lions and wolves."

"M-Me too… I'm not that desperate for strength. I value my limbs more than prestige."

"I mean, sure, cultivating in the Second Floor of the Radiant Sky Pavilion sounds amazing… but risking my life for that? No thanks."

One by one, over thirty disciples quietly stepped down and left the arena floor.

"I'll still give it a shot," one disciple muttered with determination. "It won't hurt to at least try."

"Yeah, and if things get too intense, I'll just raise my hand and leave the Grand Platform immediately."

"Same here."

Those who chose to stay steeled themselves as they stepped onto the Grand Platform.

Some disciples tightened their gloves. Others summoned their spiritual weapons, while a few stood motionless, eyes narrowed, silently assessing their potential enemies.

From above, the Minor Elders positioned themselves to intervene if necessary.

The Elders in the grand seats leaned forward, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The final round was about to begin.

Then—

"BEGIN!!"

.