C16 The Battle in the Array

Nearly two hundred competitors charged toward the Nexus of Boundless Weight like a flock of birds descending into the woods. Each participant executed their movement techniques, creating a bustling scene as they drew near the Spirit Circle. The spectacle was truly magnificent.

Ye Xuan led the pack, diving headfirst into the Nexus of Boundless Weight.

As soon as Ye Xuan entered, he felt as though mountains weighed down on his feet, anchoring him to the ground. Mu Hua, who entered alongside him, experienced the same crushing force. Some disciples, taken by surprise, were immediately flattened by the gravity as intense as a mountain's weight, making intimate contact with the ground.

Ye Xuan's progress was momentarily hindered, but he didn't rush forward. Instead, he took the time to adjust to the gravitational force bearing down on him. After several deep breaths, he began to advance. He had started to acclimate to the gravity's pressure. One step, two steps, three steps—his pace was slow, yet unceasing, his movements as seamless as the flow of clouds and water.

Mu Hua had already moved ahead, putting a gap of over ten steps between himself and Ye Xuan. Other disciples of notable strength had also made some progress, leaving Ye Xuan seemingly far behind. But Ye Xuan remained composed; this was only the beginning. Gradually steadying his breathing, he began to stride forward with purpose.

With time, Ye Xuan reached the center of the Nexus of Boundless Weight, leaving the majority of competitors trailing behind. Only a handful of strong contenders kept pace with him, but within moments, Ye Xuan had extended his lead. The Prismatic Mantra operated silently at his command, the vital force coursing through his body, filling him with energy and shielding him from much of the gravitational pressure. He moved with the ease of someone strolling leisurely through a garden, poised and unruffled.

To Ye Xuan's right, Mu Hua also harnessed his cultivation method, with the vital force providing him some support. Yet, he still lagged a step behind Ye Xuan. The subtleties of the Prismatic Mantra were not something every practitioner could grasp. To the left, a team of four who had achieved impressive deep blue scores in the second round were together. But even their combined strength paled in comparison to Ye Xuan and the mysterious girl in black, their presence dimmed by the comparison.

At that moment, the four individuals were engaged in a hushed conversation, their voices too low for anyone else to hear. After a brief exchange, they appeared to have reached an agreement. One of them suddenly picked up speed and dashed forward, while the other three dispersed, seemingly in anticipation of something.

Ye Xuan, Mu Hua, and the girl in black also picked up on the sudden movement. They instantly channeled their cultivation methods to the maximum, propelling themselves forward with the speed of arrows released from their bows. It was then that the separated trio, having identified their targets, lunged towards Ye Xuan and his companions with the swiftness of wild cats on the prowl.

An obstacle emerged before Ye Xuan and his companions, blocking their path and halting their advance. Ye Xuan's gaze fell upon Liu Kai, the one standing in his way, with a look of displeasure, and a subtle fury began to simmer within him.

Mu Hua and the girl in black found themselves similarly intercepted by two female disciples. Meanwhile, Zhao Hen seized the opportunity to surge past Ye Xuan and the others, taking the lead. It was now blatantly obvious that the trio had only detained Ye Xuan and his companions to secure Zhao Hen's victory and the substantial reward that came with it. The distribution of the spoils would be their concern afterward.

Despite Ye Xuan having activated the red groove and secured first place in the second round of testing, a significant drop in his third-round ranking would adversely affect his overall standing. Consequently, the highly sought-after rewards would remain out of reach.

Liu Kai wasted no time, immediately engaging his cultivation method and reveling in the surge of power coursing through his body. His objective was clear: to delay Ye Xuan and buy time for Zhao Hen. Knowing the challenge of igniting the black groove—a feat he himself had not achieved, stalling at the deep blue groove—Liu Kai understood that facing Ye Xuan, who had ignited the superior red groove, left no room for holding back.

Underestimating an opponent of this caliber would be folly. Just as a lion exerts full force when hunting a rabbit, Liu Kai recognized the necessity of giving his all against Ye Xuan, a formidable adversary who had ignited the red groove. Liu Kai's immediate and full-throttle approach was a testament to his prudence. Any initial attempt to gauge Ye Xuan's capabilities could result in an unexpected setback, jeopardizing their chance to claim the lavish reward for first place.

As Liu Kai closed the gap between himself and Ye Xuan, he clenched his fists tightly, channeling a massive amount of vital force into the center of his palms before it spread throughout his hands. "Mountain Stone Fist!" Liu Kai bellowed as he launched his fists toward Ye Xuan with an overwhelming force. To Ye Xuan, the incoming fist loomed larger and larger, but he stood his ground. Beneath his long sleeves, his palms shimmered with the subtle sheen of Prismatic Hands, a detail easily missed without careful observation.

"Onefold art, Prismatic Hands!" Ye Xuan mentally roared, lifting his palm to meet Liu Kai's oncoming fist. Their fist and palm collided in a silent agreement of battle.

Bang!

The muffled collision echoed as both men were sent reeling backward. Ye Xuan managed to regain his stance after retreating just five steps, effectively dissipating the force of the impact. Liu Kai, however, skidded nearly ten meters across the ground, the disparity between them clear as day.

A look of gravity took over Liu Kai's features as he regarded Ye Xuan. It was only in confrontation that he understood the seemingly benign young man with the ever-present smile was far from harmless. Beneath that youthful, delicate visage lay a sword, its blade emitting a chilling gleam.

With a light flick of his finger, Ye Xuan gazed at Liu Kai, who had been forced to retreat across the ground, and let out a dismissive snort. If Liu Kai intended to delay him to buy time for Zhao Hen, Ye Xuan was not about to accommodate him. Coveting the reward for first place, Ye Xuan was determined not to let this opportunity slip by. He had held back the full might of his Prismatic Hands earlier, merely probing Liu Kai's capabilities.

Eyeing Zhao Hen, who had put some distance between them, Ye Xuan's brow furrowed. He wasted no time, launching himself at Liu Kai with the swiftness of a cheetah, intent on clearing the obstacle in his path.

Liu Kai funneled his vital force into his feet to halt his momentum. But before he could catch his breath, he sensed a gust of wind targeting his face. Dodging swiftly, he was still hampered by the slowed movements enforced by the Nexus of Boundless Weight. The palm wind grazed his cheek, leaving a stinging sensation, and then struck his shoulder with a thud. The impact sent Liu Kai tumbling backward, his body dragging a long, dark streak across the ground.

Ye Xuan lifted his gaze to Zhao Hen, who had managed to create a considerable distance between them, thanks to Liu Kai's stalling tactics. His expression remained serene, betraying no hint of concern. As they neared the end, the gravity intensified, yet despite Liu Kai's interference, Zhao Hen hadn't gained a significant lead over Ye Xuan. Still, closing the gap would be no simple feat.

With a slight crouch, Ye Xuan channeled vital force into his feet before forcefully stomping the ground. Propelled like an arrow released from its bow, he surged forward with several powerful bounds, quickly closing in on Zhao Hen from behind.

Zhao Hen, alerted by the noise, spun around, his eyelids twitching in alarm. He pushed his cultivation method to its limits, summoning every ounce of vital force to sprint towards the nearby finish line. Ye Xuan, observing Zhao Hen's frantic acceleration, harnessed the ground's rebound force to rapidly narrow the distance between them.

Stomp!

Another fierce stomp sent Ye Xuan soaring overhead, vaulting over Zhao Hen and landing a foot squarely on his shoulder. With a forceful press, Zhao Hen was sent tumbling backward, his face smeared with dirt in a display of utter disarray.

Meanwhile, Mu Hua and Murong Meng had successfully shaken off their pursuers and were now making a beeline for the finish line, not far from Ye Xuan. Capitalizing on the momentum from his previous kick, Ye Xuan dashed forward. As he activated the Prismatic Mantra to its utmost, vital force coursed through his body, easing the gravitational pull from the Nexus of Boundless Weight and lightening his form. With tiger-like vigor, he strode swiftly, his sleeves billowing as he covered the remaining distance to the finish line in mere moments.

Casting a wary glance at Mu Hua and Murong Meng, who were rapidly approaching, Ye Xuan knew he couldn't afford to slacken his pace. He accelerated to his top speed, and as he burst through the Nexus of Boundless Weight, the oppressive weight that had once felt mountainous evaporated, leaving him with a profound sense of relief.

After Ye Xuan burst forth, Murong Meng and Mu Hua followed closely behind, emerging one after the other. Soon after, Liu Kai, Zhao Hen, and the two girls who had attempted to block Mu Hua and Murong Meng also made their exit. A short while later, three additional disciples emerged. With that, the top ten rankings were solidified. As the two sticks of incense burned down to ashes, floating gently in the air, the third round of testing finally drew to a close.

Mu Hua claimed the third spot.

Murong Meng secured second place.

Ye Xuan triumphed in first place!