The atmosphere in the arena underwent an instantaneous, fundamental transmutation; it was not merely an escalation of pressure, but the advent of antiquity itself descending with crushing gravity upon the mortal coil. The firmament above the Lindao Royal Arena began to tremble, visibly shuddering as if terrified of the syllables being enunciated on the terrestrial plane below. Dark, swirling storm clouds coalesced with unnatural celerity, blotting out the sun, while jagged arcs of Tribulation Lightning tore through the gloom, illuminating the terrified visages of the crowd in stroboscopic flashes of apocalyptic blue. High above in the VIP aerie, a figure sat frozen, his porcelain teacup hovering midway to his lips; clad in flowing azure robes and clutching a fan of spirit feathers, this was Lord Chenlia, one of the Seven Sovereigns, renowned as the Master of Wind and Illusion. "What is this phenomenon?" Chenlia whispered, his narrowed eyes fixed on the youth below. "That aura... it possesses a resonance older than the Empire itself. Does it truly emanate from that child?"
Down on the sands, the Sword Lord perceived the shift more acutely than any observer; the follicles on his nape stood erect as his instincts, honed by centuries of bloodshed, screamed a singular directive: Danger. "I cannot allow him to conclude that incantation," the Sword Lord gritted out through clenched teeth. He moved. "Boy, it concludes now!" The Sovereign lunged forward, his fist glowing with concentrated crimson Qi, intending to render Xan unconscious before the spell could achieve completion. He was fast—a blur of crimson kinetic energy. But Xan did not flinch; he didn't even blink. He simply turned the page of the invisible grimoire in his mind and enunciated the subsequent line. "I am Death... who possesses the capacity to extinguish the Living... who can terminate all Existence!" WHOOSH. The crimson fist halted mere inches from Xan's visage—not because the Sword Lord exhibited mercy, but because he was paralyzed.
An explosion of pitch-black aura erupted from Xan, swallowing the ambient light as thick, ethereal Chains of Void materialized from the darkness, wrapping around the Sword Lord's limbs, torso, and throat with the absolute cold of the grave. "What?!" The Sword Lord struggled, muscles bulging against the restraints, but the Essence of Death held him in an unbreakable embrace. Xan seized the moment, his voice rising in volume to echo like a cosmic gavel. "Who am I?!" The chains tightened, and the Sword Lord roared in frustration, realizing this was no longer a game. "Fine!" the Sovereign bellowed. "You have forced my hand!" His arm jerked back, shattering the black chains with brute force, and he reached over his shoulder to grip the hilt of the alien red broadsword. SHING! As the blade was drawn, a torrent of crimson energy flooded the arena, saturating the air with the metallic tang of iron and blood. "Sword Art, First Sword: Domain of Blood!"
BOOM. Reality within the arena was overwritten as a Sword Domain expanded instantly. A massive, spectral red sword, ten meters in height, manifested behind the Lord, surrounded by a river of thousands of blood-red blades flowing like a liquid crimson tide; the golden sand was obscured beneath a choking mist. "Now, boy," the Sword Lord growled, raising his weapon amidst the fog. "In my Domain, I am Deity." Xan stood amidst the blood mist, his expression serene as the Yin-Yang Halo behind him spun with increased velocity. "You design this a Domain?" Xan asked softly. "Then observe." He chanted the next verse. "I am Life... who can bestow Soul upon the Vessel... who can grant Genesis to Nature!" FLASH! A blinding White light exploded from Xan's body—warm, overwhelming, and inevitable. Wherever the light was touched, the red mist hissed and evaporated; the blood-red floor sprouted ethereal white lilies and golden vines, forcefully overwriting the Blood Domain with the sheer pressure of Life Essence. The Sword Lord's spectral sword cracked under the pressure of the blooming flora and vanished.
"This is..." The Sword Lord retreated, his mask concealing his shock. "I have never encountered a chant capable of manifesting raw Essence in such a manner. Who is this youth?" "Sword Lord!" Xan shouted, his voice thundering. "Engage me with proper conviction!" He commenced the third chant. "Who am I?!" The Sword Lord stared at the boy, respect flickering in his eyes. "I know Dao Masters who can barely sustain two chants; you initiate a third? Interesting..." The Sovereign adjusted his grip, the arrogance replaced by warrior focus. "Very well, little monster. If you desire the true power of a Sovereign, I shall demonstrate it!" He raised his sword high, condensing the red energy into a solid, terrifying mass. "Sword Art, Fourteenth Sword: I Shall Sever the Heavens in Twain!" RUMBLE. Above the arena, a colossal projection of the red sword appeared, thirty-five meters long and burning with mountain-splitting power, locking Xan in place. Xan looked up at the falling catastrophe, neither dodging nor answering. "I am the Sword... who can protect the Heavens... who can arrest the Lost!"
The Yin-Yang Formation behind Xan dissolved and reformed, merging Life and Death. "Moon Dao: One with Heavens!" ZHOOM! From Xan's back, a magnificent Golden Sword erupted—thirty meters tall, slightly smaller than the Lord's but infinitely more complex, wrapped in the gray mist of Reincarnation and pulsing with dual energies. "STRIKE!" The Sword Lord brought his blade down; Xan thrust his will forward. The Red Giant and the Golden Divinity collided in the center of the arena. CRACK. For a split second, silence reigned, followed by a blinding sphere of energy where two laws clashed. Then came the sound. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! A shockwave of apocalyptic proportions blasted outward, shattering the protective barriers like glass and pulverizing the stone floor to dust as it raced toward the stands. "Not on my watch!" High above, Lord Chenlia moved, waving his fan with a pale face. "Wind Wall: Grand Barrier!" A massive dome of green wind energy enveloped the explosion, containing the destructive force inches from the screaming crowd.
The explosion passed, but the shockwave lingered in the hearts of everyone present. "Who was that?" "Did a student just match a Sovereign blow for blow?" "That golden sword... it felt like Judgment Day." The whispers spread like wildfire as spectators were ushered out by Imperial Guards. Within minutes, the vast stands were empty, leaving a heavy, suffocating silence upon the ruined arena. But the arena was far from deserted. WHOOSH. CRACK. ZHOOM. Space tore open in multiple locations as beams of light descended; the battle had rung the bell, and the gods had arrived to answer. First came the Academy Elders, Semi-Saints, and Semi-Sages, followed by a furious Lady Marta and the nervous Royal Prince of Lindao. Finally, the air grew heavy enough to crush bone as the Seven Sovereigns gathered. A rift opened, and Master Jin Sumo stepped out, his aura restless. He scanned the devastation and his gaze landed on the boy standing calmly in the ruins. "Wang?" Sumo's voice broke the silence, filled with disbelief and a rising migraine. "What are you doing here?! Were you not instructed to remain in Apartment Zero?!"
Every head snapped toward Sumo, then back to Xan; the connection was made. Xan stood with hands in pockets, unbothered by the stars of the continent's most powerful beings. He checked them mentally off: Lord Xanluo (Sword), panting and mask cracked; Lord Chenlia (Wind), calculating; Lord Rudo (Fire), shimmering with heat; Lord Fenxu (Ice), freezing the ground; Lord Jinbao (Medicine), observing like a scientist; Lord Kanlihao (Spear), bored but ready; and Lord Sumo (White Dragon). "All of them are here for me..." Xan thought, suppressing manic laughter. If they knew I could crush them all by releasing my seals, they wouldn't be standing so confidently. Externally, he shrugged. "Master Sumo, you wrong me; I was merely walking, and Lord Xanluo insisted on a spar. I simply... obliged." "Obliged?!" Xanluo bristled. "You nearly bisected the arena with a Forbidden Chant!" "Forbidden?" Xan tilted his head. "I simply asked the Heavens my identity; is self-reflection a crime?"
"Enough," Lord Chenlia intervened, stepping between them. "The arena can be rebuilt, but we have a pressing question. Sumo... who exactly is this 'Wang'? And why does a student under your protection possess the power to stalemate a Sovereign?" Sumo sighed wearily. "He is... a Legacy Disciple I discovered in the Northern Wastelands," Sumo lied smoothly. "He inherited an Ancient Dao lineage; he lacks common sense, but his talent is undeniable." "Undeniable?" Lord Rudo scoffed, flames licking his shoulders. "That is an understatement. The boy is a threat; if he cannot be controlled, he should be eliminated." Xan's eyes flashed cold. "Attempt it, Fire Man," he whispered, "and I'll demonstrate true thermal intensity." "SILENCE!" The Royal Prince shouted, stepping forward. "This bickering is unsightly! Mr. Wang has proven his strength, and the Kingdom requires strength. Wang Mao... since you destroyed the arena, the competition is suspended, but your power cannot be ignored. I declare the inquiry into his identity will be held tomorrow at the Royal Palace. Until then... Master Sumo, you are responsible for him." Sumo bowed deeply. "As you command." He grabbed Xan by the collar. "We are departing," Sumo hissed. "Now." As he was dragged away, Xan locked eyes with the fuming Sword Lord one last time and winked.