Chen Ren kept his eyes fixed on the arena platform, maintaining his focus despite the noise coming from the crowd. The city official, serving as the referee, stepped forward, his voice loud and clear as it echoed across the massive arena.

"After many interesting and exciting battles, where cultivators displayed their strength, and willpower to challenge even the heavens, only four remain!" he announced, his jubilant voice drawing cheers from the audience. He looked around with his hands extending to the four corners where the four participants were being kept. "These four have caught the attention of not just the City Lord but also the esteemed elders of the Soaring Sword Sect. But the question is—can they make it to the finals and win the tournament? Let’s find out!"

The official paused dramatically, letting the crowd's energy build. A lot of people stood up from their seats and cheered for the competitors. "First up, we have Li Xuan! Last year’s champion and an inner disciple of the Soaring Sword Sect, his sword techniques are famous throughout the region. Will he defend his title, or will one of the others take the crown this year?"

All eyes shifted toward a corner of the arena, where Li Xuan stood with a calm and composed stance, his gaze fixed downwards and hands clutched behind. To Chen Ren, Li Xuan seemed indifferent, as if he already believed the victory was his.

Before Chen Ren could dwell further on Li Xuan, the official continued. "Challenging him foremost is the young master of the Cang Clan, Cang Rui! Known for his mastery of the void element, he’s considered the most dangerous contender among the semi-finalists. Rumor has it, he already has some unfinished business with the third contender. Can he dominate the competition? We’ll see soon!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement growing. Cang Rui, surrounded by a group of other young masters, smirked confidently. He shot a venomous glare at Chen Ren, but he simply ignored it, turning his focus towards the official once again.

"And now," the official said, his voice rising once more, "we have Chen Ren! An unexpected semi-finalist who has already shaken the betting market. Those who placed their faith in him are walking away much richer. We haven’t seen much of his abilities yet, but many are eager to see if he has more surprises up his sleeve. Will he rise to the occasion or falter here? That’s what we’re about to find out!"

At the mention of Chen Ren’s name, the crowd didn’t cheer. Instead, a wave of boos echoed through the arena. While it was true that he had made some people rich with unexpected victories, he had also caused many others to lose money—those who had bet on his opponents, confident that Chen Ren would lose.

He stood tall, unbothered by the noise. He didn’t show any emotions. The jeers didn’t faze him, but beside him, Tang Xiulan and the children from the noodle stall shifted nervously, their worry evident on their faces.

The official didn’t dwell on the crowd’s reaction, quickly moving on to the next name. "And now, the last semi-finalist—someone who has truly surprised us all! Regarded as the dark horse of this tournament, he is Gu Tian, a wandering sword cultivator! Though only at the sixth star of the body forging realm, his deadly techniques have carried him all the way to the top four. Let’s give him a well-deserved round of applause!"

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, their enthusiasm a sharp, bold difference from the reception Chen Ren had received. His eyes followed the official’s gesture to where Gu Tian stood and a flicker of surprise flashed on his face. This was the same man Chen Ren had locked eyes with earlier. The same man who’d given him an eerie feeling with a simple eye contact.

At first glance, Gu Tian didn’t seem particularly impressive, his aura plain and unassuming. Yet, as Chen Ren continued to observe him, he couldn’t fathom how this cultivator had managed to fight his way to the semi-finals.

Gu Tian, seemingly unaware of—or uninterested in—Chen Ren’s scrutiny, raised his hands in acknowledgment of the crowd. Their cheers grew louder, and the entire arena buzzed—no, shook with excitement. Chen Ren had’t watched any of Gu Tian’s matches, but judging by the crowd’s adoration, they must have been thrilling. He must’ve given something worthy to watch.

After all, everyone loved an underdog—a dark horse capable of taking down stronger opponents—and Gu Tian had clearly done justice to their expectations.

As Chen Ren continued to study Gu Tian, the official stepped forward again, holding a small bag in one hand while another man stood beside him with an assortment of chits inside. "Now," the official announced, his voice commanding attention, "let’s determine who will face each other in the semi-finals!"

The arena immediately went silent. The tension was palpable as all eyes turned to the official, waiting for the matchups to be revealed. Without another word, he reached into the bag, pulling out two chits.

He unfolded them and called out, "The first match will be between Chen Ren and Cang Rui! That means the second match will pit Li Xuan against Gu Tian. Let’s give a round of applause!"

The crowd soon started cheering, the chaos from before surfacing once again. Chen Ren’s eyes flicked toward Cang Rui, who stood grinning at him. It wasn’t a pleasant smile—it was bloodthirsty, filled with malice and confidence. Chen Ren didn’t react, brushing it off with no expression. This match was inevitable, and it was better to face Cang Rui now rather than later.

Still, Chen Ren couldn’t ignore what he had observed. During the tournament, he had made it a point to study Cang Rui’s matches. The man might have been an arrogant young master, but his strength was undeniable. The void element was incredibly rare, even rarer than Chen Ren’s own lightning element. It was swift, mysterious, destructive, and brutally efficient. Most of Cang Rui’s battles had ended quickly, his opponents became overwhelmed before they had the chance to mount a defense.

Chen Ren’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind him. "Thinking about something?"

He turned to see Qing He approaching, her arms crossed and a faint smirk playing on her lips.

"Senior Qing He," Chen Ren greeted, a bit surprised. "I never thought you’d leave your tea shop to come watch my match."

Qing He shrugged. "Eh, I felt trapped in there. Besides, I wanted to see if all that training of yours has paid off, or if you’re just going to eat dirt in this tournament." Her smirk widened as she added, "And it seems you’ve managed to get yourself a strong opponent. The difference in cultivation alone is quite the hurdle. Add the void element to the mix, and you’ve really outdone yourself this time. You have a talent for making your life difficult, kid."

Chen Ren ignored the jab, keeping his focus. "Do you have any advice for me? You must have seen void cultivators before."

Before Qing He could respond, another voice cut in from his left. "The void element may be rare and destructive, but it’s also unstable—especially for someone who’s not fully in control of it. If you can disrupt your opponent’s emotional stability, their element can spiral out of control."

Chen Ren turned toward the speaker and blinked in mild surprise. It was Anji, standing with her arms folded, her sharp gaze fixed on him.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Qing He chuckled. "The kid’s right. That’s your best bet to win this battle."

Chen Ren nodded, filing the information away. He looked back at Anji, curious. "How do you know that?"

Anji tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I once served a cultivator who used void as his element. I learned it from him."

Chen Ren mimicked her action and tilted his head in return. "Can you tell me more about it?"

Anji’s face hardened, and she shook her head. "No. I’d rather keep certain things to myself."

Though her answer left him with more questions, Chen Ren respected her decision and gave a nod. As he glanced at Anji, his senses subtly probed to determine if she was a cultivator. Yet, as always, he found nothing. It was as though he was reading too much into her, but that was what unsettled him the most.

Anji’s knowledge of cultivation techniques and elements far surpassed what any commoner should know. Even Yalan, had been unable to provide any insight. When Chen Ren had asked about her, the cat had simply flicked its tail and replied that Anji displayed no signs of cultivation whatsoever.

Yet, here she was, speaking with confidence about the void element as if she had firsthand experience.

The mystery surrounding her tugged at the edges of his mind. Was she telling the truth, or was there more to her than she let on? Chen Ren couldn’t decide, and the unknown made him uneasy.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it. His gaze shifted back to the arena platform, where the crowd literally moved as one. The match against Cang Rui was ahead, and that was where his focus needed to be.

***

Chen Ren sat quietly, meditating with his legs crossed, his mind focused on the energy stirring within him. His dantian, the center of his qi, felt as though it was bubbling up with power. This surge of qi had started after his recent ice cream and chips sales and only continued to grow from there. The energy felt different, like it had its own movements, but it was growing stronger by the day. Chen Ren knew he had to use this opportunity to grow stronger before the battle with Cang Rui.

As he closed his eyes, he felt himself slip back into his star space. The familiar sight of countless stars above him greeted him once again. He could feel the eyes of the stars watching over him, their light guiding his cultivation. He had unlocked two new stars recently, and now he focused on them, feeling their energy intertwining with his own.

Chen Ren turned his attention inward, observing the qi that was gathering inside his body. The energy, like a liquid, moved through his meridians, filling him with strength. It began to feel like his muscles were tightening, his bones growing stronger, and every part of him becoming more resilient. The sensation was intense, but it felt right—this was the progress he needed.

But as the energy grew inside him, so did the pressure. His dantian felt full, as though it might burst from the force of the qi. Sweat started to bead on his forehead, and his breath became shallow. He could feel his chest tighten, the strain building. It was almost overwhelming, but Chen Ren forced himself to stay calm, to keep his focus sharp.

Seconds soon bled into minutes and the energy only continued to grow, and swirl inside him in circles. It was hard, but he knew it was essential.

He reminded himself that this was part of the process. He reached for the Dao of Money, the connection that had always helped him find balance in his life. Drawing on this, he focused his mind on using the qi properly, making sure it flowed without spilling over or causing damage.

With each breath, he slowly absorbed more and more of the energy, his body growing stronger with every passing moment.

As the pressure built, he fought the urge to stop. His stomach churned, and his body felt as though it might burst, but he pushed through, focusing all his will on keeping the energy contained.

Slowly, gradually, the flow of qi began to settle, the intensity easing as he absorbed the power

Chen Ren’s breath steadied, his body relaxing as he reached the limit of the energy he could take in for now. He had done it.

I did it! He gasped out aloud.

The qi had settled within him, strengthening his body and mind. All the extra qi he felt were now… much calmer, under control.

I did it… he thought to himself again and slowly opened his eyes, the room around him coming back into focus. He looked down at his sweat-soaked body and clenched his fists. The power that coursed through him felt surreal. Even his fingertips—felt powerful. A quiet mutter escaped his lips.

“Ninth star of the body forging realm. I finally achieved it.”

The moment of win was brief, interrupted by a knock at the door.

“The semi-final is about to begin. They need your presence out there,” came a voice from the other side.

“I’m coming,” Chen Ren replied, and sighed. Relief filled his bones as he stretched his neck. Rising to his feet, he quickly pulled himself together, wiping away the sweat and shrugging off his clothes before stepping out of the room.

As he walked past the official, the muffled sounds of the arena grew louder until they became an overwhelming roar. Cheers and boos mixed together in a chaotic symphony, filling the air with energy.

Chen Ren stepped onto the arena platform, the ground beneath his feet solid and familiar. The crowd erupted with renewed fervor, some voices shouting for his defeat while others cheered him on. He ignored the noise, his focus remaining on what was about to come, and his eyes scanned the stands.

In the lower section, he spotted Yalan sitting calmly, her amber eyes locked on him. Catching her gaze, he gave her a slight nod and a confident smile.

She responded as she got the hint of his breakthrough and raised her paw. Chen Ren smiled at her and turned back to the arena.

He continued to walk, ignoring the slight stage fright as his ears buzzed with the shouts of the crowd. He had felt it before, but it was clearly hard to get used to it.

Chen Ren wondered if this is how performers must feel. Under so many eyes—Wait no, he couldn’t allow himself to get distracted. He pulled his focus back on the task at hand. The cheers and jeers around him soon blurred into the background.

Cang Rui stood in the center of the arena with his trademark arrogance, his eyes gleaming with contempt. When Chen Ren finally reached the platform, the young master's lips curled into a mocking smirk.

“I was wondering if you had already run off,” Cang Rui scoffed loudly. “You made me wait a long time.”

“Obviously not, Young Master Cang,” he replied, his words carrying just the right amount of sarcasm. “I wouldn’t dream of disappointing you—especially after you helped me reach the semi-finals by flexing the might of your family. Not even my own family has been so generous.”

Cang Rui’s smirk faltered, replaced by a flash of pure fury. A low murmur ran through the crowd as some of the onlookers caught the subtle jab, and a few began to cheer. It was clear from the shift in the atmosphere that they understood the implications of Chen Ren’s words.

The young master’s anger ignited when the crowd kept cheering for Chen Ren. His qi flared, swirling in dark, violent tendrils around him. The void element, dangerous and unpredictable, rippled in the air, crackling. He clenched his fists at his sides, and his gaze narrowed, turning icy.

Chen Ren didn’t know why it made him so angry, but was glad that it did his job.

“You dare speak to me like that?” Cang Rui hissed, “I will make you kneel before me and beg for mercy. Then I’ll kill you.”

Chen Ren didn’t flinch, instead he continued to look at him with the same stare. He had expected this—Cang Rui’s anger was his fuel, and it was precisely what he needed. The more enraged his opponent became, the easier it would be to unsettle him during the fight.

Just as Chen Ren thought of replying, the official stepped forward, raising his hand to silence the crowd. His voice rang out.

“Enough! Listen to the rules, both of you!” The official paused, allowing the words to settle in the air. “From this round onward, fatal strikes are allowed. You may cripple your opponent and kill them. If you manage to do so, whatever items the fallen cultivator has will be yours. Other than that, the same rules as before apply: once you’re out of the stage, you lose, once you surrender, you lose and well, once you are killed, you lose. Now, if both of you are ready…”

The official’s eyes moved between the two fighters, gauging their readiness. With a final sweep of his arm, he declared.

“Begin!”

***

A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too.