As the pills did their work, Chen Ren moved to the arena stands where his people were sitting for the second round of the semifinals. The matches were all scheduled for the same day, largely due to the mounting tension from recent demonic cultivator attacks and the city wanting to wrap up the tournament quickly.

As Chen Ren moved through the crowd to where Tang Xiulan and others should be, a few spectators recognised him. Not only did they do, but some cheered for him with their fists in the air.

He also noticed a group of kids looking at him with wide, sparkling eyes. Some kids among them had their mouths hung open. Cultivators were revered in Cloud Mist City, thanks to the proximity of the Soaring Sword Sect, and these children undoubtedly dreamed of one day reaching such heights.

Their sparkly eyes filled him with an odd sense of pride and awkwardness as if he were a fabled hero plucked from a storybook. Heavens, he was not.

Still, he offered them a small wave and moved past, scanning the stands for familiar faces.

Fortunately, he didn’t have to search for long. Tang Xiulan stood near an improvised stall, selling ice cream and fried chips alongside Anji. Qing He and Tang Yuqiu sat nearby, with Yalan sprawled lazily on Qing He’s lap. Despite her relaxed posture, Yalan stirred the moment Chen Ren approached, cracking one eye open. Chen Ren gave a small nod to her and looked around. The kids stood on their seats, craning their necks for a better view of the arena grounds.

Everyone was excited for what was about to come, and so was he. When he got closer, Xiulan approached. Her eyes widened in concern as she looked for any scratch or injury on his face. “Young Master! Are you okay? Congratulations on your victory, but are you really uninjured?”

“Minor scratches,” Chen Ren replied with a faint smile. “I took a pill. I’ll be fine before the next match. Don’t worry about it now. Did you close the noodle stall?”

Xiulan nodded. “Yes, young master. The kids were begging me to let them watch the semifinals and finals. They’ve been working hard, so they missed all the earlier rounds. Besides, most people are here to see the end of battles anyway.”

“That’s okay,” Chen Ren said with a shrug. “I’m curious about who I’m going to fight next, too.”

Xiulan smiled, pulling out a scoop of ice cream and holding it to him. “Then you should sit and watch. Relax for a bit and eat this. The heat’s unbearable.”

He considered brushing it off—the heat didn’t bother him much thanks to his cultivation—but thought better of it. Ice cream is ice cream, and it takes a fool to say no to it. Taking the scoop, he moved to sit next to Qing He and Tang Yuqiu.

“Congratulations on your victory,” Yuqiu greeted him, smiling “Thanks to you, I’m going to make a killing in the betting market. Don’t forget to win the finals too.”

“Against Li Xuan?” Chen Ren arched a brow, biting into the ice cream. “Even I’m not sure I can win against him.”

Tang Yuqiu laughed, waving off his doubts with a dismissive hand in the air. “Just do your best and don’t lose within the first five minutes. I’ve got my reputation as a savvy bettor to maintain!”

Qing He leaned back, her eyes never leaving the arena grounds as she spoke in a very pointed tone. “It’s not decided that you’re going to fight him. People who assume things before they happen often find themselves... surprised.”

Chen Ren glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. “Are you saying Li Xuan’s going to lose? Or is this just another one of your old lady proverbs?”

Qing He scoffed, her lips tightening to a thin line. “Take it however you want.”

Yalan, still draped lazily on Qing He’s lap, chimed in without opening her eyes fully. “She’s right, though. Even if I think Li Xuan should win, you never know what an opponent might have up their sleeve. You surprised Cang Rui, didn’t you?”

“Yeah, that’s true,” Chen Ren admitted, his gaze drifting toward the arena below.

His thoughts raised questions and possibilities about the way these women looked at the tournament. He couldn’t blame them—there was some truth in their words. No one knew what would come, and every fight seemed to reveal different beasts hidden in these cultivators. However—

A loud clap echoed through the air, drawing their attention. The official stepped into the centre of the arena, his booming announcement silencing the crowd. Chen Ren’s eyes narrowed as he spotted Li Xuan and Gu Tian entering from opposite sides, their auras already clashing as they looked at each other with narrowed gazes.

Soon, the official spoke. “After the first semifinal, only one spot remains to challenge Chen Ren! Will Li Xuan maintain his title as the city’s prodigy, or will Gu Tian, the dark horse of the tournament surprise us all with an upset? Let’s find out!”

After the introduction that got him a lot of cheers, the official launched into an explanation of the rules—the same ones that were announced before he fought, but Chen Ren’s focus remained on the two competitors. Li Xuan stood on one end, his blade glowing faintly. Gu Tian stood on the other end, the man’s face devoid of any emotions, only primal hunger in his eyes.

By the end of the rules, both of them were gripping their weapons tightly, eager to begin the fight.

“Begin!” the official yelled, stepping back.

Gu Tian wasted no time. With a devastating shout, he dashed forward, his sword raised high. “I’ve been waiting to fight the city’s genius! Let’s see how long you last!”

Li Xuan smirked, raising his own sword to block the strike. Sparks danced along his blade as lightning surged to meet the impact.

“You talk too much for someone this weak,” Li Xuan said and smiled. “Credit where it’s due—you’ve made it this far. But this is the end.”

With a sharp twist of his wrist, Li Xuan deflected the blow and surged forward, his blade crackling with lightning as he countered with blistering speed. The air thrummed as his sword arced toward Gu Tian—but the strike found only empty space.

Chen Ren blinked, his breath catching as Gu Tian’s figure blurred, reappearing a split second later behind Li Xuan. The sharp clang of steel echoed as Li Xuan twisted just in time to intercept the next strike.

“He moved so fast,” Chen Ren muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on Gu Tian’s fluid movements.

“It’s not an ordinary movement technique,” Qing He explained while squinting her eyes to take a better look at what was happening. “I’ve seen something like it before. Cultivators who specialize in stealth use it. That one’s at least Earth grade.”

Chen Ren frowned. An Earth-grade technique? Where did he get that?

Back in the arena, the battle intensified.

Lightning surged from Li Xuan’s blade—sharp and crackling, making the air thick static as the ground scorched beneath his attacks. But Gu Tian moved between the strikes, his movements seamless, each dodge bringing him closer to his opponent. It was clear that Li Xuan wasn't able to keep up with Gu Tian's movements and was blindly attacking him.

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With a sudden burst of speed, Gu Tian finally closed the gap, his sword cutting a clean line through the air and striking Li Xuan’s side. The crowd was suddenly on their feet, and the entire arena erupted into gasps and cheers as the prodigy staggered, his face scrunched up with disbelief.

Chen Ren leaned forward as he tried to analyse the incoming strikes. The fight was far from over, but one thing was clear—this battle was going to be much closer than anyone had expected.

Gu Tian’s blade connected, but instead of tearing flesh, a golden light flared around Li Xuan’s body. The impact reverberated through the arena, and Gu Tian was forced to leap back as sparks scattered from his strike.

Li Xuan sneered, his sword glowing as he stepped forward. “You think brute force is enough to pierce my shield?” His voice was loud, and his confidence flared, making the crowd roar in response.

Without hesitation, he raised his blade high, lightning crackling along its edge. “One Slash Strike!”

The air seemed to split as his sword came down, a blazing arc of energy tearing toward Gu Tian. But just as the strike neared, Gu Tian’s body twisted impossibly. With a burst of acrobatics, he vaulted into the air, flipping over Li Xuan’s head with breathtaking precision.

As he landed, Gu Tian spun and lashed out with a sharp kick, his heel slamming into Li Xuan’s back. The force pushed the prodigy forward several steps, and his eyes burned with fury as lightning began to surge wildly around him.

“You’ll regret that!” Li Xuan roared.

The storm intensified, streaks of lightning shooting out from his body, moving through the ground and forming a shimmering cage around the arena. The electricity crackled menacingly, the energy radiating so fiercely that the ground beneath their feet began to scorch visibly.

Chen Ren leaned forward, his fingers gripping the edge of his seat. “He’s trapping him,” he murmured.

Gu Tian’s movements faltered as the lightning struck him from all directions, crackling against his skin. His eyes narrowed, as if he was surprised for a moment by Li Xuan’s tactic. But instead of collapsing, his body began to change. A dull sheen coated his form, his skin hardening like tempered steel. It glistened all of a sudden, making the man look unnatural.

“Impressive,” Li Xuan said, closing the distance between them in an instant. “But it won’t save you.”

With a shout, he swung his blade in another One Slash Strike, the power radiating from his weapon enough to send visible ripples through the air.

Then, just as the strike was about to land, Gu Tian smirked. In one swift motion, he tilted his head back and spewed a dark, viscous liquid from his mouth.

The crowd gasped as the black substance splattered across Li Xuan’s body. His movements faltered instantly, his limbs trembling as his sword dropped slightly.

“What is this?!” Li Xuan growled, staggering back. His previously fluid movements became sluggish, his breathing labored.

“Out of nowhere, Gu Tian has sprayed what appears to be poison on Li Xuan!” the official shouted, his voice echoing across the stunned arena. “Will the reigning champion recover?”

The lightning cage dissipated, its crackling energy fading as Li Xuan’s control wavered. Gu Tian wasted no time. He lunged forward, his blade a blur as it slashed into Li Xuan’s stomach.

Li Xuan gasped, blood staining his robes as his glare locked onto Gu Tian. Lightning surged from his hand in a desperate strike, but the once-deadly arcs fizzled weakly, lacking their usual precision and force.

Gu Tian sidestepped the attack with ease, his movement technique allowing him to flow like water. He struck again and again, each blow chipping away at Li Xuan’s defenses.

Chen Ren watched in tense silence, his eyes darting between the fighters. “That poison... it’s affecting his qi flow. He can’t channel his energy properly.”

Gu Tian pressed his advantage, raising his blade for the finishing blow. Just as the sword came down, Li Xuan’s head in its path, Gu Tian froze.

For a moment, the arena was silent except for the faint hum of dissipating lightning. Gu Tian’s expression hardened, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. Then, with a growl, he stepped back and drove his foot into Li Xuan’s chest, sending the champion sprawling out of the bloodstained arena floor.

The official, his face a mix of shock and awe, stammered. “Gu Tian... wins! Last year’s champion, Li Xuan, has fallen!” He yelled the last part.

The crowd erupted, their cheers shaking the arena. “It’s been a tournament full of surprises!” the official continued, his voice climbing over the noise. “For the first time in years, two young cultivators will face off in the finals. Who will claim victory?!”

Chen Ren sat back, his heart pounding as he stared at the battered form of Li Xuan being carried off the field. He kept the ice cream bowl away and inhaled deeply. He couldn’t drag his eyes away from the bloodied spot where Li Xuan had been dragged off moments ago. His mind churned with questions as he turned to Qing He and Yalan, his brow furrowed.

"What kind of poison was that? And why didn’t it affect Gu Tian, considering it was in his mouth all this time?"

Qing He crossed her arms. “It’s likely Black Veil Poison. It’s infamous for paralyzing the body and making it nearly impossible to channel qi. It’s hard to defend against, especially when applied like that—directly to the skin.” She paused. “As for why Gu Tian wasn’t affected, it might be because he—”

Yalan cut her off. “Thousand Poison Tongue,” she said, drawing Chen Ren’s attention. “It’s an alchemical technique. Rare, dangerous, and borderline insane to practice. The method is basically exposing your tongue to countless poisons over the years, forcing your body to develop immunity. Eventually, the tongue becomes numb to toxins, allowing the practitioner to handle deadly substances like they’re nothing.” She purred as if this was an interesting topic of conversation. “Mastering it means walking a thin line between life and death countless times. Gu Tian must have gone through hell to achieve that level of immunity.”

Chen Ren’s jaw tightened as he processed her explanation.

Yalan’s voice broke through his thoughts. “You need to be prepared. Li Xuan is strong, but he’s predictable. He fights with overwhelming power, and that works—most of the time. Gu Tian, though… I can’t fathom how he clawed his way to the finals, but he’s not someone to underestimate. Against him, it’ll come down to tricks. Your tricks against his. Whoever has the better surprises will win.”

Chen Ren nodded. He looked back at Gu Tian, who now met his gaze with an unsettling calm, a faint smirk playing on his lips. He soon turned around and waved at the raging crowd with an eerie calmness.

The crowd’s cheers echoed in Chen Ren’s ears, but all he could hear was the sound of his own heartbeat.

***

Gu Tian's gaze followed the city guards as they carried Li Xuan’s paralyzed body from the arena. The defeated champion still managed to glare at him, his eyes burning with anger. But Gu Tian had already stopped caring. Li Xuan was a nuisance, no more. What truly gnawed at him now was the bitter frustration of being denied the kill.

His jaw tightened as he thought, “Why did you stop me from killing him? It’s allowed in these matches. And by the rules, his possessions would’ve been mine. That sword of his… It's a good one.”

A voice echoed in his mind, ancient and rough. “You’re an idiot,” his master spat. “That’s the city lord’s son you just fought. Killing him would’ve brought the entire city down on your head. And don’t forget the Soaring Sword Sect—do you want them hunting you too?”

Gu Tian’s lips curled into a sneer. “Aren’t we already against the righteous sects? What’s one more enemy? Besides, you’ve always said I’m like a cockroach—hard to kill. Let them come. I can always run and grow stronger.”

His master’s voice was cold and cutting. “Cockroach or not, you’re overestimating yourself. Do you truly think you can escape if a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators comes after you? You’re not invincible. Not yet.”

Gu Tian chuckled darkly. “You weren’t saying that when I survived eating all those poisons to master the Thousand Poison Tongue.”

“Surviving doesn’t mean thriving,” his master shot back. “Stay focused. The real target is within your grasp. We’ve finally located the medallion, and I’m not about to let you ruin this opportunity with your arrogance. One mistake, and we’re back to square one or worse.”

Gu Tian’s grin faded as he exhaled deeply, his gaze sweeping over the stands. “It’ll be soon,” he thought to himself.

His mind drifted to the moment of revelation. His master had sensed the medallion during a casual stroll through the arena stands, its faint, unique qi signature unmistakable. Fate, it seemed, had aligned perfectly. It was with the one opponent standing between him and victory: Chen Ren.

Gu Tian’s eyes darkened. He had infiltrated countless clans, risked his life in the shadows, and endured endless failures in his quest to find the medallion. Yet now, it was right in front of him, within reach.

“One battle,” he thought, his fists tightening. “One fight, and I’ll have it. Then the gate to immortality will open for me. I’ll ascend, grow stronger, and claim my place at the apex of all realms. As an immortal.”

He whispered aloud, a smirk tugging at his lips, “Just one battle more.”

***

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