As the youth reached the center arena and where the elder was at, the elder began to introduce him further: "Holder of the Sun Slasher, Master of the Saber, he who won seventeen out-tournaments, he who never failed a single mission, he who has reached the 30th stage before finishing his years as a disciple, you have recognized him! I introduce you our challenger! Naaaaaam Kwaaaaaaang!"

The cheers were deafening. To the point that Jin could fear his eardrums ringing. It was so loud and wild that he couldn't even believe it. Just how crazed were those people?! But it was only the beginning. Because, at that time, the elder pointed to the other side of the arena, from where another youth was steadily walking.

This one was taller and buffier. He had brown hair tied into many locks pushed behind his head thanks to a red headband. He had a scar going over his nose and going down to his left jaw, arcing down. As he walked, he emitted a very different presence compared to the other one. He felt like a tough nut to crack for sure... At his right side was a simple sword, colored gray iron. It didn't seem very impressive.

But one should never judge a weapon by its appearance.

As he walked towards him, the challenger couldn't help but frown. His relaxed expression no more, he was now dead-serious. Challenging a tournament position holder was a high risk. Sure, he was confident but that didn't mean much. If out of all those cultivators in the sect who reached the 30th stage and stayed at it, only five were selected, what did it mean for them? It meant they were the best.

Obviously, the challenger was aware that it would be a tough fight. The introduction of his opponent made it even more obvious and oppressive: "Owner of the Gray Heat, Swordmaster, Winner of thirty-seven tournaments, runner-up of forty-five and a representative of the inner sect, Butcher of the Destructive Fist Sect, War hero of the Brunh Highland, Creator of the Sunchaser Tracting Technique, you know who that is! The warm flash! Yoooong-Yuuuuun!"

If the previous cheer had been loud, it was incomparable to this one. Jin felt himself on the verge of passing out from the sheer volume of it. This guy seemed to be on a whole other level of fame. But what could be said about it? Even to Jin, it felt obvious when their achievements were compared.

It was only after the crowd calmed down which meant went down to deathly loud to very loud that the elder spoke once more: " The rules are simple: Take down your opponent or have him surrender! Now, if both contestants may go to their respective positions!"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Both of the guys walked away a few dozen meters from each other and remained there, facing each other. They were waiting for the elder to spoke. But before he did, he and Nam Kwang heard Yong-Yun whisper: " Do i look that weak that any random has the guts to challenge me these days? Do they think I'm the weakest link of the five? Fuck this shit"

He was grumbling about having to fight. To him, this wasn't even worth it. It felt like he came here to bully a kid. Even though they were both at the same realm, at the 30th stage of spiritual accumulation, he didn't show the slightest hint of respect for his opponent. Hell, he was condescendingly looking down on him. Of course, this infuriated Nam Kwang. But he remained composed.

Being in a turbulent emotional state during such a battle would be a death-sentence. He had to remain focused and not let anything distract him. In battles of such high-level, the slightest mistake would have high costs.

On the other hand, the elder didn't care about emotions nor face and was grinning while suppressing his laughter. That Yong-Yun was truly brazen but why wouldn't he be? As long as you had the strength to back it up, arrogance was no more than truth.

The elder decided that it would be better to just start the fight and gave it the go as a transparent barrier materialized around the ring. He quickly left the ring and only the two opponents were left standing upon it. The confrontation would start.

As it was going to start, Seung-Ja asked Jin while everyone else remained focused on the fight: "Who do you think will win?" and Jin answered right away: "How should I know?" which stunned the beautiful woman. She expected him to pick a side. But he did not and honestly told her he didn't know. Though he was a little rude, he was at least pure. She playfully said: "How about you pick a side and I will pick the other?"

Jin didn't really care much as he only wished to witness the fight. Whoever won was of no importance. And considering that he had never before witnessed a spiritual warrior way of fighting nor did he know the two, he truly did not know. As such, it didn't matter who he picked. It was fifty-fifty. But he favored the defender. A war hero was no joke. So he picked him. Seung-Ja nodded and picked the challenger. Though she picked him, she didn't think he stood the slightest chance.

And, on the ring, the fight was beginning. Both men didn't even speak before they disappeared from their original positions. Each were using their greatest movement techniques to be the first to reach the other. The challenger used the Sun Light Steps while the defending champion rushed with the Fireforce Bursting Footwork. Due to them being at the same realm, what would determine the battle were mostly their techniques.

A spiritual warrior's way of battle took into account many elements but they were mostly the might, the activation speed and the techniques. Depending on their gear, their techniques and the way they cultivated, the output varied from one cultivator to another. It was to the point that they were all unique. As such, disparities were bound to happen between those of the same realms.