The next few matches of the tournament were relatively easy, with Rui quickly ending them. The individual who got lucky and advanced two rounds was named Guang Ji Zhi, one of the only female warriors participating in the tournament.
Since the participants left were the strongest of the clan as a whole, each battle took a long time, which resulted in an awful waiting time.
Some battles lasted hours, which made for quite the spectacle. This was how rune master fights of a similar level were. If there was even a slight difference in strength between them, the fight would quickly end since the power balance was unfair depending on refinement or stage.
Rui spectated all the battles, wanting to see how other rune masters of a similar strength fought. They were all incredibly talented for their age, and placing them anywhere else on the planet would make them once-in-a-lifetime geniuses; however, here they were just members of a clan.
Rui truly understood the difference between the powers after realizing how much of a difference in strength there was between the world outside and his ancestor's kingdom. He had a suspicion that his ancestors were preparing for something, thus creating an environment in which talent could grow.
'From how that crazy old man reacts when seeing talent, there is something greater hidden behind the scenes, and for some reason, I feel like a chess piece once again.'
Rui couldn't help but think to himself. The feeling of being controlled was taking over him. He had to somehow resolve it before it would cause him a heart demon.
Clenching his fist tightly, he focused on the tournament with the itch to relieve some stress.
----------------------------------------
The rounds quickly passed by, and the battles themselves were less eventful than Rui had expected. He succeeded in advancing to the top 8 without any issue.
"Hey, do you know who that blue-haired punk is? I didn't notice him throughout the whole tournament."
"I saw him yesterday when I was spectating Guang Arlo, he was the one that defeated him."
"From what branch clan is he from?"
"I found out more about him, he is a descendant of the Sword Immortal's deceased second son, Guang Ren. He just recently arrived in the capital."
"Oh yeah, I remember now. I did observe them at the start, but most of them were weak so I just ignored them. I didn't expect one to make it to the top 8."
Rui could hear everything clearly but chose to ignore them. It wasn't like he cared what others thought of him, to begin with.
Glancing at the remaining participants, a pleased smile couldn't help but appear on his lips.
'At least the following battles will be fun.'
He thought while using [Identify] and [Understanding] to display their status windows.
[Name: Guang Ji Zhi, Age: 26
Rank: Core Formation Stage
Physique: White Snake Physique
Combat Power: 380000
Character Personality Path: Benevolent Maiden
Spiritual Root: Ethereal Serpent Root
Luck: 84]
[Name: Guang Lian Pho, Age: 28
Rank: Core Formation Stage
Physique: Rock Giant Physique
Combat Power: 395000
Character Personality Path: Stoic Warrior
Spiritual Root: Earth Elemental Root
Luck: 45]
[Name: Guang Di Yao, Age: 27
Rank: Middle rune core stage
Physique: Five elements supreme physique
Combat Power: 495000
Character Personality Path: Narcissistic Scholar
Spiritual Root: Five Elements Root
Luck: 95]
[Name: Guang Wen Bo, Age: 29
Rank: Late Rune Core Stage
Physique: Celestial Dragon Physique
Combat Power: 520000
Character Personality Path: Noble Guardian
Spiritual Root: Celestial Dragon Root
Luck: 75]
[Name: Guang Xin Lan, Age: 27
Rank: Late Rune Core Stage
Physique: Lunar Serenity Physique
Combat Power: 510000
Character Personality Path: Tranquil Sage
Spiritual Root: Lunar Serenity Root
Luck: 80]
[Name: Guang Hua Xin, Age: 29
Rank: Late Rune Core Stage
Physique: Eternal Flame Physique
Combat Power: 518000
Character Personality Path: Treacherous Ruler
Spiritual Root: Eternal Flame Root
Luck: 85]
[Name: Guang Zhang Ryo, Age: 22
Rank: Early Rune Core Stage
Physique: Vermilion Bird Physique
Combat Power: 450000
Character Personality Path: Perilous Wanderer
Spiritual Root: Vermilion Flame Root
Luck: 70]
Looking at the status windows, he knew that these few geniuses deserved their spots in the top 8. However, he also knew that combat power and rank weren't enough to make them the winners.
Rui also opened his status window to see his progress.
[Name: Guang Rui
Race: Ancient Human, Age 20]
[System Level: 21]
[Perception: 3000
Constitution: 2100
Charisma: 820
Luck: 32.025
Free Attribute Points: 0
Combat Power: 585000]
[Spiritual Root]
Heaven Rune Spiritual Root
[Physique]
Extreme Rune Physique
[Cultivation Stage]
Initial rune core stage
[Character Personality Path]
Society Born Demon
[Innate Skills]
[Clairvoyance / Mastery: Adept]
[Passive: the truth of the world. +500 Perception]
[Gives absolute defense over any illusions or brainwashing]
[Gives the ability of understanding]
[Scales with Perception]
[Parallel Thinking / Mastery: Adept]
[Passive: the innate ability to process multiple streams of thought simultaneously, +200 Perception]
[Divine Synthesis / Mastery: Beginner]
[Passive: The blending of bloodlines to create stronger power. +300 Perception, +100 Charisma]
[Enhances the user's ability to influence and persuade others, drawing from their divine heritage]
[Scales with Perception and charisma]
His combat power was still higher than any of the other participants despite only being in the Early Rune Core stage. It was impressive for rune masters to reach the third rank in his age bracket, so Rui was looking forward to exchanging pointers.
He didn't care about winning since he was already the direct disciple of the Sword Immortal, already having acquired most skills necessary for a smooth advancement.
"Congratulations on those who have reached the top 8! You are truly the greatest geniuses of our clan and we couldn't be more proud of your achievement. However, now that we have reached this stage we will have to find the winner…"
At this time, Guang Yuan's voice resounded through the stadium, bringing the atmosphere back to its peak.
"In this final round, there will be a total of 28 matches, where a participant will have to fight each other at least once. The participant with the most victories will become the final winner of the tournament. The first match will begin with participants Guang Hua Xin and Guang Xin Lan, the two please step onto the stage of Arena 1."
Guang Yuan ordered casually, this time acting as the overseer of the matches.
Since each arena was reinforced with runic arrays, along with technological innovations, the stadium could acclimate a lot of people at once, as well as have the proper protection against rune masters of a certain rank and below.
Since they were only of the third rank, there was no worry for the mortal spectators since many rune masters of the sixth and seventh rank stood guard in the audience.
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
Hua Xin and Xin Lan made their way to Arena 1, their gazes resolute.
Hua Xin had the appearance of a young man with short black hair and sharp green eyes. A dot could be seen painted on each side of his eyebrows, while the Sowulo rune glowed with a white hue on his forehead.
Xin Lan, on the other hand, had an androgynous appearance, with long white hair and round blue eyes. The Perthro rune on his forehead shone brightly as well.
The two stood facing each other with expressionless gazes.
Hua Xin and Xin Lan exchanged a nod of mutual respect before assuming their fighting stances, their eyes locked in unwavering determination.
Guang Yuan signaled for the battle to begin, and Hua Xin and Xin Lan sprung into action immediately.
Hua Xin moved with the grace of a dancer, his movements fluid and precise as he unleashed a barrage of fiery attacks. Flames danced around him, fueled by his Eternal Flame Physique, as he sought to overwhelm his opponent with sheer firepower.
Xin Lan, however, remained calm and composed, his Lunar Serenity Physique granting him an inner tranquility that belied his fierce fighting spirit. With swift and calculated movements, he deftly dodged Hua Xin's attacks.
Two manifestations of their physiques appeared in the arena, shocking the spectators greatly. Both of the manifestations had a humanoid appearance with faceless heads. Hua Xin's avatar was covered in bright, burning flames, raising the temperature by a few degrees despite the strong barriers.
Xin Lan's avatar, on the other hand, was made of stars and had a transparent figure, a moon floating behind it.
Hua Xin used a sword, while Xin Lan used a saber. Xin Lan moved with grace, dodging all of Hua Xin's attacks with fervor, his saber coated in a strange energy.
Hua Xin was unable to properly attack him no matter how hard he tried, missing all of his attacks by a hair's width. Gritting his teeth, he covered his sword with dense runic energy and slashed with all his might, releasing a sword wave covered in flaming energy.
"Flaming Crescent sky!"
He shouted, channelling a vast amount of energy into the surroundings.
"Saber Intent, Heaven's Slash!"
Xin Lan muttered, his saber's luster increasing drastically within moments. Although Hua Xin had stronger combat power, Xin Lan had a clear advantage thanks to his control and wit.
Angling his saber, he cut the slash attack in a precise way, lessening the burden and redirecting it to another place. Within a fraction of a second, he also prepared for a counterattack, his still-shining saber moving at incredible speeds.
The fight itself hadn't lasted for even a few minutes, and compared to the previous battles that took hours to complete, these high-ranking battles were far easier to determine due to the evident foundational differences.
It was clear that Xin Lan's foundation was far greater than Hua Xin's; however, Hua Xin himself refused to accept this fact.
Facing the incoming saber, he clenched his teeth and absorbed his avatar's projection inside his body, effectively merging with it.
As Hua Xin absorbed his avatar's projection, his body became enveloped in a brilliant blaze of flames, his eyes burning with determination as he prepared to counterattack.
With a swift motion, he unleashed a powerful surge of flames, engulfing Xin Lan in a scorching inferno. The heat was intense, causing the air to shimmer and distort as the flames licked at Xin Lan's defenses.
But Xin Lan remained calm and composed, his saber flashing with renewed vigor as he deftly parried Hua Xin's attack. With a precise strike, he redirected the flames away from him, creating an opening for his counterattack.
Xin Lan lunged forward with lightning speed, his saber slicing through the air with deadly precision. Hua Xin barely had time to react as he found himself on the defensive, desperately trying to evade Xin Lan's relentless assault.
Despite his best efforts, Hua Xin soon found himself overwhelmed by Xin Lan's superior skill and technique. With a decisive strike, Xin Lan delivered a powerful blow that sent Hua Xin crashing to the ground.
"Damn it…"
Hua Xin, who was struck down, got up immediately and couldn't help but exclaim, blood pouring from his mouth due to internal injuries. Clenching his teeth, he wiped the blood with his hands and rubbed it against his blade, lighting it on fire in the process.
"BURN BRIGHTER OH ETERNAL FLAME!!"
He shouted, his body beginning to burn with runic energy. Soon, he was turned into a human torch, and his whole body turned into flames.
The crowd gasped in shock as Hua Xin's body erupted into flames, his fiery aura illuminating the arena with an intense glow. Spectators watched in awe as he unleashed his full power, his determination shining through despite his injuries.
Xin Lan remained calm and composed, his expression unreadable as he faced his opponent's fiery onslaught. With a swift motion, he raised his saber in defense, preparing to counter Hua Xin's ferocious attack.
But before Xin Lan could react, Hua Xin charged forward with reckless abandon, his flaming form hurtling towards him like a blazing comet. The heat radiating from Hua Xin's body was intense, causing the air to sizzle and warp around him.
Xin Lan gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his saber as he braced himself for the impact. With a resolute expression, he met Hua Xin head-on, their clash sending shock waves rippling through the arena.
The force of their collision created a massive explosion, engulfing the arena in a blinding flash of light. Spectators shielded their eyes from the glare, their hearts pounding with anticipation as they waited for the dust to settle.
When the smoke cleared, Xin Lan stood victorious amidst the wreckage, his saber held aloft in triumph. Hua Xin lay defeated at his feet, his fiery form extinguished, and his body battered and bruised.
"Winner, Xin Lan! Xin Lan gains 1 point!"
Guang Yuan announced, bringing the crowd back to their senses.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as Xin Lan was declared the winner of the match, his victory earning him the admiration of his fellow clan members.
Hua Xin struggled to get on his feet, his gaze expressionless. Despite his character personality path, when it came to combat, he knew when to back down. However, he still believes he could win if they had another re-match.
Xin Lan approached him with a hand out to help him get up. Hua Xin just shrugged and accepted the gesture. He knew that Xin Lan was his greatest counter in this tournament since they were exact opposites when it came to fighting style. He liked using brute strength, while Xin Lan used technique.
Sighing heavily, Hua Xin went to medicate and meditate so that he could recover his energy in time for his next battle.
----------------------------------------
Rui waited patiently till it was his time to fight. The first few battles were very intense and hyped him up greatly. He wanted to release some pent-up stress in these battles.
"Guang Rui, Guang Zhang Ryo, come to Arena 1!"
Guang Yuan ordered, bringing Rui out of his thoughts.
Finally, it was his turn. Stepping into the arena, Rui faced his opponent, Guang Zhang Ryo. Zhang Ryo was the second youngest in the top 8, with Rui taking the first spot when it came to this aspect. Even though his mental age far exceeded the minimum limit of 30 years.
Zhang Ryo had the appearance of an average-looking youth with short brown hair and black eyes and three long scars running along his face. His expression was amicable, while a passive smile was evident on his lips. The Nauthiz rune shone on his forehead.
The two of them bowed at each other as a greeting, and Guang Yuan gave the signal for the battle to start.
Rui didn't begin the offensive immediately, nor did he pull out [Sun Cutter]. He waited to see how Zhang Ryo would fight him.
There was a clear difference in their strength, but Rui wanted to test how big of a difference there was. He wasn't overconfident; he just analyzed the situation objectively.
Zhang Ryo also didn't attack immediately, as he covered his entire body in a fiery, runic energy. The projection, a vermilion bird, appeared behind, letting out a loud cry.
As they stared at each other, the crowd held their breath, waiting for the action to begin. Then, suddenly, Zhang Ryo charged forward with a fierce yell, his fiery energy blazing around him like a fiery shield.
Rui calmly glanced at him, not moving till the very last second. His figure elegantly disappeared from the spot, leaving behind an afterimage.
Appearing right behind Zhang Ryo, he channelled runic energy into his palm and directly touched his back, sending Zhang Ryo flying.
Rui used two of his newly learned skills in this attack.
[Heaven's Netherrealm Step]
[A movement technique that allows the user to briefly phase through space, making them elusive and intangible.
Requires Heavenly Runic Energy. Grants the ability to avoid physical and runic energy attacks.]
[Heaven's Shielding Barrier]
[A defensive technique created by the heavenly demon, capable of creating a barrier that repels attacks with ease.
Requires Heavenly Runic Energy. Provides protection against physical and magical assaults.]
He used the [Heaven's Shielding Barrier] to cover his palm, using its repelling effect to launch Zhang Ryo far away without much damage.
Zhang Ryo quickly took control of his body in mid-air and floated before landing, his figure turning and heading back towards Rui with his top speed.
Rui smiled at this scene and decided to play around a bit more.
[Heaven's Eternal Lotus]
[A defensive technique that conjures a barrier of ethereal lotus petals around the user, deflecting incoming attacks and providing a serene sanctuary amidst the chaos.
Requires Heavenly Runic Energy. Grants the user inner peace and clarity of mind.]
Activating the skill, a colourful lotus manifested around him, creating a beautiful scene.
Zhang Ryo was taken aback by the scene but didn't stop his charge. He attacked with all his might; however, the result of the attack came back and bit him.
As soon as he hit the lotus, a sudden force came rushing at him, being the same energy attack he had just launched.
Panic-stricken, he ducked, the energy attack passing above him and missing him by a very small amount.
"What the—"
He couldn't help but exclaim, not understanding the situation. His opponent was using unfair techniques in a fight, but he could do nothing about it.
Witnessing his expression, Rui couldn't help but laugh, dispersing the [Heaven's Eternal Lotus] with a wave of his hand.
"How about I fight a bit more seriously then?"
Rui said, his energy levels suddenly skyrocketing while purple-black runic energy covered his entire body.
"I haven't used these skills in a bit…"
He muttered, relishing in the feeling of liberation the skills gave him.
The two skills he used were [Heaven's Wrath] and [Heaven's Rebirth]. Paired with [Rune Celestia], his strength increased drastically.
Zhang Ryo swallowed hard, realizing that something was off with his opponent.
Extending one hand foreword, Rui made a blade of runic energy, its light seeming ominous.
"Beginning Sword, first form: Birth"
Lowering his posture slightly, Rui launched forward at an insane speed using [Heaven's Divine Path].
Zhang Ryo paled and tried to use his personal skill to battle the attack, but he was unable to stop it.
With a single slash, Rui was able to completely defeat him.
With a swift motion, Rui unleashed a powerful attack, slicing through the air with his blade of runic energy. The arena crackled with anticipation as the two opponents clashed, their energies colliding in a dazzling display of light and power.
Zhang Ryo fought with all his might, but he couldn't match Rui's overwhelming strength and skill. With a final strike, Rui emerged victorious, his blade cutting through Zhang Ryo's defenses and knocking him to the ground.
"Winner, Guang Rui! Guang Rui gains 1 point!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as Rui was declared the winner of the match. Despite his defeat, Zhang Ryo showed great sportsmanship, shaking Rui's hand and congratulating him on his victory.