Chapter 546: Qi Liberation Realm vs. Core Formation Realm
The path between the Alchemy Arena and the bat Arena was pletely packed with cultivators.
It was a human river of fluttering robes, gleaming armor, and excited faces, a true tide of spiritual energy crashing together and merging into a whirlwind of conversations.
The air vibrated with the anticipation of the Festival, a constant hum that was both physical and spiritual.
Lively conversations echoed from every direction, each group of cultivators forming a small island of discussion amid the ocean of people.
Some mented on the battles from the previous day, reliving the most thrilling moments with exaggerated gestures and sparkling eyes.
Others discussed the techniques used by the festival’s top favorites, analyzing every movement, every flow of Qi, and every strategy like scholars deciphering a sacred text.
And many were still talking about the young alchemist who had refined an entire batch of Rank 4 pills with perfect purity in a fraction of the time taken by the other petitors.
Kyrian, however, passed through that crowd like a needle through fabric, moving with a precision that bordered on the supernatural.
His presence, though discreet, was impossible to ignore. The more perceptive cultivators instinctively looked away as he passed, sensing an invisible pressure emanating from his slender body.
His violet eyes remained fixed ahead, paying no attention to the curious glances or the whispers that followed in his wake. He had only one destination, and nothing else mattered.
The arena designated for cultivators of the Core Formation Realm.
…
A few minutes later, he passed through the enormous stone gate. The structure was imposing, carved with ancient runes that glowed with a soft, constant light. The interior was just as bustling as it had been on the previous days, like a massive human anthill.
Dozens of smaller arenas occupied nearly the entire space, each surrounded by its own grandstands, where tens of thousands of spectators watched every battle with absolute attention.
The sounds of metal clashing against metal, explosions of spiritual energy, and the crowd’s cheers blended into a chaotic yet vibrant symphony. The air was saturated with Qi, so dense that an ordinary mortal would suffocate within seconds.
As soon as he presented his identification to one of the petition officials, a middle-aged man with a graying beard and sharp eagle-like eyes, he was immediately given the number of his arena.
“Arena Seven,” the official announced, handing him a small jade plaque engraved with the number. His eyes swept over Kyrian with barely concealed curiosity.
“Your opponent is already waiting.”
Kyrian nodded in thanks and headed toward the assigned arena. The distance was short, but with every step, the energy around him grew more intense.
He could feel the weight of countless gazes, the curiosity of spectators who had already heard of his feats. Yet his expression remained unshaken, like a calm lake beneath a stormy sky.
When he arrived, his opponent was already waiting at the center of the arena, a slender yet imposing figure against the backdrop of polished stone.
She was a young woman with brown hair tied into a long ponytail that swayed gently in the breeze created by the surrounding spiritual energy. Her deep amber eyes shone with keen intelligence and quiet confidence.
She wore a dark blue spiritual armor that was remarkably light and streamlined, designed for swift and agile bat. The armor fit her body like a second skin, each plate shaped to allow maximum freedom of movement.
A slender sword, almost as thin as a needle, rested sheathed at her waist. Its blade remained hidden, but its spiritual presence was unmistakable.
She appeared to be just over twenty years old, yet the spiritual energy naturally radiating from her body was incredibly solid, like an invisible fortress.
Kyrian needed no special technique to assess her level.
Fifth Stage of the Core Formation Realm.
A formidable opponent.
As soon as her eyes met Kyrian’s, she gave a slight bow, a gesture of respect and courtesy that was traditional among cultivators. When she spoke, her voice was clear and steady, like the chime of a jade bell.
“I am Luo Meilin, of the Serene Blade Clan.”
Kyrian returned the greeting with the same courtesy, his voice calm and neutral.
“Kyrian.”
Neither of them said another word. The silence between them was filled with anticipation, a thread of tension stretching thinner with every passing second.
The audience around them gradually fell silent, realizing the battle was about to begin. The whispers ceased, movements froze, and every eye turned toward Arena Seven.
A few moments later, the referee appeared above the arena, an elderly man with a white beard and piercing eyes, dressed in a red robe that symbolized his authority. His spiritual energy was immense, a silent reminder that despite the spectacle, order would be maintained.
After confirming the identities of both petitors with a quick glance at their jade plaques, he slowly raised one hand. The gesture was simple, yet carried tremendous weight.
“The battle…” His voice echoed throughout the entire arena, clear and powerful.
“…begins now.”
Before either of them made a single move, Kyrian slowly closed his eyes. The crowd murmured in confusion.
Then it began.
His cultivation immediately started to decline. The Qi that had been flowing powerfully through his meridians like a flooding river receded like a tide pulling away from the shore. The spiritual pressure emanating from his body, once overwhelming, rapidly diminished.
Core Formation…
Fourth Stage.
Third.
Second.
First.
Luo Meilin watched the scene in plete silence, her amber eyes widening in astonishment.
She had already heard rumors about a young foreigner who deliberately restrained himself in battle, lowering his cultivation to the Qi Liberation Realm to fight his opponents. But hearing about it was one thing.
Witnessing it with her own eyes was something else entirely.
Then Kyrian’s cultivation continued to fall, crossing the boundary between realms. It returned pletely to the Qi Liberation Realm, his spiritual energy was now parable to that of a lower-level cultivator.
But it didn’t stop there.
He continued pressing his energy, squeezing it as though forging an ingot of metal, until he once again reached the very limit of that realm.
The absolute peak of the Qi Liberation Realm.
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