The second day of the combat test began under a clear sky.
The arena was even more crowded than the day before.
Many important people from Azure Cloud City had come to watch, including elders from the three big clans and several powerful rogue cultivators.
Lin Kai, still using the name Chen Yan, stood quietly among the remaining participants.
His expression was calm, but his senses were fully alert.
The match list for the day appeared in the air.
Lin Kai’s first opponent was a young man named Huang Tao, a Peak Stage 6 cultivator known for his strong earth-based techniques.
When their names were called, both of them stepped onto Platform 4.
Huang Tao looked at Lin Kai with a serious face.
“Chen Yan, your draining technique is interesting. But it won’t work on me so easily.”
Lin Kai did not reply.
He simply took his position.
“Begin!”
Huang Tao stomped the ground.
Thick walls of earth rose around him, and several heavy earth spears shot toward Lin Kai.
Lin Kai moved with Shadow Step, slipping between the spears like smoke.
He did not attack immediately.
Instead, he carefully observed Huang Tao’s energy flow using Void Eye.
After dodging several attacks, Lin Kai suddenly appeared beside Huang Tao and touched his arm with two fingers.
A small amount of black energy entered Huang Tao’s body.
Huang Tao’s face changed.
He quickly jumped back and circulated his energy to push out the foreign power.
“As expected… a draining technique!”
He became more cautious and started fighting defensively.
The match lasted longer than Lin Kai’s previous fights.
Huang Tao’s earth armor made it difficult to land clean hits.
Lin Kai remained patient.
Every time he got close, he left a bit more of his devouring energy inside Huang Tao’s body.
Slowly, the Peak Stage 6 cultivator’s movements became heavier and his techniques weaker.
Finally, Lin Kai found an opening.
He used Lightning Flash Step to appear behind Huang Tao and struck with a controlled Dark Flame Palm.
The black flame exploded against the earth armor and shattered it.
Huang Tao was pushed off the platform, coughing blood.
“Winner: Chen Yan!”
The crowd started talking more loudly this time.
“He did it again. Another Peak Stage 6 lost.”
“That draining technique is really troublesome.”
“Who is this Chen Yan? Why have we never heard of him before?”
From the Lin Clan seating area, Lin Feng watched with a cold smile.
He leaned slightly toward one of the elders beside him and said something in a low voice.
The elder nodded and left quietly.
Zhao Rong smiled behind his fan.
“He is still holding back. Interesting.”
Luo Qingya glanced at Lin Kai once more, her cold eyes showing a hint of curiosity before she looked away.
Feng Jian remained as calm as ever, as if none of the matches so far were worth his full attention.
Lin Kai returned to the waiting area.
He could feel more eyes on him now.
Some were curious, some were wary, and some were hostile.
His next match came near noon.
This time his opponent was stronger — a young woman named Su Yan (no relation to Su Mei), who was at Early Stage 7.
She was from a medium-sized family and used wind techniques.
When she stepped onto the platform, many people became interested.
“An Early Stage 7 against a Mid Stage 6. This should be difficult for Chen Yan.”
Su Yan looked at Lin Kai coldly.
“Your tricks may work on those at the same level, but they won’t work on me.”
The match began.
Su Yan was fast.
Her body moved like the wind, and sharp wind blades flew from all directions.
Lin Kai had to use both Shadow Step and Lightning Flash Step to avoid serious injuries.
Even so, two wind blades cut his clothes and left thin wounds on his arm.
The crowd watched closely.
Lin Kai’s eyes turned colder.
He stopped only defending and started counterattacking.
Every time Su Yan came close, he tried to touch her with his devouring energy.
But she was careful and did not allow him to make solid contact easily.
After several exchanges, Lin Kai decided to use a bit more power.
He activated a small Void Domain around himself.
Inside the black area, Su Yan’s wind energy became slightly weaker and slower.
Her expression changed.
“What is this?!”
Lin Kai seized the chance.
He closed the distance and landed a palm strike on her shoulder.
Su Yan quickly retreated and tried to force the energy out, but her face was already pale.
After a few more exchanges, she gritted her teeth and said, “I admit defeat.”
The arena fell silent for a moment before noise exploded.
“He defeated an Early Stage 7!”
“While only at Mid Stage 6?!”
“This Chen Yan is not simple!”
Even some of the elders showed clear surprise.
Elder Zhou stroked his beard and said, “That boy’s technique is very unusual. Keep an eye on him.”
Lin Kai walked down from the platform.
He could feel the atmosphere around him changing.
Many participants now looked at him with caution or hostility.
Some geniuses who had ignored him before were now paying attention.
When he sat down again, a sect disciple approached him and said, “Chen Yan, Elder Zhou requests that you stay after today’s matches. He wants to speak with you.”
Lin Kai nodded calmly.
“Understood.”
From the stands, Lin Feng’s eyes shone with cold light.
“Still pretending,” he muttered.
“Very well. Let me push you a little harder.”
He stood up and walked toward one of the supervising elders.
After a short conversation, the elder looked surprised but eventually nodded.
A few minutes later, a new announcement was made.
“For the next round, some of the stronger participants will be matched against each other earlier than planned.”
When the new list appeared, many people were shocked.
Lin Kai’s next opponent was listed as Feng Jian.
The entire arena became noisy.
“Chen Yan versus Feng Jian?!”
“Isn’t that too early?”
“Feng Jian is one of the strongest here!”
Lin Kai looked at the board and remained silent.
He could feel that this arrangement was not normal.
From the other side of the waiting area, Feng Jian opened his eyes and looked directly at Lin Kai for the first time.
His gaze was sharp and calm, like a drawn sword.
Zhao Rong closed his fan and smiled.
“Now this will be interesting.”
Lin Feng sat back down in his seat, a cold smile on his face.
“Let’s see how long you can keep hiding, Lin Kai.”
The most dangerous match of the combat test was about to begin.
End of Chapter 18