The atmosphere on the platform was extremely tense.
Lin Kai and Feng Jian stood opposite each other once again.
Both of them were slightly injured, but neither showed any intention of backing down.
Feng Jian raised his sword slowly.
The silver sword intent around him became even sharper than before.
The air on the platform seemed to be cut by invisible blades.
Lin Kai’s eyes glowed with a faint purple-black light.
The Void Core inside his body spun rapidly, feeding him more power.
Black energy wrapped around both of his hands.
The crowd held their breath.
“Begin the second round!” someone in the audience shouted.
Feng Jian moved first.
He disappeared from his position and appeared in front of Lin Kai in an instant.
His sword stabbed straight toward Lin Kai’s heart with terrifying speed.
Lin Kai used Lightning Flash Step and twisted his body to the side.
At the same time, he reached out and tried to grab Feng Jian’s wrist.
Feng Jian seemed to have expected it.
He pulled his sword back and swung it in a wide arc.
A powerful wave of sword energy forced Lin Kai to jump backward.
The two of them exchanged more than ten moves in just a few breaths.
Sword lights and black flames continuously collided, creating loud explosions on the platform.
Every time Lin Kai managed to touch Feng Jian even slightly, a small amount of energy would be drained.
But Feng Jian’s sword intent was so sharp that Lin Kai also suffered several new cuts on his arms and shoulders.
Blood dripped onto the stone platform from both fighters.
From the stands, the spectators were completely focused on the fight.
“This Chen Yan is really strong!”
“He can actually fight Feng Jian to this level while being only Mid Stage 6!”
“No… I think he was hiding his real cultivation!”
Elder Zhou’s eyes shone brighter and brighter.
“This boy’s technique is very special. That black energy can actually devour other people’s power. If he is trained properly, his future will be limitless.”
Lin Feng sat in the Lin Clan area with a dark expression.
His fingers slowly tightened around the armrest of his chair.
“You really have grown, Lin Kai,” he muttered in a low voice.
“But no matter how much you grow, you will still die by my hands.”
On the platform, Feng Jian suddenly stepped back and held his sword with both hands.
A much stronger sword intent gathered around the blade. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
The tip of the sword began to tremble, and a sharp whistling sound filled the air.
“This is my strongest attack in my current state,” Feng Jian said coldly.
“If you can take it, you win.”
Lin Kai’s expression became serious.
He could feel the dangerous power gathering in that sword.
He stopped holding back completely.
The Void Core released a large amount of energy.
A black flame covered Lin Kai’s entire right arm, and a small Void Domain expanded around him.
“Come!” Lin Kai shouted.
Feng Jian charged forward and unleashed his full attack.
“Sky Severing Sword!”
A massive silver sword light shot toward Lin Kai like a falling meteor.
Lin Kai did not dodge.
He stepped forward and punched out with his right arm.
“Dark Flame Palm!”
The black flame and the silver sword light crashed into each other in the center of the platform.
Boom!!!!!
A huge explosion shook the entire arena.
A powerful shockwave spread in all directions.
Many participants in the audience were forced to retreat, and even the protective barriers set up by the sect disciples trembled violently.
When the smoke and light finally cleared, the platform was covered in cracks.
Lin Kai stood on one side, breathing heavily.
His right arm was bleeding, and his gray robe was torn in several places.
Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
On the other side, Feng Jian was also injured.
His right sleeve was completely burned away, and a black burn mark could be seen on his arm.
He still held his sword, but his breathing was slightly disordered.
The two of them looked at each other in silence for a few seconds.
Then Feng Jian slowly put his sword back into its sheath.
“I lost,” he said calmly.
The entire arena fell into complete silence.
A moment later, the silence was broken by an explosion of noise.
“What?! Feng Jian admitted defeat?!”
“Chen Yan actually won?!”
“Who is this person?!”
Elder Zhou floated down to the platform, his face full of surprise and interest.
He looked at Lin Kai deeply and then announced:
Lin Kai cupped his hands slightly toward Feng Jian.
“Thank you for the match.”
Feng Jian looked at him for a moment and then said, “Your power is very special. Next time we fight, I will not lose.”
After saying that, he turned around and walked down from the platform without another word.
Lin Kai also left the platform.
Many eyes followed him — some full of admiration, some full of jealousy, and some full of hostility.
When he returned to the waiting area, several participants moved away from him, while others looked at him with open curiosity.
From the high stands, Lin Feng’s face was extremely cold.
He stood up and left the spectator area without saying anything to the Lin Clan elders.
Zhao Rong closed his fan and smiled.
“Chen Yan… or rather, Lin Kai. You are more interesting than I thought.”
Luo Qingya’s eyes stayed on Lin Kai’s back for a few seconds longer than usual before she looked away.
The combat test continued with the remaining matches, but almost everyone’s attention was still on the young man who had just defeated Feng Jian.
Later that afternoon, when the second test finally ended, only sixty participants remained for the final test — the secret realm trial.
Lin Kai was among them.
As he was about to return to his temporary room, a sect disciple approached him.
“Chen Yan, Elder Zhou requests your presence.”
Lin Kai nodded and followed the disciple toward a quiet pavilion higher up the mountain.
Inside the pavilion, Elder Zhou was waiting for him with a cup of tea in his hand.
“Sit,” the old man said.
Lin Kai sat down calmly.
Elder Zhou looked at him for a long time before speaking.
“Your technique is very unusual. That black energy can devour other people’s cultivation. This kind of power is extremely rare… and also extremely dangerous.”
Lin Kai remained silent.
Elder Zhou continued, “I do not know who you really are, and I will not force you to tell me. But if you pass the final test and join Cloud Mountain Sect, I can give you a certain amount of protection and resources. Of course, the sect will also need your strength in the future.”
Lin Kai thought for a moment and then replied, “I will do my best in the final test.”
Elder Zhou smiled faintly.
“Good. The secret realm will open tomorrow morning. Be careful. That place is not simple.”
After leaving the pavilion, Lin Kai walked back under the evening sky.
He could feel that many people were now watching him from the shadows.
The Li Clan, the Lin Clan, Zhao Rong, and even the sect itself…
His name was no longer unknown.
And this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 20