novelraw Chapter 340: Preliminary Selection
Chapter 340: Preliminary Selection
The area around the arena fell into a brief silence once more.
If the first instant-kill of an eighth-stage Stream Realm cultivator could still be attributed by some to Wang Man's carelessness or his opponent's trickery, then this second match, facing a genuine first-stage High-risk Aberrant, and still ending in an unquestionable instant-kill, was enough to prove a great many things.
"Another... another one-move victory?"
"What is this guy's background? A first-stage High-risk Aberrant was like paper in his hands!"
"Is he really just High-risk? This level of power is terrifying!"
"Chen Qing... I'll remember that name. He's definitely a dark horse in this Grand Competition!"
Amidst the murmurs, more and more people began to take this young man named "Chen Qing" seriously.
Su Zhan remained his usual, placid self.
He stepped down from the arena to await the next round.
The third round of preliminaries.Su Zhan stepped onto the arena.
The number of focused gazes upon him had noticeably increased.
Many wanted to see with their own eyes just what this Chen Qing, who had instantly killed his opponents in two consecutive matches, was truly capable of.
When Su Zhan's opponent stepped onto the arena, Su Zhan's pupils contracted slightly.
The opponent wore tight-fitting clothes embroidered with a ferocious ghost-head pattern, clearly a member of the Ghost Fiend Sect, with strength at the third stage of High-risk.
This Ghost Fiend Sect disciple had a pale face, his eyes filled with terror.
He had just witnessed firsthand how Su Zhan had effortlessly torn apart that first-stage High-risk Aberrant, and he had also heard the surrounding discussions about how "Chen Qing" might be that wanted criminal.
He knew full well he was no match. His only thought upon stepping onto the stage was how to shout the two words "I forfeit" as quickly as possible after the referee announced the start, in order to preserve his life.
Su Zhan's gaze calmly settled on the other man.
Over the past few days, through the information provided by Long Shouzhuo and his own observations, Su Zhan had memorized the clothing characteristics of members from hostile forces like the Ghost Fiend Sect and the Giant Sun Gang, as well as the appearances of the key external reinforcements they had sponsored for this event, with perfect clarity.
The man before him was one of those targets.
The referee coldly swept his gaze over the two, confirmed they were ready, and announced without any delay:
"Begin!"
The instant the word "begin" finished echoing.
That Ghost Fiend Sect disciple summoned every ounce of strength in his life, his mouth snapping open: "I forf—"
Su Zhan vanished from his spot.
In the next instant, he appeared right in front of the Ghost Fiend Sect disciple.
His speed surpassed the visual capture limit of most people below the stage, who only saw a blurry afterimage.
The Ghost Fiend Sect disciple's eyes filled with terror.
He saw Su Zhan's eyes, terrifyingly close.
He also saw Su Zhan's fingers, pressed together like a blade.
They were pointing toward his throat at a speed he simply could not react to.
He wanted to shout the word "feit," to beg for mercy, but all sound was strangled in his throat by a terrifying force.
"Tch!"
Su Zhan's finger tapped on his Adam's apple.
A flash of dark red Flame of Destruction flickered and vanished.
The Ghost Fiend Sect disciple's mouth hung open. His body swayed, then went limp, pitching forward to collapse heavily on the arena floor, utterly silent.
Dead silence enveloped the entire area around the arena.
Everyone saw clearly that the Ghost Fiend Sect disciple had clearly intended to forfeit.
He had already shouted "I forf—"!
But Su Zhan had not given him the chance to finish.
The time between the referee announcing the start and the opponent's death was so brief it was suffocating.
Su Zhan had demonstrated, in the most direct way, the brutal rules of the Black City Grand Competition.
As long as the referee did not intervene, as long as the opponent did not clearly and completely express forfeiture, killing was permitted.
The referee gave Su Zhan a deep look. "Chen Qing, wins!"
Su Zhan slowly retracted his finger and turned to leave the stage.
And this scene added another layer to the label attached to the name "Chen Qing" in the minds of all witnesses—beyond recognition of his strength, a mark of ruthlessness and cruelty.
From the direction of the Ghost Fiend Sect, several gazes filled with killing intent were cast his way.
Su Zhan seemed completely unaware, walking straight toward the rest area.
The fourth round of preliminaries.
Also the final hurdle before entering the main tournament.
Su Zhan stepped onto the arena once more.
He could clearly feel the gazes from all directions becoming even more focused.
Three consecutive rounds of clean, instant kills, especially the merciless handling of the Ghost Fiend Sect disciple in the previous round, had already made him a highly watched focal point.
Su Zhan's opponent was a member of the Giant Sun Gang.
Tall, burly, with knotted muscles all over his body radiating an explosive sense of power. His strength was at the seventh stage of the Tide Realm.
This man looked at Su Zhan. While his eyes held wariness, they lacked much fear. Instead, they carried a sense of eager, combative spirit.
Chen Qing? Hmph, his reputation is considerable, and his methods are ruthless enough.
But I'm not like those trash from the Ghost Fiend Sect.
With seventh-stage Tide Realm strength, even if I can't defeat him, I should at least be able to hold out for a few moves.
If I sense things going wrong, I'll forfeit immediately. No matter how fast he is, can he really stop me from uttering a single sentence when I'm on full defensive alert?
He had considerable confidence in the defensive capabilities of his physical body, believing that at the very least, he could preserve his life.
Seeing the self-assured look in the other's eyes, Su Zhan understood.
Another one... It seems the lesson wasn't profound enough.
The referee announced expressionlessly, "Begin!"
The Giant Sun Gang member let out a low roar, clenched both fists, and adopted a solid defensive stance. A thick, earthy-yellow Spiritual Energy covered his entire body, like a layer of rock armor.
He was determined to test the waters first and shout to stop the moment the situation turned unfavorable.
Su Zhan advanced toward him step by step.
Each step landed on the arena floor with a dull thud, creating immense psychological pressure.
The Giant Sun Gang member's pupils contracted, feeling that vast, boundless imposing aura pressing down on him.
The wishful thinking in his heart instantly dissipated by more than half.
What an intense oppressive force!
Not daring to be negligent, he roared and struck first.
His right fist shot out, the earthy-yellow Spiritual Energy coalescing into a massive fist imprint that blasted toward Su Zhan.
Su Zhan's right fist shot out straight as well.
"BOOM!!!"
Both fists collided, producing a deafening crash.
A shockwave of air exploded outward from the center of the two figures.
The Giant Sun Gang member's face showed shock and horror.
He felt as if his punch had struck an immovable iron mountain.
A force imbued with an annihilating aura surged madly up his arm.
"CRACK!"
His right arm, covered in rock-like armor, emitted the sound of cracking bone. The entire man was sent staggering backward by this tremendous force.
His blood and energy churned violently;
he nearly vomited blood on the spot.
How is this possible?
His strength... is actually greater than mine!?
Fear instantly overwhelmed everything else in his heart. Not a shred of fighting spirit remained. He opened his mouth wide, using all his strength to roar:
"I forf—"
Su Zhan would not give him the chance. His figure closed in immediately.
His left hand shot out, grabbing the opponent's left arm, which was trying to make a forfeit gesture, and yanked it violently toward himself.
The Giant Sun Gang member felt an irresistible, tremendous force. His forfeit declaration was cut off, and his entire body lurched uncontrollably forward.
At the same time.
Su Zhan's right knee, trailing a destructive stream of dark red light, smashed viciously into his abdomen.
"THUD!!!"
The Giant Sun Gang member's eyes bulged out, filled with agony.
He felt as if all his internal organs had been pulverized by that knee strike.
All his strength was instantly drained;
he couldn't even manage a scream.
Su Zhan released the grip on his left arm, letting him collapse like a sack of mud, curling up on the ground, his body twitching unconsciously.
Blood mixed with fragments of internal organs continuously spilled from his mouth. It was clear he wouldn't survive.