At the summit of Moonwatch Mountain.
A hundred thousand gazes locked onto the central arena. Everyone watched with rapt attention, and even the wind howling through the mountains seemed to slow.
On the arena, Chen Chu of the Cloudsoar Sect and Huang Han of the Vajra Order stood facing each other, the atmosphere heavy with murderous tension.
This was the first true clash between True Qi Realm cultivators in this Jintai Grand Tournament, the first battle between two of its nine True Qi Realm Heavenly Prodigies, and a knockout match that would decide whether they could advance any further.
The loser would become the first True Qi Realm Heavenly Prodigy eliminated from this tournament, his journey ending here.
The winner would enter the top eight and continue competing for the highest honor of the younger generation.
In a battle this important, neither could afford the slightest reliance on luck or the slightest lapse in effort.
Chen Chu stood tall and handsome, layers of true qi circulating around him. His presence was steady and powerful; he seemed as gentle and polished as jade, yet fierce fighting spirit lay hidden in his eyes.
Opposite him, Huang Han stood straight and sturdy. The Vajra Order's cultivation arts had tempered his body, giving him solid muscles and bones. His presence was domineering and violent, his entire body radiating an incomparable ferocity.
Their eyes met, their gazes colliding fiercely in midair. Their unspoken fighting spirit already intertwined and clashed, and the killing tension over the arena climbed steadily.
At the center of the arena, Commandant Tan slowly swept his sharp gaze over them. Seeing that both had focused their minds, gathered their qi, and stood poised to strike, he immediately declared, "Begin!"
The instant his explosive declaration fell, the two figures erupted into motion almost