Chapter Sixteen: One Man Takes On a Crowd

Chapter Sixteen: One Man Takes On a Crowd

As Wang Ritain hurried along, he circulated his inner power. His Innate Dao Body was like a bottomless pit, frantically absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to heal his internal injuries.

Every so often, he glanced down at the system panel, the corner of his mouth twitching involuntarily.

"These Prestige Points couldn't have come at a better time." Wang Ritain murmured, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He paused briefly, then willed the system to use his Prestige Points to heal his injuries. In an instant, a gentle warmth flowed through his body. His battle-damaged meridians and organs were nourished like parched land finally blessed with rain, and his injuries healed at a visible pace. He then invested the remaining Prestige Points in raising his cultivation. His aura changed abruptly, and he successfully broke through to the Great Grandmaster realm. His true qi surged within him like a raging flood, forming a terrifying vortex. Wisps of demonic qi seeped out alongside it, as if proclaiming to the world that he was no ordinary man. The quality of his true qi had long surpassed Xuanyuan Jingxuan's. In a contest of inner power against an ordinary Finger Profound Realm expert, Wang Ritain was confident he could crush his opponent.

Yet Wang Ritain knew that, with his current strength, he was still nowhere near a match for Xuanyuan Dapan, a top-tier figure who had one foot in the Land Immortal realm. He stood atop a mountain peak, the howling wind whipping his clothes and making them snap. Wang Ritain furrowed his brow, determination in his eyes, and decided to keep growing stronger. System, exchange for Sword Twenty-Three, he thought.

As soon as the thought formed, a terrifying sword intent shot into the sky like a white bolt of lightning piercing the firmament. It swept across the entire martial world, drawing the attention of countless experts. Swordsmen who were practicing felt the weapons in their hands tremble and hum, as if submitting to this mighty sword intent. They stopped what they were doing and stared in fear toward its source. "W-what kind of terrifying sword intent is this?" a seasoned swordsman stammered, his forehead beaded with sweat.

After the sword intent faded, Wang Ritain stood quietly where he was. He held no sword, yet his whole being radiated the sharpness of a divine blade drawn from its sheath. Anyone in the Vajra Realm standing before him would feel as fragile as a scrap of paper, liable to be torn apart by that sword intent at any moment. Wang Ritain casually waved a hand, feeling the immense power within him, and smiled with confidence. He knew how powerful Sword Twenty-Three was, and it gave him even more confidence that he could defeat Xuanyuan Dapan.

Wang Ritain continued on his way, pondering how to earn more Prestige Points. Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he turned his thoughts to Wudi City. Located on the shore of the Eastern Sea, the city was like a shining pearl set into the vast land. It was home to Wang Xianzhi, who had held the title of Liyang Martial World's greatest for sixty years. Countless martial experts had traveled there over the years to challenge the legendary man and make a name for themselves, but every one of them had failed. The walls outside Wudi City were covered in weapons left behind by the defeated. They swayed in the wind, seeming to tell of the tragic battles of the past. For more than sixty years, Wang Xianzhi had faced his enemies with his bare hands and had never lost. In the eyes of martial artists, he was an insurmountable mountain. Wang Ritain, however, saw Wudi City as the perfect place to make a name for himself. If he could carve out a reputation there, his Prestige Points would surely soar again. With that thought, he quickened his pace and raced toward Wudi City.

Several days later, Wang Ritain arrived in Wudi City. It was prosperous and lively, with crowds and carriages filling the streets. The shops lining the roads were packed with dazzling goods, and the cries of vendors mingled with laughter and conversation, creating a scene full of life. But Wang Ritain's arrival instantly shattered the bustle. Many martial artists stared at him in surprise. "Isn't that Wang Ritain? Xuanyuan Dapan has his sights on him, and he still dares show his face here?" one of them murmured, bewilderment in his eyes.

Wang Ritain ignored their stares and went straight to the heart of Wudi City. There stood a wide plaza where martial artists often practiced their skills. He took his place in the center, drew a deep breath, and circulated Three Points Return to Origin Qi. True qi surged around him, its immense force making the ground tremble. Then he swung both hands sharply, wrenching up the earth within a hundred-meter radius. A simple yet imposing arena rose before the crowd.

"I, Wang Ritain, hereby open this arena today! I challenge martial artists from across the land to test their skills!" His voice rang through Wudi City like a great bell. The shout was a stone dropped into a still lake, sending out a thousand ripples. The entire city erupted into a frenzy. People poured toward the plaza, eager to see Wang Ritain, the man who dared challenge the Xuanyuan Family's patriarch.

"Wang Ritain is far too arrogant! He actually dares to open an arena in Wudi City."

"Exactly! Who does he think he is? This isn't a place where he can run wild."

The crowd buzzed with discussion, and Wang Ritain's arrogance angered many. Several experts from the Three Shattered Realms appeared near the arena. Among them was a burly Vajra Realm strongman, his muscles bulging like mounds and his eyes filled with menace; a middle-aged man in black robes, a Finger Profound Realm expert with a gloomy expression and an enigmatic aura; and an old man with white hair, whose eyes were as sharp as an eagle's despite his age. They released their auras without restraint, trying to put pressure on Wang Ritain.

Wang Ritain regarded them calmly, as though their auras had no effect on him. "Come at me together," he said flatly, his voice utterly unruffled.

"Boy, you're too arrogant!" roared a Vajra Realm expert. He gripped a spear whose tip glinted coldly. With that, he pushed off the ground and charged at Wang Ritain like a streak of black lightning. His spear whirled, stirring up a howling wind. The attack was terrifying, as if it would run Wang Ritain straight through.

Wang Ritain didn't panic. He simply swept a hand, and a blade aura steeped in demonic qi appeared in his grasp. Like a black crescent moon, it slashed toward the spear. With a sharp crack, the weapon was cleaved in two. The Vajra Realm expert's eyes widened in disbelief. Before he could react, the blade aura cut through him, slicing his body in half. He crumpled to the ground, blood gushing from his wounds.

"H-how is this possible?"

"Wang Ritain is terrifyingly powerful!"

The crowd cried out in shock. The remaining experts exchanged glances, hesitation flickering in their eyes. But it soon gave way to resolve. They refused to be frightened off so easily, and launched themselves at Wang Ritain. For a moment, the arena blazed with blades and swords, as powerful martial techniques burst forth. But no matter how high their cultivation, even the expert on the verge of the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm was as fragile as an ant before Wang Ritain. The blade aura in his hand was a scythe of death; every swing felled another foe. More than ten people died one after another. The arena was already drenched in blood, and the stench of it spread across the plaza.

The crowd stared at Wang Ritain in terror. Only now did they realize that he was wielding a demonic blade. The overwhelming demonic qi filled them with dread. "He's using the Seven Demonic Blades! How can that demonic blade be so powerful?"

Just then, a group of newcomers arrived and saw the bloody scene. Shocked, they asked, "What happened here? Who is that man?" Someone nearby quickly explained, "That's Wang Ritain—the man who dared to challenge the Xuanyuan Family's patriarch!"