The Blade Trial Arena, First Glimmer of Brilliance

# Chapter 11: Testing the Blade on the Arena, First Signs of Brilliance

The strength test ended, and the training ground grew much quieter, leaving only just over two hundred successfully promoted martial artists. The atmosphere turned even more somber. Every one who remained had solid foundations, their eyes burning with fiercer confidence and battle intent.

On the high platform, the stern centurion's voice rang out again, breaking the silence: "The first round, strength testing, screened your foundations and potential. But we of the Xuntian Guard face blood and fire—true skill is revealed in life-or-death combat! The second round: arena duels!"

He pointed to the sole Darksteel Arena at the center of the training ground, which was wider and more sturdy than any other: "Simple rules! Draw lots to determine opponents. One-on-one. Winner advances, loser is eliminated. Until the top twenty are decided! Falling off the arena, voluntarily conceding, or being judged by the examiner as unable to fight—that is defeat. Weapons and bare hands are both permitted, but intentional killing is forbidden. Now, begin drawing lots!"

A Xuntian Guard strongman carried up a lot-drawing tube, and the remaining martial artists stepped forward one by one to draw. Tension hung thick in the air. Everyone hoped they wouldn't draw a strong opponent like Zhao Song or Liu Ruyan too early.

Li Yifan drew lot number "Yi Seven," meaning he would fight in the seventh match. He quietly stepped aside, hand resting on the saber hilt at his waist, regulating his breath and calming his mind while observing the earlier matches. He decided that from this round onward, he would use his newly acquired Burning Wood Saber Technique. Bare-handed combat was possible, but against talents from all over, using the saber would better unleash his strength and also hone his saber art.

Arena duels were more brutal and direct than chaotic melees—victory or defeat was often decided in a flash. Everyone who stepped onto the stage went all out. All kinds of martial skills were on display. The clang of metal, the clash of qi, muffled grunts, and screams of pain filled the air.

Li Yifan watched closely. Zhao Song's opponent was a Bone Forging Mid martial artist, but Zhao Song only needed one strike—a fierce saber qi that directly severed the opponent's weapon, forcing him to concede. Liu Ruyan's palm techniques were elusive, radiating chilling cold. Within three moves, she froze her opponent's limbs stiff, sending him tumbling off the arena. Lei Zhen, relying on his fierce courage and solid fist techniques, used brute force to shake a hard-body cultivator off the arena.

Soon, it was time for the "Yi Seven" match.

"Yi Seven match: Li Yifan versus Liu Kun!" the examiner announced loudly.

A faint stir rippled through the crowd below. Many knew that Liu Kun and Li Yifan had clashed at the teahouse before. No one expected them to face each other in the very first round.

Liu Kun's face darkened as he leaped onto the arena, drawing the longsword at his waist. The sword tip pointed at Li Yifan, and he said viciously, "Li Yifan! You got lucky last time. On this arena today, I'll wash away that shame!"

Li Yifan's expression was blank. He walked slowly up the stage. With a sharp ring, his waist saber slid from its sheath, the blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight. He held the saber horizontally and stood calmly, looking at Liu Kun. "Make your move."

Liu Kun was thoroughly enraged by this dismissive attitude. With a roar, he circulated his inner qi (he cultivated the Yellow Grade Mid Inner Art Misty Water Technique, at Minor Completion). His sword technique unfolded like flowing water, sword light flickering as it swept toward Li Yifan! This was the Liu family's hereditary Yellow Grade Mid sword art—Flowing Cloud Swordplay—also trained to Minor Completion.

(Opponent analysis: Liu Kun—Body Refining Perfection, Misty Water Technique (Yellow Mid/Minor Completion), Flowing Cloud Swordplay (Yellow Mid/Minor Completion). His strength was mid-to-low among the candidates, but his sword art favored agile entanglement.)

The crowd below held their breath.

Facing the dense sword light, Li Yifan moved! He didn't use Spirit Fox Steps to evade—he intended to test his saber! The Minor Completion Burning Wood Saber Technique activated, and his waist saber traced a scorching arc, meeting the sword light!

"Flowing Fire Style!"

A flash of saber light, carrying a wave of burning heat, precisely cut into the gaps of the sword net!

Clang!

Saber and sword clashed! Liu Kun felt a scorching force travel along his sword, numbing his wrist. His sword momentum instantly collapsed! Shock filled his heart—the opponent's saber technique was not only fast but carried a strange burning sensation!

Li Yifan pressed the advantage without mercy. The saber followed his body's movement, and "Prairie Fire Style" followed immediately! Saber light burst like sparks, instantly covering Liu Kun's vital points!

Liu Kun scrambled frantically, swinging his sword to block, but the scorching saber momentum of Burning Wood Saber Technique churned his qi and blood, making his sword technique increasingly chaotic.

"Burning Wind Style!"

Li Yifan let out a low shout. His saber speed increased, sweeping like a hot gale! One strike knocked aside Liu Kun's longsword, and the flat of the saber slapped against his chest!

Pff!

Liu Kun was struck as if by a heavy blow, flying backward and crashing off the arena. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his face pale as paper.

The entire process took only a few breaths. Li Yifan sheathed his saber and stood, his breathing steady.

[Skill: Burning Wood Saber Technique proficiency +15! First practical application—gained intuitive understanding of the saber art's power and characteristics.]

The examiner immediately announced: "Yi Seven match, Li Yifan wins!"

The crowd below fell silent for a moment, then murmurs broke out.

"Such a strange saber technique! It carries fire force!"

"He defeated Liu Kun in just a few moves. Li Yifan's saber art is no joke!"

"Looks like his strength test result wasn't luck."

Zhao Song's gaze sharpened slightly, as if reassessing Li Yifan's saber technique. Liu Ruyan also cast another glance his way. Lei Zhen just grinned.

Li Yifan returned to his spot and continued regulating his breath. Defeating Liu Kun was expected. What he cared about more was the practical test of Burning Wood Saber Technique. The results satisfied him.

The arena matches continued. People advanced and were eliminated. Li Yifan went through two more rounds. His opponents were both Bone Forging Initial rogue cultivators—one used a saber, the other a spear.

Against the saber user, Li Yifan countered with "Burning Wood Saber Technique." The scorching saber momentum completely suppressed the opponent, knocking his weapon away within ten moves. Against the spear user, he used Spirit Fox Steps to close in, broke through the spear shadows with "Flowing Fire Style," and touched the opponent's wrist with his saber tip, forcing a concession.

In both fights, he won cleanly and decisively. His mastery of Burning Wood Saber Technique grew increasingly refined, and the "burning" intent in his saber art became more condensed.

[Skill: Burning Wood Saber Technique proficiency +12... +10... Practical combat honing, proficiency steadily rising.]

[Skill: Spirit Fox Steps proficiency +5... Coordinating with saber technique, complementing each other perfectly.]

His performance drew more and more attention. That scorching, highly aggressive saber technique, paired with nimble footwork, formed a unique combat style—distinct from Zhao Song's sharpness, Liu Ruyan's eeriness, and Lei Zhen's ferocity, yet equally efficient.

Finally, after several intense rounds, the top twenty were decided! Li Yifan, Zhao Song, Liu Ruyan, Lei Zhen, and other popular figures all made the list, along with over a dozen martial artists at Bone Forging Mid or even Bone Forging Late with considerable strength.

The stern centurion swept his gaze over the twenty qualifiers and said in a deep voice: "Congratulations on entering the top twenty. This means you have qualified for the final assessment and have the opportunity to become reserve members of the Xuntian Guard. But the final ranking will determine the resource allocation and starting point you receive!"

"Tomorrow will be the final ranking battle! The rules will be announced then! That's all for today. Rest well!"

The crowd dispersed—some delighted, some worried. Li Yifan felt many eyes on him: curiosity, wariness, and battle intent. He knew that tomorrow's ranking battle would be a true clash of dragons and tigers. Then, he would face top talents like Zhao Song and Liu Ruyan.

Back in his room at the inn, Li Yifan did not rest. Instead, he continued practicing Burning Wood Saber Technique. The insights from today's three battles surged in his mind. The scorching intent in the saber art grew clearer. He swung the saber again and again, feeling his qi and blood—along with that faint thread of true qi—surge under the saber technique's impetus. The saber wind grew hotter and hotter.

[Skill: Burning Wood Saber Technique proficiency +25... Immersed in saber technique insights, significant progress, approaching Minor Completion peak.]

In the dead of night, Li Yifan stroked the slightly heated blade. The battle intent in his eyes burned like a flame. He could sense that Burning Wood Saber Technique was only one trigger away from breaking through to Major Completion.

Tomorrow's ranking battle would be the perfect trigger.