Hundred Tiger Tower

Bai Yuan casually found a seat by the window and sat down.

Before long, a blue-skinned woman with a fine figure and striking features came to his side, handed him the menu with both hands, and spoke with a smile: "May I ask what the guest would like to order?"

Bai Yuan took the thick, textured menu and marveled inwardly. He had expected some high-tech ordering method like light projection or mind interaction, but it turned out to be this simple. He could only say, the simpler, the more practical.

Bai Yuan skimmed through it briefly, then made a quick decision. "I'll have the Thunderbolt Beef, Green Wood Spirit Leaf, whatever staple you recommend, and a cup of Hundred Flavor Juice."

"Very well, please wait a moment," the server replied with a smile.

On the other side, Luwa, who was about to continue flattering Kulu, heard a familiar voice and turned sideways to look at its source. The moment he saw, his expression shifted. "It's you!" Luwa shot to his feet, addressing Bai Yuan.

"Is it strange that I'm here?" Bai Yuan replied without looking up, his tone flat.

Seeing this, Kulu also stood and looked toward Bai Yuan. When he saw Bai Yuan's appearance, he too was taken aback. "So it's a Blade Clan member! I've heard plenty of legends about the Blade Clan, but this is my first time seeing one."

Luwa, who had been feeling a bit guilty, immediately straightened his back upon hearing Kulu speak, remembering the latter's background. "Brother Kulu, this man often throws his weight around as a Blade Clan member, bullying the weak. We need to be careful!"

Kulu glanced at Luwa. Though arrogant, he wasn't stupid—he knew full well what kind of person his companion was. Ignoring Luwa, Kulu addressed Bai Yuan: "I've heard every Blade Clan member is a skilled fighter. Today, I'd like to test that. I won't bully you—I'll suppress my realm to match yours."

As a disciple of Hundred Tiger Tower, Kulu's vision was far broader than most. He knew that while the Blade Clan was powerful, they didn't interfere with their members' external training. Even if someone fell in a life-or-death battle, the clan usually wouldn't pursue it. So he had no reservations about fighting.

"Fine. Let me finish my meal first, then we'll meet in the Virtual Universe," Bai Yuan agreed readily.

He had just emerged from seclusion with greatly improved strength and was in need of a suitable opponent to test his current combat power. He'd been planning to go to the Slaughter Arena for practice, but now someone had volunteered.

Kulu nodded and gave his communication ID. "Same time tomorrow, I'll be waiting for you in the Virtual Universe." With that, he turned and left.

Luwa didn't dare linger and quickly followed.

Watching the retreating figure, Bai Yuan mused to himself: "I thought he was another brainless wastrel, but he's actually quite clear-headed." This man was flashy on the surface but acted with restraint. He hadn't lost his head over someone else's instigation and knew exactly what he wanted.

Before long, the dishes Bai Yuan ordered arrived one after another. He ate slowly and unhurriedly, then paid the bill and went straight back to the castle.

The first thing he did upon returning was to put on his Smart Optical Computer and send his consciousness into the Virtual Universe. "Xingwu, add a friend for me. The communication ID is 13256812451."

"Understood, Master," Xingwu replied and quickly executed the command.

About half an hour later, the other party accepted the request, and the connection was established. "Tomorrow, Black Dragon Mountain Slaughter Arena, duel space. Be there or be square," the other party messaged.

The next day, he went to the Slaughter Arena as agreed. But upon arrival, he found that Kulu wasn't alone. Besides him, three other figures stood off to the side—two women and one man, all bearing an extraordinary air, clearly from notable backgrounds. "Planning to gang up on me?" Bai Yuan asked half-jokingly.

Kulu shook his head. "These three are senior fellow disciples from Hundred Tiger Tower. When they heard I was going to fight a Blade Clan member, they got curious and came to watch."

The two then entered the Slaughter Arena's independent duel space, while the other three switched to spectator mode.

Swoosh!

As the battle began, Kulu swiftly drew a black longspear, the vertical pupil on his forehead gleaming with sharp light as he entered a state of total focus.

From the observation seats, the man commented, "Junior Brother Kulu's vertical pupil grants him 'Static Vision.' His opponent's movements appear to him as if playing back in slow motion. In battles against peers, or even slightly stronger foes, he holds a massive advantage."

All three of them were second-tier elites of Hundred Tiger Tower. Though Kulu was currently third-tier, his recent performances had grown increasingly dazzling, and promotion to second-tier was merely a matter of time.

"Watch out!"

Kulu let out a low shout, his longspear thrusting forth like a dragon.

Universe Realm ultimate technique—Spear Ray Aurora!

His entire form transformed into a blinding streak of light, hurtling toward Bai Yuan at terrifying speed.

Bai Yuan's expression remained unchanged. Battle blade in hand, he swung to meet the attack.

Kulu's vertical pupil blazed with light. In his field of vision, every movement Bai Yuan made unfolded in slow, frame-by-frame detail.

He rapidly deduced over a dozen subsequent variations and counters in his mind—this was his tried-and-true method of victory.

Yet in the next instant, his pupils contracted sharply.

"Impossible... this is impossible!"

In that brief moment, he had deduced over a dozen possible follow-ups, but only one outcome remained.

This slash had no flaw!

No matter how he altered his moves, he would be firmly suppressed by this blade, even countered.

Bai Yuan's combat rhythm, angle of force, and logic of response had nearly reached the perfection possible at this realm.

This was combat skill honed through ten thousand "deaths."

Boom!

The instant blade and spear collided, a terrifying force surged through the spear shaft.

Even with the Force Battle Armor absorbing most of the impact, the residual force still rattled Kulu's internal organs as if they would split apart.

Pfft!

He spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"My force amplification is a full eight times, yet yours far surpasses mine—at least twelve times!"

Not just him; the three watching also wore expressions of shock.

Though they too could defeat Kulu, winning in such a casual, single-stroke manner was nearly impossible.

"His force amplification is higher than mine!" the woman in the light blue battle armor exclaimed.

Her force amplification was the highest among the three, barely reaching eleven times.

And she was already at Planetary Stage Six, having trained far longer than Bai Yuan.

In contrast, anyone could see that Bai Yuan hadn't even reached adulthood!

Bai Yuan sighed inwardly. So weak. Hundred Tiger Tower is, after all, only a World Lord-level force. The disciples they train lack a bit of edge.

"I am Pusis. May I have a bout with you?"

The woman in the light blue battle armor had excitement gleaming in her eyes.

The other two exchanged glances, helpless expressions on their faces.

Whenever this companion of theirs encountered a top-tier genius, she couldn't hold back and had to personally step onto the field.

Bai Yuan did not refuse.

Soon, Kulu's figure dissipated, and Pusis appeared on the arena.

The moment she appeared, a streamlined blue helmet materialized atop her head, seamlessly connecting with her full-body battle armor, emitting a faint energy halo.

She held a slender blue longsword in each hand, her form like lightning as she lunged straight at Bai Yuan.

Her speed and strength were both a cut above Kulu's.

Yet even so, it still couldn't truly ignite Bai Yuan's fighting spirit.

"Sharp Metal Fifteen-Fold Slash."

Blade light flared, tracing a golden arc in the air.

The timing of this slash was exquisitely precise, sealing off all of Pusis's avenues of evasion, forcing her to meet it head-on.

Clang!

A devastating, irresistible force erupted. The Sharp Metal Concept condensed on the blade's edge, granting this strike a sharpness that could nearly tear through anything.

Pusis only felt her arms go numb, her battle armor's energy flickering violently, as the immense force sent her flying backward.