The Falling Rock World Lord

Bai Yuan and Bai Guanren walked side by side toward the clan competition grounds.

Along the way, a massive building inevitably drew their gaze.

It was an ancient temple, unassuming in brilliance yet exuding a heavy aura steeped in the passage of time.

This was the Holy Temple of the Blade Clan!

Those who could be enshrined within were none other than the true pinnacle experts of the clan.

Not long ago, the higher-ups had raised the threshold for entering the temple to the Domain Lord level.

Bai Guanren's eyes brimmed with longing; carving one's name into the Holy Temple was nearly the lifelong pursuit of every Blade Clan member.

Beside him, Bai Yuan's expression remained largely unchanged.

With the system's help, if he couldn't even reach the Domain Lord level, he might as well find a block of tofu and bash his head against it until he died.

"Heh, isn't this Bai Yuan? What, a waste like you actually wants to participate in the clan competition?"

Hearing that grating voice, Bai Yuan didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

"Bai Kashan, which clan rule says I can't join the competition?"

"Besides, if anyone has the right to question my talent, it sure as hell isn't you. If you hadn't had two extra years of training, you'd be worse off than me right now!"

At these words, Bai Kashan's face instantly darkened.

If Bai Yuan's talent was merely mediocre, then his own aptitude was downright pathetic.

"Hmph! Words are useless. In the clan competition, you'd better pray you don't run into me."

With that parting shot, Bai Kashan turned and stormed off.

Watching Bai Kashan's retreating back, Bai Yuan shook his head silently.

It all started three years ago.

Back then, under the arrangement of their elders, the two had sparred. Bai Yuan had won, leaving the other utterly humiliated.

From that day on, the grudge was set.

Boom!

A low rumble came from the sky. Bai Yuan looked up and saw a massive spaceship sweeping overhead.

"It's a D4-level Blade Spaceship!" Bai Guanren couldn't help but exclaim.

A D4-level spaceship corresponded to the Domain Lord tier.

The owner of such a vessel was undoubtedly wealthy, powerful, and of extraordinary status.

Even Bai Yuan's eyes flickered with surprise.

The last time he'd seen a D-level spaceship was at his second uncle's place.

Boom, boom, boom!!!

The appearance of that ship seemed to flip a switch, as one vessel after another—spaceships, warships—came streaming in.

Most were C-level ships, corresponding to the Cosmic level, with the occasional D-level ship appearing.

"Sigh, everyone showing up has some kind of background," Bai Guanren murmured quietly, then turned to Bai Yuan. "But you—you've got backing and you just refuse to use it. I really can't figure you out."

Bai Yuan smiled and said, "That won't do. I'm afraid that once I start relying on it, I'll never want to let go. Having everything handed to me on a silver platter—that kind of life would only slowly erode my will."

"Everything earned by my own hands is what truly belongs to me."

Bai Guanren's expression shifted. He looked at Bai Yuan with some surprise, never expecting him to say something like that.

At the same time, the trace of envy in his heart vanished in an instant, replaced by a blazing fighting spirit!

"You're right! Whatever I want, I'll take it back with my own hands!"

Clap, clap, clap, clap...

Just as the two were talking, a crisp round of applause suddenly rang out.

A youth in a blue robe with twin blades at his waist had appeared behind them, no one knew when.

"Well said. That speech of yours, brother, has truly opened my eyes."

The youth smiled warmly, his gaze calm and unruffled.

With just one look, Bai Yuan knew—this person's strength was unfathomable!

Setting everything else aside, the mere fact that he could appear behind them so silently already spoke volumes.

"You two, I'll take my leave now. See you at the clan competition."

With that, the youth walked past them.

He moved as if simply walking normally, yet his figure vanished from sight in just a few steps.

"So fast! How did he do that? And just now, appearing behind us without any warning... If he'd attacked then, we'd probably be in serious trouble." Bai Guanren's heart trembled, the lingering fear still fresh.

Bai Yuan's expression turned grave as he slowly spoke: "Kyōka Suigetsu. What we saw wasn't his real body. But to apply his intent to such a level, making it almost indistinguishable from reality—this guy's strength is truly terrifying."

Bai Yuan had originally thought this clan competition was a sure thing, but now it seemed it wouldn't be so easy.

When the two arrived at the largest plaza on Blade Planet, it was already packed with a sea of people, forcing them to stand at the outermost edge.

About half an hour later, a cyan figure slowly descended from the high sky.

With his arrival, the surrounding scene seemed disturbed by an invisible force, as if a star had fallen to the world, its aura vast and imposing.

He swept his gaze across the crowd, and everyone who met his eyes felt a jolt in their hearts.

That gaze, as if forged through countless battlefields and life-and-death trials, was as sharp as a blade, instinctively making people want to look away.

Bai Yuan's mind also tensed, but he did not avert his eyes, steadily meeting that gaze.

Aside from him, one other person did not flinch—the blue-robed youth from earlier.

After a sweeping glance, this domain lord-level expert gave a slight nod.

Bai Yuan and the blue-robed youth's performance had already been fully noted by him.

This alone proved that among the over thirteen million eight hundred thirty thousand participants, these two possessed wills that ranked among the very top.

"My name is Bai Luoyan, and I am honored to serve as the overseer of this clan's grand competition."

"The rules remain unchanged this time: enter the Blade Tomb World and fight each other. The specific rankings will be determined by the clan's high elders based on your performance."

"If anyone is severely injured, they will be immediately teleported out. Of course, you may also choose to withdraw on your own, though I hope such a situation does not arise."

Bai Luoyan paused briefly before continuing, "Beyond the rules above, there are three additional points to note."

"First, participants must keep their cultivation below the planetary level. Even if you break through to planetary level inside the Blade Tomb World, you will be forcibly teleported out."

"Second, there are no restrictions on weapon usage. Whether origin force weapons or telekinetic weapons, you may freely choose them, even controlling ten weapons at once. However, all defensive gear such as origin force armor and origin force battle suits are strictly prohibited."

"Third, you must not use disposable explosives like thunder crystals, nor poison or other similar methods. Any violation will result in immediate referral to the Penalty Hall for punishment!"

Bai Yuan nodded. The Blade Clan's competition was just this straightforward and brutal, leaving almost no room for luck.

To achieve a higher ranking, the only path was direct combat, relying on true strength and talent.

If one chose to hide and wait for others to finish fighting before scavenging, even killing many enemies would be meaningless.

As for weapon usage, both origin force weapons and telekinetic weapons had usage thresholds.

If one's strength was insufficient, they simply could not activate them. Only by choosing weapons that matched their own abilities could they unleash their strongest combat power.

But origin force armor and origin force battle suits were different.

Even if one lacked the strength to activate them, their defensive material alone was enough to withstand attacks, especially in apprentice-level competitions.

If such defensive armor were allowed, how could ordinary clan members compete with those from influential backgrounds? This would break fairness, so all such equipment was banned.

As for using poison or other underhanded tricks, the Blade Clan held such methods in the deepest contempt.

For a clan that revered martial might, winning through insidious means was a disgrace.

Sometimes, Bai Yuan felt the Blade Clan's nature was far too rigid and upright.

But it was precisely this temperament that allowed the Blade Clan to carve out a fearsome reputation and produce one strong warrior after another.