As the dizziness of planar teleportation faded and his feet touched solid ground, Lin Yinuo felt a pressure utterly different from that in Blood Peak City. Spatial constraints were stronger here, and gravity was several thousand times that of the Yulan Continent! Had his body not undergone the effects of the dragonblood factor and repeated strengthening, with the Laws of Space helping him dissipate the force, he might have struggled even to stand steadily. The air held more than dense elemental energy; distinct, discernible traces of Laws and Edicts mingled within it, as though all heaven and earth had been woven from countless threads of law.
He stood at the edge of an immensely broad street made of dark purple metal. Looking up, he saw a city of unimaginable scale, its buildings piercing the dark red canopy of the sky. Though varied in style, they all radiated an ancient, powerful presence. Figures exuding terrifying pressure swept across the sky from time to time, some riding strange metallic lifeforms, moving far faster than Lowgods or even Midgods could fly. The streets teemed with pedestrians of even more races than in Blood Peak City, and their auras were generally stronger as well. Lowgods were everywhere, Midgods were hardly unusual, and occasionally he could even sense several Highgod auras, obscure and unfathomable as an abyss.
This was Zijing Main City! A gathering place for the powerful!
So this is a main city! The concentration and caliber of experts here are far beyond anything in Blood Peak City. Even a Five-Star Fiend would probably be nothing special here.
He did not rush to act. Instead, he first found an inconspicuous corner and quietly activated Aura-Concealing Secret Art: Merging with Heaven and Earth, keeping his aura at the level of an ordinary Midgod, neither so conspicuous that he drew attention nor so unimpressive that others would think they could push him around.
He needed to learn the rules here first. Strolling along the streets, he gathered information with his spiritual power like invisible tendrils. Before long, he learned that Zijing Main City was divided into an outer city and an inner city. The outer city was relatively permissive: anyone could stay temporarily by paying a steep fee of a thousand Inkstones per day, but they could not enjoy certain core benefits and protections within the city. The inner city was the true heart of the city, accessible only to experts with permanent residency. It offered a better cultivation environment, rarer resources, and opportunities to meet Highgod Messengers face-to-face or even occasionally sense a Sovereign's supreme majesty.
Aside from the well-known requirements of Five-Star Fiend strength or the astronomical price of a trillion Inkstones, a hundred consecutive victories in the Asura Arena was the fastest-and bloodiest-route to permanent residency.
Lin Yinuo's goal was clear-the Asura Arena.
Following the signs, he arrived in the eastern district of the outer city. An enormous ring-shaped complex built from an unknown black stone stretched across a vast expanse before him. Even from far away, he could hear the tidal roar of shouting and thunderous crashes within. The air was thick with the smell of blood and savage battle intent.
This was the Asura Arena!
The arena entrance was packed with people: desperate fighters preparing to compete, gamblers placing bets, and beings of various races there simply to watch the spectacle. A huge magical screen continuously displayed contestants' information, win-loss records, and betting odds.
Lin Yinuo approached the registration desk. An indifferent-looking old man, whose aura unmistakably belonged to a Highgod, spoke without raising his head. "Name, strength level, and is this your first time competing?"
"Lin Yinuo. Midgod. First time," Lin Yinuo said calmly.
The old man recorded his details and tossed over a black identity token bearing only the number "7741." He said coldly, "Bind it with a drop of blood. This token grants you access to the waiting area. Each victory earns you a base reward and winnings according to the corresponding odds. The longer your winning streak, the greater the rewards. The loser forfeits everything, including their life. There is only one rule: use every means available to survive in the ring and kill your opponent. You can go to the waiting area now and wait for your number to be called."
There were no wasted words, only the naked law of the jungle.
Lin Yinuo bound the token with a drop of blood, and it merged into his palm. He entered the noisy, chaotic waiting area, filled with all manner of vicious auras. It resembled a gigantic cage, where the "beasts" waiting to fight sat or stood, most of their eyes filled with madness, fear, or numbness.
He spoke to no one, finding a relatively quiet corner to rest with his eyes closed while quietly activating the Eye of Illusion-Breaking to observe his surroundings. In his "vision," most of those in the waiting area were ordinary Midgods who had yet to comprehend any profound mysteries. A few with fierce auras had distinct fluctuations of the profound mysteries of the Laws winding around them. They were clearly tough opponents.
As expected, no one who dares enter the Asura Arena is a pushover. Still, they'll make fine whetstones for me.
The wait did not last long.
"Next match: number 7741, 'Lin Yinuo,' against number 331, 'Rock Demon'!" The announcement rang through the waiting area.
Lin Yinuo opened his eyes. With a movement, he passed through the passageway and stepped into the enormous circular arena, which could accommodate hundreds of thousands of spectators!
A deafening wave of sound engulfed him instantly. At the center of the arena stood a black fighting platform over a thousand meters in diameter. Tier upon tier of spectator seats stretched to the limits of his vision, filled with countless frenzied faces shouting.
His opponent, number 331, "Rock Demon," was an elemental lifeform nearly five meters tall, composed entirely of dark yellow rock and radiating dense earth divine power. With a roar, countless sharp stone spikes erupted from the platform and spread toward Lin Yinuo like a forest! At the same time, Rock Demon's enormous stone fist smashed down toward his head with a howling rush of wind!
A Midgod who had comprehended the profound mystery of "Earth Pulsation"!
Cries rose from the spectators. Clearly, many recognized this ferocious Rock Demon.
Facing this savage attack, Lin Yinuo's gaze did not waver in the slightest. His Eye of Illusion-Breaking instantly saw through the core nodes of Rock Demon's circulating energy and the weak points in the stone-spike attack.
He did not use an immensely draining fusion technique. Instead, he slipped through the forest of stone spikes like a phantom, every step avoiding the attacks with exquisite precision. Just as Rock Demon's stone fist was about to strike him, he held his fingers together like a blade and unleashed a Fire Condensation Finger, containing the Fire Element's Profound Mystery of Explosion and the destructive essence of "Annihilation." Though launched later, it arrived first, striking precisely at the weakest energy node in Rock Demon's chest!
Pfft!
A dim point of light sank into Rock Demon's body.
Rock Demon's forward charge abruptly froze, that enormous stone fist suspended in midair. In disbelief, Rock Demon lowered that rocky head to look at the chest, where a tiny hole had appeared. Countless cracks immediately spread outward from it!
Boom!!!
The massive stone body exploded with a crash, sending countless fragments flying in every direction! An earth-yellow divine spark tumbled onto the platform.
An instant kill!
The entire arena fell silent, then erupted into even more frenzied cheers!
"7741! 7741!"
"What a powerful attack! He finished Rock Demon in one blow!"
"Who is this guy? A newcomer?"
Expressionless, Lin Yinuo collected the divine spark and turned to leave the platform, as though he had done something utterly trivial. The information on his token updated: wins: 1.
The fighting had only just begun.
Over the following days, Lin Yinuo stepped onto the platform again and again like a tireless fighting machine. His opponents included Wind Element deities skilled in speed, Darkness deities proficient in illusions, and fiends with formidable bodies... Yet before his Eye of Illusion-Breaking and his profound understanding of Laws and Edicts, their weaknesses had nowhere to hide.
Rather than relying exclusively on his strongest technique, Annihilation Tremor, he flexibly employed the Fire Elemental Laws, the Edicts of Destruction, and the Laws of Space according to each opponent's characteristics. Occasionally, he even used his newly comprehended Lightning Quickness from the Laws of Lightning to increase his speed. He treated the Asura Arena as an ideal proving ground, constantly refining his combat system and growing increasingly proficient in combining and applying several Laws and Edicts.
His victories continued to accumulate.
Ten, twenty, fifty...
His betting odds grew lower and lower, but his reputation grew louder and louder. The name "Dragonblood Asura," which had come from Blood Peak City, began spreading through the main city's Asura Arena. People remembered this black-haired young man with his uncanny attacks and eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything.
When Lin Yinuo secured his sixtieth consecutive victory, he encountered a true opponent—a female Darkness deity named "Phantom," who had likewise achieved more than sixty consecutive wins. Her movements were ghostlike, her attacks carried powerful soul-corroding force, and she was particularly adept at creating lifelike illusions. She had caused several powerful Midgods to succumb and die without even realizing it.
On the platform, Phantom split into dozens of illusory figures indistinguishable from the real one, attacking from every direction as seductive sounds assaulted the soul directly.
Lin Yinuo activated his Eye of Illusion-Breaking. Clear light flickered, and he instantly saw through every illusion and locked onto her true body. At the same time, the trace of Will's power deep within his soul trembled slightly, easily neutralizing the soul attack.
"Found you."
He murmured, his figure merging into spatial fluctuations. He instantly appeared behind Phantom's true body and silently slashed a hand-blade toward the back of her neck, spatial ripples intertwining with the dark light of destruction along his hand.
Phantom's expression changed drastically. In haste, she gathered Dark Divine Power to defend herself.
Crack!
Her protective divine power shattered like glass. With a muffled groan, she collapsed limply to the ground, her eyes filled with shock and unwillingness. Lin Yinuo had held back, sparing her life and merely robbing her of the ability to fight.
Sixty consecutive wins!
Cheers shook heaven and earth. Everyone realized that a new expert was rising in the Asura Arena!
As Lin Yinuo sensed the reward information for his sixtieth victory coming through the token and the even more fervent gazes from the stands, some now carrying awe, his heart remained as still as an ancient well.
Sixty consecutive wins are only the beginning. The real challenges will probably come after eighty, or even ninety. Those experts keeping their strength hidden for a chance at a hundred consecutive wins should be appearing soon.
He knew the battles would grow harder the further he went. But he had no fear. His sword had long since been honed for stronger opponents.
The Dragonblood Asura's journey of testing his blade continued.
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