Chapter 5 MARTIAL ARTS RANKINGS

Xiao Tian had learned about the warrior ranking system from the books he had read. According to those texts, a warrior's strength was measured by the number of internal energy rings they possessed.

The warrior ranks were divided as follows:

First-Class Warrior: Possessed 30 internal energy rings.

Second-Class Warrior: Possessed 100 internal energy rings.

Third-Class Warrior: Possessed 200 internal energy rings.

Fourth-Class Warrior: Possessed 300 internal energy rings.

Once a person reached the level of a Fourth-Class Warrior, they could step into a higher realm-the King Warrior Realm.

The King Warrior Realm was divided into three main stages: Earth King Warrior, Sky King Warrior, and Martial King Warrior.

The Earth King Warrior realm had nine levels, with the energy distribution as follows:

Level 1: 500 internal energy rings.

Level 2: 700 internal energy rings.

Level 3: 900 internal energy rings.

Level 4: 1,100 internal energy rings.

Level 5: 1,300 internal energy rings.

Level 6: 1,500 internal energy rings.

Level 7: 1,700 internal energy rings.

Level 8: 1,900 internal energy rings.

Level 9: 2,100 internal energy rings.

After reaching the highest level in the Earth King Warrior realm, a warrior would enter the Sky King Warrior realm, which also had nine levels.

Level 1: Required 2,400 internal energy rings, with each subsequent level increasing by 300 rings.

The highest stage in the King Warrior Realm was the Martial King Warrior stage, which was also divided into nine levels. However, those who reached this level no longer relied on internal energy; instead, they had transformed their internal power into Qi, a far stronger and deeper force.

Xiao Tian reflected on this information in his mind.

"My uncle, Wang Chong, has already reached the sixth rank of the Martial King Warrior stage. Rumors say that some warriors in the Empire have even broken through to the Half Martial Emperor level. If that's true, then the gap between me and them is still immense..."

His gaze hardened slightly.

"Right now, I have 430 internal energy rings-just 70 more, and I'll break through to the First-Level Earth King Warrior. I'm still at the peak of the Fourth-Class Warrior stage, but it's time I stop hiding my strength."

Xiao Tian clenched his fists on his lap, his eyes glowing with determination.

"The best resources in this sect are only given to the strongest disciples. If I want to obtain them, I must reveal my true abilities. Once this event is over, I will speak to Grandpa and ask for permission to begin training alongside the other elite disciples!"

***

As Xiao Tian was still lost in his thoughts, Liu Qingyun's loud voice echoed throughout the arena, snapping him back to reality.

"Now, we have reached the final round! Whoever wins this battle will be recognized as the best disciple of our Supreme Sword Sect! Use all of your abilities, but killing your opponent is strictly forbidden. Daniel, Lu Xuan, step forward and show us your strength!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. All eyes turned to the two figures who confidently stepped into the center of the arena.

Daniel and Lu Xuan-two exceptionally talented disciples who had made it to the final round-were considered the most promising young warriors under the age of seventeen in the Supreme Sword Sect. Their skills were already acknowledged, and this battle would determine who was truly superior.

Upon reaching the center of the arena, Daniel clasped his hands together in a respectful gesture. "Brother Lu Xuan, please guide me."

Lu Xuan chuckled lightly, his expression full of confidence. "Hahaha, same here."

Bhuzz-

A wave of energy rippled through the air as both fighters began releasing a portion of their internal power.

Sitting calmly in the upper rows of the spectator stands, Xiao Tian observed them with sharp eyes.

From his perspective, he could see that Lu Xuan was not displaying his full strength. The boy actually possessed 210 internal energy rings, yet he was only releasing 140.

"Hmm, this is quite interesting." Xiao Tian murmured softly, his eyes gleaming as if he had found something amusing.

His whisper did not escape the ears of Ziyan Rouxi, who was sitting beside him. She turned to him with a playful smile. "Little Tian, are you finally getting interested in becoming a warrior?"

Xiao Tian glanced at her briefly before giving a small smile. His voice remained calm, yet it carried an unexplainable confidence.

"Big Sister, you should train diligently. If you don't, once I start practicing, I'll catch up to you in no time."

Ziyan Rouxi paused for a moment before bursting into cheerful laughter. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Hahaha! Is that a threat or a promise, hmm?"

Xiao Tian shrugged casually. "I don't need to threaten. Sooner or later, it will happen."

Ziyan Rouxi smirked, her gaze filled with curiosity. "In that case, I'll have to train even harder. I can't afford to lose face in front of my own little brother."

Xiao Tian simply gave a faint smile and said nothing more.

From a distance, Fa Wa watched their interaction with a satisfied expression. He felt happy seeing his biological grandson, Xiao Tian, getting along so well with his adopted granddaughter, Ziyan Rouxi. Deep in his heart, he held great hopes that one day, the two of them would grow into solid pillars of the Supreme Sword Sect.

In the middle of the vast martial arena, Lu Xuan and Daniel stood facing each other, their swords drawn and ready for battle. Thousands of eyes around the arena held their breath, waiting for the thrilling duel between these two talented young warriors to begin.

Liu Qingyun, with a loud and authoritative voice, raised his hand. "BEGIN!"

As soon as the command rang out, Lu Xuan and Daniel moved instantly, their swords flashing like lightning. The sound of clashing metal echoed throughout the arena, sending sparks flying with every strike they unleashed. Their speed and agility were truly impressive, drawing the audience deeper into the intensity of the battle.

Their swordsmanship reflected years of refined skill. Every slash carried deadly precision, and every movement demonstrated exceptional intelligence. However, after a series of rapid exchanges, Lu Xuan began to notice something was off.

"Why does his internal energy seem endless?" he thought.

Rather than weakening over time, Daniel's attacks only grew stronger. Lu Xuan quickly realized that if he continued to hold back his true strength, he would soon be in danger.

"I can't hide my power any longer!" he muttered to himself.

With firm resolve, Lu Xuan finally unleashed the full extent of his internal energy. A golden aura shimmered around his body, its brilliance so intense that strong winds began swirling around him.

The audience gasped in shock, and some even rose from their seats, astonished to witness the true power of the fifteen-year-old prodigy.

The sect elders observing from a distance nodded in approval and whispered among themselves, praising Lu Xuan's abilities.

"Only Lu Xuan deserves to win this competition!"

"Brother Lu Xuan, defeat Daniel!"

Cheers erupted throughout the arena, especially from the female disciples who idolized Lu Xuan. With his handsome face, he was not only a gifted swordsman but also someone widely admired.

Daniel, on the other hand, lacked Lu Xuan's striking good looks. His face was sharper, with strong, defined features that reflected the calmness of an expert. The faint, ever-present smile on his lips gave him a mysterious aura, making it difficult for his opponents to predict his thoughts.

Despite the overwhelming support for Lu Xuan, Daniel remained unfazed. Instead, he became even more focused.

Swiftly, Lu Xuan coated his sword with golden energy that radiated brilliantly. Seeing his opponent's rising strength, Daniel also began to release his internal energy. His sword was now enveloped in a mysterious purple aura, vibrating subtly and creating a pressure that was equally intimidating.

The two locked eyes, preparing to unleash their full power.

Suddenly, Daniel took the initiative and struck first. With incredible speed, he slashed toward Lu Xuan. But Lu Xuan, fully prepared, swiftly dodged and counterattacked.

However, Lu Xuan's attack was just what Daniel had been waiting for.

As his opponent's sword narrowly missed, Daniel seized the momentum and swiftly spun his body. In an instant, he shot toward Lu Xuan and delivered a powerful kick to his side.

Bang!

The attack landed perfectly.

"Aah...!" Lu Xuan cried out in pain. He staggered back a few steps, instinctively clutching his ribs, which now felt as if they had cracked from the impact.

He stared at Daniel in disbelief. However, what shocked him even more was the strange sensation he now felt.

Daniel's aura... had changed.

"Daniel, were you hiding your true power?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Daniel only gave a faint smile. "If you can hide your strength, why can't I?"

Lu Xuan gritted his teeth. "Don't get ahead of yourself! I haven't lost to you yet!"

But before he could even stand up straight, Daniel had already moved swiftly. In an instant, he was right in front of Lu Xuan, the tip of his sword now pressed against his opponent's neck.

"You lost."

Daniel was still smiling as usual, but this time, there was a hint of firmness in his gaze.

Lu Xuan fell silent. His eyes stared sharply at Daniel, unwilling to accept the defeat he had just suffered. "How could I lose to you? Tell me, how can you be stronger than me?"

His voice was filled with confusion and suppressed anger. "I'm not just a talented disciple. I also come from a strong background. But you... you're just a nobody with no background. So how could you possibly be stronger than me?"

However, Daniel did not answer. He only gave a small smile, as always.

Liu Qingyun was about to announce the winner, but suddenly, a deep voice of an old man echoed throughout the arena.

"Fa Wa, why didn't you tell me there was such an interesting spectacle happening here?"

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice. From the entrance, an old man walked in, followed by two middle-aged men and a young man around Lu Xuan's age.

Fa Wa, who had been seated, immediately stood up. His brow furrowed as he recognized the newcomer. "Gan Feng..." he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with displeasure.

Gan Feng, the patriarch of the Boundless Valley, smirked. "I came here on purpose to see the champion of your sect's competition. Now, let the winner fight my disciple!"

His gaze shifted to the young man beside him. "Xing Han, fight him."

Without waiting for anyone's approval, Xing Han immediately stepped onto the martial arena.

Fa Wa's expression darkened. He was furious, but before he could say anything, Gan Feng looked at him sharply and spoke in a challenging tone.

"Fa Wa, are you afraid your disciple will lose? If so, just admit that your sect's disciples are incompetent and acknowledge defeat."

Fa Wa clenched his fists beneath his sleeves. In his heart, he cursed the old man.

'Bastard! If he didn't have a son working in the She Empire, would he dare act so arrogantly in my domain?'

As a martial artist, Fa Wa knew that he was stronger than Gan Feng. However, Gan Feng's status and connections with influential figures in the empire made it difficult for him to act recklessly.

Refusing this challenge would only bring disgrace to the Supreme Sword Sect.

Fa Wa took a deep breath before shouting in a firm voice, "Daniel, you fight him and show your strength!"