The teleportation array in Jade Phoenix City's commercial district operated with mechanical precision, ferrying thousands of cultivators between regions every hour. Wei Liang purchased passage to the Heavenly Dao Region using Princess Yan's wealth, his appearance now carefully modified to seem like an unremarkable rogue cultivator seeking opportunities.
The journey through dimensional space provided time to digest his recent meals and plan his approach. Chen Haotian's memories had taught him about local customs and power structures, while Princess Yan's knowledge revealed the broader political landscape. Both had viewed the Heavenly Dao Sect with mixture of respect and wariness—the sect was officially neutral in regional conflicts, but their Chosen One's rapid advancement had begun attracting nervous attention from established powers.
Perfect, Wei Liang thought as the array deposited him in Heavenly Cloud City, the region's primary commercial hub. Nothing draws powerful enemies like rapid success. I'll have plenty of targets to choose from.
The Heavenly Dao Region differed markedly from Azure Dragon World. Here, the very air thrummed with dao insights, and cultivators could be seen meditating openly on street corners, drawing comprehension from the ambient spiritual energy. Sword cultivators practiced their techniques in public squares, creating dazzling displays of light and steel that drew admiring crowds.
Wei Liang made his way through the city's bustling streets, observing the local culture while searching for information about the Chosen One. His inquiries at various taverns and information brokers painted an interesting picture.
Lin Feng had arrived in the region six months ago as an apparently ordinary disciple, but his advancement speed had quickly drawn attention. He'd progressed from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation in mere weeks, won several public competitions against established young masters, and discovered multiple fortuitous encounters that seemed too convenient to be coincidental.
Systematic advantage confirmed, Wei Liang concluded after hearing the fifth tale of Lin Feng's impossible luck. But more importantly, his success has created numerous enemies among the established powers.
The most prominent of these enemies appeared to be Zhou Tian, heir to the Celestial Sword Clan and former regional champion among young cultivators. Zhou Tian had publicly challenged Lin Feng to a duel after losing face in a recent treasure competition, and the match was scheduled for tomorrow at the Heavenly Dao Sect's arena.
Excellent, Wei Liang thought. A public gathering with multiple high-value targets in one location. I couldn't ask for better hunting conditions.
He secured lodging at a mid-tier inn and spent the evening gathering more detailed intelligence. The upcoming duel had become a major event, with representatives from dozens of sects and clans planning to attend. More importantly, several other young prodigies would be present, ostensibly to evaluate the contestants but actually hoping for opportunities to challenge the winner.
Among these was Fairy Mei Lin of the Profound Ice Palace, whose ice-based cultivation techniques were legendary throughout the region. Her spiritual ice could freeze souls as well as bodies, and her beauty was said to be matched only by her ruthless ambition.
Another notable attendee would be Wang Lei, the "Thunder Fist" whose lightning-enhanced martial arts had earned him recognition as one of the region's most promising body cultivators. His physical strength reportedly allowed him to shatter mountains with casual punches.
So many delicious options, Wei Liang mused as he reviewed the intelligence he'd gathered. But I'll need to be careful. This many powerful individuals in one place means increased security and the possibility of intervention from elder-level cultivators.
As night fell over Heavenly Cloud City, Wei Liang finalized his plans. Tomorrow's duel would provide perfect cover for selective hunting. In the chaos of a public event, the disappearance of one or two minor attendees might go unnoticed until he was long gone.
He settled into meditation, circulating the consumed cultivation bases through his meridians and slowly integrating their power with his own. Chen Haotian's Heaven-Stepping techniques, Princess Yan's Fire Phoenix bloodline abilities, and the various guard cultivators' combat experience all swirled together in his dantian like ingredients in a master alchemist's cauldron.
Soon, he thought, feeling his power steadily growing stronger. Soon I'll be ready to challenge this realm's true powers. But first, let me sample what their Chosen One has to offer.
The Heavenly Dao Sect's arena was a marvel of formation engineering, capable of containing Saint-level battles while providing clear viewing for hundreds of thousands of spectators. Floating platforms accommodated VIP guests, while tiered seating ensured even common disciples could witness the proceedings.
Wei Liang had purchased a seat in the upper tiers, positioning himself where he could observe both the duel and the attending dignitaries. His appearance remained carefully unremarkable—a traveling cultivator in the Core Formation realm, noteworthy enough to justify his presence but not so impressive as to draw scrutiny.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as various factions took their designated positions. Wei Liang identified the major players through his accumulated knowledge: elders from prominent sects, young masters accompanied by their entourages, and independent cultivators hoping to witness techniques worth studying.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the arena announcer's voice carried clearly through amplification formations. "Welcome to today's exhibition match between Zhou Tian of the Celestial Sword Clan and Lin Feng of our own Heavenly Dao Sect!"
Zhou Tian emerged first, his entrance accompanied by a display of sword qi that painted rainbow patterns across the sky. He was everything a young master should be—handsome, arrogant, and radiating the confidence of someone who had never faced true defeat. His Celestial Sword techniques were flawless, each movement demonstrating years of dedicated training.
Skilled but predictable, Wei Liang assessed, watching Zhou Tian's warm-up routine. His foundation is solid, but he's never been truly tested. Too much success, not enough adversity.
Lin Feng's entrance was far more modest, but Wei Liang's enhanced senses immediately detected something unusual about the young man. His cultivation base appeared to be late-stage Core Formation, but there were hidden depths that defied easy analysis. More intriguingly, Wei Liang could sense some kind of external assistance—not the blatant manipulation he'd experienced with the Architect, but a more subtle systematic enhancement.
There it is, Wei Liang thought, studying the barely perceptible energy fluctuations around Lin Feng. His mysterious system. I wonder what it tastes like when consumed.
The duel began with traditional courtesy exchanges, both cultivators bowing and stating their intentions. Then Zhou Tian launched his opening attack—a technique called "Celestial Sword Rain" that split his blade into hundreds of qi projections, each one seeking vital points with lethal precision.
Lin Feng's response surprised everyone present. Instead of defending or retreating, he stepped forward into the attack, his movements flowing like water around the sword projections. His counter-technique was simple—a basic palm strike that somehow found the exact center point of Zhou Tian's formation, disrupting the entire attack pattern.
Interesting, Wei Liang observed. His system appears to provide tactical analysis and optimal response calculations. Very useful abilities.
The duel continued with escalating intensity as both cultivators revealed increasingly powerful techniques. Zhou Tian's sword work was genuinely impressive, combining multiple elemental aspects with precise timing and overwhelming spiritual energy. But Lin Feng consistently found optimal responses, turning superior techniques against themselves through superior positioning and timing.
Wei Liang's attention was drawn to the VIP sections, where various young masters and fairy-level cultivators watched with growing interest. Fairy Mei Lin of the Profound Ice Palace sat with arctic composure, but her eyes tracked Lin Feng's every movement with analytical precision. Wang Lei, the Thunder Fist, leaned forward eagerly whenever Lin Feng demonstrated physical techniques.
They're all evaluating him as either recruit or threat, Wei Liang realized. Perfect. Their interest makes them predictable, and predictable targets are easy to hunt.
The duel reached its climax when Zhou Tian activated his clan's forbidden technique—"Heaven-Severing Sword Formation." The arena filled with sword qi so dense it became visible, creating a maze of cutting edges that could slice through dimensional barriers. It was genuinely impressive, the kind of technique that could threaten cultivators several realms higher.
Lin Feng's response was to close his eyes and stand perfectly still.
The audience held its breath as the sword formation closed around him. Then, just as the blades were about to strike, Lin Feng moved with impossible precision, his body flowing through gaps in the formation that shouldn't have existed. His counter-attack was devastating—a simple finger technique that struck Zhou Tian's meridian network, instantly sealing his cultivation and ending the duel.
The arena erupted in shocked silence, then thunderous applause. Zhou Tian collapsed, his spiritual energy completely sealed, while Lin Feng stood calmly in the center of the formation as if nothing had happened.
Systematic analysis combined with perfect execution, Wei Liang thought, impressed despite himself. His system doesn't just provide information—it enables perfect implementation of optimal strategies. Definitely worth consuming.
As the crowd began to disperse, Wei Liang noticed several important developments. Fairy Mei Lin was approaching Lin Feng with obvious interest, while Wang Lei looked furious at being upstaged. More importantly, a group of black-robed cultivators in the VIP section were conferring urgently among themselves—their qi signatures suggested they were from one of the demonic sects.
Excellent, Wei Liang thought, rising from his seat. Multiple factions with conflicting interests, all focused on the same target. The chaos should provide perfect hunting opportunities.
He began making his way toward the arena floor, his blood beginning to stir with anticipation. Tonight, he would begin harvesting this region's crop of young talents.