As the announcer’s voied across the arena, the crowd erupted in a roar of excitement.

  The air buzzed with tension, rippling through the sea of disciples like ari.

  .

  .

  "What? A newer dares to challenge Lin Jie? Is he crazy?" one disciple blurted out, his voice dripping with disbelief.

  "Nine wins in a row! Lin Jie is unstoppable!"

  "Yang Lie? A rookie with no experience? He’s walking to his own funeral!" another sneered, shaking his head in pity.

  "If Yang Lie somehow pulls off a miracle, it'll be the upset of the tury!" a more optimistic voice chimed in.

  Laughter drowned him out.

  "Ridiculous! Lin Jie may not be iop hundred, but he's still ranked withiop five hundred of all Outer Sect disciples. That kid’s asking for a beating."

  "Have you seeting odds?" another disciple whispered spiratorially.

  "Lin Jie’s odds are 10 to 1 against Yang Lie’s! If that fool wins, the payout is tenfold. But if Lin Jie wins, you double your points."

  "Tch, so what if it's tenfold? Yang Lie has no ce. Lin Jie is a Mid-Stage Qi Solidification Realm cultivator, and Yang Lie is barely at the Peak of Qi Refining Realm."

  "I’m betting on Lin Jie for sure."

  "Same here."

  "Yeah, no sehrowing away my Sect Points," another scoffed.

  Excitement aainty fueled the wagers, the crowd overwhelmingly fav Lin Jie.

  .

  .

  From behind them, Reon listened.

  A slight smile pyed on his lips.

  He already knew how this story would end.

  Yang Lie's cultivation might only be at the Peak Stage of the Qi Refining Realm, but his strength?

  It rivaled even a High Stage Qi Solidification Realm cultivator.

  Why?

  Because he was the protagonist.

  And because he had mastered a Low-Tier Rare-Grade Sword Teique—his system’s reward for g third p the Sect Disciple Sele Ceremony—he had refi to the Intermediate Stage.

  While the others blindly threw their Sect Points into the fire, vinced of Lin Jie’s victory, Reon could already see the moment their arrogance would turn to despair.

  Turning to Xu Yang, he spoke, his voice carrying quiet fidence.

  "Xu Yang, do you trust me?"

  Xu Yang bliaken aback by the suddeiohere was ation in his answer.

  "Yes, Big Brother."

  Though he wasn’t sure why Xue Taiyang was asking, Xu Ya his gaze with unwavering trust, like a younger sibling relying on his elder.

  "Good." Reon nodded. "How ma Points do you have?"

  Xu Yang gnced away, a hint of embarrassment flickering across his face as he muttered, "It’s only around 1,000, Big Brother."

  "Alright. Bet it all on Yang Lie. Once he wins, give me half."

  Xu Yang’s eyes widened slightly.

  Reon then checked Xue Taiyang’s Sect Points—only to see a pitiful 500.

  "This bastard. An Inner Sect disciple, yet he has fewer points than an Outer Sect disciple?"

  "Unbelievable."

  Suppressing a curse, Reon resolved to pce his ow on Yang Lie.

  Xu Yang, though puzzled by Xue Taiyang’s suddeainty, did not question him.

  Instead, he silently pced his wager, trusting that Big Brother’s words were never without reason.

  Reon sank into his seat, anticipation sparking in his eyes at the thought of earni Points effortlessly—without even lifting a finger.

  This was also his first time witnessing the protagonist in a.

  Aeo analyze every movement, every strategy—to see firsthand the talent that would one day shake the heavens.

  .

  .

  The arena quieted as the two fighters stepped forward.

  Lin Jie smirked.

  "Yang Lie, I’ve heard plenty about your so-called talent, but let's be real—you’re just a Peak Stage Qi Refining Realm cultivator. Do yourself a favor and forfeit now. Spare yourself the humiliation."

  Yang Lie smiled.

  Calm.

  fident.

  "I appreciate the ," he said lightly, "but I’m certain of my victory."

  Inside, he was already growing impatient.

  "Why is this bastard rambling on so much? Let’s get this over with so I finish my System’s Weekly Quest!"

  Lin Jie’s expression darkened.

  "You’ve brought this on yourself, Yang Lie!"

  With a roar, he charged forward.

  .

  .

  Two mier...

  Silence.

  A stunned, absolute silence swallowed the arena.

  The crowd, once bursting with fiden Lin Jie, now stood frozen, uo process what they had just witnessed.

  Even the announcer—who had been ready to call the fight in Lin Jie’s favor before it began—stood sck-jawed, speechless.

  Reon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

  Two moves.

  That was all it had taken.

  Two moves, and Lin Jie was defeated.

  Even Reoe his expectations, couldn't help but be slightly taken aback at the sheer effortlessness of it.

  Then again…

  This was Yang Lie.

  The oio bee the Supreme Sword Immortal.

  This much was only natural.

  Yang Lie turo the announcer, an amused glint in his eye.

  "Well?" he prompted. "Aren't you going to decre my victory?"

  The announcer snapped back to reality.

  "Ah! Yes! The victoes to Yang Lie!"

  As his voied across the arena, the system chimed in Yang Lie’s mind.

  [Ding! The Host has pleted the Weekly Quest. Rewards have been stored in Iory.]

  .

  .

  "T-This..."

  "Impossible! He—he defeated Lin Jie in only two moves?!"

  "Fet about the fight, you fool! I just lost all my Sect Points!"

  "Me too!"

  "Same here!"

  Despair swept through the crowd like a pgue.

  Disciples clutched their heads in agony, some even falling to their knees as realization struck—their Sect Points were gone.

  Reon barely had a moment to relish the sweet taste of victory wheiced something.

  A group of Outer Sect disciples moving toward him.

  Their expressions were dark.

  Their steps deliberate.

  His eyes narrowed slightly.

  "Ah, it seems trouble 't resist finding me," he mused, a tinge of frustration flickering through him.

  A, beh it all, a slow smirk curled at the er of his lips.

  "They're here."