Lin Shu's next opponent stepped into the arena, holding a weapon that caught his attention immediately: a long, thorn-covered whip. The surface of the whip was dark red, the thorns sharp and cruel, glinting under the arena's lights. It was an odd weapon, and one Lin Shu had never encountered before. The way the whip looked, covered in dangerous protrusions that could latch onto flesh and tear it apart upon retraction, made him pause for a moment, calculating his strategy.
I can't risk getting caught by that whip. I need to keep my distance, Lin Shu thought, his gaze sharp and focused. The most important thing now was getting into the institute—nothing else mattered. His rank in the competition, or whether he won this fight with flair, would only be a secondary concern. He had waited two long months for this moment, and he wasn't going to risk it by being careless.
The instructor's voice rang out, signaling the start of the match, and Lin Shu immediately sprang into motion. He took a quick step back, maintaining distance from the whip-wielding opponent. Without hesitation, the whip cracked through the air, the thorns digging into the arena floor with a deafening thunk as the tiles shattered on impact. Lin Shu's heart skipped a beat as the sharp, whiplike sound echoed around the arena.
His opponent didn't waste any time, already preparing for his next strike, his grip tight on the weapon's handle. Lin Shu's instincts kicked in. He dodged swiftly to the left, just in time to avoid the snap of the whip, which would've sliced across his chest. The audience reacted immediately, jeering at him as he skipped back, his movements fluid but not quite as graceful as they expected. They were eager for more action, but Lin Shu's evasions were met with loud mockery.
"What's the matter? Afraid to get hit?" one of the spectators called out.
"Come on, give us a show! Fight back!" another yelled.
But Lin Shu didn't care for their mockery. He was calculating, keeping a sharp eye on every movement of his opponent. The whip lashed out again, striking like a snake. Lin Shu narrowly avoided it, ducking under the thorny tendrils just in time to feel them whip through the air above his head. His body flickered with blue lightning as he moved faster, the speed from his Lightning Steps skill making it easier to dodge. Even though he was only using half of the skill's power, it was more than enough to match the whip's speed.
It's a cat-and-mouse game, Lin Shu thought, his mind working rapidly. I can't let him corner me—he's more skilled with that whip than I am with this dance of evasion. If I wait too long, he'll find a way to strike me. I need him to make a mistake.
He continued to dodge, circling the edges of the arena, constantly on the move. His opponent, determined and calm, slowly began to maneuver, cutting off his avenues of escape. He was patient—too patient. Lin Shu could see the strategy behind his slow but deliberate advance: his opponent was waiting for him to tire, or slip.
Lin Shu's mind raced. Maybe I should use my full armor. Tank a few hits and then retaliate.
But he quickly shook the thought away. His Ivory Monolith skill, though strong, would draw too much attention, and he wasn't ready to reveal his full power yet. No, I can't risk showing all my cards now, he decided. I must make the top 10, at least the 5th place. A low-tier battle skill must become my prize.
His muscles tensed as the whip crackled again, this time aiming for his legs. Lin Shu leaped, flipping backward and landing with a roll, narrowly missing the vicious strike. The whip lashed again and again, but he kept dodging, his reflexes sharp and his movements slick.
His opponent was starting to show signs of frustration. The whip's speed slowed, his strikes becoming more erratic as he grew more eager to land a blow. He's running out of Qi, Lin Shu realized. Just a little longer...
Suddenly, Lin Shu saw an opening. His opponent swung the whip too wide, leaving himself open for a split second. That was all Lin Shu needed. Without hesitation, he surged forward, using the momentum of his Lightning Steps to dart in, faster than a flash of blue lightning.
Before his opponent could react, Lin Shu was there, his fist connecting with the boy's ribs with a thundering crack. The force of the blow knocked the wind out of him, and his opponent staggered back, gasping. Lin Shu was on him in an instant, grabbing the whip and twisting it from his opponent's hands with a swift, decisive motion.
He didn't waste any time. With his opponent disarmed, Lin Shu's elbow shot forward, slamming into the boy's chest. The whip-wielder crumpled to the ground, defeated but alive. Lin Shu stood over him, making sure not to deliver a fatal blow. He had won, but there was no need to kill. The instructors were already approaching to call the match.
The audience, still expecting more drama, was left unsatisfied. They had hoped for a longer battle, a back-and-forth clash of wills. But Lin Shu didn't care. He had won, and that was all that mattered.
Lin Shu was panting, his breath ragged as he stood on the cracked stone platform. His Qi was only seconds away from complete exhaustion. Lightning Steps was a mid-tier Rank 1 battle skill, and with his early-stage cultivation, he couldn't sustain it for long. The only reason he had managed to keep it going for this long was that he hadn't used Ivory Dominion at all.
But even without actively using it, his body was still far stronger than an average early-stage Rank 1 cultivator. The body refinement bonus effect granted by Ivory Dominion had long since become a permanent part of him—it was no longer something he needed to activate. His muscles, bones, and skin had been tempered beyond the norm, allowing him to endure attacks that would have crippled others at his level.
His opponent groaned on the ground a few feet away, struggling to rise. The match was over. Lin Shu had won. But even as the instructor confirmed his victory, he remained still, controlling his breathing, forcing his body to recover as quickly as possible. The next fight could come at any moment, and he had no intention of losing.
Lin Shu had barely caught his breath before stepping into the arena again. This was his third fight—one more victory after this, and he would secure his place in the Stone Path Hall.
His opponent was taller, broader, and far more muscular than any boy his age had a right to be. He looked about fifteen, but his sheer size made him seem older. Thick arms, a barrel chest, and a monstrous physique screamed one thing—body refinement.
Lin Shu's eyes narrowed. That's going to be a problem.
The boy carried a massive battle axe, its edge thick and brutal. Unlike the delicate weapons used by those who relied on speed and skill, this one was made to crush, cleave, and demolish.
Lin Shu had no choice.
Ivory Dominion flared to life.
The moment the instructor gave the signal, they charged.
Bone surged beneath Lin Shu's skin, reinforcing his limbs, his torso, his face. His clawed gauntlets formed in an instant, jagged bone blades extending from his fists. With his mastery over Ivory Dominion, the transformation was seamless—an extension of himself rather than a technique he needed to consciously activate.
The crowd roared.
"Finally! That little rat is fighting head-on for once!"
"What the hell was that? Did you see his arms?"
They had been waiting for this. They hadn't liked Lin Shu from the start. He was too calculated, too cautious. He never gave them the spectacle they wanted. But now, with his monstrous form revealed and his opponent wielding raw brute force, they had the fight they'd been craving.
The first clash shattered the ground.
Lin Shu's clawed blades slashed through the air, meeting the axe head-on. Sparks flew, and the impact sent cracks running through the stone beneath their feet.
The axe-wielder grinned. "Not bad."
He swung again. Lin Shu twisted, dodging by a hair's breadth, then countered with a quick slash at his opponent's ribs. The bone blade cut in, but not deep—his opponent's body was like tempered steel.
Lin Shu clicked his tongue. A full-body refiner. His defense is ridiculous.
The axe-wielder fought like a living siege weapon, using his sheer strength to break the ground apart beneath them. Every attack was designed not just to hit, but to control the battlefield, forcing Lin Shu into a disadvantageous position.
And then—
Lin Shu's foot slipped.
Shit—!
Cold sweat ran down his back.
His opponent's eyes gleamed. "Got you."
The axe came down in a blur, aiming to split Lin Shu in two.
Lightning flickered.
Lin Shu activated Lightning Steps, his speed exploding in a sudden burst. He barely rolled away in time, the blade missing him by inches. The impact shattered the ground where he had stood, fragments of stone flying into the air.
"Lucky bastard," the axe-wielder muttered.
Lin Shu didn't give him time to recover. He darted in, slashing across the boy's stomach. The blade connected, but barely left a wound. His opponent was simply too tough.
"That all you got?" The boy smirked. Then he took a deep breath.
Lin Shu's instincts screamed danger.
The air around the axe-wielder trembled. His muscles swelled, veins bulging like thick ropes beneath his skin. Then—
A massive bull phantom surged into existence behind him. Its hooves cracked the air, its nostrils flaring with power.
The boy exhaled sharply.
Then charged.
"You're Dead!"
Mid-tier battle skill—Iron Stampede.
The ground shattered as he launched forward, moving far faster than before. His entire body became a living battering ram, his axe raised high, ready to deliver a finishing blow.
Lin Shu's mind raced. I can't block that. Even with Ivory Dominion, if I take it head-on, I'll be crushed.
He had two options.
Dodge.
Or use Ivory Monolith.
One mistake, and the fight was over.