The massive arena at the heart of the Central Continent trembled with the weight of a hundred thousand spectators. Forces from every empire, sect, and hidden lineage gathered here—each watching with burning interest. This was the final stage of the grandest tournament the continent had seen in a century.
The Tang Clan, once hidden in the shadows under the quiet leadership of their ancestor Tang San, now stood at the pinnacle of power and recognition. Their final team—seven elite youths personally selected by the clan elders—had crushed every opponent through city, state, and empire-level stages. Now, they stood at the heart of the world.
But they were not alone.
The Spirit Hall's team, led by a descendant of Qian Renxue, bore terrifying divine pressure.
The Sun Moon Empire's team, laced with soul tools and strange arrays, stood as technological terrors.
Other teams from powerful reclusive sects, ancient martial halls, and mutated bloodlines filled the final bracket.
Each team had only one goal: win and claim Tang San's divine-tier technique—the Five-Ring Convergence Strike, an evolved form of his original Three-Ring technique. It allowed spirit masters to channel five separate ring powers into one devastating, realm-shattering strike. Though none but Tang San himself had mastered the Divine version, even the lesser copy granted in this tournament was a treasure no faction could ignore.
The first match was drawn.
Tang Clan vs. Nine Heavens Hall.
A sect known for controlling wind, illusion, and spatial techniques.
As the opponents stepped onto the stage, the Tang Clan's team captain, Tang Wei, walked calmly, his expression cold and unreadable. Behind him were his six teammates—all under 20, yet each boasting terrifying spiritual pressure. Two were Spirit Emperors (60–69), the rest Spirit Kings, their foundation shockingly solid.
The battle began.
Nine Heavens Hall unleashed a domain of illusion and high-speed movement, attempting to confuse and isolate members.
But the Tang Clan didn't falter.
Tang Wei whispered:
"Execute Variant Formation: Dual Edge Compression."
Two team members merged their abilities, forming a converging net of spiritual force that crushed illusions.
The third used a secret Tang Clan technique: Ring Synchronization, temporarily drawing power from a teammate's ring to triple the force of her own attack.
Within seconds, three opponents were ejected from the platform.
The audience fell into stunned silence.
These were elite young cultivators from a famed sect, yet they were crushed like children.
Nine Heavens Hall tried a desperate counterattack, their captain activating a forbidden technique to burn his spiritual source and summon an elemental storm. But Tang Wei simply stepped forward.
Five spirit rings glowed behind him—each 300,000 years old, shining with blood-red brilliance.
He raised his hand. "Five-Ring Convergence Strike."
The rings pulsed together, forming a spinning vortex of raw force that shattered the oncoming attack and launched the Nine Heavens Hall captain unconscious from the stage.
Victory.
Tang Clan won the first match—without a single injury.
The stadium roared, but Tang Wei's team left the stage without acknowledging the crowd. Their movements were cold, disciplined—products of harsh training and silent authority. Every elder from every major faction watched with grim expressions.
Behind the scenes, hidden in the sealed Tang Clan pavilion, Tang San sat in meditation, eyes closed. His power had reached Level 98, and his cultivation continued as he forged his path toward Supreme Godhood. His only comment after the match:
"They are still too soft. The true tests haven't begun."
Meanwhile, the Spirit Hall and Sun Moon Empire teams also crushed their own opponents, advancing to the next rounds.
Tension built. Only six teams would make it to the final elimination bracket.
Rumors swirled:
—That Tang Clan's true goal wasn't fame but to measure the world's next generation.
—That Tang San was preparing to select someone from this tournament to receive a part of his legacy.
—That a secret faction from beyond the continent had infiltrated the tournament to probe Tang Clan's secrets.
And still, no one dared approach Tang San himself. Not even Spirit Hall.
The final stage had begun—but the storm was only forming.