After the ten initial defenders were determined,
The forty challengers below the arena began carefully observing these ten defenders, seemingly considering which one to challenge.
For a moment, the scene fell into silence.
"Haha, since everyone is being so polite, let me go first."
At that moment, a figure shot toward the eighth arena.
This person's action seemed to trigger a chain reaction, as several more figures swiftly followed.
In the blink of an eye,
All nine arenas except the first had challengers facing their respective defenders.
On these nine arenas, fierce battles erupted, accompanied by continuous explosions.
Only the first arena remained eerily quiet, standing out starkly.
Wang Jianqiang couldn't help but glance at the figure meditating on the first arena.
"Name: Ye Lingyun
Gender: Male
Cultivation: Qi Refinement Perfection
Age: 30/100
Spiritual Roots: Dual Metal-Earth Roots
Favorability: 0"
"So it's him—no wonder!"
Upon seeing this information, Wang Jianqiang's pupils contracted.
This name was thunderously famous in the outer sect.
Ye Lingyun had joined the sect ten years ago and reached Qi Refinement Perfection in just nine years.
Shortly after his breakthrough, he ventured out on a training mission, where he single-handedly killed three Qi Refinement Perfection demonic sect disciples in a battle.
He was widely recognized as one of the strongest in the outer sect, unrivaled in reputation.
Even before the grand competition began, he was considered the top favorite to win.
No wonder no one dared to challenge him.
While Wang Jianqiang was observing Ye Lingyun, the battles on the nine arenas gradually subsided.
Regaining his focus, Wang Jianqiang looked around.
Four of the nine arenas had new defenders.
Su Yutong, however, remained dominant, effortlessly defeating her challenger.
Next came a half-hour recovery period.
Once the defenders had recuperated, the second round of challenges commenced.
This cycle repeated until, after five rounds, only the first and ninth arenas still had their original defenders.
Ye Lingyun remained unchallenged the entire time.
Su Yutong, meanwhile, had easily defeated five challengers.
Soon, the sixth round arrived.
This time, Wang Yuyao, who had yet to challenge anyone, finally made her move.
A flash of purple light at her feet propelled her at astonishing speed toward the ninth arena.
Seeing Wang Yuyao's action, Wang Jianqiang couldn't help but smile.
Su Yutong was formidable, firmly within the top ten of all participants and possibly even competing for the top six.
Challenging her wasn't the wisest choice.
Someone as sharp as Wang Yuyao would surely realize this.
Clearly, she remembered the conflict between Su Yutong and him and wanted to help him vent his frustration.
"Wang Yuyao, it's you!"
Upon seeing the new challenger, Su Yutong's eyes narrowed before she sneered.
"You're truly foolish. Did you really think reaching Qi Refinement Perfection and getting two high-grade artifacts from that trash would let you defeat me?"
"Whether I can defeat you or not will be decided in battle."
Wang Yuyao's expression was equally cold, her words sharp and unyielding.
People were different.
To Chen Jiaojiao, her relationship with Wang Jianqiang might have been a simple exchange, with no debts owed.
But to Wang Yuyao, it was entirely different.
She came from humble origins, enduring hardship from a young age. Had it not been for a benefactor's help, she might have died in childhood.
Thus, she had always been someone who valued gratitude.
Originally, with her talent, her chances of reaching Foundation Establishment were slim.
But now, thanks to Wang Jianqiang's aid, her cultivation had soared, and Foundation Establishment was within reach.
Once she achieved it, her power would leap forward, her life essence would transform, and her lifespan would double.
This kindness was akin to rebirth.
Wang Yuyao had no prior grudge against Su Yutong.
But since Su Yutong despised and insulted Wang Jianqiang, enmity had formed between them.
"Hmph, how presumptuous!"
Su Yutong's expression darkened.
At her core, she looked down on Wang Yuyao.
Even if Wang Yuyao's current cultivation matched hers, Su Yutong saw it as temporary.
Their backgrounds and talents were worlds apart.
Compared to her, Wang Yuyao was nothing but an ugly duckling.
In the future, Su Yutong's achievements would far surpass hers.
Thus, even though Wang Yuyao had merely responded on equal footing, Su Yutong took it as disrespect—an insult.
"You wretch, I'll make you regret this."
With a cold snort, she flicked a finger, sending a flying sword streaking toward Wang Yuyao with a fierce momentum.
Wang Yuyao showed no hesitation, summoning her own flying sword in response.
Boom!
The two swords collided midair before being flung backward simultaneously.
The backlash sent Wang Yuyao stumbling several steps, while Su Yutong merely swayed slightly.
"She's too strong! She's suppressing Wang Yuyao with just a low-grade artifact!"
"Fairy Su is incredible."
"True skill comes from oneself. Wang Yuyao's aura is unstable—she's only made it this far by relying on artifacts. Against ordinary opponents, she might manage, but against a true prodigy, she's outmatched."
The spectators erupted in chatter, especially a fat man near Wang Jianqiang, whose words were particularly cutting.
"That wench Wang Yuyao must have latched onto some rich young master."
"Did she really think she could transform into a phoenix? Facing a real genius will knock her back to reality."
The fat man's face was twisted with scorn as he glared at Wang Yuyao, as if they shared some deep-seated hatred.
Beside him stood a gaunt figure who immediately chimed in, "Brother Bu is absolutely right. Wang Yuyao just got lucky. How dare she look down on you? Disgusting."
"Even if she somehow becomes an inner disciple, she still wouldn’t be worthy of disrespecting Brother Bu."
The fat man—Brother Bu—seemed pleased by the flattery, a smug grin spreading across his face.
"Might I ask your name, brother?"
A voice suddenly interrupted.
Brother Bu turned to see a frail, elderly figure who had somehow sidled up to him.
The man had white hair, deep wrinkles, and an aura of decay—as if death were already knocking.
"Trash Wang?"
Brother Bu's eyes flashed with disdain. "What do you want, old man? I don’t have time for a useless waste like you."
Wang Jianqiang ignored the insult, smiling amiably. "You don’t seem to think highly of Wang Yuyao?"
"Obviously," Brother Bu scoffed. "Anyone with eyes can see she’s doomed."
Wang Jianqiang shook his head. "I, on the other hand, believe she can win."
"You know nothing, trash." Brother Bu burst into laughter. "If that bitch wins, I’ll eat shit!"
"Hahaha, you’re killing me!" Ma Gan couldn’t hold back either. "A worthless old man lecturing us? If Wang Yuyao wins, I’ll join in with another serving!"
"Splendid." Wang Jianqiang grinned. "Care to make a bet?"
"Get lost! What could a piece of trash like you possibly wager? I bet your—"
The fat man began cursing loudly, but his voice abruptly cut off mid-sentence.
Beside him, Ma Gan also froze in shock.
Both of them stared wide-eyed at Wang Jianqiang’s feet, their gazes gleaming with greed.
There, piled on the ground, was a massive heap of spirit stones.
Wang Jianqiang grinned at the two of them.
"Here are ten thousand spirit stones. If Wang Yuyao loses, they’re yours."
"But if Wang Yuyao wins, I won’t take a single stone from you."
"Just as you said—how about eating shit instead?"
"So, do you dare to bet… or not?"

young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."

ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!

u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.

transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”