The Art of Chaotic Divinity

The entire arena erupted. Countless voices roared Linghu Yudao's name, crashing like thunder and waves.

The referee on stage glanced at Linghu Yudao, then coldly announced, "Tie Wushuang has failed the Hundred-Man Challenge. Next challenger, Ling Feng, please step onto the stage!"

The cold declaration echoed through the arena and reached every corner of the stands.

This newcomer, fresh out of the academy, a flower raised in a greenhouse, dared to challenge the veterans ranked on the Hundred Battles Ranking at Tianmang Fortress.

Aside from Ling Feng's few companions, almost no one believed he could succeed. Many had even bet heavily that he would be crushed in his very first fight.

General Weiyuan?

What a joke!

"Hey, it's your turn now."

The green-robed girl gave Ling Feng a gentle push and smiled brightly. "Since you're bold enough to try this, I'll cheer for you."

Ling Feng grinned.

"Then, since you're cheering for me, I'll try to go easy on Linghu Yudao when I beat him later."

"Tch." The girl rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Keep dreaming!"

Ling Feng didn't bother responding. He stepped forward lightly, his movement graceful like a reed drifting across water. In a blink, he was already standing on the arena platform.

His Boundless Sword Steps, refined again and again, now fully rivaled Linghu Yudao's so-called Illusory Moonlight movement art.

"This guy really is ridiculously arrogant."

The green-robed girl smiled faintly, finding Ling Feng rather intriguing.

Swoosh!

In the instant Ling Feng stepped onto the Hundred Battles Arena, countless eyes turned to him at once.

"Brother Feng, go for it!"

"General Ling, we're counting on you!"

His companions from Tianwei Academy all clenched their fists and shouted with passion, but their voices were instantly drowned out by the surrounding cheers from the Tianmang Fortress martial artists.

"He talks big for someone with no skills. I bet he'll go down like a dead dog in the first round!"

"Hahaha,I placed the same bet!"

Xu Zhongda and a few other camp commanders had arrived early just to watch Ling Feng make a fool of himself.

They had all been publicly flogged by him. Their backsides still ached, especially Xu Zhongda, who ground his teeth every time he remembered.

He watched, already savoring Ling Feng's impending defeat. A man who lost so publicly could never again command respect in their ranks!

"Silence."

The referee's quiet command cut through the noise. He then raised his voice to announce Ling Feng's first opponent.

"First round of the Hundred-Man Challenge. Ling Feng versus Liu Zongyuan, ranked 121st on the Hundred Battles Ranking."

As his voice fell, a man in his thirties leapt onto the stage. His cultivation was at the seventh level of the Spiritual Element Realm, roughly on par with Yan Jinghong back in the imperial capital.

This alone spoke volumes about the foundation of Tianmang Fortress. In the capital, someone of Yan Jinghong's strength would be one of the top ten among the younger generation. Yet here, Tianmang Fortress had over a hundred fighters at that level.

Their talent might not be as refined, but in war, talent only mattered so much. True strength was what reigned supreme.

"Too bad for General Ling. Liu Zongyuan may look gentle, but he's ruthless. Most of his opponents end up bedridden for a month or two."

"Hundred-Man Challenge? More like a hundred days in bed."

Xu Zhongda and the others burst out laughing. They couldn't wait to see Ling Feng humiliated.

Liu Zongyuan glanced at Ling Feng with disdain, then casually took out ten elemental crystals and handed them to the referee. That was the standard wager for an arena match.

In the Hundred Battles Arena, wagers could be elemental stones, martial arts, swords, rare ores, or anything really as long as the value surpassed ten elemental crystals.

For someone at Liu Zongyuan's level, ten crystals meant nothing. Offering them was just a slap in the face, a way to say Ling Feng was worth no more than that.

"This Liu Zongyuan is as petty as ever."

The referee accepted the wager without saying much and looked to Ling Feng.

"General Ling, what is your wager?"

"I doubt he can even afford ten elemental crystals!"

Liu Zongyuan sneered.

"Tell you what. Call me 'Dad' twice and I'll give you a hundred elemental crystals. How about it?"

Ling Feng curled his lip and casually pulled out a black card.

"I'll use this Supreme Black Diamond Card from the Tianmeng as my wager."

The referee's eyelid twitched as he took the card. "A Supreme Black Diamond Card? That's worth at least a million elemental crystals. Are you sure?"

"It's just a card."

Ling Feng shrugged.

"I'm not like that broke bastard who begs for a hundred crystals by calling people 'Dad.'"

Liu Zongyuan's face turned dark. He had tried to humiliate Ling Feng, but now the insult had backfired. Suddenly, he looked like the broke one.

"You little bastard, you're dead!"

His knuckles cracked as his eyes filled with killing intent.

"Life and death lie with fate. Let the match begin!"

The referee raised a flag, then added, "With the Demon Race looming, I hope both fighters show some restraint."

Liu Zongyuan ignored him. He drew his sword and sneered.

"I'll make you regret insulting me."

He summoned his soul manifestation, and his elemental force surged violently.

He was smart. He knew Ling Feng's realm was lower, so instead of giving him a chance to use sword techniques or battle arts, he planned to crush him outright with his soul manifestation.

But Ling Feng only smiled and walked forward with ease. He raised his palm and approached Liu Zongyuan as if the raging soul manifestation meant nothing.

"Get lost, you broke bastard!"

Liu Zongyuan froze.

A crisp slap rang out. The next moment, his body spun like a top and went flying. With a loud crash, he slammed into the ground far outside the Hundred Battles Arena.

"Hiss!"

The crowd exchanged shocked looks, all staring at Liu Zongyuan where he'd fallen below the platform.

He had been sent flying with a single slap?

This was someone ranked around one hundred on the Hundred Battles Ranking.

"What... what just happened?"

The martial artists of Tianmang Fortress stood frozen. Their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Liu Zongyuan's strength might not have been top-tier, but he shouldn't have gone down that easily.

"Big Brother, that was amazing!"

"Haha,that felt so good!"

In the viewing stands, Jiang Xiaofan and the others leapt to their feet with excitement. This first match was not just a win.

It was a perfect start.

And it felt incredibly satisfying!