The Tenth Awakening

Kane smirked. "Alright then, let's see how much you've improved."

With that, he unleashed his level 19 cultivation, summoning a white-colored seed ring on his right hand. His body flickered as he dashed forward, his speed impressive even for the strongest young cultivators in the village.

Arya also moved, but instead of wielding his metal staff, he slung it onto his back. Kane had chosen to engage in a physical fight, so Arya would meet him on equal footing.

Their battle was fierce—blows were exchanged at lightning speed, fists and feet colliding with incredible force. However, Kane soon realized he was at a disadvantage. Arya's weapon master form gave him a natural edge in close combat. Forced to adapt, Kane activated his skill, knowing he needed to overpower Arya before it was too late.

A massive tornado of wind erupted around him, more powerful than ever before. His cultivation had grown from level 15 peak to level 19, and the strength of his skills had evolved accordingly.

Even so, Arya dissolved every attack effortlessly. Kane launched his Wind Tornado skill four times, but Arya evaded and countered each time, barely breaking a sweat. Realizing brute force wasn't enough, Kane changed his strategy.

With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance between them and transformed himself into a tornado, trapping Arya inside.

The village fell silent. Every spectator held their breath, eyes fixed on the swirling storm. For ten long seconds, the only sound was the roaring wind.

Then—a figure was flung out of the tornado like a broken bird falling from the sky. The crowd gasped.

When the dust settled, the one who had crashed out of the battle stage wasn't Arya. It was Kane.

The once-proud young prodigy lay sprawled outside the battlefield, struggling to lift himself. His body was covered in bruises, his energy drained.

All eyes turned back to the stage. Arya stood tall, gripping his metal staff, its fiery aura still burning. One end of the staff pointed skyward, while the other rested firmly in his hand.

When Kane had turned into a tornado, Arya had been momentarily surprised by his opponent's innovative use of his first skill. But once inside the storm, Arya quickly located Kane's position. As Kane had switched to his weapon master form and begun firing arrows, Arya dodged, though he wasn't completely unscathed—a small scratch had formed on his right shoulder.

Then, seizing his opportunity, Arya fused his fire element into his staff and delivered a devastating counterattack, striking Kane with overwhelming force.

The referee's voice rang out across the stunned arena.

"This round's winner is Arya!"

For a moment, silence. Then, the entire village erupted into cheers.

Arya stepped down from the stage, walking straight toward Kane, who was still catching his breath. Without hesitation, Arya extended a hand toward him.

"Get up, Kane. We still have to fight for our village in the Four Villages' Younger Generation Competition. That's my real goal."

Kane stared at him for a moment, then let out a chuckle and grasped Arya's hand. "I expected nothing less from you."

Bryan stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding immediate attention.

"Today, every child who participated gave their best," he announced. "As promised, the rewards for their rankings will now be distributed."

One by one, the contestants stepped forward to receive their prizes. When Arya was handed 25 white coins and 3 pink coins, his eyes lit up.

This was his first-ever earned money in this new world.

Three pink coins were worth 90 white coins, bringing his total to 115 white coins—nearly enough to buy a common seed for his second breakthrough. The price of a common seed ranged from 150 to 170 white coins, so he was close.

Even though he hadn't earned enough yet, he was satisfied. He could find a way to make up the rest in time.

Bryan continued, "As I previously mentioned, the top 7 contestants will represent our village in the Four Villages' Younger Generation Competition. This event is crucial for those seeking power, recognition, and greater opportunities.

Details of the competition will be given when we depart one week from now. Mark my words—if you perform well, the rewards and chances you receive may change your destiny."

With that, the ceremony concluded. The village competition had ended, and a new challenge awaited.

As the crowd dispersed, Bryan motioned for Arya to approach.

"Arya, why didn't you meet your mother before the match?" his mother asked, concern evident in her voice. "I was worried you'd be late."

"Ah… don't worry, Mom," Arya said with a small smile. "I just didn't want to draw too much attention before the competition. Sorry for making you worry."

She sighed in relief. "It's fine, it's fine. And congratulations on winning first place!"

"Thanks, Mom. But this was only a small step. My goal isn't just to win the village competition—I need to reach the top 3 in the Four Villages' Competition. That's when I'll feel like I've truly achieved something."

His father placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to put too much pressure on yourself. With your strength, you can definitely rank in the top 7—and as for the top 3, that will depend on your performance."

A shadow flickered across his father's face. "This year, all four villages are sending their most talented young cultivators. And there's a mysterious reward at stake—something priceless. Many are after it… including me."

Arya's eyes sharpened. A prize worth competing for? This just got even more interesting.