The colossal stone structure loomed over them, towering more than a hundred meters into the sky. The Great Spirit Arena was not just a building—it was a declaration of a city's strength, wealth, and spirit culture. Ornate carvings of battles and martial spirits adorned the walls, while glowing soul lamps lit the walkways with gentle radiance.
Zhongli stood before its gates, robes fluttering in the breeze, his golden eyes calm as ever.
"This is where spirit masters are tempered, Chen Xin. Here, you'll find no pity—only opponents who will sharpen your blade."
As they stepped inside, the hum of excitement and soul energy grew louder. In the heart of the arena, thousands of spectators gathered to witness the daily duels. Amidst the chaos, Zhongli guided Chen Xin to the registration counter, where he was handed his Iron Spirit Fighter Badge.
"Every victory earns you a point. Every defeat, you lose one," Zhongli explained as Chen Xin examined the badge.
"Climb through the ranks—bronze, silver, gold… all the way to diamond. But remember, honor is not in the badge, it's in the battle."
He pointed to the board listing the contest types.
"We're starting with a normal 1v1. You're allowed one 1v1 per day, but if you wish, a 2v2 can be done too."
Inside the Arena
The arena lights dimmed. A lone spotlight illuminated the battlefield below.
A booming voice echoed throughout the amphitheater.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! We're kicking off tonight with a unique clash—a 1v1 match between a child genius and a brute of power!"
The crowd murmured in confusion as the screen displayed the name:
Chen Xin – Spirit Grandmaster – Sword Martial Soul
Gasps and laughter followed.
"He's a kid!"
"This must be a joke!"
"Level 26? Impossible!"
Chen Xin stepped into the arena, ignoring the jeers. His violet eyes were calm. His expression unreadable.
From the other side emerged Goto—a mountain of muscle, broad as two men, with sandy-blond hair and a wild grin that reeked of malice.
"We have Goto—wielder of the Bear Spirit! A man whose fists are feared and whose brutality speaks louder than words!"
The commentator's tone shifted slightly, wary of Goto's past matches.
Goto cracked his knuckles.
"Don't worry, kid. I'll make sure it's quick... but not painless."
The Duel Begins
The gong rang.
GO!
Goto's Spirit Ring flared behind him—a bright yellow ring, roaring with primal power. His muscles bulged, and with a ground-shaking roar, he leapt forward, arm drawn back to deliver a bone-crushing punch.
But before the attack landed—
ZZZZZAP!
Chen Xin disappeared in a flash of blue lightning. The air crackled where he once stood.
Thousand Lightning Movement—his signature evasion. A blinding burst of speed infused with soul power that left only an arc of electricity behind.
Goto's fist smashed into the ground, cracking stone tiles and sending debris flying.
"Tch—where—?!" he snarled.
From behind, Chen Xin reappeared in a blur.
Goto turned, grabbed a chunk of stone, and hurled it like a cannonball.
But Chen Xin's blade was already glowing.
He exhaled. Calm. Focused."Getsuga Tenshō—Seven Kill."
The sword ignited with soul energy. Blue light coiled around the blade's edge, gathering at the tip like a compressed storm.
He slashed forward.
A massive crescent wave of energy tore through the air—bright, sharp, and roaring like a thunderclap.
BOOM!
The wave cleaved the flying boulder, reducing it to pebbles mid-air, and continued toward Goto, forcing him to throw up his arms to guard.
The attack struck him squarely in the chest, launching him backward.
The crowd erupted in stunned silence.
Spectators were Shocked
"That attack! It split a stone in the air…!"
"He's just a child!"
"Who is this kid?!"
Even the commentator was speechless, before recovering."Ladies and gentlemen, this isn't just swordplay—this is mastery. Despite his age, Chen Xin is fighting like a seasoned warrior!"
Goto staggered to his feet, coughing dust, his expression contorted in rage. Blood trickled down his arm."You… little worm… you'll regret that!"
But Chen Xin raised his blade again—his stance steady, his eyes glowing with that serene yet overwhelming intent taught only by one man.
From the stands, Zhongli watched—a proud glint in his golden eyes."Good," he murmured. "Let them see... the path of the sword begins now."
The cracks beneath Goto's feet deepened as his fury reached its peak. His body was now sheathed in a radiant golden aura, pulsing with raw power.He used his first spirit ring skill.
"Golden Body!" he roared.
The glow intensified, hardening his muscles and reinforcing his bones. His skin shimmered like gold-forged steel, and his bulk grew more imposing—each step forward now shook the earth.
Then, with a savage grin, he activated his second soul skill."Bear Claw!"
Twin auras surged around both his arms, manifesting into colossal spectral bear claws—each claw pulsating with an ominous reddish glow, outlined with black veins of power. His entire frame looked like a living siege weapon.
With a roar, he charged, fists drawn back to obliterate anything in his path.
But Chen Xin stood still.
Calm.
His sword lifted.
The wind around him stilled, and from the very air—they appeared.
Dozens of spectral swords, composed of icy blue soul energy, shimmered into existence and began to orbit him. Each left behind a streak of glowing energy like comet trails, spinning in flawless formation around his figure.
This was his first self created Soul Skill.
"Sword Ride."His voice was quiet. Absolute.
The air froze. Time slowed.
With a fluid motion, he leapt, landing gracefully atop one of the spectral blades. His posture was elegant—serene yet lethal. Then with a subtle tilt of his wrist—
FWHOOM—!
He flew.
The crowd gasped as Chen Xin rode the blade through the air, carving arcs of sapphire light across the sky. Each movement was art —a deadly, aerial dance. Trails of glowing energy followed him as he weaved through the air with unerring precision, evading Goto's devastating strikes.
Below, Goto growled, swinging his Bear Claws upward like a monster trying to swat down a bird."Stand still and die!"
But Chen Xin was already gone. He descended like lightning—glancing blows, phantom cuts nicking at Goto's golden armor. The large man grunted, struggling to land even one strike.
Then—Judgment fell.
With a final gesture, Chen Xin commanded all the spectral swords. They aligned in the air like a thousand arrows of retribution."Fall."
The sky screamed as the swords launched in unison, spiraling forward in blurs of blue light. Each strike landed like thunder — piercing, tearing, shattering defenses. One by one they drove through the Golden Body's resistance, bypassing brute force with surgical precision.
Goto's golden aura cracked—then shattered.
The last blade struck true.
CRACK—THOOM!
The ground beneath Goto split apart in a burst of debris and light. Dust billowed upward. A radiant blue fissure carved itself into the arena floor — a line of sword energy left by Chen Xin's final, descending strike.
He landed silently. Blade still in hand. Back turned.
Goto collapsed behind him, groaning—unconscious, defeated, overwhelmed.
For a moment, silence.
Then the crowd erupted.
"Unbelievable!"
"He was flying!"
"He didn't just fight—he danced through the air!"
"What level is this kid?!"
The commentator was speechless before catching his breath."Ladies and gentlemen… what a display of swordsmanship! Chen Xin — with a martial soul as sharp as his mind — has defeated a brutal veteran! This is no ordinary genius—this is a phenomenon!"
Zhongli smiled and clapped for his disciples first win.
While from the shadows of the highest balcony, far from the cheers and noise, a man stood watching.
Dressed in elegant flowing robes, his long black hair tied back into a ponytail, he wore a black blindfold over his eyes. Yet, despite his blindness, his Sword Intent sharpened the air around him.
This was Wu Zhu, master of the Wind Sword Sect, a reclusive and well known figure known for seeking only one thing—those who could touch the true path of the sword.
He watched in perfect stillness as Chen Xin stood among the fading glow of his swords.
Then he muttered, voice low but clear."That… was no simple sword technique."
"His heart… is aligned with the sword. Refined, not borrowed."His fingers clenched slightly at his side.
"Chen Xin…" he repeated the name with interest.
"Could he be… the son of Sword Titled Douluo?"A breeze passed by. Even it seemed to whisper with excitement.