CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: THE RUTHLESS JADE PHOENIX AND OLD JOKER ENEMIES

King Tian Long sat upon his majestic golden throne, his robes draped regally, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Beside him, Li Dong finally arrived, his footsteps calm and unhurried, before lowering himself onto his seat. Tian Long turned his head slightly, smirking as he said in a teasing tone,

"You’re late, bro."

Li Dong crossed his arms, closing his eyes with indifference. "Just be happy that I decided to come."

Tian Long laughed heartily, his deep voice echoing across the royal viewing platform. "Oh yeah. I am grateful."

The scene shifted to the Sanatan Flame Sect’s VIP room, high above the roaring arena. Shaurya lounged lazily on his throne-like seat, Lin Shu sitting gracefully beside him. Around him, the sect elders sat in solemn silence, while down below in the stands, their disciples filled the crowd, eagerly awaiting their sect’s turn.

A sudden shift in the atmosphere pulled everyone’s attention as the referee descended from the skies, landing with practiced elegance upon the circular stone platform at the center of the grand battlefield. With a wide grin and infectious energy, he raised his hand and bellowed,

"Yo, yo, yo! What’s up! Welcome to the second day of the Grand Tournament!"

The crowd erupted instantly into cheers, their voices like crashing waves, shaking the very air with excitement.

"Yesterday," the referee continued, his voice carrying through the vast stadium, "we witnessed Group One and Group Two battles. The mighty Situ Family from Group One crushed their opponents with ease and claimed their spot in the semifinals. Meanwhile, the Howling Abyss Sect fought until the very end and secured their victory in Group Two! But today... we still have Group Three and Group Four!"

His grin widened as he roared, "Are you ready to witness more blood-boiling, heart-shaking battles?"

The audience’s response was thunderous, countless fans screaming the names of their favorite clans and sects. The energy was so fierce it felt as though the arena itself trembled beneath their cries.

With a dramatic sweep of his arm, the referee raised his hand high—then dropped it with explosive force. "Let the Group Three rounds... begin!"

The battlefield blazed with intensity as one sect after another stepped forward. Clashes of spiritual energy cracked the air like thunder, disciples unleashed their might, and the crowd was swept into frenzy after frenzy.

Then, after several rounds, a hush fell upon the stadium.

It was Jade Phoenix Sect’s turn.

Shaurya, who until now had been watching with a casual air, leaned forward, his eyes sharpening with curiosity. Let’s see just how strong they truly are...

From the Jade Phoenix Sect, ten disciples approached the battlefield with steady steps—five from their side, five from their opponents, the Lu Family.

The disciples of Jade Phoenix wore dark-purple outer robes layered over light-purple inner garments, their very presence exuding arrogance and lethal sharpness. In contrast, the Lu Family disciples arrived in uniform blue robes, their gazes steady but their auras betraying tension.

The first match began.

A young man from the Lu Family stepped into the arena. He was tall, with silver hair and piercing black eyes, carrying the aura of someone determined to defend his family’s honor. Opposite him, a disciple from Jade Phoenix Sect leapt into the battlefield with the force of a falling boulder. He was a monstrous youth—six feet tall, muscles bulging like iron cords, and radiating bloodlust.

He roared, his voice booming through the air, and in an instant his black aura erupted around him like a storm of shadows.

The silver-haired Lu disciple charged first, fist blazing with spiritual force, and struck directly at the bulky youth’s abdomen.

Bang!

The strike was caught effortlessly. The Jade Phoenix disciple crossed his forearms and blocked the blow with ease.

With a brutal shout, he countered. His fist hammered into the Lu disciple’s abdomen, and the boy coughed blood, his body reeling.

Before he could recover, the bulky youth seized his head with both hands and smashed it down viciously onto his knee. Crack! Blood spurted from the Lu disciple’s nose, his vision blurring, but the attack didn’t stop there.

With a savage roar, the Jade Phoenix disciple slammed his opponent’s head into the ground. The enchanted stone floor shuddered, faint cracks spreading across its surface.

The crowd gasped in collective horror.

The Jade Phoenix youth’s black aura surged again, coiling around him like a beast unleashed. He grabbed the boy’s right arm—then with sickening, brute force—tore it from its socket.

"Arghhhhhh!" The Lu disciple’s scream was drowned by the uproar of the crowd.

The Lu Family disciples on the sidelines froze in terror, their faces pale. The bulky youth, sneering with bloodlust, finished the assault by planting a savage kick across his opponent’s face, sending the boy flying across the arena like a broken doll. His body crashed outside the ring, where he lay unconscious and bloodied.

The stadium fell silent.

Then, shockingly, some voices erupted into cheers, while others sat horrified and trembling.

The Lu Family Patriarch, an old muscular man with a weathered face, stared at the scene, his eyes wide with dread. Behind him, a rotten old elder leaned forward and whispered grimly,

"Patriarch, their power is far too overwhelming. And they are ruthless. Our members will not simply lose—they will be crippled."

The Patriarch broke into a cold sweat. He hesitated for a long moment, then clenched his teeth until his jaw quivered.

Before the second round could begin, he stood abruptly, his voice breaking through the silence of the crowd.

"Stop!"

All eyes turned toward him.

The Lu Family Patriarch closed his eyes, fists shaking, before roaring, "My Lu Family withdraws from this battle!"

Gasps swept through the stadium. The audience exchanged bewildered glances, their whispers flooding the air. "They withdrew?" ... "Cowards, or just wise?"

The referee blinked in shock but quickly regained his composure. Raising his hand, he declared, "The Lu Family has withdrawn! By default, the Jade Phoenix Sect claims victory!"

The bulky Jade Phoenix disciple glanced back at the Patriarch, a cruel smirk curving his lips, before striding out of the arena with arrogant pride.

From his royal seat, King Tian Long chuckled loudly. "Hah! A smart move. Better to lose pride than cripple an entire generation." He turned his head toward Li Dong, but Li Dong only continued staring at the battlefield with calm detachment.

Meanwhile, in the Sanatan Flame Sect’s VIP chamber, Shaurya sighed, shaking his head. "The Jade Phoenix Sect is ruthless."

Lin Shu’s face was pale, but she nodded quietly. "Indeed."

The tournament raged on. Again and again, Jade Phoenix Sect dominated with frightening brutality. Their disciples crushed bones, snapped limbs, and tore at flesh—not killing, but ensuring their opponents would never fully recover. With each battle, the whispers in the crowd grew louder.

"They’re monsters..."

"Is this even a tournament anymore?"

"But... they’re strong. Look at that strength!"

Some screamed in excitement, but most stared with terror.

Finally, the referee’s voice boomed, "Group Three has concluded! The Jade Phoenix Sect is the victor and advances to the semifinals!"

The stadium roared, though unease rippled beneath the cheers.

"And now," the referee raised his arms high, "we move to our final group—Group Four!"

The crowd erupted with renewed energy, louder than ever before. Their cheers shook the heavens, because everyone knew—the Sanatan Flame Sect was in Group Four.

Shaurya jumped to his feet, unable to hide his excitement. He shouted, "Go, my dear disciples! Show them who the real boss is!"

The sect disciples roared in unison, their cheers echoing through the crowd.

The Group Four battles began in a storm of ferocity. After several minor rounds, the referee descended once more, his eyes gleaming.

"Our next match—Sanatan Flame Sect versus White Tiger Sect!"

Five disciples from the Sanatan Flame Sect stepped forward: Xiao Lian, Shen Hang, Wie Bie, Zen Xang, and Xiang Xong. The rest of their disciples roared encouragement from the stands.

From the White Tiger Sect, a towering figure entered the battlefield. He was a giant—seven feet tall, with fiery red hair and muscles like stone walls. His presence alone drew gasps from the crowd.

From the Sanatan Flame Sect, a small figure walked into the ring. It was Xiao Lian.

The stadium froze.

The giant burst into mocking laughter. "Seriously? They send a little girl to fight me? Brat, you’re like an ant before me. Go home and play with toys!"

Some of the audience couldn’t resist laughing, their voices echoing across the stands.

But Xiao Lian only clasped her fists in a respectful greeting.

The giant roared, his orange spiritual energy blazing as it gathered in his fist. "It’s over before it even starts!"

He hurled his punch, releasing a massive orange blast of energy that tore through the air toward Xiao Lian.

But with icy calm, Xiao Lian’s aura flickered faintly around her, a cold pink hue. She sidestepped the blast with graceful aerial steps, appearing instantly before him.

The giant swung his massive fist downward, roaring like thunder. Boom! His strike cracked the arena floor—but struck nothing.

His eyes widened in shock.

"Bizarre Kick!" Xiao Lian cried, her pink aura blazing.

Her leg slammed into his face with terrifying force.

BOOM!

The massive boy flew backward like a ragdoll, smashing into the stadium wall, his body embedded into the stone.

The arena fell into stunned silence.

The referee’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head before he roared, "Xiao Lian wins! The Sanatan Flame Sect claims the first round!"

The Sanatan disciples exploded with cheers, their voices like thunder, as Xiao Lian bowed respectfully toward Shaurya before stepping down.

One after another, Sanatan Flame Sect disciples took the field.

Wie Bie entered next, his crimson hair catching the sunlight, his blue diamond-like eyes glowing. With a casual palm strike, he blasted his opponent clear out of the arena in one move.

The crowd’s whispers grew frantic.

"What is happening...?"

"They’re winning in a single strike?!"

"Hahaha! Didn’t I say from the beginning? The Sanatan Flame Sect will win the whole tournament!"

"They’re like a one-punch sect!"

The battles continued. Shen Hang ended his fight with a single spear shockwave, muttering coldly, "Noisy," as his opponent crumpled. Xiang Xong humiliated his foe with a brutal kick, causing the men in the audience to wince and cover themselves. Even Shaurya himself blinked in disbelief, muttering, "That’s too brutal."

By the end, the Sanatan Flame Sect claimed a 5–0 victory, their disciples laughing and cheering in pride.

As more battles unfolded, the sun dipped low, painting the sky with crimson hues. The Group Four finals arrived.

"Sanatan Flame Sect... versus the Revenger Clan!" the referee announced.

The crowd erupted in confusion. "Revenger Clan? Who are they?"

Shaurya tilted his head, scoffing. "What kind of name is that? Revenger?"

From the opposing side, five familiar figures emerged: Jiang Lin (the arrogant young master Shaurya had crippled in Blue Stone City), Lin Ba (Lin Shu’s younger stepsister), Lin Ja (Lin Shu’s father’s second wife), Gu Xia (the Gu family girl), and a fat boy, Jiang Xong, Lin Ba’s servant.

Shaurya blinked, turning toward Lin Shu. "What are they doing here?"

Lin Shu frowned. "How should I know? I recognize everyone except that boy." She pointed toward Jiang Lin.

Shaurya’s eyes narrowed. "Oh, him? He’s an old enemy. I destroyed his cultivation when I first entered Blue Stone City—to protect Xiao Rui and Xiao Lian."

Lin Shu raised a brow. "So now you understand why they call themselves the Revengers."

Shaurya nodded, sighing. "Yeah... they’re our past enemies. But still, ’Revengers’? That’s so cringey. And who allowed that old aunty to participate in this tournament?"

His words carried openly across the arena. Lin Ja, who heard them, trembled with rage, her eyes blazing.

"Who are you calling aunty?! Just wait, you bastard! You destroyed our families and ruined our lives. Today your journey ends—not only in this tournament, but soon in life itself!"

Shaurya spat to the side in disdain. "Disgusting."

"You arrogant dog!" Lin Ja screamed, her voice hoarse. "We’ll see how long you can keep that tongue of yours!"

Another youth stepped forward beside her. He had long black hair, piercing green eyes, and a black robe that gave off a sinister aura.

Lin Ja pointed proudly. "This is Gu Rang, the son of my brother Gu Yang! Today, he will end your sect’s journey!"

Shaurya burst into laughter, clapping mockingly. "Oh really? Then don’t cry when my disciples crush your so-called Revenger team."

With a wave of his hand, his disciples stepped forward—Xiao Lian, Lee Bie, Zong Bu, Shen Hang, and Wie Bie—their faces alight with confidence and pride.

Jiang Lin stepped onto the arena, his grin wide and mocking. Across from him, Xiao Lian landed with firm resolve.

Shaurya frowned, muttering under his breath, "I remember destroying his cultivation base... what method did he use to recover?"

The referee raised his hand, then slashed it down. "Begin the battle!"

Jiang Lin roared and rushed forward. Xiao Lian met him head-on. Their palms collided, unleashing waves of energy that shook the barrier protecting the crowd.

The audience screamed, their excitement reaching its peak.

To be continued...