The arena thundered with applause as the Inner Disciples' Ranking Competition officially began. In the stands, hundreds of disciples watched eagerly, eager to see who would rise, who would fall, and who would bleed. The top 20 inner disciples would be reshuffled based on the outcome of today's duels—and the tension was enough to thicken the air like fog.
In the upper tiers, the Core Disciples remained aloof. They had no business in this level of the tournament. Their own rankings were decided in a separate division. Yet all eyes were on the battlefield today—for the Inner Division still held its share of monsters.
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Match 1: Rank 20 vs Rank 19 – Garron Flint vs Ilya Vein
Garron Flint, Rank 20, was a burly Earth element cultivator, 6th stage of the Essence Vein. Ilya Vein, Rank 19, was a nimble Water cultivator who fought with twin curved blades.
The match began with Garron slamming his fists into the ground, sending tremors outward—Stonebreaker Pulse. But Ilya danced around them with a fluid agility. Her technique, Serpent Flow, made her seem like a stream of water gliding across the earth.
She darted in close, blades gleaming. Garron caught her strike with a forearm, but she twisted midair, one blade nicking his shoulder. He bellowed and countered with Iron Boulder Rush, charging headfirst. Ilya flipped over him and unleashed Falling Stream Cleave, an elegant arc of dual blades that left twin gashes across his back.
Victory to Ilya Vein. Garron dropped out of the top 20.
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Match 2: Rank 18 vs Rank 17 – Alina Valen vs Meric Dras
The next battle silenced the crowd.
Alina Valen, wind and fire cultivator, had risen rapidly through the ranks. Her current position—17th—was in danger. Across from her stood Meric Dras, 18th, a battle-hardened veteran who used Earth and Wood in combination, known for his defensive style.
"Begin!"
Meric summoned thick bark armor over his limbs using Living Fortress, bracing for a head-on assault. Alina didn't hesitate.
With a flick of her hand, a spiral of flame burst from her palm—Crimson Gale, a hybrid wind-fire technique. Meric tanked the first hit, roots digging into the earth to anchor him. He countered with Verdant Crush, slamming his arms together to form a crushing wall of vines and stone.
But Alina was already in the air, her movement fluid, unpredictable—Tempest Step.
She came down like a falling star, her legs coated in fire—Blazing Descent—and struck his shoulder. Meric roared, reeling, and launched Earthspike Barrage. Spires shot from the ground, but Alina twisted midair and unleashed Scorching Cyclone—a high-tier attack that exploded in a vortex of flame and slicing wind.
Meric's armor shattered. He dropped to one knee.
With the wind coiling around her arms, she ended the fight with a clean, high-speed strike to the chest.
Victory to Alina Valen.
Many fights followed—some fierce, some one-sided. Lightning danced, water clashed with flame, and metal sang against stone. One disciple forfeited due to injuries from the prior rounds. Others were knocked unconscious in brutal showdowns.
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Match 9: Rank 10 vs Rank 9 – Lyon Varse vs Rael Tethys
Lyon Varse, a Light cultivator, known for his Radiant Blade Art, stepped into the arena. Opposite him stood Rael Tethys, a Blood cultivator whose strange crimson aura unsettled the crowd.
"Begin."
Lyon surged forward, slashing with light-infused sword arcs—Photon Fang. Rael didn't dodge. He let the blade hit him, laughing as his blood congealed and hardened—Hemosteel Veil.
Rael retaliated with Crimson Bindings, chains of blood that lashed toward Lyon. The Light cultivator broke them with a burst of Solar Burst, momentarily blinding everyone.
Rael grinned. "You shine pretty," he sneered. "But light burns out."
He extended his hands and called forth Sanguine Reaping, a technique that drained spiritual energy through inflicted wounds.
Lyon was fast—but Rael was unrelenting.
In a desperate clash, Lyon summoned Beacon Slash, his strongest move—an arc of light like a falling sun. It seared across the field and cut through Rael's defenses, sending the blood cultivator flying.
Victory to Lyon Varse.
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Top Disciples Brief (Ranks 1–8):
1. Faen Solarius – Light & Wind, Peak Essence Vein Stage 9. Known for Heavenly Gale Arts. Unchallenged.
2. Tira Zhenn – Fire, Essence Vein Stage 9. Uses Phoenix Rend. Fast and cruel.
3. Daron Hellsong – Metal, Essence Vein Stage 8. Uses Titan Edge Arts.
4. Mira Elenith – Water & Ice,Peak Essence Vein Stage 8. Controls Frozen Lotus Domain.
5. Cale Dunver – Earth. Essence Vein Stage8.Slow but indomitable.
6. Jenil Sharrow – Wood & Wind. Essence Vein Stage 8.Elusive and tricky.
7. Orin Valhast – Fire. Essence Vein Stage 8. Uses Pure brute force.
8. Kael Ravenhart – Lightning & Metal. Known for Thunderclad Blitz and Iron Tempest Cleave. Essence Vein Stage 8.