The sun hovered on the edge of the horizon, casting long golden shadows across the Verdant Moon Sect's sacred grounds. Tens of thousands of disciples lined the ridges, courtyards, and floating spectator platforms that surrounded the massive arena now undergoing final formation. Elders stood along the grand terrace in silence, their gazes tense, while the Sect Master himself looked on from the highest throne, arms crossed and face unreadable.
The final battle was moments away. But the pressure had already begun to crack the air.
Down below, Shadow stood alone in the courtyard designated for the remaining seven finalists. The sky above him shimmered faintly as spiritual energy flowed into the massive formation array that would host the most brutal battle the Verdant Moon Sect had seen in years.
His injuries from the last fights still lingered, but his mind was sharper than ever. With his robes fluttering gently in the evening breeze, he stood like the eye of a storm—quiet, but gathering.
Across the courtyard, the other finalists prepared in silence. Some meditated, others sparred with illusions or tested talismans. But only one seemed to be preparing for something entirely different.
**Ren Shun.**
He wasn't seated. He wasn't meditating. He stood tall and still, staring directly at Shadow from across the tiled courtyard, an expression of smug disdain painting his face.
A long silence passed between them.
Then, without warning, Ren Shun stepped forward.
He raised his hand and projected his voice—not with spiritual enhancement, but with sheer force of presence.
> "I won't wait for sunset."
The courtyard turned deathly still.
> "Shadow," he said coldly. "If you're a man, come fight me now. Or hide behind the tournament like a coward."
The wind fell silent. Even the arena's spiritual hum seemed to pause.
Gasps rippled through the crowd above. Elders glanced at one another. The sect's guests from allied clans leaned forward in their seats.
Jian Wu, standing nearby, muttered, "He's baiting you. He wants a public victory to break your rhythm. That arrogant bastard…"
But Shadow didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward.
And in one smooth motion, leapt onto the outer platform.
Lightning shimmered across his skin, subtle but unmistakable. He faced Ren Shun across the distance, his eyes calm.
> "You really want this?" he asked.
Ren Shun sneered. "I expected hesitation. This is a pleasant surprise."
Shadow gave a faint smile. "I was just disappointed. I thought you'd wait until the actual challenge. But if your pride needs feeding, I'm happy to oblige."
The two stepped forward, until only ten paces separated them on the newly constructed formation ring.
Neither drew their weapon.
Instead, their **auras ignited**.
Ren Shun released a wave of golden Qi. It surged from his core like a mountain collapsing from the heavens. The ground trembled. Spiritual tiles cracked beneath his feet.
Then, with deliberate arrogance, he lifted his hand and unleashed his **true cultivation**.
> "Let the sect bear witness," he declared. "This is the difference between us."
The light around him intensified. A ripple of shock passed through the elder seats. One of the guests from the Ironroot Pavilion gasped audibly.
> "That's not just peak Foundation Realm… That's Half-Step Muscle and Skin Forging!"
Ren Shun's voice boomed, confident and clear:
> "I have already crossed the mortal bottleneck and begun tempering my skin with Qi. Though I haven't stepped into muscle forging, my **Steel Bone Physique** has allowed me to reach a level where no Foundation Realm cultivator can match me."
He held out his arm.
His flesh glimmered faintly like tempered bronze. Veins pulsed like spiritual conduits.
> "Ranked 832 among all ancient physiques, my Steel Bone grants absolute defense. My skin alone can shrug off blades, lightning, and fire. My bones, strengthened by legacy techniques of the Ren family, have never known fracture. Within my level, I am invincible."
Shadow narrowed his eyes. The pressure was immense. Ren Shun wasn't bluffing. His cultivation was no longer something any disciple could laugh at or question.
But instead of fear, Shadow's aura responded.
Thunder answered thunder.
Lightning surged from beneath his feet. A faint crack split the platform tile beneath him. The air bent slightly around his frame.
His voice was calm.
> "I'm glad you told everyone. That way, when you lose… they'll understand how far you've fallen."
Ren Shun's gaze darkened. "Arrogant insect."
Their auras clashed.
For a full minute, nothing moved—except the wind, whirling between them, howling as their wills pressed against one another.
Spectators could barely breathe.
The referee elder finally descended from above, sweat trickling down his brow.
> "Enough! You'll destroy the arena before the actual fight begins!"
Shadow and Ren Shun stepped back.
No longer rivals.
**Enemies.**
---
Moments later, the formation core ignited and began transforming the arena.
Stone pillars rearranged. Elevated platforms rose. A lake of mist spread across the central floor. Archways appeared at the four corners, hiding talismans and traps. It was no longer a ring.
It was a battlefield.
The Sect Master stood, observing every detail.
> "Let them fight like predators," he whispered.
Jian Wu appeared beside Shadow, whispering only loud enough for him to hear.
> "They'll come for you first."
Shadow nodded. "They'll try."
> "You going to let them?"
Shadow turned, lightning coiling behind his eyes.
> "I'm not here to survive, Jian. I'm here to end it."
Above, the sun dipped halfway behind the mountains.
The final battle was about to begin.
And for the first time in generations…
**the sky trembled in anticipation.**
---
**End of Chapter 73**