The Hidden Dragon Tournament requires students from both the junior and intermediate classes to participate. In reality, however, the junior classes merely serve as foils for the intermediate classes. After all, given the vast gap between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Void Core Realm, for a junior class student to place on the rankings—to put it in three words: impossible!
Yet there are exceptions to every rule. A monstrous talent from the top junior class could defeat Void Core Realm opponents above their level and thus contend for the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
The academy’s intent is very straightforward: to give the junior class students ample opportunity for practical trials.
There are twenty-two junior classes in total. Su Chen has been assigned to the twenty-second class. Across all the junior classes combined, there are roughly four to five thousand students.
Behind the valley lies a vast forest. All the top-tier ferocious beasts have been thoroughly driven out, leaving only beasts that are still within the students' capacity to handle.
The forest is divided into two sections, where the Hidden Dragon Tournament and the Hundred Battles Tournament take place simultaneously.
Regardless of their class, students have the freedom to choose whether or not to participate; the academy does not compel anyone to join the fray.
The instructor had merely asked whether he intended to participate, leaving the final decision to Su Chen.
The tournament lasts for ten days, and today is already the third day. Furthermore, the competition is not just about seizing a spot on the rankings; ranked students earn points, and participants also receive reward points.
Points are vital to the students. Whether one wishes to enter a specific cultivation ground or exchange them for items, points are indispensable.
To put it simply:
No matter how many gold coins you have, they are utterly useless within the academy—points are the only currency that matters.
Without points, every step is a struggle.
"Teacher, I wish to participate in the Hidden Dragon Tournament. How do I get there?"
"The Hidden Dragon Tournament has already begun. I will have one of the academy's flying beasts take you."
"Thank you, Teacher."
The Golden Kui Eagle is one of the Eastern Wasteland Academy's flying beasts.
In just half an hour, Su Chen arrived at the entrance of the forest. Dozens of instructors were stationed there; after all, if any trouble arose, they could rush in at a moment's notice.
"Level 8 Foundation Establishment Realm. Not bad, you may enter."
After checking his identity token, Su Chen met with no obstruction and walked straight into the forest.
"Old Wang, he's at Level 8 Foundation Establishment Realm—why was he assigned to the twenty-second class?"
Instructor Wang shook his head helplessly and said, "I have no idea. I find it baffling myself. Logically speaking, a Level 8 Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator should be able to enter the top five classes. But this was a personal directive from the Dean."
Hearing that it was a direct order from the Dean, all the instructors were surprised, as the Dean almost never intervened in the academy's class assignments.
"Looks like another one who got in through the back door."
"Yeah, the Dean despises students who rely on connections more than anything. No matter how high their innate talent is, they get assigned to the lowest classes unless they advance strictly through their own potential and talent."
"Alright, let's keep our eyes on the tournament."
Dense woods.
Towering ancient trees blocked out the sky, and the gloomy clouds cast a heavy, oppressive mood over everything.
The Eastern Wasteland Forest is a forbidden zone of the Eastern Wasteland Academy. Aside from the students, no outsiders of any kind are permitted to step even half a step inside.
According to the instructors, all the apex ferocious beasts in this forest have been completely driven out, and the remaining beasts are ones the students should be able to handle, though accidents are always possible.
The identity token in everyone's possession contains a special power. By fusing one's soul with this power, one can summon the assistance of the instructors and thus leave the forest.
Whether it was bad luck or not:
Scarcely had he stepped into the forest—not even half an hour had passed—when he was targeted by a ferocious beast.
A Foundation Establishment Realm beast posed no challenge to Su Chen whatsoever.
With a flick of his hand, he obliterated and devoured it.
"Looks like I've been marked."
In the Hidden Dragon Tournament, every student's identity token holds a special point value, used exclusively for the Hidden Dragon Rankings.
Competitors vie for these special points; the more points one accumulates, the higher the ranking.
Here:
There are no classmates, only the contest for points.
Even the students from the junior classes are unwilling to give up. Even if they can manage to stay on the Hidden Dragon Rankings for just one minute, they will receive generous point rewards.
Being targeted by someone is entirely expected.
Dusting off his hands, Su Chen looked ahead and said, "Since you've locked onto me, why hide your head and tail? Come on out."
"Impressive. To actually be able to detect my presence—not bad at all."
A young man stepped out from behind a large tree. Standing only one meter sixty tall, with a chubby face and a pair of small eyes, he smiled and said, "You look unfamiliar. Which class are you from?"
"The twenty-second class."
"Oh? So you're just some trash from the twenty-second class."
Trash?
Seeing the trace of surprise flash across the other's face, Yan Kai seemed to realize something and smiled. "Looks like you're a newly arrived student who hasn't even reported yet. How tragic. Do you even have any idea what the twenty-second class means in the Eastern Wasteland Academy?"
Before Su Chen could speak, Yan Kai sneered, "There are twenty-two junior classes in total. Among them, the twenty-second junior class is hailed by the academy as the absolute worst junior class. There are only nine students in that class, making a total of ten including you."
So that was how it was.
Su Chen could read the deep contempt in the young man's eyes.
It seemed his class was certainly no respectable assignment, but it mattered little to him anyway. His purpose in coming to the Eastern Wasteland Academy in the first place was to buy himself time and use the academy as a deterrent against the Su Clan.
"Hand over the points in your token, and I won't harm a hair on your head."
The rules of the Hidden Dragon Tournament explicitly forbid any fatalities. Whoever violates this rule, regardless of who they are, will at the very least be expelled from the academy, and at worst be executed on the spot.
However, injuries are inevitable when competing for points, and in such cases, the academy chooses to turn a blind eye.
Without further nonsense, Su Chen's figure vanished from the spot in an instant.
"You—"
Before the word could leave his lips, Su Chen materialized directly in front of him. Looking at the youth standing inches away, Yan Kai shivered involuntarily, his face a mask of shock.
"Level 8 Foundation Establishment Realm!"
He himself was only at Level 6 Foundation Establishment Realm, yet he never imagined that a piece of trash from the twenty-second class would actually possess the strength of a Level 8 Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.
The more he thought about it, the less it made sense. According to the academy's rules, a Level 8 Foundation Establishment Realm student was fully qualified to enter the top five classes—why on earth would he end up in the dead-last junior class?
Before Yan Kai could react:
He was sent flying by a kick from Su Chen, crashing heavily to the ground.
There was no need to even release his Blood Wheel; with a gap of two minor realms, Su Chen was more than capable of defeating him in seconds.
"Points."
Yan Kai's expression turned unsightly. He drew his identity token from his robe. The moment the two tokens touched, a point instantly transferred into Su Chen's identity token.
Watching the retreating figure vanish into the distance, Yan Kai muttered to himself, "He must have used the back door to enter the twenty-second class despite being at Level 8 Foundation Establishment Realm."
With already two points in his identity token, Su Chen decided to take the initiative. The instructors had made it crystal clear: points represented everything within the academy.
Whether he wanted to enter a specific training ground or trade for items, points were required—gold coins were entirely useless here.
If he wanted to climb the Hidden Dragon Rankings and earn points, his only option was to proactively hunt for them.
A student's token carried a single special point. As for how many points were needed to make the Hidden Dragon Rankings, he had yet to find out.
***
Ye Fei, Chu Yang, and Bai Li had formed a small team, searching for their own prey. All three were at Level 2 Void Core Realm and hailed from the 18th Intermediate Class.
Much like the junior classes, there were twenty-two intermediate classes. The higher the number, the greater the class tier, granting access to more abundant cultivation resources.
During the Hidden Dragon Tournament, some students temporarily formed teams to drastically increase their chances of securing points.
"Senior Brother Ye, Senior Brother Chu, the Hidden Dragon Tournament has already been going on for three days, and we haven't even obtained a single point. If this keeps up, getting onto the Hidden Dragon Rankings is probably going to be rather unlikely."
None of the students wanted to give up; everyone wanted a place on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, which was not only a symbol of prestige but also yielded substantial tangible rewards—with points being the most direct of them all.
Ye Fei let out a deep sigh and said helplessly, "The competition in the Hidden Dragon Tournament is simply too fierce. Just holding onto the points we already have can be considered quite an achievement. The other students are all out there plundering the points of the junior class students, while the three of us are just acting like fools."
"Forget it. We were once junior class students ourselves, and we had our points snatched away by people from the intermediate classes back then. I'm sure you haven't forgotten how helpless and frustrated we felt."
Bai Li nodded and said, "Senior Brother Chu is entirely right. Even if I have to give up on the Hidden Dragon Rankings, I refuse to prey on the junior class students."
Just at that moment:
Seeing the young man who suddenly appeared before them, all three looked startled.
"Three seniors, I am Su Chen, from the junior class. I find the points in your three identity tokens rather interesting. If you don't mind, why not hand your points over to me?"
What?
The three of them were somewhat dumbfounded. If students from the intermediate classes had stepped out to rob them of their points, it would at least make some sense; but this opponent came merely from the junior class—meaning he had to be in the Foundation Establishment Realm—yet he actually dared to covet the points in their hands.
Were they joking?
It was almost laughable. In almost every Hidden Dragon Tournament, junior class students never dared to rob intermediate class students of their points, given the undeniable gap between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Void Core Realm. Of course, there were occasional monstrous exceptions—those who, despite being in the junior class and stuck in the Foundation Establishment Realm, possessed the power to suppress Void Core Realm opponents above their level.
Even the most even-tempered people have their limits. They had deliberately avoided the junior classes, trying their best not to bully the weak, yet they never expected someone to be this arrogant.
***
Filled with anger.
Cold eyes fixed upon the young man before them; how could they not be furious at being targeted and robbed of their points by a junior class student?
Chu Yang laughed.
"Aren't you being a bit too reckless, Your Excellency? Do you really think you can take on three of us by yourself?"
Utterly arrogant!
Yet Chu Yang and Ye Fei knew very well that a student from the junior class would never act so rashly without absolute confidence. After all, trying to rob intermediate class students of their points without adequate preparation often ended in utter humiliation—losing the bait without catching the fish.
Voluntarily handing over their points was out of the question.
Points were the very foundation of the Hidden Dragon Tournament; if they couldn't even protect their own points, how could they ever dream of seizing others'?
Above all else, there was the matter of face. If the three of them were to have their points plundered by a junior class student and word got back to the academy, they would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the entire institution.
Su Chen smiled. "Three seniors, I would rather not resort to force. I hope you will obediently hand over your points."
Bai Li snapped, thoroughly enraged. "Enough of this insolence! I want to see just how a single person of your caliber plans to defeat the three of us combined."
This battle could not be lost.
They couldn't afford to lose!
All three simultaneously released their Blood Wheels, radiating formidable auras as their faces twisted into grim expressions.
They struck first.
Like a trio of hunting leopards, they surged directly toward their target. Their goal was simple: crush this person, seize the points he held, and teach him a harsh lesson about the consequences of arrogance.
Before they even reached him, the terrifying pressure of their fused Blood Wheels rolled over him in crushing waves, resembling soaring raptors plunging upon a helpless hare, shrouded in boundless rage.
They held back no caution or contempt; they could sense the unshakable confidence radiating from the young man's face.
Without absolute certainty, no one would dare provoke them.
Their Blood Wheels coalesced into the phantom of a sword imbued with slaughter, hovering silently within the wheel. The blade hummed with a fierce roar, accompanied by a tyrannical sweep of sword qi.
Su Chen's figure abruptly vanished from where he stood, leaving behind only trailing afterimages. The fierce joint assault of the three struck empty air, though their reactions were swift enough.
Noticing the sudden disappearance of their target, they instantly locked onto the flashing afterimages and struck out at Su Chen once more with ferocious momentum.
*Such incredible speed!*
*End this quickly!*
Shock rippled through their hearts. They hadn't expected Su Chen to possess such astonishing speed, leaving behind a trail of realistic afterimages.
Like a phantom, Su Chen materialized directly behind Bai Li.
"Junior Sister Bai, watch out!"
"Too late."
Su Chen's voice was chillingly cold. Using his fingers in place of a sword, a sharp beam of sword qi swept outward. He didn't deliver a fatal blow—after all, this was the Eastern Wasteland Academy, where the rules explicitly forbade any loss of life in the Hidden Dragon Tournament.
He had no intention of testing the academy's bottom line.
The edge of the sword qi came to a halt right behind Bai Li's head, leaving a gap no thicker than a fingernail. If Su Chen so desired, he could have taken Bai Li's life at any moment.
"Please show mercy!"
"We are willing to hand over our points!"
They couldn't simply stand by and watch Bai Li get injured; if an accident happened and she came to any harm, three points wouldn't even begin to make up for it.
Bai Li broke out in a cold sweat. Turning around slowly, she stared at the sword qi that had been resting right against her skin, terror gripping her to her very core. As a dignified Level 2 Void Core Realm cultivator—and fighting alongside two others—she hadn't even been able to withstand a single move from him. It felt utterly surreal.
"We three sincerely admire Junior Brother Su's strength. I am certain that when the Hidden Dragon Tournament concludes, the Hidden Dragon Rankings will undoubtedly feature Junior Brother Su's name."
Ye Fei spoke with utmost sincerity, offering no exaggerated flattery. Through their brief clash just moments ago, they could clearly perceive that Su Chen's strength was genuinely formidable.
Taking on three opponents at once and suppressing Bai Li in a single move—regardless of whether they wanted to believe it, the facts were right before their eyes. Had the battle continued, defeat was certain.
Seeing the three of them pull out their identity tokens, Su Chen showed no false courtesy. He pressed the tokens together, and after three swift flashes, the three points smoothly transferred into his own token.
Cupping his fists in a salute to the trio, Su Chen asked, "Three senior brothers, may I ask where in the Eastern Wasteland Forest one might find spiritual herbs capable of healing the soul?"
Unable to purchase medicinal pills for the time being, Su Chen had noticed that the Purple Fox's condition was worsening, and its soul could fragment at any second. Since he had chosen to take the creature in, he had to find a way to stabilize its injuries.
"Is Junior Brother Su's soul injured?"
Su Chen made no attempt to hide the truth. "I took in an injured beast whose soul suffered severe trauma. It urgently needs spiritual herbs or pills to recover."
Even if he could exchange for pills once inside the academy, it required points, and he feared the Purple Fox wouldn't last that long.
This was the territory of the Eastern Wasteland Academy. In such a boundless forest, Su Chen refused to believe there were no soul-healing spiritual herbs to be found.
Chu Yang pondered for a moment, then retrieved a medicinal pill from his spatial ring. "The grade of this pill isn't very high, but take it for now."
"I also have a Purple Soul Pill here of a fairly high grade."
Su Chen didn't stand on ceremony; he accepted both pills, drew out his identity token, and before the three could react, transferred their respective points right back to them.
"Junior Brother Su, what is the meaning of this? We gave you those pills, but we didn't mean to take our points back."
Su Chen shook his head. "I wish to make friends with the three of you."
The three of them were genuinely decent people. Back in Panyou City, Su Chen had endured heavy blows, betrayed even by his own cousin and eldest uncle.
Yet when he had robbed these three of their points, they had still been willing to offer him medicinal pills. Furthermore, he could see in their eyes that their gesture wasn't a transaction to buy back their points.
Chu Yang nodded and smiled. "In that case, we won't refuse. Let me introduce us properly. All three of us are from the 18th Intermediate Class. I am Chu Yang, this is Ye Fei, and this is Bai Li."
"As for spiritual herbs, I do know of a place. However, that location is guarded by a ferocious beast, and you are very likely to run into formidable senior students there."
"Where is it?" Su Chen asked eagerly without missing a beat.
Ye Fei looked at the young man before him and ultimately revealed the location. As for whether Su Chen chose to go or not, that would be up to him.
"Many thanks, three senior brothers. I have matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."
"Take care."
Watching the figure turn and depart, Ye Fei sighed with lingering emotion, "His innate talent and potential are both immense. To be able to defeat the three of us combined while punching above his weight—I believe it won't be long before Junior Brother Su makes a dazzling impression upon entering the academy."
"He is definitely someone worth befriending."
"Looks like the three of us are destined to miss out on the Hidden Dragon Rankings this time. Let's just treat it as a practical trial and strive to make a breakthrough soon so we can advance to a higher class."
"Agreed."
***
A starlit night blanketed the entire Eastern Wasteland Forest in darkness.
A solitary crescent moon hung lonely in the vast sky.
Beneath the gloomy canopy of the forest night, the roars of ferocious beasts echoed from time to time, making the night far more perilous than the day.
Before a crackling campfire.
Su Chen stroked the Purple Fox's fur, gazing down at it quietly. Having consumed the two pills, the fox's breathing had visibly stabilized quite a bit.
Yet its injuries were far from fully healed and could flare up at any moment.
He had no choice but to head to the location Ye Fei had mentioned, find a suitable spiritual herb, and have the fox ingest it.
"Nine people."
Thinking back to the worst junior class the three had spoken of during the day, Su Chen couldn't help a wry smile.
Among the twenty-two junior classes, only his twenty-second class was dubbed the worst junior class, boasting a grand total of ten students including himself.
Tucking the Purple Fox gently inside his robe, Su Chen sat cross-legged, circulating the *Ancestral Phoenix Nirvana Scripture* and the *Primal Demonic-God Scripture* within his body to steady his mind and anchor his spiritual core.
Demonic-god qi began to gather within him. Following the cultivation trajectory of the *Primal Demonic-God Scripture*, Su Chen's hands moved in a blur, continuously forming hand seals.
A vast, towering surge of demonic-god qi rapidly condensed into an oppressive seal before Su Chen, radiating a tyrannical aura.
A terrifying, icy demonic-god pressure enveloped him. Suddenly opening his eyes, he lashed out, striking fiercely toward the empty space before him.
The air shuddered, and a tyrannical shockwave rippled outward, carrying an aura of death that chilled the soul.
Demonic-God Death Seal?