Chapter 242: Cloud Empire (62)

A collective sigh ran through the Coliseum.

The icy intent gradually diminished. The ice around began to crack and dissolve into particles of cold light.

Kyrian’s eyes lost their intense glow. The snowflake-shaped pupils remained but returned to their normal state.

He said nothing.

He only watched Zhao Ren leave the arena, walking with stiff steps, his limbs still whitened by the extreme cold.

Elder Tian declared the victory.

“Victory of Kyrian.”

The name rose once again on the golden panel.

A heavy murmur spread through the stands as soon as the number changed on the golden panel.

Rank 52.

Some spectators still stared at the frozen arena, as if trying to understand what they had just witnessed.

“He… changed again.”

“First, that absurd sword. Now this.”

“This isn’t normal. It isn’t natural.”

In the common stands, the words were cruder.

“That’s a monstrous aberration.”

“Is he even human?”

“Sword in the eye… ice in the eyes… what the hell is that?”

The discomfort was real. The Qi that had emanated from Kyrian moments before was not merely cold. It was absolute. Many weaker cultivators had felt their meridians stiffen even from a distance.

However, in the areas reserved for the more experienced, the atmosphere was different.

Old cultivators in the Spiritual Awakening Realm maintained restrained expressions. Their eyes were not frightened.

They were evaluating.

One of them murmured to the companion beside him.

“It’s not that he’s an aberration.”

“It’s simply an innate talent.”

“Something that manifests in mortals without explanation…”

Another slowly nodded.

“Comparable to the best special physiques… perhaps even to celestial bloodlines.”

In a private room above the arena, isolated by formations, Duke Rong watched in silence. His expression, normally indifferent, carried a rare glint.

“So, this is the legendary innate talent described in only a few books…”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Something that can be compared to celestial physiques and bloodlines.”

He had given the pendant of his house to Kyrian as a wager, and it seemed that it had truly been the right decision.

After a short pause, he spoke.

“I am certain that only the Top 10 of the Coliseum… those at the peak of the Core Formation Realm… will be real opponents for him.” The evaluation was clear.

In the arena, Kyrian had already left the center. Calm steps. Neutral expression. Whenever he switched to the ice eyes, for some reason, he felt his own emotions being slightly suppressed.

He headed once more to the betting counter. The attendant, this time, practically bowed while handing over the spirit stones.

Kyrian received the reward without any external reaction. He had not bet on himself in that fight. The odds were too low. It was not worth it.

He stored the stones in his spatial ring and returned to the exclusive stands of the challengers. The gazes followed him. More than respect… there was caution.

Nan Feng Yu leaned forward.

“It seems you will truly always remain one step ahead of us.”

Kyrian did not respond.

Mo Qian merely observed, silent.

Yun Hao slightly furrowed his brow. He had already faced those eyes. He knew how suffocating it was to fight under that icy intent.

The fights continued. The pace did not slow.

Nan Feng Yu entered the arena shortly after and won his fight with broad and confident movements of wind Qi. He rose to Rank 69.

Qin Luo, from the Gray Blade Sect, demonstrated precise mastery of fast and calculated cuts. He took Rank 70 after a clean victory.

Other external leaders also advanced.

Even Luo Feng, who had started last on the first day, was already back at Rank 80 and continued climbing, defeating opponents with refined sword technique.

The Cloud Coliseum was being rewritten before everyone’s eyes. The old names slowly descended on the golden panel.

The newcomers rose. The bets became increasingly intense. Kyrian watched but did not wager. The fights were becoming unpredictable.

As the challengers climbed, the opponents were more complete. More experienced. A single mistake decided everything. He trusted no one but himself. And for that reason, he would not place his spirit stones on something so uncertain.

He preferred to earn every spirit stone with his own hands.

Among the most talked-about fights of the day, one in particular drew attention. A duel between Rank 77 and a newly arrived challenger who used Sound Qi techniques. The battle turned the arena into a field of cutting vibrations, cracking the ground and forcing the opponent to rupture his own eardrums to continue fighting.

Another brutal fight occurred between Rank 63 and Mo Qian. The impact between fists echoed like the collision of giant bells until both emerged covered in blood, but only one remained standing.

Bai Zhu challenged again and stopped at Rank 71 of the Coliseum.

The second day ended with the sunset staining the clouds above the Coliseum in orange and red.

Exhausted yet energized, the spectators left the place discussing names, probabilities, and rumors.

Kyrian and Bai Zhu left the Coliseum together. This time, they joined Mei Li and other members of the Blood Court for dinner.

The chosen restaurant was busy but reserved in an upper space. They talked about the fights of the day, analyzed opponents, and discussed possible next challenges.

Mei Li watched Kyrian with a mixture of curiosity and silent pride. He was her leader and was representing the Blood Court in the Coliseum. She did not know how far Kyrian would be able to go, but she did not doubt the strength of her leader. In fact, she was even more excited than the others about his fights.

She had also earned a good amount of spirit stones by betting on Kyrian from the beginning. Not only she, but Yan Ling, Kai, and Li Fen had earned enough money to survive comfortably in the capital and buy some basic items at the auction.

After dinner, they parted ways. Mei Li and the others returned to the Crimson Lotus Residence.

Night fell peacefully over the city.

Back at the inn, Kyrian entered a cultivation posture while breathing deeply. He could not cultivate, but he could calm his mind. His objective was still clear. Continue challenging higher and higher in the Coliseum, obtain as many spirit stones as possible, acquire the Blood Formation from the Auction, and the second item, which he needed more than anything else.

After that, he would return to the Blood Court, learn alchemy or formations, and return to the Verdant Sword Domain after a few months, when the Gathering of the Minor Domains would take place.

He also needed to find new black masses of hostility to continue cultivating at high speed and then head to another natural formation. Today, the mark had burned lightly, indicating that a natural formation had appeared not far from there. Perhaps, before returning to the Blood Court, he should stop by there.

Kyrian thought about all his objectives and then, after organizing them, lay down to sleep.

The third day arrived.

Kyrian and Bai Zhu left early. Even so, the lines were already winding through the streets around the Coliseum. Merchants shouted offers. The excitement was greater than on the previous days.

Rumors had spread.

Even before entering, people pointed at Kyrian. He was already famous in the capital.

Kyrian entered among the first through the official ranked entrance. He went to the same guy from the previous day to make his challenge. He liked to make the challenge as quickly as possible, because that way he would be one of the first to fight that day.

Without hesitation, he declared his next challenge.

Rank 45 of the Coliseum.

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