Chapter 144: Masked Candidate (Part-1)

“That’s the control zone of the Eight Palace Battle Hall,” Wang Bi’er explained. “You enter the barrier first, then place your hand on that area. From there, you can initiate matches with disciples from the Eight Palaces of the Outer House.”

“Oh.” Ryan nodded and prepared to step inside the barrier as instructed, but Wang Bi’er suddenly stopped him.

“What is it?” Ryan asked, confused.

“Brother Li, put this on first.” Wang Bi’er produced a white mask from somewhere in her sleeve. The mask was exquisitely carved, delicate and elegant, adorned with graceful patterns that carried a distinctly feminine charm.

“This is… a mask?” Ryan looked at her in surprise, then immediately understood her intention. He smiled. “Bi’er, you really are thoughtful.”

“Even though your temporary number doesn’t reveal your identity, anyone who spars with you can still remember your appearance,” Wang Bi’er said gently. “If your face becomes known, it could cause unnecessary trouble. Wearing this mask will make things safer.”

“Thank you, Bi’er,” Ryan said sincerely.

He took the mask and placed it over his face. A faint fragrance lingered on it, light and pleasant, clearly belonging to its original owner. Though his handsome features were concealed, his tall frame and calm, detached aura still radiated an unmistakable sense of mystery and presence.

Once everything was ready, Ryan stepped into the energy barrier. The door to the room shut automatically, and the red light outside turned on, signaling the start of a match.

Inside the barrier, Ryan placed his hand on the slightly opaque control zone, just as Wang Bi’er had instructed. The surface rippled like water, and lines of information appeared before his eyes.

Temporary Number: 59416

Level: Unknown

Wins: 0

Losses: 0

Rating: Unknown

Status: Unranked

Matchmaking request?

Looking at the panel, Ryan felt an odd sense of déjà vu. For a brief moment, it seemed less like an ancient martial institution and more like the interface of the God of War system itself.

Western Mansion’s methods were astonishingly advanced. Even temporary participants could be recorded and quantified in such precise, data-like form. What kind of immense power supported such an operation?

Of course, Ryan knew Western Mansion did not possess a system like his, but the resemblance was uncanny and fascinating.

He hesitated only briefly before selecting “Yes.”

The moment he confirmed, light engulfed his vision. The room, the barrier, Wang Bi’er, Mu Xianling—everything vanished. He found himself standing in a vast, featureless white space. The ground, the sky, and the surroundings were all the same blinding white, with no sense of distance or direction. It felt endless and disorienting.

Then, after a short while, light surged again.

When Ryan opened his eyes, he was no longer in the white void. He now stood on a broad, circular battle platform. Across from him stood a disciple of Western Mansion.

Bai Jinchen.

A disciple of Li Palace, Bai Jinchen had reached the realm of an Eight-Star Exalt. His cultivation focused on swordsmanship, and his one-handed sword techniques were refined and lethal. In the Outer House rankings, he stood at 1,166, placing him firmly among the upper-middle rank.

Generally, disciples ranked within the top 1,500 were at least Eight-Star or Nine-Star Exalts. While rankings could be close, true strength varied greatly. Some could defeat opponents ranked above them, while others struggled even against lower-ranked foes.

Bai Jinchen was one such exceptional case. As an Eight-Star Exalt, he had surpassed many Nine-Star Exalts and secured his place within the top 1,500.

Earlier that day, Bai Jinchen had made a breakthrough in his swordsmanship and entered the Eight Palace Battle Hall to test himself. He won four consecutive matches, raising his score to 11,636 and climbing from rank 1,166 to 1,155.

Eleven places in one stretch.

He was in an excellent mood.

Then came the fifth match.

Standing before him was a strange opponent.

Not dressed in the robes of a Western Mansion disciple, but in the attire of a candidate.

Even more peculiar was the white, exquisitely carved mask covering the candidate’s face. The mask was elegant and delicate, almost feminine, yet the figure beneath it was tall and upright, unmistakably masculine.

The contrast was striking.

And unsettling.

Bai Jinchen narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of curiosity—and caution—rising in his heart.

As the entrance examination approached, it was no longer rare for candidates to appear in the Eight Palace Battle Hall.

Every year at this time, many hopefuls come here in advance to experience real combat and test themselves against the disciples of Western Mansion.

But this situation… was different.

For Bai Jinchen, encountering a candidate here was highly abnormal.

His current score stood at 11,636, ranking him 1,155 among the Outer House disciples. The matching system of the Eight Palace Battle Hall paired opponents strictly by strength and record. No matter how one looked at it, a candidate should never be matched with someone at his level.

Which candidate could reach over eleven thousand points before even entering Western Mansion? Which candidate could possess the strength of an Eight-Star, or even Nine-Star, Exalt at this stage?

No matter how Bai Jinchen reasoned it out, the situation felt deeply wrong.

“Did the Eight Palace Battle Hall make a mistake?” he muttered under his breath.

Even so, rank and honor were on the line. Regardless of how strange his opponent was, this match had to be won.

With that thought, Bai Jinchen charged forward.

Yet the masked candidate did not move at all.

Seeing this, Bai Jinchen sneered inwardly. “So it really is a misjudgment. Candidates are still candidates in the end. I was overthinking it.”

His disdain deepened. Originally, he had intended to end the fight decisively with a high-grade Sky-rank sword technique. But now, that seemed unnecessary. Dealing with a mere candidate, a lower-grade technique would be more than enough.

“Zi Tang Shura Sword Art!”

With a sharp cry, Bai Jinchen thrust forward. His right hand danced with the blade, sword light flashing coldly through the air. Even with a low-grade Earth-rank technique, his mastery allowed him to unleash power comparable to a mid-grade one.

Most Nine-Star Exalts would not dare face such an attack head-on.

Yet the masked candidate still did not retreat.

When the sword tip was about to pierce his body, the candidate calmly raised his hand and flicked his fingers.

Clang!

A crisp metallic sound echoed.

Bai Jinchen’s expression changed instantly.

A terrifying force surged through his sword, transmitting directly into his arm and body. He was sent staggering backward, retreating more than ten steps before barely regaining balance.

The shock nearly tore the sword from his grasp. He clenched his teeth and held on desperately, but even so, blood surged up his throat, spilling from his lips as his internal organs suffered heavy damage.

If he had lost his sword just now, the humiliation would have been absolute.

In sword cultivation, the sword was life itself. To lose it in combat was no different from defeat.

“Who… who are you?” Bai Jinchen demanded hoarsely, staring at the masked candidate in disbelief. “How can you be this strong? Are you really a candidate?”

From beginning to end, the other party had not taken a single step. With nothing more than two fingers, he had knocked Bai Jinchen back and injured him internally.

This level of strength was utterly overwhelming.

Such a person should not exist among candidates.

For a moment, Bai Jinchen even suspected deception. Perhaps this man was disguising himself as a candidate to confuse opponents.

But the thought vanished as soon as it formed.

With such crushing strength, there was no need for deception at all.

Which meant only one thing.

The person standing before him truly was a candidate.

Realization struck like thunder.

A candidate… stronger than a ranked Outer House disciple?

What kind of monster was this?

“So this is the level of Outer House disciples?” the masked candidate’s calm voice sounded. There was unmistakable disdain in it, as though the result had disappointed him.

That contempt cut deep.

Bai Jinchen’s brows knit tightly as anger surged. “Hmph! You’ve just arrived at Western Mansion and you’re already this arrogant? You don’t even understand basic seniority? I entered Western Mansion before you. By rights, I’m your senior! And you dare speak like this?”

“Oh?” the masked candidate replied indifferently. “If you’re stronger than me, then you’re naturally my senior. But if you’re weaker, why should I call you that? On the Holy Mystic Continent, strength is everything. Do the weak really have the face to demand respect?”

Those words were sharp and merciless.

Bai Jinchen’s face darkened. “Fine! Then let me see just how capable this so-called ’strong one’ really is!”

He tightened his grip on the sword and surged forward once more.

“Pangu Three Slashes!”

“First Slash—Heaven Breaker!”

“Second Slash!”

“Third Slash—Annihilation!”

“Kill!”

Power poured into the blade as inscriptions ignited, bathing the sword in dazzling light. Bai Jinchen’s aura exploded, far surpassing that of an ordinary Nine-Star Exalt, approaching the threshold of a quasi–Upper Exalt.

This was a technique he had not yet fully mastered, but rage drove him to unleash it regardless. Though unrefined, its might was even more terrifying than usual.

Sword light howled, space seemed to tremble, and Bai Jinchen charged with everything he had.

His momentum was monstrous.

But even so…

Fast?

Nope… it’s Too slow.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep