Volume 1, Chapter 20: The Might of the Great Vajra Dragon

Boom!

After the thunderous explosion, Zhang Kaixiang lay on the martial arena like a dead dog. His pupils dilated, foam spilled from his mouth, and his body twitched uncontrollably.

The more he had flaunted before, the faster he lost now.

“Senior, it’s time to announce the match results,” Liu Yiyun said, bowing respectfully toward the judges on the high platform.

Even the low-ranking disciples and the judges themselves were stunned.

Liu Yiyun, a Qi Refinement Stage Seven cultivator, had managed to kill Zhang Kaixiang, a Qi Refinement Stage Eight, in just three moves. In this vast Demon Suppression Prison, he was truly a prodigy.

Such a figure could surely be promoted to an official jailer in the future, becoming their colleague, and perhaps even their superior after centuries. He was definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Of course, this depended on Liu Yiyun’s continued growth. The Demon Suppression Prison had produced many geniuses like him, but most perished along the way.

During the Qi Refinement stage, one faced the daily erosion of demonic energy invading the body; after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, one had to venture out to slay demons and eradicate evil. How could they not perish?

“Ahem, ahem, in this match, Liu Yiyun wins.”

For the next three days, Liu Yiyun spent his time either competing or training with the little snake in his cell.

However, as he reached the late Qi Refinement stage, each advancement demanded more cultivation points. After three days, he had no clue how to break through to the eighth stage.

Amid the crowd’s astonished gazes, Liu Yiyun successfully entered the top ten, becoming the only contestant among them not to have reached Qi Refinement Stage Nine. Some spectators even suspected he was throwing the matches—his opponents and the judges must have been bribed to secure an official jailer position.

The most shocked among them was Zhang Wei in the audience. He knew Liu Yiyun too well. Weren’t they supposed to be weak together, he at Qi Refinement Stage Three and Liu at Stage Two? How did Liu suddenly return from a day off, after supposedly helping his old sow mate, and inexplicably leap to Stage Seven?

Was it true that helping a sow conceive could boost cultivation? He had never heard of such a thing!

Wait... could Liu Yiyun be possessed by a demon?

Zhang Wei was dumbfounded—should he report him or not?

If Liu Yiyun truly was a demon, reporting him would earn him dozens of spirit stones as a reward.

If not, once Liu Yiyun became an official jailer, he would surely make life miserable for him—his life would be over.

After some thought, Zhang Wei decided it wasn’t worth it to report him. It was better to leave such matters to the higher-ups in the Demon Suppression Prison. As a minor figure, he shouldn’t meddle.

Though Liu Yiyun and the other nine had secured their promotions as official jailers, the rewards varied according to rank, so first through tenth place still had to be determined.

“Next match: Liu Yiyun, Qi Refinement Stage Seven, versus Zhao Xing, Perfect Qi Refinement Stage.”

“Ah, it’s a pity for Liu Yiyun. He was a dark horse in this contest, and with his physical strength, he might have made the top four. But he’s unfortunate to meet Zhao Xing, the number one under Foundation Establishment—the ‘Chrysanthemum Spear.’”

“Indeed. It seems his winning streak will end here.”

After Liu Yiyun’s sweeping victories over multiple opponents, including three Qi Refinement Stage Nine cultivators, public opinion shifted in his favor.

Unlike Ye Zihan, who was reckless and boastful, Liu Yiyun was a genuine genius with real reason to be confident.

On the arena, Liu Yiyun and Zhao Xing faced each other from a distance.

Liu Yiyun spoke first: “Brother Zhao, shall we show our weapons?”

Dressed in snow-white robes, Zhao Xing shook his head in reply: “I am at Perfect Qi Refinement and you at Stage Seven. Using weapons would be dishonorable to you, Brother Liu. It wouldn’t be fair.”

They smiled at each other, feeling an instant bond—as if they had known each other forever.

In the next moment, both charged swiftly toward each other.

When they were only a few meters apart, Liu Yiyun shouted: “Duck ascends, gazelle leaps, tiger claws devour pudding!” unleashing three moves from the Black Tiger Afu style.

“Gathering Wind Palm!” Zhao Xing countered with a Qi Refinement spell.

The clash of claw and palm sent a violent ripple across the arena.

Zhao Xing was pushed back three steps, while Liu Yiyun felt his body uncontrollably float backward, almost falling off the platform.

Each spell truly had its unique power.

After the first round, the audience quickly discerned the stronger and weaker, lamenting for Liu Yiyun.

Only the participants and a few judges knew that although Zhao Xing also trained his body, his physical strength was not as great as Liu Yiyun’s. Zhao Xing’s slight advantage came solely from his spellcasting.

Standing firm, Liu Yiyun stretched his muscles and declared loudly: “Brother Zhao, excellent technique. Now I will go all out!”

His words stirred a great commotion.

“What! Liu Yiyun had been holding back all this time?”

Whoosh.

Liu Yiyun’s speed was so swift that those with lower cultivation saw only a blur. Within a breath, he appeared behind Zhao Xing, unleashing the power of the third level of the Secret Body Technique—Bronze Skin and Iron Bones.

He concentrated all his spiritual energy into his right leg.

“Elephant Kick!”

Zhao Xing’s ears twitched; he spun around. Golden light flashed over his arms, guarding his chest tightly.

Bang!

Liu Yiyun felt his kick strike a piece of refined iron, his calf tingling slightly.

Seizing the chance, Zhao Xing leapt back to create distance, then waved his hand. Several fireballs, ice arrows, wooden spikes, and golden beams surged toward Liu Yiyun.

Without the advantage in close combat, Zhao Xing chose to rely on ranged spells.

Liu Yiyun, however, had only learned one technique in the Martial Techniques Tower—the great might of the Eighteen Styles of Heavenly Dragon—and was forced to flee in disarray amid the dense magical assault.

Though he could withstand all spells unscathed by fully activating Bronze Skin and Iron Bones, he dared not do so. Striking a Qi Refinement Stage Nine with Stage Seven power was already conspicuous; he might have drawn suspicion.

Fleeing endlessly was no solution; Liu Yiyun resolved to cast spells himself.

As Zhao Xing unleashed another wave, Liu Yiyun stood firm, no longer dodging, and opened his mouth wide.

“Roar!”

A dragon’s cry echoed across the arena, and strange ripples radiated outward from Liu Yiyun.

Zhao Xing’s spells seemed frozen upon contact with the ripples. Moments later, the fireballs, ice arrows, and wooden spikes fell harmlessly to the ground, and the golden light dissipated in the air.

At this spectacle, the judges on the platform rose in unison.

“The perfected Great Might of the Eighteen Heavenly Dragon Styles.”

“This young man, at such an age, has cultivated both physical training and the Heavenly Dragon to such heights. Truly a cultivation prodigy.”

“This one, our Earth Camp wants him.”

“Hmph! The 13th Division where Little Liu belongs is rightfully ours, the Black Camp’s territory. When did your Earth Camp get the right to snatch him?”

“Uh, fight over him then. Just leave Wang Ergou to our Yellow Camp.”

The crowd buzzed as the rivalry unfolded.