Immortal Paladin

From what I had gathered, the participants had to be under fifty years old. Not that it really mattered to me—I had no way of gauging anyone’s strength beyond pure observation. And even that had its limits.

I sighed, watching as the gambling attendants made their final rounds.

“The betting period has officially closed!” one of them announced, waving a scroll above his head.

Damn. I didn’t even get to place a bet.

Not that I would’ve known who to bet on, anyway. My lack of Qi Sense put me at a severe disadvantage when it came to evaluating cultivators. Sure, I could analyze body language, movement efficiency, and maybe even some surface-level martial techniques, but that wasn’t enough. Strength in this world wasn’t just about skill—it was about Qi, and that was something I couldn’t perceive.

And with over two hundred contestants, even abusing my Intelligence stat wouldn’t help much.

I set aside my disappointment and focused back on the arena.

Liang Na stepped forward again, raising a hand for silence.

“Honored guests, fellow cultivators, and citizens of Yellow Dragon City,” she declared. “Before the test commence, we shall first hear a few words from our sovereign—Lord Ren Jin.”

At that moment, movement stirred in the VIP box.

A figure stepped forward, dressed in elegant yet understated robes. His attire was embroidered with golden patterns resembling a dragon’s scales, and his posture carried an effortless grace.

The sovereign of Yellow Dragon City.

Ren Jin looked young—about my age, actually. That threw me off for a second. He’s the ruler of this place?

Then he spoke.

His voice was gentle, yet it reached every corner of the arena, as if the wind itself carried his words.

“My people,” he began, “this past decade has been one of trials and perseverance.”

His gaze swept across the crowd. “We have faced hardships, yet we have grown stronger. We have endured storms, yet we have not fallen. And through it all, Yellow Dragon City has stood proud and unyielding.”

A wave of murmurs passed through the audience. Some nodded in agreement, while others listened with rapt attention.

Ren Jin’s lips curled into a small smile. “Today, we gather not just to witness a tournament but to celebrate the spirit of those who dare to rise above. These cultivators standing before you are the future. The strong shall prevail, and from them, new legends shall be born.”

He raised a hand, and his voice rang clear with finality.

“Let the tournament for Yellow Dragon’s Heroes… begin!”

The arena erupted into thunderous applause.

The moment Lord Ren gave the signal, the contenders erupted into motion.

Their Qi burst forth like an explosion of nearly invisible ectoplasm, spreading through the arena in waves. It was an eerie yet fascinating sight—an entire battlefield of warriors, each radiating their own unique energy.

I couldn’t sense Qi in the traditional way, but my Perception stat was still high enough to register the distortions in the air. It felt like standing in the middle of a storm without actually feeling the wind.

”Huh,” I muttered. ”So this is what it looks like when a bunch of cultivators get serious.”

Gu Jie, who was watching intently, scoffed. ”This is nothing. Just a bunch of posturing before the real fighting starts.”

That caught my attention. ”Speaking of which, you used to be at Third Realm before, right? Any idea what realm that Enforcer and City Governor are at?”

Gu Jie perked up at the question, eager to prove herself useful. ”Well, I don’t have the senses of a Second Realm cultivator anymore, but I still have my experience,” she said, rubbing her chin. ”For the Chief Enforcer to be able to project her voice like that, she should at least be at Third Realm.”

Chief Enforcer?

It looked like Liang Na was a bigger figure than I initially thought.

I glanced back at the arena, taking another look at the enforcer standing proudly at the center of the battlefield.

As if on cue, Liang Na took a step forward and released a controlled pulse of energy.

”I am at the Will-Reinforcement Realm!” she declared, her voice ringing through the arena once again. “Chief Enforcer of Yellow Dragon Armed Forces, Liang Na! In the name of my liege, I shall conduct this Elimination Round thoroughly and fairly for the sake of honest competition.”

Gu Jie grinned smugly. ”See? Told you.”

I chuckled. ”Alright, you got one right. What about Lord Ren?”

Gu Jie’s expression turned contemplative. ”That one’s harder to guess. The way he projected his voice, the way his presence filled the entire arena… that kind of control isn’t something a Third Realm cultivator can casually pull off.” She shook her head. ”He’s definitely stronger. At least Fourth Realm, maybe higher.”

I hummed in thought, turning my attention back to Liang Na.

She stood at the center of the arena, radiating authority. My Perception stat wasn’t my strongest, but it was still superhuman compared to a normal person’s. And right now, that meant I could see something most people couldn’t.

A thin layer of power coated Liang Na’s entire body, a shimmering aura that pulsed in sync with her movements. It was subtle, but undeniable.

Interesting.

So if I paid close enough attention, I could distinguish cultivation realms, even without Qi Sense.

That was good to know.

The moment Liang Na released her aura, the entire arena shifted.

A heavy, oppressive presence descended like a storm cloud, pressing down on the contestants. The sheer weight of it made several cultivators stagger, their knees buckling as they struggled to remain standing. Others weren’t as lucky—one by one, participants began dropping unconscious where they stood, their bodies crumpling like puppets with cut strings.

Liang Na’s voice rang across the battlefield. ”I SHALL NOW BEGIN!”

Her words were punctuated by an even thicker wave of malicious intent, wrapping around the remaining cultivators like a noose.

I frowned. That’s kinda overpowered.

This was just the Third Realm?

Beside me, Gu Jie shuddered, her face slightly pale.

”This is what separates realms,” she murmured, hugging herself. ”What she’s doing isn’t just radiating her Qi—she’s expressing her Willpower to the world. More specifically… her Killing Intent.”

I raised an eyebrow. ”She’s scaring them unconscious?”

Gu Jie nodded. ”It’s like a blizzard of raw pressure. The stronger your will, the better you can withstand it. But for those below her level, it’s unbearable. Their minds collapse before their bodies do.”

I glanced at the arena. The few still standing were visibly struggling, their faces drenched in sweat as they clenched their fists and gritted their teeth.

”And what about normal people?” I asked.

Gu Jie exhaled. ”They wouldn’t feel anything.”

I blinked. ”Wait, really?”

Was it due to the lack of cultivation? Maybe I coould tank this?

She nodded. ”Killing Intent is a battle instinct meant to suppress other cultivators. Mortals wouldn’t even register it. Especially the untrained.” She smirked slightly. ”It’s why nobles and rich merchants can sit and watch these kinds of fights without fainting in their seats.”

I hummed in thought. So suppression abilities scale based on the opponent’s cultivation…

Good to know.

But still, this meant Liang Na wasn’t just strong—she had mastery over her willpower. The fact that she could apply it in such a controlled manner spoke volumes.

This was shaping up to be an interesting tournament.

Alright. I’ve decided.

This was a precious learning opportunity for me.

One by one, the weaker cultivators below were kicked straight into dreamland, their bodies sprawled across the arena floor like scattered marbles. Within seconds, the field had thinned considerably, leaving only those who could endure Liang Na’s overwhelming presence.

I leaned forward, observing closely.

Some of them were trembling but remained upright through sheer force of will. Others stood tall, unshaken, their gazes burning with defiance. Interesting.

Within moments, the true contenders made themselves apparent. Roughly ten people remained standing.

I turned to Gu Jie. ”Has anyone ever died to something like this before?”

Gu Jie shook her head. ”None that I know of, Master. Theoretically, it should be impossible. I mean, would you die just because someone imagined you dying?”

Her analogy was interesting.

I nodded. ”Fair point.”

Before I could ask more, Liang Na’s voice rang out, clear and confident.

”I am going to increase the pressure now.”

Her declaration wasn’t just for the contestants—it was loud enough for everyone to hear, including the commoners in the bleachers and the VIPs above. She was making a show out of it.

A heartbeat later, her aura burst forth like a storm.

The sheer intensity of her killing intent expanded, growing heavier, sharper—like an invisible guillotine pressing against those below.

The ten remaining contenders stood unflinching.

Gasps of awe erupted from the crowd.

Commoners, independent warriors, and even some lower-ranked cultivators murmured in astonishment.

I simply watched, fascinated.

This wasn’t just a test of cultivation—it was a display of willpower.

Gu Jie leaned forward, her eyes alight with recognition as she observed the ten cultivators who had endured Liang Na’s killing intent. ”Look at them,” she whispered. ”I recognize a few of them. The remaining contenders seem to be members of the Seven Grand Clans and the Three Great Sects of the Riverfall Continent.”

I followed her gaze, scanning the arena.

Among the remaining contenders, I quickly picked out a familiar face—Kang Shi of the Fighting Clan. He stood tall, his aura flaring with barely restrained aggression.

Gu Jie nudged me and pointed at another figure. ”That’s Lu Gao of the Road Clan,” she said, lowering her voice as if the name alone demanded reverence. ”You can tell from the emblem on his sleeve—the endless road symbol. His clan believes in expansion and ambition above all else.”

I squinted at the figure she pointed out. Lu Gao stood with his arms crossed, his expression unbothered, as if Liang Na’s pressure was nothing more than a light breeze. He had an aura of unshakable confidence—the kind of person who never considered losing an option.

Before I could examine the rest, one of the ten contenders suddenly swayed and collapsed.

Gu Jie sighed. ”That’s Xun De of the Seeker Clan. See that single character for Seek stitched on his robe?”

I nodded.

”His clan prides itself on searching for ancient knowledge and lost techniques,” she continued. ”But I guess his willpower wasn’t enough to stand with the others.”

Liang Na, unaffected by the loss, raised her voice again. ”I will increase the pressure once more!”

A fresh wave of killing intent surged forth.

The air turned heavier, the atmosphere thick with an oppressive weight. Yet—no one else fell. The nine remaining cultivators endured, their stances firm.

The crowd murmured in admiration.

Gu Jie, unfazed, kept providing commentary. She gestured toward three specific cultivators in the arena. ”See them? The ones with the cloud symbol, the sword character, and the isolation character?”

I nodded.

”They must be representatives from the Three Great Sects,” she explained. ”The Cloud Mist Sect, the Sword Canopy Sect, and the Isolation Path Sect.”

That made sense. Their presence alone was proof of their sects’ standing.

Suddenly, Liang Na spread her hands open.

Nine faint orbs of energy manifested above her, hovering in a perfect formation.

Then, in an instant, the orbs shot forward, each one targeting a different contestant.

The reaction was immediate.

The contenders moved—some dodging, others bracing themselves—but one stood out in particular.

Kang Shi.

The moment the orb struck him, it shifted shape—transforming into a spectral snake that bit into his shoulder.

Kang Shi’s body locked up. His limbs stiffened. Then—he collapsed, his expression frozen in shock.

Gu Jie gasped in admiration. ”Did you see that?”

I did.

More clearly than I imagined.

I turned to her. ”What was that?”

Gu Jie frowned, deep in thought. ”It was probably a martial spell of sorts… or maybe a qi-manifested attack.” Then, as if realizing she was being tested, she quickly added, ”Qi manifestation is invisible to Martial-Tempering Realm cultivators like me. We are more used to circulating qi inside our bodies instead of externalizing it like this.”

I raised an eyebrow.

She hesitated. ”...Was that right? Did I get it right, Master?”

I just stared at her.

Gu Jie fidgeted under my gaze, clearly eager to prove herself.

After a moment, I gave a slight nod. ”Good to know.”

She exhaled, looking relieved.

Yeah. This had been really educational.