The days in the Heavenly Jade Sect seemed to pass in a blur for Souta. With every encounter, every challenge, his reputation grew. Not just for his strength, but for his undeniable confidence, his shameless nature, and his complete disregard for what others thought of him.
Everywhere he went, eyes followed him. Women were drawn to his power, to his presence. The elders watched him with a mix of awe and frustration. They could see his potential, but they also knew he was not someone they could control. That realization made them wary.
But it didn't matter to Souta. For him, power was everything. And right now, he was the most powerful being in the entire sect. The thought of being challenged seemed almost laughable at this point.
However, as time went on, the boredom that had plagued him in the beginning began to creep in. He had already surpassed all the elites of the sect. The so-called challenges that had once seemed exciting had lost their luster. It wasn't enough to simply crush everyone who came before him.
He needed something more. Something… grander.
It was then that a new opportunity arrived, one that would finally test his limits.
---
The sect's grand arena was packed with cultivators from all over the land. An announcement had been made that an extremely rare and powerful event would take place—a tournament to determine the strongest cultivator in the land. The prize? An artifact that could amplify one's cultivation by tenfold. For someone like Souta, that sounded almost too easy. But the artifact wasn't what interested him. No, it was the challenge.
He stood at the entrance to the arena, surrounded by countless eyes. His golden eyes swept over the crowd, his confidence unabashed as ever. His hands were in his pockets, and he walked slowly, purposefully, through the gathering crowd. Even the strongest cultivators in the arena felt a shiver run down their spines as he passed by. His presence alone was enough to make them hesitate.
Souta felt the eyes of women everywhere. They looked at him with admiration, with curiosity, with awe—and yes, even desire. It was something he relished. It was intoxicating, knowing that he could get any woman he wanted, simply by existing.
But as he reached the center of the arena, the true challenge presented itself. The tournament had drawn in the strongest disciples, the finest cultivators in the land, and among them stood someone who caught his attention.
A woman. Not just any woman. A cultivator of immense beauty, with long flowing hair, eyes as dark as the night, and a demeanor so regal, so commanding, it was hard to imagine she wasn't born to rule.
She stood at the head of her faction, surrounded by her loyal followers, her gaze fixed on Souta as if she were evaluating him.
Souta couldn't help but smile. This was exactly what he had been waiting for. A challenge—not just in strength, but in spirit.
"You must be the so-called prodigy of Heavenly Jade Sect," the woman said, her voice smooth, almost melodic. "I've heard of you."
"And I've heard of you," Souta replied with a smirk. "Aren't you the disciple of the Celestial Empress?"
The woman's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes. "I am. And you are far too confident for your own good."
Souta chuckled, his smirk widening. "Confidence is all I have. And right now, it's the only thing that matters."
---
The tournament began, and it didn't take long for the matchups to get underway. Souta's first opponent was a powerful disciple from the Fire Phoenix Sect, a man known for his mastery of fire-based techniques. He was strong, no doubt. But as soon as the match began, it became clear that his fire couldn't touch Souta. Every strike was effortlessly avoided or countered with a flick of his wrist.
The crowd watched in disbelief as Souta's power overwhelmed his opponent at every turn. With a single movement, he sent the man flying across the arena, crashing into the protective barriers. The match ended in an instant, with the Fire Phoenix disciple unable to even land a single hit on him.
Souta stood in the center of the arena, his posture relaxed, unfazed by the display of his power.
The next few matches followed the same pattern. Souta's opponents were strong, yes. But they were nothing compared to him. His strength and speed were unmatched. Even the strongest sect leaders couldn't hold a candle to his overwhelming abilities.
---
Finally, after defeating numerous opponents, it was time for the ultimate match. The woman from the Celestial Empress faction stepped onto the arena floor, her eyes locked with Souta's.
"You've beaten every single opponent, but can you defeat me?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of challenge.
Souta grinned. "I guess we'll see."
As soon as the match began, the atmosphere in the arena shifted. The woman's cultivation was impressive. Her techniques were precise, her movements graceful and powerful. But every time she struck, Souta was already one step ahead. He dodged and countered with effortless ease.
But what intrigued him more than her strength was the look in her eyes. There was no fear. No hesitation. Just a fierce determination.
"You're strong," Souta said, his voice full of admiration. "But not strong enough."
With that, he moved.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared before her, his hand gripping her wrist in a flash of motion. He had her pinned in an instant, her body frozen in place by the sheer force of his power.
The crowd gasped. No one had ever seen someone so powerful. The woman struggled, but it was futile. Souta's grip tightened, but he didn't apply any more force. He didn't need to. He had already won.
The woman's expression was unreadable for a moment, but then she let out a soft sigh. "I see now. You truly are the strongest."
Souta released her wrist and took a step back. "I told you. Power is all that matters. And right now, it's mine."
The crowd erupted in applause. Souta had done it again. He had defeated the Celestial Empress's disciple, proving that no one, not even the most powerful cultivators in the land, could challenge him.
---
As the tournament came to a close, Souta stood in the center of the arena, his hands on his hips. The prize, the artifact that amplified cultivation, lay before him. But he didn't care about it. He had already surpassed any limits that the artifact could provide. What mattered now was the journey.
And as the crowd cheered for him, he couldn't help but smirk. The world was his playground. And he was just getting started.