Chapter 138: First Battle on the Debate Platform

Crescent Moon Valley lay blanketed beneath a gentle fall of snow, the flakes drifting silently from the overcast sky. Within the warmth of the Alchemy Hall, the scent of spirit tea lingered in the air, soft and calming.

Luo Chen sat at his usual spot, a thick book in hand, engrossed in its contents. His gaze remained focused on the words, even as familiar footsteps echoed behind him—followed by a sigh so heavy it practically carried its own weight.

"Failed again?" he asked without lifting his head.

"...Yes," came Tang Quan's muffled reply.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The young alchemist stood by the door, shoulders slumped, eyes clouded with frustration. The weight of his disappointment was evident. He looked like a man carrying the remnants of too many shattered expectations.

His lack of energy stemmed partly from failing to refine the Myriad Wonders pill and partly due to his low cultivation stage, which drained his spirit heavily during alchemy.

"Failure is normal," Luo Chen said evenly, his tone calm and unaffected. "The birth of any pill—especially one of significance—comes after hundreds, even thousands of failures."

Tang Quan let out a long, defeated breath. He knew those words were meant to comfort, but somehow, they stung even more.

He had thought that being entrusted by Luo Chen to lead the Myriad Wonders pill refinement effort was proof of his potential. But after a full month of non-stop failures—with the best result being a

semi-finished product

—he could only wonder...

am I truly cut out for this?

He glanced at Luo Chen, who sat so composed, reading with serene focus

. Can the difference between two people really be this vast?

Luo Chen had begun his journey as a rogue cultivator. No sect, no mentor. No steady supply of resources. Every herb, every artifact, every opportunity—he'd earned it all by himself. And yet, despite such a foundation, Luo Chen had not only refined the Myriad Wonders pill but has refined a pill of significant grade.

Compared to him, Tang Quan felt like an utter failure. He even began to doubt whether he had any talent for alchemy at all.

Perhaps the Hall Leader really is a once-in-a-millennium alchemy genius. Otherwise, how else could he have refined mid-grade Jade Essence pills so quickly?

Tang Quan thought to himself.

As he was about to leave, his gaze fell on the cover of the book Luo Chen was reading.

The Record of Dahe's Talents.

"Huh?"

"Huh?" Tang Quan paused, curiosity piqued. "Hall Leader... are you interested in the Debate Platform battles?"

Luo Chen let out a soft hum of acknowledgment. "A little."

The book had been purchased at Whitestone Plaza from a rogue cultivator who called himself the "The Bai Xiaosheng [1] of Dahe."

It contained records of many cultivators on Dahe Market's Elite Prodigy Board, including their battle records and techniques.

Tang Quan chuckled. "These secondhand stories are always exaggerated. Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators are painted like invincible gods. Late-stage ones supposedly flatten mountains with a flick of the wrist."

This time, Luo Chen actually looked up.

Grinning, Tang Quan added, "If you really want to know how they fight, you should ask my uncle—Zeng Wen."

Luo Chen's eyes lit up.

Of course! Why sift through flowery prose and glorified rumors when Fellow Daoist Zeng Wen had fought on the platform himself?

***

Five days later!

Under the towering jade plaque of Fallen Phoenix Mountain, Luo Chen arrived alongside Zeng Wen.

Oh, and a woman too.

A young woman clung gently to his side, petite and charming. Her eyes sparkled like peach blossoms in spring, and when she smiled, the entire valley seemed a little warmer.

This was Zeng Wen's new girlfriend. She was reportedly from a once-prominent cultivator family now in decline. Her reputation was clean, her background uncomplicated. Recently, Fellow Daoist Zeng Wen had reduced his visits to Tianxiang Tower due to the scarcity of Myriad Wonders pills and his involvement with the Battle Hall.

Perhaps he was turning over a new leaf, as he now seemed intent on settling down.

Now, standing at the ninth stage of Qi Refining, Zeng Wen had become the target of interest for many unmarried female cultivators. The family of this girl had welcomed him with open arms, and judging by their closeness, it wouldn't be long before they become Dao companions.

Luo Chen said nothing, his eyes focused on the large jade plaque at the base of the mountain—a glowing list of names and records from the Debate Platform.

Zeng Wen noticed and laughed heartily.

"Don't worry. I've seen that person on the platform a few times. Although he's at the eighth stage of Qi-Refining, his collection of enchanted artifacts is lacking. The only noteworthy one he has is a top-grade flying sword."

He clapped Luo Chen on the back. "With your strength? As long as you keep your head on straight and don't get careless, you'll beat him easily."

Luo Chen withdrew his gaze from the jade plaque, his eyes sharp with anticipation. The time had finally come.

After registering two days ago, today was finally his turn to step onto the platform.

Zeng Wen, and even the normally silent Duan Feng, had carefully helped him select a suitable opponent and devised a strategy for victory. Considering Luo Chen had staked a low-grade enchanted artifact as a bet and was only at the seventh stage of Qi-Refining, their conclusion had been simple, don't aim too high, not for the first fight.

His opponent was a cultivator named Huang Bin—a regular on the Debate Platform, whose record was mixed but respectable. Despite having more losses than wins, he had extensive combat experience and was at the eighth stage of Qi-Refining.

That made him a solid opponent for Luo Chen, who was still only at the seventh stage.

The match had been officially scheduled for the first round that afternoon by the Sword Pavilion cultivators.

"Let's go in," Luo Chen said with a confident wave of his hand, stepping toward the passageway that would take him to the contestant's lounge.

But Zeng Wen stopped him.

What followed was... not strategy. Not encouragement.

But snack shopping.

Zeng Wen strolled through the market outside the Debate Platform like a man preparing for a festival. First, he made a stop at the Chen Yue Snack Stall, returning with a bag of popcorn, a pouch of celestial beans, and a bottle of yellow pear wine. Then, he detoured to Mi Xu Ice City, bought a cup of milk tea, and handed everything to the peach-eyed girl by his side—his "future Dao companion," as some were starting to whisper.

Then, with a grin, he looked back at Luo Chen.

"Gotta support my boy," he said as he ducked into a betting booth nearby.

"Boss, ten spirit stones on Luo—"

He stopped mid-sentence and turned to glance at Luo Chen, who looked at him with exhausted disbelief.

So you've gone from gambling on people to gambling on bets, huh?

Luo Chen thought.

"...Murong Yuan," Zeng Wen said instead, correcting himself with a chuckle. "Ten spirit stones on Murong Yuan. What's the payout ratio against Huang Bin?"

The betting cultivator raised an eyebrow. "You're betting without even knowing the odds?"

"Just showing a little support to a brother," Zeng Wen replied, all charm.

The cultivator glanced at Luo Chen behind him and sneered. "Huang Bin is a veteran of the Debate Platform, with numerous battles under his belt. Although his losses outweigh his wins, his experience is undeniable. This newcomer Murong Yuan is no match for him in either cultivation realm or reputation.

He tapped a wooden board behind him. "Odds are five to one in Huang Bin's favor. Still want to bet?"

"Absolutely." Zeng Wen slapped the spirit stones down with a grin.

With that done, they all made their way to the entrance of the arena. Zeng Wen and his companion handed over their spirit stones for audience tickets. Luo Chen, being a contestant, didn't need one.

As they walked together into the grand hall, Zeng Wen leaned close. "Why did you choose the alias Murong Yuan?"

"Isn't it just to keep a low profile? What if I end up ranked first in Qi-Refining one day?" Luo Chen said, only half-joking.

"Not that. I mean, why the name Murong?"

"Oh," Luo Chen said casually, "That's my sister-in-law Murong Qinglian's surname. It's a compound surname—sounds elegant, don't you think? She treats me like her own little brother. Even wants to introduce me to a Dao companion."

Zeng Wen laughed. "Fair enough. And 'Yuan'?"

Luo Chen gave a rare, soft smile. "Inspired by someone important to me."

They parted ways at the central corridor. Zeng Wen headed for the viewing area, while Luo Chen followed the marked path for participants.

Luo Chen headed to the "Contestant Lounge" Following the long corridor, Luo Chen used his contestant's jade token to enter the lounge. It was essentially a series of private chambers, designed for cultivators to rest and prepare before their matches.

As soon as he stepped into his chamber, Luo Chen let out a soft sound of surprise.

This small room had such a high concentration of spirit energy? It far surpassed the inner city residences, and even compared to his spirit vein cave, it was only slightly inferior.

No wonder so many cultivators are eager to participate in battles. I didn't expect these chambers to be such excellent cultivation spots.

Luo Chen muttered to himself.

He sat quietly in the chamber, the faint glow of spirit light pulsing gently along the walls. Luo Chen's gaze drifted toward the stone ceiling above, a thought surfacing from the depths of memory—an old rumor.

It was said that Dahe Market's first-tier spirit vein originated from Fallen Phoenix Mountain, a place once sealed off by powerful formations, hidden from public access.

Now, standing here beneath the Debate Platform, surrounded by rich spirit energy and powerful formations, Luo Chen realized that the rumors were likely true.

Fallen Phoenix Mountain had been developed into the Debate Platform, and the Sword Pavilion had appropriately ceded some benefits to attract a large number of cultivators to participate eagerly.

Luo Chen chuckled inwardly.

If I didn't have the spirit vein cave under Crescent Moon Valley... or my alchemy skills... but had enough cultivation? I'd probably be throwing myself into the Debate Platform too.

He let his thoughts fade and meditated quietly. Two sticks of incense burned to ash.

Then, the jade token in his palm flared with dazzling light. A cold, mechanical voice echoed through the room, "First match of the afternoon, eighth-stage Qi-Refining cultivator Huang Bin versus seventh-stage Qi-Refining cultivator Murong Yuan.

"Both cultivators, please step onto the platform!"

Luo Chen's heart skipped a beat as he adjusted his enchanted robe. He stepped out of the chamber and walked forward along the corridor.

The moment he emerged from the underground hall, a deafening roar of cheers met his ears. As he rose onto the high platform, the sound crescendoed—like thunder rumbling through the skies.

He looked around. Thousands of cultivators filled the stands, their faces a blur of excitement and curiosity.

Is this what Wang Yuan and Qin Liangchen felt during their battles on this stage?

For a brief moment, Luo Chen's blood surged with excitement.

But then—his opponent arrived

However, the moment his opponent Huang Bin arrived, his restless heart quickly calmed like a still pond.

Truth be told, he seemed to possess a natural instinct for combat. Unlike his so-called alchemy talent—largely bestowed by the system—his performance in battle had always been earned. And it had always been solid.

Since transmigrating, he had experienced a total of three real battles.

The first time, though inexperienced, he pulled off a counter-kill by feigning death. The second, he took advantage of Gao Ting'e's arrogance, striking suddenly and securing a swift victory.

In the most recent encounter—the third—he fully leveraged his speed, laid out a series of calculated tactics, and defeated three opponents with far more ease than either of the previous times.

Luo Chen gradually realized this was a talent of his. Thus, after registering for the competition, he intentionally familiarized himself with the state of combat readiness.

"I am Huang Bin. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

"Murong Yuan. Please, make your move."

"Sure, sure. Let's just keep it friendly and not hurt the camaraderie, shall we?"

Seeing the middle-aged man with a warm smile, Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.

What did he mean by this? Was he showing weakness or suggesting they rig the fight?

Thoughts churned in Luo Chen's mind, calculating probabilities, second-guessing the strange friendliness of Huang Bin's words. But the moment the referee raised his hand and shouted the start of the match—

Luo Chen moved.

He didn't charge forward. Instead, he leapt back, soaring into the sky in a graceful arc. The wind caught his robes as the Flame Spear materialized in his hand with a sharp clang.

He pointed its tip downward.

Spirit energy surged, racing down the length of the dull gray shaft. In moments, the spear glowed like smelted metal—its tip burning white-hot, brighter than molten iron.

"Not good!" Huang Bin's expression shifted slightly. His opponent seemed completely unaffected by his words.

From behind his back, Huang Bin unleashed his flying sword, already primed with spirit power. It screamed through the air like a bolt of lightning.

He pretended to be weak but was fully prepared, Huang Bin thought grimly. Fortunately, I reacted first. I should have the upper hand—

But in the sky above, Luo Chen's face remained utterly calm.

"Go," he said softly.

With a soft command, sparks of fire scattered across the sky, descending like a fiery rain. But Luo Chen didn't stop there—he flicked his fingers lightly, sending a discarded jade essence bead hidden among the falling embers, swift and silent as a whisper.

The flying sword was struck directly by the jade essence bead. With the bead's self-detonation, the sword faltered momentarily.

As it was about to advance again, more jade essence beads followed, raining down from the sky in rapid succession. Each one exploded with surgical timing, keeping the flying sword from regaining its path.

Meanwhile, Huang Bin was struggling to shield himself from the torrent of fire above.

"What kind of enchanted artifact is this? It's so peculiar!"

Every bead, every spark seemed precisely timed. Each movement of Luo Chen's seemed calculated—effortless, but precise.

He clenched his jaw, using Traction to yank the flying sword back and tried again to aim for Luo Chen.

Watching his opponent struggle to hold his ground, Luo Chen appeared thoughtful.

An opponent at the eighth stage of Qi-Refining didn't seem particularly formidable. I had only used the Flame Spear, yet I had suppressed him so thoroughly.

Spirit power aside, this man isn't much.

His opponent's strength wasn't lacking—his reserves of spirit energy were holding up, and he was still maintaining control of his sword—but beyond that?

There's nothing impressive here.

Luo Chen shook his head slightly, then raised his hand. With a crack of sound like a thunderclap, the spear transformed into a flaming dragon, roaring as it streaked through the sky, cutting through the rain of fire toward Huang Bin.

Eyes wide, panic finally took hold of the older man.

"I—I surrender!" he shouted, voice cracking.

From the edge of the platform, a ninth-stage sword cultivator from the Jade Cauldron Pavilion, serving as the match's overseer, scoffed and activated a defensive technique.

The arena array hummed, and a protective light barrier erupted between the two fighters.

Just in time.

The spear struck the light screen with a bang—and stopped inches from Huang Bin's face. His mid-grade wooden shield had already cracked under the pressure. Staring at the spinning spear tip that had stopped inches before him, Huang Bin's face turned pale.

He had lost so easily at that.

"Fellow Daoist, excellent enchanted artifact and impressive tactics!"

The excellent enchanted artifact referred to the Flame Spear. The impressive tactics referred to Luo Chen's relentless interference with his superior flying sword using jade essence beads.

Luo Chen cupped his hands, offered a slight smile, and gracefully floated off the Debate Platform.

However, instead of thunderous cheers, he was greeted by a chorus of curses as he exited the array.

"Rigged match!"

"How can a seventh stage win against an eighth stage?"

"Rigged match! Give me back my spirit stones!"

"Why did it end so quickly? That wasn't satisfying at all!"

"There wasn't even any bloodshed. Huang Bin surrendered way too quickly."

"Could this Murong Yuan be a puppet by the Sword Pavilion? Winning so easily makes it hard not to suspect a rigged match."

Luo Chen's face froze.

...What the hell?

Once inside the underground passageway, he clenched his teeth and muttered under his breath.

"Curse all these gambling dogs... I pull off a flawless win, and this is what I get? Shouldn't they be cheering my name?"

As he walked through the winding stone halls, a Sword Pavilion cultivator approached him and handed over his official reward.

"Ten spirit stones as an appearance fee," the man said flatly, "and a low-grade enchanted artifact—from the match wager."

Luo Chen blinked. "No pills?"

The cultivator waved his hand. "Pill rewards are only for the top ranks at the end of the month."

Noticing Luo Chen's disappointment, he chuckled. "Actually, after the fight, you can continue cultivating in the underground chambers until we seal the mountain for the night."

An unwritten perk, clearly.

Luo Chen didn't mind and turned to leave the Debate Platform.

Outside, Zeng Wen and his female companion were already waiting for him.

"As expected! You didn't disappoint me!" he declared, patting Luo Chen on the back. "Your first time up there, and you ended the fight with the same ease I did back then!"

The woman at his side giggled, her peach blossom eyes glowing with admiration.

Luo Chen glanced sideways at Zeng Wen, suppressing the urge to retort.

Ease? You were beaten into a corner and nearly fainted from spirit depletion in your first match, if I recall correctly...

But he let it go. No point in spoiling the moment. Zeng Wen had to collect his winnings anyway.

Without lingering, Luo Chen bid them farewell and returned home.

Back at his residence, he shut the door behind him, silence wrapping around him like a cloak. He settled down on the floor, activated the Long Spring Art, and began circulating his spirit energy.

A few minutes passed.

Then, a quiet revelation dawned on him.

"...I hadn't noticed it before," he murmured. "But every battle really does refine my spirit power."

He could feel it—subtle, but undeniable. As his spirit energy slowly replenished, it felt cleaner, sharper, almost as if it had been filtered through the crucible of battle. This refinement didn't seem to come from his technique but rather from the conditions within his body.

Every time a Qi-Refining cultivator broke through a minor stage, their dantian would expand, allowing them to store more spirit power. In the early stages, this expansion was rapid, even noticeable. But as one approached the late stages of Qi-Refining, the body's limitations became clear.

Under the constraints of a solidified dantian, the spirit power that should continue to grow has nowhere to go. As a result, the body passively compresses and refines the spirit power, making it purer than before.

"But the effect of this refinement is too faint..." he murmured under his breath, his brow still creased in thought.

If he continued relying on battles alone to refine his spirit power, he would likely never reach the level required for a flawless Foundation Establishment attempt.

"It seems I can't pin my hopes on fighting."

His gaze fell on his status panel. The proficiency of the Long Spring Art was nearing Perfected Mastery, and Luo Chen couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.

Once the Long Spring Art reached Perfected Mastery, it would grant him automatic energy recovery and clear his meridians, a vital step toward the more complex processes of cultivation. In fact, it could very well be the key to refining his spirit power more effectively.

Luo Chen had learned from Mi Shuhua that the Long Spring Art was derived from the Evergreen Sutra of the Medicine King Sect. This ancient technique was known for its ability to purify and refine the body's spirit energy, improving its quality. It was precisely this functionality that Luo Chen hoped to tap into.

Even if the Long Spring Art at Perfected Mastery didn't directly enhance his ability to refine spirit power, it would compensate in other ways. Luo Chen would be able to cultivate with greater efficiency, making him better prepared for the challenges ahead.

1. 百晓生 (bai xiao sheng) is a term commonly used in Chinese literature and culture to describe a person who is well-versed and knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects. In wuxia and xianxia novels, 百晓生 is frequently used as a nickname for characters who act as informants or possess encyclopedic knowledge about martial arts, sects, or the broader world. ☜