SWNOVELXO Chapter 308: The Challenge Begins
The fleet pierced through the void and descended toward a desolate world bathed in an ashen light.
Its surface was cracked and scorched, stretching endlessly in all directions like the withered skin of a dying beast. Winds howled across the dunes, kicking up black sand that danced in the air like ghosts of a forgotten past. Not a single trace of life could be seen. No birds, no beasts, not even a stubborn weed clung to the dry soil. Just silence and death.
The place was called Dead Lands, and the name couldn't have been more fitting.
Long ago, a thriving civilization had called this world home. At that time, the planet also had another name. They challenged the authority of the Intergalactic Council. When they lost and refused to submit, their entire planet was reduced to ruin. No survivors; only scorched cities buried beneath the sand, and a sky forever stained with the memory of annihilation.
Since then, every challenge between civilizations has taken place here. A warning carved into planetary stone. A symbol of absolute power wielded without mercy. It was the Council's stage—a theater of fear designed to break the spirit of rebellion before it could bloom.
The ships from Red Pole landed on a flat expanse of cracked earth. Waiting nearby was a formation of one hundred cultivators, each representing one of the major figures in the Intergalactic Council, including for the Obsidian Court, who would be stepping into the arena today.
On the far side of the battlefield, another fleet had already landed. Their ships were sleek and black, exuding a malevolent aura that made even the wind seem afraid to pass too close. It didn't take a genius to recognize them.
Fan Ying and Dong Tian, the representatives of Red Pole, descended from their flying vessels. With calm steps and steady hearts, they made their way across the barren ground toward the Intergalactic Council's envoys.
On the other side, two representatives from the Obsidian Court also stepped forward. When they were just a few steps apart, both sides stopped, awaiting the envoy's instructions. It was clear the Obsidian Court cultivators didn't take Red Pole seriously—their relaxed posture and disdainful expressions made that obvious.
"The challenge will begin in twenty minutes," announced one of the envoys holding a staff. "Each side will receive a token. As you're both aware, the battle will take place within a pocket dimension. Flying vessels are prohibited from entering. The battle ends only when one side is completely annihilated or when their token is destroyed, signaling immediate surrender."
After a brief pause, the envoy asked, "Any questions?"
Fan Ying and Dong Tian stayed silent, but the two representatives from the Obsidian Court clearly had something to say.
"Tch. Let's just get this over with. I'll put these losers in their place soon enough," one of them scoffed. "What a waste of time, making me come all the way here to fight a bunch of barbarians with such pathetic cultivation."
Fan Ying's expression didn't change, but Dong Tian's brow twitched. He was on the verge of losing his temper. The man noticed and smirked.
"What's the matter, old man? Want to attack me? Go ahead! Let's end this farce between the two of us. At least it'll be quicker that way."
Dong Tian narrowed his eyes but didn't move.
"That's enough, Xiao Zendong," the envoy said, slamming his staff against the ground. "You'll have your chance to fight soon. Now, enter the pocket dimension."
Two massive portals tore open in the sky, swirling with spatial energy, one designated for each side. A token to be used in case of surrender was handed to both factions
Fan Ying and Dong Tian returned to their fleet. They gathered the cultivators from Red Pole and stepped into the portal.
On the opposite side, the Obsidian Court did the same. With casual arrogance and confident smirks, their forces passed through their own portal, vanishing into the pocket dimension.
Feng Fan stood beside Tan Wei and the other cultivators from Red Pole. There was no sign of anyone from the Obsidian Court; they had been teleported to the opposite end of the pocket dimension.
The terrain mirrored that of the Dead Lands: an endless expanse of sand stretching in all directions.
'Good,' Feng Fan thought. 'A uniform terrain like this makes stealth and assassination techniques harder to execute. We'll be able to force the Obsidian Court into close-quarters combat.'
That played directly into their strengths. Many cultivators from the Black Turtle Sect specialized in Body Cultivation, and in a straight-up melee, they would hold the advantage.
Not that Feng Fan believed that alone would be enough to guarantee victory. If it were, the Obsidian Court wouldn't be so confident. They clearly had their own methods to secure a win, and their overall superior cultivation realm certainly gave them an edge.
"Array Masters, erect the defensive formation! Scouts and Beast Masters, secure the perimeter!" Long Liu's voice echoed across the barren desert, amplified by spiritual qi as she issued commands.
Most of the strategy had already been discussed beforehand; only Feng Fan and Tan Wei hadn't been fully briefed. Still, they both understood their roles. Feng Fan would assist with the formation, and Tan Wei's expertise would be crucial once poisons entered the fray.
Feng Fan moved to join the other Array Masters, quickly integrating himself into their efforts. As he arrived, heads turned. Every Array Master there looked at him with awe. Despite his young age, Feng Fan was already considered their peer; he was a legend among Red Pole's formation experts.
The only one capable of breaking an Immortal-graded formation.
Initially, the responsibility for constructing the core formation had fallen to a few experienced Array Masters. They were already in the midst of their work when Feng Fan arrived. However, the moment he stepped closer, the others instinctively stepped back, yielding the central role to him.
Feng Fan's reputation wasn't something earned lightly. As a tier 8 Array Master, his mastery of formations was unmatched in Red Pole, and none present believed they could outperform him. In fact, most considered it an honor just to assist or observe his process.
Taking command with ease, Feng Fan began inscribing intricate runes into the earth, his fingers glowing with faint spiritual light. Every line was precise, every symbol calmly inscribed. The sand and air themselves seemed to shift and settle under his will.
While Feng Fan focused on constructing the core formation—a defensive array that would act as the backbone of their position—the other Array Masters divided into small teams. They spread out to create satellite formations around the main array: traps designed to ensnare incoming enemies, directional attack arrays ready to unleash waves of elemental force, and alarm formations to detect stealthy movement.