Ascension King

**Chapter 20: Ranking of Geniuses**

"Prepare yourself, Tang Chen," she declared, her voice laced with determination. "I assure you, this time will be different." With a flick, she activated "Crane Steps," gracefully maneuvering through the air as her dual blades whirred in a deadly dance. Yet, Tang Chen was unfazed. He dove forward, two needles poised in his hands, effortlessly intercepting her sword strikes. In a heartbeat, they exchanged thirty-four blows, a flurry of motion that spoke of their prowess.

In an instant, Tang Chen unleashed a torrent of poison from his mouth, slithering like a serpent. He rotated swiftly, casting his needles, each one coated with a lethal energy. When the poison grazed Nero's skin, she felt its burn, yet she did not waver. Instead, she countered, blocking the incoming needles with a deft flick of her sword, sending them spiraling away with unerring precision. As she landed, she executed "Crane Slash," unleashing two heavy energy slashes that hurtled toward Tang Chen.

Meanwhile, on the stage, the three lower-ranking combatants conspired to overwhelm the sleepy swordsman. "Come at me all at once; let's finish this," he remarked nonchalantly, his eyes still closed.

"I, Mo Lin, am no coward!" a young man with a robust build shouted as he lunged forward, sword raised, unleashing a barrage of slashes. The sleepy swordsman merely bent backward, sidestepping with ease, before retaliating with a furious strike that sent Mo Lin careening off the stage.

"Don't waste my time; let's bring this to an end," the sleepy swordsman proclaimed, though his words ignited a fire within his adversaries. One of them, fueled by rage, activated his "Armadillo Bloodline," charging in from the right. Armor erupted from his skin as he advanced. The last of the trio, ranked fifteenth, followed suit, activating his "Antelope Bloodline" to enhance his speed, joining the fray with a spinning kick from the left. They sought to demonstrate their true potential, but they faced the sleepy swordsman, who finally opened his eyes slightly and unleashed the "Flood Series." The stage erupted in a torrent of sword strikes, disrupting Tang Chen and Nero's duel.

Seizing the opportunity, Nero gathered the swirling sword energy that blanketed the stage. As she descended to the ground, it felt as though she were a droplet of rain, swiftly activating "Crane Steps" to close the distance to Tang Chen, intent on delivering a decisive blow. Yet, Tang Chen sensed her defense strengthening with each step she took; he knew he had to finish this quickly, lest he face greater trouble. Drawing upon his family's secret art, "Heart of a Poison Master," he summoned three different poisons, consuming them with a flourish. "Nero, be proud, you audacious girl, for you have stirred my wrath," he declared, throwing warm-up punches into the air. With each strike, thick waves of poison energy materialized, leaving the onlookers astonished.

"Yes, this is the essence of true genius!" Damon erupted from his seat, unable to contain his excitement. In that moment, Tang Chen surged forward, unleashing a barrage of strikes, while Nero countered relentlessly, her sword slicing through the air with precision. In a fierce struggle, Tang Chen managed to seize her wrist, prying one blade from her grasp. But Nero was undeterred; with her free hand, she swung at Tang Chen's head, challenging him, "Let's see who falls first!"

With a fierce cry, Tang Chen struck with his "Poison Palm," his hand enveloped in a deadly veil of poison. Just as their weapons were poised to collide, the second and third elders vanished from their seats. The second elder pressed his sword against Tang Chen's throat, while the third elder restrained Nero's blades.

In that precarious moment, Nero collapsed, her body limp as she fainted. Yet, all that resonated in Tang Chen's eyes was fury. He glared at Nero as if the elders were mere shadows on the stage. Anger surged within him for failing to eliminate the girl who had dared defy him. The second elder leaned closer, his voice steady. "Boy, step back. It would be regrettable to send the head of a genius like you flying," he warned, compelling Tang Chen to withdraw his energy.

Meanwhile, the sleepy swordsman found himself struggling against the combined speed and defense of his two opponents. "Ah, this is infuriating!" he exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone. Channeling his energy, he unleashed the "Sword Demon Series," hurtling towards the opponent with the "Armadillo Bloodline." The swordsman braced himself as the strikes came at him; however, the combatant with the "Antelope Bloodline" swiftly interceded, dodging the sword strikes. But as he glanced to his side, he realized the sleepy swordsman had closed the gap. Before he could alter his course, the sleepy swordsman slashed, the blow aimed at the Armadillo user, who turned his back to absorb the impact. Knowing that a direct hit would spell doom for the fifteenth-ranked fighter, he braced himself, Defenses shattered, sending him soaring into the air. The drowsy swordsman, however, was far from finished. With remarkable agility, he leaped forward, striking the "armadillo bloodline" user and driving him into the ground. Yet, as he cast a glance at Rank 15, it was clear that surrender was not an option. Rank 15, with a fierce determination, raised one leg and declared, "We, the bearers of the antelope bloodline, demonstrate our strength through the length of our horns. But I am different; I am known as the growth type." As he spoke, a surge of energy coursed through him, propelling him forward with astonishing speed, his horn elongating slightly in the process. He thrust his horns ahead, aiming to pierce the drowsy swordsman's chest.

In a split second, the swordsman grasped Rank 15's horn, yet he could feel the relentless advance of the attack. Desperately, he swung his other hand to slash at the horn, intent on severing it. Just as he was about to deliver the decisive blow, Rank 15 executed a maneuver that left onlookers speechless. He unleashed a "sword projectile" from his horn, sending it hurtling toward the swordsman's face with lethal precision.