Chapter 184: Beyond Variables

"Who here is called Wang Yitian?!"

Yan Buji was contemplating what came next when a group suddenly forced their way past the watching cultivators, swaggering to the arena's front.

Wang Yitian, still on the arena, was dueling a Late Refinement Qi Stage opponent; as they arrived, they knocked the man down and won another match.

Wang Yitian looked at the gathered cultivators, clasped his fists and said, "I am Wang Yitian."

"You've been given too much face, huh? Provoking our disciples on the street for no reason, then going all out on the arena! If our Elder hadn't spotted you, I'd never have known you were so vicious!" the leading Fierce Fire Sect cultivator pointed at Wang Yitian, seething.

Wang Yitian frowned, "Arena duels are a matter of life and death; before the fight I told him my techniques prioritize killing. If my skill is inferior, why are you blaming me?!"

"Stop the nonsense! Today I, Yang Zifeng, will definitely seek justice for my junior brother!"

Yan Buji saw Yang Zifeng of the Fierce Fire Sect step onto the arena and instantly felt a surge of formidable aura!

Late Refinement Qi Stage!

"It seems Yang Zifeng is nearing the Qi Refinement Apex; his condensed magical power far exceeds mine." Yan Buji frowned tightly. No wonder he comes from a powerful faction; even though my magical power is ninefold scattered and refined, in sheer strength I might not be far off, but I can't match his level of condensation.

The opponent surely surpasses me in cultivation methods, experience, and various connections, which is why Yan Buji wishes to join a faction.

But a minor faction isn't worth joining; resources are scarce, and daily scheming delays cultivation.

Yet the great sects won't accept a cultivator of his low aptitude, so why did Yan Buji originally have to go to the Spring Literary Assembly?

Wasn't it simply to preserve his reputation while using Beichen Wanqing's disciple token to gain entry into her sect?

If he hadn't been exposed, his identity wouldn't make cultivators think he's a bad seed; with the token he could have cultivated in Beichen Wanqing's sect!

After all, in today's cultivation world, which sect would want its disciple to be a cold‑blooded demon, unless it's a demonic sect?

If his identity hadn't suddenly been revealed, Yan Buji wouldn't have covertly snatched the token; the risk would be too great.

Take Liu Feng as an example: if he mastered even one technique, I'd probably die; should he alarm the cultivators present, I'd still die!

More importantly, if he didn't go, his plans for the first half of his life would be completely thwarted.

Choosing the lesser of two evils isn't that the Spring Literary Assembly is hard to enter; it's about entering when his safety is assured, identity unproblematic, and risk minimized, thereby achieving his goal.

Thus Yan Buji often wonders who originally leaked his identity, since, in theory, no one should have known it!

He wouldn't slip up over trivial matters unless compelled by an irresistible factor.

A cultivator?

Could there have been cultivators secretly investigating him back then?

Yan Buji pondered for a while, still unclear about it. He guessed that the people he met then likely included someone who saw through his background and would later settle scores.

Back to the present.

Yan Buji watched the arena's shift; Yang Zifeng of the Fierce Fire Sect obtained the referee's consent, and the two sides had already begun battling on the arena.

Seeing Yang Zifeng skillfully wield fire techniques to assault Wang Yitian, Yan Buji was quite astonished.

"Sculpting Fire Technique? Impressive—so it can make the Spiritual Fire inside the body perform so many variations when driven by magical power!" Yan Buji's eyes lit up.

Yan Buji also possessed the Sculpting Fire Technique, but his Spiritual Fire was only the basic innate fire, no different from a mortal's firewood, so it wasn't formidable in offense.

With magical power driving it, the sentient Spiritual Fire can merely refine Spiritual Material.

But Yang Zifeng was different; whether due to his technique's nature or a special flame, his fire arts manifested a dazzling pure cyan hue!

This pure cyan flame not only reached temperatures several tiers above his own Spiritual Fire, but also possessed a property that scorches magical power!

Yan Buji watched Wang Yitian's summoned Spiritual Shield be incinerated in an instant by Yang Zifeng's Fire Serpent, making him highly alert.

Based solely on the opponent's mastery of the Sculpting Fire Technique and that cyan flame, none of the cultivators present—Yan Buji included—could be his match.

Precisely for this reason, Yan Buji grew more curious about what means Wang Yitian possessed to resist.

"Hahaha, kid, no matter your talent, under our Azure Sun Fire there's only a road to death!" Yang Zifeng snarled, laughing wildly.

With that, Yang Zifeng further activated the technique, spitting magical power from his fingertips, instantly igniting the surrounding Azure Sun flames into a sea of fire that surged toward Wang Yitian!

Wang Yitian's gaze sharpened; feeling the terrifying heat and the scorching Azure Sun Fire, sweat beaded on his forehead.

Yet in an instant, Wang Yitian inhaled deeply, exhaled a burst of Frost Aura that froze the surrounding flames as if the prior heat never existed, even solidifying the ground!

"What?!"

"The Fierce Fire Sect's Azure Sun Fire was actually suppressed by Wang Yitian?!"

"What? What technique is that Frost Aura, so fierce?!"

"Even the Azure Sun Fire ranks among the top hundred flames on the Human Fire Ranking; to be suppressed like this… either Wang Yitian has a powerful ice‑frost technique, or he possesses an extreme cold force!"

All know flame and frost are mutually exclusive; a glance reveals who is stronger.

Now that the Azure Sun Fire is frozen by Wang Yitian's Frost Aura, the situation is naturally very different.

Wang Yitian nodded, smiling, "You have Azure Sun Fire, I also have Supreme Frost Aura!"

Supreme Frost Aura?

Yan Buji was puzzled; he hadn't deliberately gathered such knowledge and didn't understand much.

He did know the Human Fire Ranking—a list compiled by some well‑meaning cultivators, cataloguing human fire, earth fire, sky fire, etc., similar to a cultivator's aptitude ranking.

Though somewhat credible, these are merely rankings of offensive techniques; ultimately they depend on a cultivator's own methods.

Yang Zifeng widened his eyes, "Supreme Frost Aura? Where did you get that!"

"That's none of your business!"

Wang Yitian chuckled, activating the technique; the surrounding Frost Aura instantly formed a vortex that swept the entire arena.

Even though Yang Zifeng's magical power was great, his technique met a counter, leaving him helpless and forced to step down.

Yang Zifeng was unharmed but his complexion turned grim; standing below the arena he glared fiercely at Wang Yitian:

"You wait for me."

"Don't summon your Foundation Establishment Stage Elders; you few aren't even fit to settle scores with me!"

"Arrogant! When I go find Senior Brother Ma, I'll definitely take your dog's life!"

"If you have the guts, come. When has Wang Yitian ever feared you?!"