Reincarnated into the DAO World, Season 1

The roar of the crowd filled the massive arena, their cheers blending into a chaotic symphony of anticipation.

This was it.

The final trial of the tournament—

A battle royale.

More than fifty cultivators, all powerful in their own right, stood within the massive battlefield, their eyes sharp with determination, fear, or sheer bloodlust.

Only one would walk away victorious.

Xiao Lan stood calmly, arms crossed, as he scanned the competitors.

Some were nervous. Others exuded killing intent.

But one thing was certain—

This was going to be absolute chaos.

The tournament overseer stepped forward, his voice booming over the stadium.

"The rules are simple!" he declared.

"All participants will fight until only one remains standing!"

"No time limits, no restrictions—anything goes."

His gaze darkened.

"If you fall unconscious, you are out."

"If you surrender, you are out."

"If you die…" His eyes flickered across the battlefield.

"Then you were simply too weak."

The crowd erupted into cheers, their bloodlust palpable.

Then—

A single golden bell tolled.

BOOOOOM!

"The battle royale… BEGINS!"

The moment the bell rang—

The battlefield erupted into chaos.

Fighters lunged at each other, weapons clashing, Dao energies colliding in a blinding explosion of power.

Spells were cast, martial skills unleashed—a true war had begun.

Xiao Lan remained still, watching.

Analyzing.

A group of three warriors rushed at him, seeing an opportunity to strike down the rising threat early.

"He's strong, but he's alone! Take him out first!"

The first one, a Silver Rank cultivator, swung his greatsword down at Xiao Lan's head.

But—

He hit nothing but air.

Xiao Lan had already moved, his body a blur.

Before the attacker could react—

CRACK!

Xiao Lan's palm smashed into his chest, sending him flying backward, coughing up blood.

The second attacker, a dual-dagger wielder, went for Xiao Lan's blind spot—

Only for Xiao Lan to effortlessly sidestep, grabbing the man's wrist—

And hurling him into the third attacker.

BOOM!

The two warriors collapsed in a heap, groaning in pain.

Three enemies down.

Just like that.

Xiao Lan sighed.

"Too slow."

All around the battlefield, warriors were forming temporary alliances.

They knew that going solo in a battle royale was too dangerous—so they teamed up, eliminating the weaker fighters first.

But Xiao Lan?

He didn't need an alliance.

He was his own army.

Xiao Qing, fighting nearby, called out.

"Lan! Watch your back!"

Xiao Lan turned just in time to see a flaming spear heading straight for him.

A normal cultivator would have dodged.

Xiao Lan?

He caught it.

SIZZLE!

The heat burned his palm, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he gripped the spear tightly and looked at its wielder—

A demon-kin warrior with crimson horns and glowing eyes.

"You're strong," the demon-kin said. "But let's see if you can handle—"

Xiao Lan snapped the spear in half.

The demon-kin's eyes widened.

"What?!"

Xiao Lan appeared in front of him in an instant, his fist burying into the warrior's gut.

BANG!

The demon-kin crashed into the ground, coughing up blood.

"Next?" Xiao Lan muttered.

Just as Xiao Lan was about to engage another opponent—

A dark, sinister energy spread across the battlefield.

Xiao Qing's face palmed.

"Great," she muttered. "They're finally making their move."

Xiao Lan followed her gaze—

And saw them.

The Bloodmoon Sect.

A group of five warriors, all dressed in blood-red robes, stood together, their Dao energy dark and corrupt.

They had stayed back, watching—waiting for the weak to be eliminated before making their move.

Their leader, a tall man with ashen skin and cold golden eyes, stepped forward.

"I was wondering when we'd get to fight you," he said, his voice smooth and unsettling.

Xiao Lan smirked.

"You're talking like you've already won."

The Bloodmoon Sect leader chuckled.

"We have."

Then—

They attacked.

The first Bloodmoon Sect member vanished, reappearing behind Xiao Lan with a dagger coated in dark Dao energy.

A normal person would have died instantly.

But Xiao Lan?

He ducked at the last second, grabbing the assassin's wrist and twisting it—

CRACK!

The assassin screamed as his wrist snapped, his dagger falling to the ground.

Xiao Lan grabbed him by the collar and hurled him into another Bloodmoon warrior.

BOOM!

Two down.

But the leader was already upon him, a long, curved sword descending toward Xiao Lan's throat.

For the first time—

Xiao Lan felt the pressure of true danger.

This guy was strong.

But that only made him smile wider.

Xiao Lan dodged at the last second, the blade barely grazing his cheek—

And he countered with a palm strike infused with Dao energy.

BANG!

The leader skidded backward, his eyes flickering with surprise.

"You're not bad," he admitted. "But you're still going to lose."

Xiao Lan cracked his knuckles.

"I'd like to see you try."

The battle continued, the battlefield growing bloodier as warriors fell left and right.

More than half the participants were already eliminated.

And yet—

Xiao Lan stood tall, surrounded by fallen enemies, his breathing steady.

The Bloodmoon Sect leader narrowed his eyes.

"This won't be easy," he muttered.

Xiao Qing grinned from the sidelines.

"You have no idea," she whispered.

And as the next wave of battle exploded around them—

Xiao Lan rushed forward, ready to fight once more.

The battle royale was far from over.

And Xiao Lan?

He was just getting started.