Wang Li sat against a rock, wincing as Mu Qingling carefully dabbed dicine onto the claw wounds on his back.
"Hold still," she chided, her soft hands working with practiced ease. "You're lucky that panther wasn't using poison, or you'd be paralyzed right now."
"Yeah," Wang Li muttered, grimacing as the cooling ointnt stung. "Lucky."
Feng Yuling stood nearby, sipping her tea as always, while Lin Ruoyan cracked her knuckles, looking way too eager about sothing.
"Alright, now that he's recovered, we can start the next part of training."
Wang Li froze mid-sip of water. "Wait. Next part?"
Lin Ruoyan grinned. "Obviously. You think beating up one little spirit beast is enough?"
Feng Yuling smirked. "Besides, if you really want to improve before the Winter Moon Tournant, you'll need real combat experience."
Mu Qingling bead. "So we decided—"
"We'll be your opponents!" Lin Ruoyan declared proudly.
Wang Li spat out his water. "WHAT?!"
Feng Yuling sighed. "Honestly, Wang Li. You should've seen this coming."
"Yeah," Lin Ruoyan added, stretching her arms. "I an, who better to beat you into shape than your beloved ex-girlfriends?"
Beloved?! What part of this was beloved?!
Wang Li's survival instincts scread at him. His exes were all stronger than him. This wasn't training—this was scheduled murder!
"Wait, wait, wait," Wang Li held up his hands. "Isn't this a bit extre? Can't we, I don't know, start with sothing smaller? Like sparring against normal disciples?"
Feng Yuling smiled. "That would be a waste of ti."
Mu Qingling nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! If you can handle us, then you'll have no problem against anyone in the tournant!"
Lin Ruoyan grinned. "Exactly. So stop whining and get ready."
Wang Li glanced between the three of them, sweat dripping down his forehead.
He was going to die.
---
Round One: Wang Li vs. Lin Ruoyan (The Human Explosion)
The training ground was a wide, open field at the base of the mountain, surrounded by towering trees and flowing streams. The perfect place for a life-or-death sparring match.
Lin Ruoyan stood across from Wang Li, cracking her knuckles, her body pulsing with fire qi. Her crimson robes fluttered as heat radiated from her.
"Alright, Wang Li," she said, grinning. "Let's see how much you've improved."
Wang Li took a deep breath, focusing his qi. He couldn't let fear control him. He had Dragon Step, he had his Golden Serpent Palm, and he had just broken through to the fourth stage of Qi Condensation.
Maybe—just maybe—he could hold his own.
Lin Ruoyan smirked. "Co at ."
Wang Li rushed forward, activating Dragon Step. His body blurred as he closed the distance, his hand glowing with golden qi.
"Golden Serpent Palm!"
His strike shot forward—aiming straight for Lin Ruoyan's stomach.
But—
She sidestepped effortlessly.
And then—
BOOM!
A flaming fist slamd into Wang Li's gut, sending him flying ten ters back before he crashed into the dirt.
"Ugh—!" Wang Li coughed up dust, groaning.
Lin Ruoyan laughed. "Too slow!"
Wang Li barely had ti to react before she launched forward, fire swirling around her fists and legs.
Shit! She's relentless!
He pushed himself up just in ti to duck under a flaming kick, rolling sideways to avoid another fiery punch.
BOOM!
The ground where he had been standing exploded into flas.
"Are you actually trying to kill ?!" Wang Li shouted, dodging for his life.
Lin Ruoyan grinned. "Nah. If I was serious, you'd already be ashes."
What kind of twisted reassurance was that?!
Wang Li gritted his teeth. He couldn't just dodge forever. He had to fight back!
He focused his qi into his legs, and when Lin Ruoyan lunged forward again, he suddenly switched directions mid-step—
Dragon Step: Evasive Shadow!
His body flickered, appearing behind her in an instant.
Lin Ruoyan's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Oh?"
"Golden Serpent Palm!"
Wang Li's palm slamd into her back, sending her skidding forward.
Direct hit!
But—
Lin Ruoyan simply grinned.
Then she twisted midair, flipping gracefully to her feet.
She patted her back, completely unhard. "Not bad," she admitted. "But—"
Her eyes blazed with excitent.
"Now I'm really warming up!"
BOOOOM!
Flas erupted from her body, tripling in intensity.
Wang Li paled. "Oh, co on!"
---
Round Two: Wang Li vs. Feng Yuling (The Silent Assassin)
After Lin Ruoyan nearly roasted him alive, Wang Li barely had ti to recover before Feng Yuling casually stepped forward.
"Your movent has improved," she said, adjusting the thin dagger in her hand. "But let's see how you handle an enemy you can't see."
Wang Li groaned. "Can I at least get a break?"
Feng Yuling smiled. "No."
Then—
She disappeared.
Wang Li's heart stopped.
Shit.
Suddenly—a whisper behind his ear.
"You're already dead."
Wang Li spun around, his fist shooting forward—
But nothing was there.
A sharp sting on his arm.
He jumped back, glancing down to see a thin cut across his sleeve.
Feng Yuling erged from the shadows, twirling her dagger. "Too slow."
Wang Li's breath hitched. She's toying with .
If Lin Ruoyan was an explosion, then Feng Yuling was a phantom.
And Wang Li was stuck between both.
This tournant was going to kill him.
--
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