*Crack! Crack! Crack!*
[A/N: An error on my part, Xian Long has dual elent spirit roots. Spirit Root attributes will always match the elental attributes of Matial Spirits]
Three rapid strikes in succession. The Thunder Lizard staggered, its scales cracked and smoking.
But the beast wasn’t finished. It gathered the last of its power and released a massive lightning blast from its mouth, a desperate final attack.
Xian Long saw it coming. This was the mont for the technique Xian Tiandi had taught him in secret.
He channeled his spiritual energy through a specific pattern, rging it with his martial spirit’s power. The Gale Wolf howled, and wind elent energy ford a spiraling vortex around Xian Long’s hand.
"Thunder Serpent Strike!"
But this wasn’t the simple version he’d used before. The martial spirit enhancent transford it into sothing more. Lightning rged with wind, creating a serpent of dual elents that shot from his palm with incredible force.
*Boom!*
The thunder serpent collided with the lizard’s lightning blast mid-air. The two forces struggled for dominance for a split second, then Xian Long’s attack overwheld the beast’s desperate defense.
The serpent crashed into the Thunder Lizard’s chest with explosive force. Electricity and wind elent energy tore through the beast’s body. It convulsed once, then dissipated into spiritual energy.
Silence filled the arena.
Then the examiner’s voice rang out. "Winner, Xian Long! Exceptional performance!"
The crowd erupted in excited chatter.
"Did you see that technique at the end? The way it rged with his martial spirit?"
"A thirteen-year-old with such cultivation prowess at the Qi Refinent Realm is incredible!"
"The Xian Clan has produced so real talents this generation!"
Xian Long dispelled his martial spirit and bowed respectfully to the examiner before leaving the arena. His legs were shaking slightly from exertion and adrenaline, but he was grinning from ear to ear.
When he rejoined Xian Tiandi and Ying Yue, excitent was was clearly visible on his face.
"Big Brother! Did you see? I actually had to use my martial spirit!"
"You handled it well," Xian Tiandi said with approval. "The Thunder Serpent Strike was perfectly executed. You combined it with your martial spirit’s wind elent naturally."
"That beast was tougher than I expected," Xian Long admitted. "Rank one demonic beasts are no joke."
"They’re designed to push applicants to their limits," Ying Yue said. "You should be proud. Most applicants struggle much more than you did."
The matches continued. More applicants revealed their martial spirits when pressed by the fierce demonic beasts. A young woman’s Tiger martial spirit helped her defeat a Rock Bear. A man’s Serpent martial spirit gave him the flexibility to dodge a Razor Mantis’s deadly strikes.
Not everyone succeeded. Several applicants were injured badly enough that dical disciples had to intervene. A few gave up mid-fight when it beca clear they were hopelessly outmatched. One applicant’s leg was broken by a charging bull beast before the barrier automatically pulled him out of danger.
"Brutal," soone muttered. "I thought sect trials would be more controlled than this."
"They’re testing real combat ability," a sect disciple explained. "In the wilderness, demonic beasts show no rcy. Better to learn your limits here where healers are standing by than die on an actual mission."
The afternoon wore on. Arena after arena saw battles between young cultivators and savage beasts. So fights lasted re seconds. Others dragged on for five or six exhausting minutes.
Then it was Ying Yue’s turn.
"Number fifty-one, Ying Yue. Arena seven."
Ying Yue walked calmly to her arena, her expression composed and focused. The formation activated, and her opponent materialized.
Although her thoughts were not so calm, ’I must not fail Master. This is my first step to stand by his side and not behind him,’ Her eyes hardened in resolve.
A Crimson Ape.
The beast was massive, standing nearly two ters tall with arms like tree trunks. Its fur was deep red, and its eyes held a disturbing intelligence. Crimson Apes were known for their strength and surprising tactical thinking.
"That’s a tough draw," soone said. "Crimson Apes are rank one beasts, but they’re on the higher end of that spectrum."
"Miss Ying Yue has heaven ranked spirit roots though," another countered. "She should be fine."
The examiner signaled the start.
The Crimson Ape didn’t charge blindly like many beasts. It studied Ying Yue carefully, then picked up a loose stone from the arena floor and hurled it at her with devastating force.
*Whoosh!*
The projectile shot through the air like an arrow. Ying Yue sidestepped smoothly, and the stone shattered against the barrier behind her.
The ape grabbed more stones, creating a barrage of projectiles. It was testing her defenses, probing for weaknesses.
Ying Yue responded with fire. Her hands moved in practiced patterns, and flas erupted around her in a defensive periter. "Fla Lotus Burst!"
Multiple lotus-shaped flas materialized in the air. Each one spun rapidly, creating a wall of fire that incinerated the incoming stones.
The Crimson Ape realized ranged attacks wouldn’t work. It dropped to all fours and charged, using its massive arms to propel itself forward with frightening speed.
Ying Yue didn’t retreat. She stood her ground and channeled more spiritual energy into her fire techniques. The flas surrounding her intensified, burning hotter and brighter.
"Phoenix Feather Strike!"
A bird-shaped construct of pure fla shot from her palm. The phoenix flew straight at the charging ape, trailing fire in its wake.
The Crimson Ape tried to dodge, but the phoenix adjusted its trajectory mid-flight. The flaming bird slamd into the beast’s chest with explosive force.
*Boom!*
The ape roared in pain and anger. Its fur was singed, and burns covered its torso. But it didn’t retreat. Instead, it beca more aggressive, attacking with wild swings of its massive fists.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Each blow struck the ground where Ying Yue had been standing a split second before. She moved with fluid grace, always staying just outside the ape’s reach while her flas continuously burned at its defenses.
"She’s wearing it down systematically," Xian Tiandi observed. "Not wasting energy trying to end it quickly."
The Crimson Ape’s movents grew slower as the accumulated burns took their toll. Its breathing beca labored. The intelligence in its eyes gave way to desperate pain.
Ying Yue pressed her advantage. She channeled fire elent energy into both palms and struck simultaneously from different angles. "Twin Phoenix Descent!"
Two more flaming birds materialized and dove at the weakened ape from opposite sides. The beast tried to block but couldn’t defend against both attacks.
*Boom! Boom!*
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