Back on the stage, Liu i stretched lazily, covering a small yawn with her hand.
"What's wrong? Did Swiftah crashed into a car?" she teased, her voice light and playful.
Spee Ding faltered, his brow furrowing. "What's a... car?"
Swiftah—a beast renowned for its lightning-fast speed and the pinnacle of agility below Gold Rank—was familiar to him. But 'car'? That word was foreign.
Liu i simply shook her head, an amused glint in her eyes.
'That's a little secret between and my master' she mused internally. 'No way I'm ever explaining that to an outsider.'
Then, her gaze locked onto Spee Ding's, sharp and unwavering.
"Be glad I have no weapon," she murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly. "If I did, I'd be going for your throat."
And in the next instant—she vanished.
A gust of wind followed.
Spee Ding barely registered the movent before a chilling sensation crept up his spine—Liu i was already there, her fingertips hovering inches from his exposed throat.
His body tensed. His instincts scread. And before he could think—
"I SURRENDER!"
His voice rang through the arena.
Silence.
The crowd, once roaring with excitent, fell into stunned stillness.
Liu i smirked, pulling back her hand without a scratch.
"She's fast..." Shan Yifeng muttered, eyes still fixed on Liu i as she gracefully descended from the stage.
Ace let out a long breath, the tension finally easing from his shoulders. "That was intense, better than I expected... I'm glad you two won."
Before he could say more, Liu i rushed towards him.
"Master! Master! I did it!"
Liu i, victorious monts ago, had already shed her composed deanor, reverting instantly to the excitable child she truly was. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she practically bounced in front of Ace.
….
….
The tournant continued on with fierce battles, each match escalating in intensity.
Xiao Ling, the rising talent of the Xiao family, delivered the most shocking upset yet—taking down another fellow Gold Rank fighter from the Heavy Mount Sect.
His technique was breathtaking—swift, precise, and elegant. Every strike carried a weight of mastery that left his opponent stunned.
The loss was a humiliating blow to the Heavy Mount Sect, whose pride shattered under the young prodigy's skill.
After the day was done, fourteen participants remained in the roster, each of them eyeing the titles that best suited them.
The winners would claim the title as theirs if they hold on to it for a whole hour, while the defeated still had a chance to challenge for a different one.
The Azure Sky Dragon, Crimson Fla Dragon, Erald Earth Dragon, Shadow Fang Dragon, Golden Radiance Phoenix, Scarlet Moon Phoenix, and Silver Wind Phoenix—each title carried its own weight, so with deeper anings than others.
Ace glanced at his two disciples, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "So? Which titles are you two going for?"
Shan Yifeng thought for a mont before throwing the question right back. "Master, which one do you think suits us?"
Ace tapped his chin, pretending to ponder deeply before giving his verdict. "You, Yifeng, should go for the Crimson Fla Dragon. It represents power, passion, and an unyielding spirit."
Yifeng nodded slowly, considering the words. But before he could say anything, Ace chuckled.
"Unyielding spirit—get it? You never gave up, not even when I used to beat you up on a daily routine back then."
Shan Yifeng froze. His eyes twitched.
Ace had been treating him so well lately that he had nearly forgotten those painful days of relentless training—or, as he now realized, straight-up torture.
A shiver ran down his spine as vivid mories resurfaced—dodging flying empty wine bottles, getting flicked on the forehead at impossible speeds, and enduring Ace's "motivational" kicks.
Ace patted his shoulder, his tone suddenly soft. "Relax, Yifeng. Like I told you before, I've changed. No more hitting."
Yifeng nodded stiffly. "R-Right…"
anwhile, Liu i, who had been listening silently, finally looked up with sparkling eyes. "Master, master! What about ? What title should I go for?"
Ace turned to her with a grin. "Go for the Golden Radiance Phoenix. It represents flashiness—the one who shines the brightest in the tournant earns it."
Liu i gasped. "Master… do I shine?"
Before Ace could respond, Shan Yifeng sighed dramatically and rubbed his temples. "Liu i, you shine so bright… my eyes hurt just watching you fight."
Liu i bead, clearly taking it as the highest form of praise. Ace just shook his head, amused.
….
….
The next day, the arena was more packed than ever. The air buzzed with excitent as spectators filled every seat, eager for the upcoming battles. Not a single spot was left empty—it was a full house, brimming with anticipation.
The crowd erupted into cheers as the comntator's voice bood across the arena.
"Welco to the finals of the Dragon and Phoenix Tournant!"
The atmosphere was electric, the anticipation thick in the air. Spectators leaned forward in their seats, eager for the battles ahead.
"And today, we are honored to have a very special guest—Old Master Blind!"
The crowd roared even louder.
Old Master Blind's na carried imnse weight. As a Dark Gold Rank expert, he was the closest living warrior to Legend Rank. Though age had taken its toll, his insight remained razor-sharp, making him one of the martial world's most respected figures.
With a knowing chuckle, he stroked his long beard and spoke into the voice-amplifying artifact before him. "This year, i have witnessed many budding talents. I hope to spectate battles that will shake the very foundations of this arena."
He lowered himself onto his seat, exuding the quiet confidence of a master who had seen countless battles unfold before his eyes. "I'll try to provide the finest comntary for you folks—assuming my old eyes can keep up!"
Laughter rippled through the audience at his playful remark.
Then, the comntator's voice rang out again.
"Let's not keep you all waiting for long! The first match of the day—White Rose vs. Xiao Ling!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)