The previous match had left the audience breathless, and now, as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in scarlet and amber, the second-to-last match of the tournament was about to begin.
On one side of the arena stood Xiao Fengwu, the Heavenly Demon Sect's newest member. The memory of Xue Lan's defeat at the hands of Bai Xianzi fueling her resolve. Today, she would fight not just for victory, but for retribution.
Opposite her, Bai Xianzi of Immortal Blossom Valley calmly adjusted her jade fans. Her white robes fluttered like petals, and her delicate features belied the deadly power she wielded. She had earned her place in the semifinals through skill and ruthless efficiency, her every move was as graceful as it was lethal.
The referee's voice rang out, slicing through the murmurs of the crowd.
"Begin!"
Both fighters bowed, their eyes never leaving each other.
Xiao Fengwu moved first, her steps silent, her aura restrained. She unsheathed her sword and sent a flurry of slashes toward her opponent. Bai Xianzi responded with a gentle sweep of her sleeve, summoning a flurry of translucent petals that danced in the wind—her signature, the Blossom Veil.
The petals spun around her, forming a shifting barrier. Xiao Fengwu's sword shot forward, slicing through the petals. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, scattering the blossoms, but Bai Xianzi was already moving, her form blurring as she sidestepped, her fingers tracing an arc.
"Blossom Mirage!" she commanded, her voice clear as a bell.
Illusions bloomed around Xiao Fengwu—a storm of petals covering the arena, obstructing her vision, and echoes of Bai Xianzi darting in and out of her vision. She narrowed her eyes, focusing not on sight but on the subtle fluctuations of the qi. She let her senses expand, feeling for the true presence behind the illusions.
With a sudden twist, she lashed out, her blade flying through the air. The illusion shattered, revealing Bai Xianzi's true form. She smiled, a hint of respect in her eyes.
"Well done, it seems the rumors of your greatness were not mere praises."
But she was not finished. With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a storm of razor-sharp petals, each one like miniature daggers. Xiao Fengwu leapt back, evading the majority of the petals, and used her sword to deflect the rest. Despite her efforts, a few grazed her arms, drawing thin lines of blood, but she pressed forward, undeterred.
The crowd watched and cheered as the two exchanged blows—Xiao Fengwu's style was direct, almost brutal in its simplicity, each strike honed by years of training and strict discipline. Bai Xianzi, by contrast, was fluid and elusive, her movements were deceptive and unpredictable.
Bai Xianzi danced around Xiao Fengwu, her feet barely touching the ground, her attacks coming in waves.
"Petal Rain!" she cried, as the sky above the ring darkened as thousands of spectral pink petals descended.
Xiao Fengwu planted her feet, drawing in a deep breath. Her qi surged, a sapphire aura coating her sword.
"Rotating Azure Vortex!"
As the petals descended towards her, she spun her sword in a swift circular motion, forming a shield against the encroaching attack. The petals struck her, but most were dissipated by her shield. She pushed forward, step by step, until she was within striking distance. And with a swift flick of her wrist, she attacked with a palm strike, the force of it sending Bai Xianzi skidding backward. She landed lightly, her breathing quickened, but her eyes shone with excitement.
They clashed again, this time with greater ferocity. Bai Xianzi's techniques grew more desperate, her illusions more intricate. She conjured a field of blooming lotuses, each one exploding into a cloud of blinding pollen as Xiao Fengwu approached.
She coughed, her vision blurring, but she pressed on, relying on instinct and training.
With a shout, she unleashed her trump card. "Steps of the Wind God!"
Her form flickered, vanishing from sight. Bai Xianzi panicked, as she desperately searched for her, but Fengwu reappeared behind her, her sword threatening to tear into Xianzi's body.
She barely managed to block, the force of her strike sending her sprawling. She rolled to her feet, blood at the corner of her mouth, but her spirit remained unbroken. Fengwu continued her assault, launching a series of sword aura towards Xianzi.
Bai Xianzi blocked the fierce attacks with her fans and blossom veil technique, the impact causing her arms to tremble.
"You leave me no choice," she whispered as she began gathering her qi.
The crowd held its breath as she unleashed her ultimate technique, "Blossom's Final Embrace!"
With a surge of qi, a violent storm of petals erupted from her fans, swirling around her, and covering the arena in a deadly whirlwind of rosy petals.
Fengwu spun her blade once more, the petals slowly closed in, their edges razor-sharp, threatening to shred him to ribbons.
Within the storm, Xiao Fengwu stood still, her eyes closed. He felt the sting of the petals, the pressure of the attack. But deeper still, she felt the weight of her promise—to Xue Lan, to her sect, to herself. Her determination to win burned even brighter, as she focused all of her qi into her sword.
"Requiem of the Azure Blade"
Fengwu launched forward, her movements fierce and precise. Each slash of her blade released spirals of shimmering azure energy, forming a cyclone that roared and twisted with overwhelming force. She easily cut apart the blizzard of petals, the distance between them quickly diminishing. Her sword sang as it scattered and severed the petals and with one final step, Fengwu was right before Xianzi.
Their eyes met—Xianxi's wide with shock, while Fengwu's were burning with unyielding resolve.
Xianzi tried to attack once again, but her ultimate technique had left her in a weakened state. With one final thrust from the pommel of her sword to Xianzi's stomach, she staggered, falling to one knee. The petal storm around them subsided as Fengwu placed her glowing blue blade next to her opponent's neck.
The referee's voice rang out. "Victory—Xiao Fengwu!"
The arena exploded in cheers and gasps. Some shouted in awe at Xiao Fengwu's display of power; others murmured in fear at the sword prowess she had unleashed.
Bai Xianzi looked, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You are strong. Stronger than I imagined."
Xiao Fengwu extended a hand, helping her to her feet. "You fought well. But I could not let my junior's defeat go unanswered."
She nodded, bowing deeply. "I understand. May we meet again, under kinder circumstances."
As Xiao Fengwu left the arena, he caught sight of Xue Lan in the stands, her eyes brimming with pride and relief.
The announcement of the finals sent shockwaves through the crowd. For the first time in years, both finalists were from the Heavenly Demon Sect—Ming Yue and Xiao Fengwu. The other sects' disciples erupted in a storm of emotions: some cheered, others grumbled about unfair advantages or dark arts. The elders exchanged wary glances, sensing the balance of power shifting.
Within the Heavenly Demon Sect's ranks, pride and anxiety mingled. The two top disciples would face each other—not as enemies, but as rivals, each carrying the hopes and burdens of their sect.