The moment the last disciple's name scraped onto the waiting scroll, a hush that crackled with anticipation fell over the Celestial Wind Sect courtyard.
Every gaze, sharp with hope and laced with nervousness, swiveled towards the platform. Perched above the crowd, an elder of the sect stood silhouetted against the clear sky, his robes catching the gentle currents of air, a silent rustle that only heightened the stillness. You could almost feel the collective holding of breath in the courtyard, a tension that hummed beneath the surface. The sunlight, warm on their faces, seemed to pause, waiting alongside them for the pronouncements to come.
"Listen closely," the elder began, his voice resonating across the hushed courtyard. He gestured towards a sturdy wooden table placed prominently before the disciples. "On that very table," he continued, his gaze sweeping over their eager faces, "you'll see a simple jar. Inside it are straws, each bearing a number. The task is straightforward: each of you will step forward and select a single straw. If your straw shares an identical number with another disciple's, then that person will be your opponent for the next stage."
"Form a line, one behind the other, and approach the table in an orderly fashion. No pushing, now."
The disciples, a tapestry of expectant faces, shuffled into a somewhat uneven line, a few nudging each other good-naturedly while others stood with quiet concentration. One by one, they approached the jar with a mix of anticipation and trepidation, their hands disappearing briefly before emerging with a tightly held straw.
Then, it was the turn of a striking disciple with vibrant purple hair cascading down her back. Lan Xin, a name that seemed to carry a quiet strength, reached into the earthenware jar. Her slender fingers brushed against the other straws before settling on one. She withdrew it, her gaze flicking down to reveal the number etched upon it: 25. A subtle shift in her expression,perhaps a flicker of surprise or contemplation – was quickly masked as she stepped away from the table.
Behind her in the line, a low murmur rippled through the waiting disciples.
"Hey, did you just see that? Lan Xin actually got number twenty-five," a younger-looking disciple whispered, his eyes wide.
"Yeah, I saw," his companion replied, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"Twenty-five, huh? Hope I don't end up with that match."
Time passed as each disciple continued taking their straws, finally came Shi Yao,he puts his hand in and takes the number 25.
Behind Shi Yao, the whispers intensified, now directed squarely at him.
"Hey, did you see that? This guy got the same number as Lan Xin," one of the disciples muttered, a note of pity in his voice. "He's done for, poor chap."
"Yeah, I heard that," another chimed in, his tone more knowledgeable. "She's from the Luo Clan, you know? A really high-ranking family. Even the Sect Master shows them respect."
A third voice joined the hushed conversation, laced with awe. "And did you hear? They say she has already reached the peak of the second layer of Foundation Establishment."
The murmurs continued to ripple through the line, painting a picture of Lan Xin as a formidable opponent. Inside his own mind, Shi Yao frowned slightly. Lan Xin? Who is this Lan Xin they keep talking about? He glanced around the courtyard, trying to spot the purple-haired disciple from earlier, then shrugged inwardly. Well, I'll find out soon enough. He turned his attention back to the ongoing draw, a newfound curiosity piqued.
Inside the bustling arena, their voices echoing across the packed stands, the Overseer stepped forward. His voice, amplified by a subtle current of spiritual energy, boomed across the arena: "All disciples holding the number five! Make your way down to the stage immediately! Your matches are about to commence!"
The Overseer's voice echoed, and a brief pause hung in the air. From the crowd, two figures separated themselves and began making their way towards the stage. One was a tall, lean young man with a determined expression, and the other was a slightly smaller but equally focused young woman with her hair tied back in a tight ponytail. These were the only two disciples who held the number five.
As the Overseer's call faded, the two disciples who possessed the number five entered the arena. From one side, a young man emerged, his presence immediately noticeable. He was tall and broad-shouldered, his muscles bulging visibly even beneath his training robes. He moved with a confident stride, his gaze fixed on the center of the arena. From the opposite side, Luo Yan approached. Her frame was leaner, almost wiry, but she carried herself with an air of quiet composure. Her movements were fluid and calm, and her eyes scanned the arena with a collected focus.
The contrast between the two was immediately apparent.
The crowd erupted in cheers as Hao Tian, the muscular body cultivator, stepped confidently into the arena. His very presence seemed to radiate raw power.
He turned towards Luo Yan, a smirk playing on his lips. "Hey you," he called out, his voice carrying easily across the arena, "how about you give up while you still can? I won't go easy on you just because you're a girl."
Luo Yan met his gaze steadily, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "Don't think I'm scared of you, Hao Tian," she retorted, her voice clear and unwavering despite the size difference. "I can take care of myself."
The Overseer's voice, amplified once more, cut through the rising anticipation of the crowd. "Let us review the rules of this friendly competition," he announced, his gaze sweeping across both competitors. "Firstly, if at any point a participant verbally yields, the match will be immediately concluded. Secondly, be warned: lethal force is prohibited. This is a test of skill, not a battle to the death. Finally, should a competitor step outside the designated boundaries of the arena, they will be considered to have lost the match."
The Overseer's hand flashed down, a single, decisive gesture accompanied by the shout, "Begin!"
The instant the command echoed through the arena, Hao Tian exploded forward, his powerful legs propelling him towards Luo Yan with surprising speed despite his size. He moved like a boulder rolling downhill, intent on overwhelming her with brute force.
Luo Yan, anticipating his rush, took a swift step back, her movements fluid and graceful. Her right hand shot out, palm facing Hao Tian, and a vibrant burst of crimson energy erupted. "Blazing Palm Art!" she cried, a focused determination etched on her face.
A wave of intense heat shimmered in the air as the fiery energy hurtled towards Hao Tian. But to Luo Yan's dismay, Hao Tian didn't even flinch. With a guttural roar, he swung his massive fist, the force of his punch meeting the oncoming flames head-on. The fire dissipated, extinguished as if it were no more than a wisp of smoke.
Hao Tian, now just a few strides away, let out a booming laugh. "If that's all your flames can do, little girl," he sneered, his eyes gleaming with confidence, "you should probably just give up now."
Luo Yan raised her right hand, her fingers weaving intricate circles in the air, the forming fire crackling with intense energy. "Scarlet Inferno Barrage Art!" she cried out, and from the fiery circles erupted a series of rapid fire blasts, each one streaking towards Hao Tian like a crimson comet.
Seeing the onslaught, Hao Tian reacted instantly, his body moving with surprising agility for someone so powerfully built. He darted backward, weaving and dodging with incredible speed, each fiery blast narrowly missing him. Just as the last of the fireballs passed, he slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outwards.
The sudden tremor disrupted Luo Yan's footing, catching her off guard. She stumbled, her balance momentarily lost. Seizing the opportunity, Hao Tian surged forward, a triumphant roar escaping his lips as he lunged towards her, fist aimed at her chest. Before the blow could connect, Luo Yan's voice, filled with a mix of frustration and resignation, rang out: "I surrender!"
The Overseer raised his hand, his voice booming once more, "The victor of this match is Hao Tian!"
A wide grin stretched across Hao Tian's face as he watched Luo Yan pick herself up. "Man," he said, a touch of playful arrogance in his tone, "you gave up so easily. You had me a little excited there for a moment."
With a final nod from the Overseer, both Luo Yan, looking slightly dejected, and the triumphant Hao Tian exited the arena. The crowd continued its enthusiastic cheers for Hao Tian, their voices a wave of appreciation for his display of power.
Amidst the throng of spectators sat Shi Yao, his eyes narrowed in thoughtful observation. Wow, he mused to himself, that guy is really strong. Even though his opponent seemed to be around the first layer of Foundation Establishment, she didn't stand a chance. Looks like I should definitely be wary of him in the later rounds.
The Overseer reached into the jar once more, his hand rustling amongst the remaining straws. He pulled one out and held it aloft, the number 25 clearly visible. "Next up," his voice announced, drawing the crowd's attention, "the opponents holding the number twenty-five, please make your way down to the stage."
Shi Yao, still sitting amidst the spectators, glanced down at the straw in his hand, a small smile playing on his lips. "Well," he muttered to himself, "looks like it's my turn to see who this Lan Xin is." He stood up, stretching his arms above his head with a casual air, loosening his muscles. With a light jump, he landed gracefully in the arena, his eyes scanning his surroundings.
Just moments after his arrival, a figure descended onto the opposite side of the stage. It was Lan Xin, clad in elegant white and black robes that flowed around her as she landed with a soft grace. Her vibrant purple hair was now neatly tied back in a high ponytail, revealing the delicate curve of her neck.
"Lan Xin! Lan Xin!"
As she stepped onto the stage, a wave of fervent chanting erupted from the crowd, overwhelmingly from the male section of the stands.
"Wow," Shi Yao heard someone nearby exclaim, craning their neck for a better view, "so that's Lan Xin. She's even more beautiful than the rumors said."
Another voice, filled with exaggerated admiration, chimed in, "Man, if I were in that guy's position, I'd probably just politely ask her to beat me up!"
Lan Xin's gaze swept over Shi Yao, a hint of cool detachment in her eyes. "Hey you," she said, her voice carrying a soft but confident tone, "instead of wasting both our time, why don't you just give up now? We can part ways without any unnecessary trouble."
Shi Yao met her gaze with a relaxed smile. "I didn't come all this way just to give up easily," he replied, a spark of playful challenge in his eyes. "If you want me to yield, you're going to have to force me."
The moment the last word left Shi Yao's lips, the air around Lan Xin subtly shifted. Before Shi Yao could even fully register the change, a razor-sharp shard of ice materialized out of thin air, hurtling towards him at an astonishing speed. He reacted instinctively, his body twisting to the side at the last possible instant, the icy projectile whistling past his ear.
"Hey!" Shi Yao exclaimed, a hint of surprise and annoyance in his voice as he righted himself. "The match hasn't even started yet! What was that for?"
Lan Xin let out a delicate laugh, the sound surprisingly light despite the sudden attack. "Oh, that?" she said, tilting her head slightly. "I was just testing the waters. Didn't want to waste my time with someone who hasn't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage."
She paused, her gaze sharpening slightly. "But to my surprise, you actually managed to dodge. Hmm, this might be a little more interesting than I thought."
Just then, the Overseer raised his hands, a clear signal. "Begin!" he announced.
The moment the word left his lips, Lan Xin took a swift step back, her hands already forming an intricate gesture. "Glacial Burst Art!" she cried out, and a colossal blast of pure ice erupted from her palms, hurtling towards Shi Yao with immense force.
Shi Yao's eyes widened as he sensed the sheer power of the attack. He reacted instantly, sidestepping with a burst of speed, the freezing projectile whistling past him and colliding with the arena wall in a deafening crash, leaving behind a visible layer of frost.
Lan Xin watched him with an appraising look. "Impressive," she conceded, her voice still calm. "You managed to dodge that too. How about you try and evade this?"
She lifted her right hand, her movements graceful and precise, and began to mutter an incantation under her breath. A visible drop in temperature swept through the arena, and an icy mist, like freezing smoke, began to swirl around her, coalescing into countless shimmering ice shards.
A confident smirk touched the corner of her lips. "Let's make a little bet, shall we?" she announced, her voice now carrying a chilling edge. "If you manage to survive this next barrage of ice, I'll concede the match. But if you lose... well, you only have yourself to blame."
With a final, disdainful flick of her wrist, Lan Xin unleashed the "Glacial Ice Barrage." The icy mist surrounding her solidified into a terrifying storm of countless ice shards, each one glinting like a deadly needle.
These weren't mere slivers of ice; they were substantial, capable of tearing through steel, and the sheer volume of them was enough to blot out the arena floor. The air crackled with intense cold, and the temperature plummeted noticeably even in the stands.
This was an attack that lived up to its reputation. Early Foundation Establishment cultivators were indeed capable of causing damage equivalent to large buildings, and the sheer destructive potential of Lan Xin's technique was palpable. A significant portion of the arena floor, where the ice shards would impact, looked destined to be pulverized.
Lan Xin watched with a detached air, her smirk widening, utterly convinced that survival was impossible for someone like Shi Yao. The wager, in her mind, was already won.
From the stands, the sheer power of Lan Xin's attack drew gasps of awe and concern. One of the elders, who had been observing the matches with a calm demeanor, suddenly sat upright, his eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. "Incredible," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't believe she has managed to master that skill at such a young age, only twenty-six… just how terrifyingly talented is this child?"
Another elder beside him, his brow furrowed with worry, chimed in, "If that boy isn't able to dodge every single one of those, he'll most certainly perish. That's a lethal technique even for those at the higher levels."
Lan Xin, hearing the elders' murmurs and seeing the sheer panic in the eyes of some of the younger disciples in the audience, allowed a wider, more confident smirk to spread across her face. With a dramatic snap of her fingers, she unleashed the full force of the "Glacial Ice Barrage."
"This attack is way too dangerous!" Shi Yao thought frantically, his senses screaming at the imminent threat. "I have to dodge it completely. One direct hit from those shards, and I'm definitely done for!"
His body moved on instinct, fueled by adrenaline and a sharp will to survive. He darted across the arena floor, a blur of motion, twisting, turning, and leaping with incredible agility. The air around him became a deadly blizzard as hundreds, if not thousands, of razor-sharp ice shards rained down. Each one left a faint white trail in the air, and the sound of them slicing through the wind was like a chorus of deadly whispers.
Seeing the sheer devastation and the near-impossible task facing Shi Yao, one of the higher-ranking elders in the VIP section reacted instantly. With a swift hand gesture and a silent incantation, a shimmering, translucent barrier of spiritual energy sprang into existence above the spectator stands, shielding the audience from any stray ice shards that might escape the arena. A collective gasp of relief went through the crowd as the protective layer formed just in time.
At the last possible moment, a fierce determination flickered in Lan Xin's eyes. Focusing her immense power, she manipulated the trajectory of the remaining ice shards, concentrating the entire barrage onto a single point: Shi Yao. The air crackled with an almost unbearable intensity as all the deadly projectiles converged on his position.
The impact was devastating. The sound was like a violent explosion, a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the arena. A massive shockwave rippled outwards, kicking up a cloud of icy dust and smoke that completely obscured Shi Yao's figure.
Lan Xin, a confident smirk returning to her lips, turned away, assuming the match was over. Why waste another second on someone so clearly outmatched?
"Where are you going?"
The unexpected voice, though slightly hoarse, sliced through the lingering echoes of the explosion. Lan Xin froze, her blood running cold. She frantically whirled around, her eyes widening in disbelief. There, amidst the dissipating cloud of smoke and ice, stood Shi Yao. His robes were torn and tattered, and a few minor cuts and grazes marked his skin, but he was standing.
"Impossible…" she breathed, her voice barely a whisper, her earlier confidence completely shattered. "How… how did you survive that?"
That was a close one, Shi Yao thought, his heart still pounding in his chest. If I hadn't instinctively used the Heavenly Devouring Pulse Art at the last possible instant to absorb a large portion of the attack's force… I would have definitely been turned into ice dust.