The sun dipped slightly westward, casting warm golden light across the arena as the next matches were announced. The Veylan crest — a black dragon coiled around a silver crown — fluttered faintly from the family's viewing box.
Edran stood just below the steps, his hands behind his back, gaze fixed on the platform as the announcer's voice boomed:
"Next up — Lyra Veylan of the Azure Peak Division versus Jareth of the Stormblade Sect!"
A ripple of murmurs followed. Lyra was Edran's elder sister by two years, known as much for her beauty as for her calm, surgical fighting style. She stepped into the arena with measured grace, her silver hair tied in a neat braid, her robes a deep blue trimmed in black.
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment – Mid Stage
Cultivation Technique: Moonlit Water Sutra (High Mortal Grade)
Weapon: Twin crescent blades
Famed Skill: Silver Current Flow — rapid, fluid strikes that overwhelm opponents like a flooding river.
Her opponent, Jareth, grinned confidently — his Qi Condensation Peak Stage aura swelling with raw wind qi.
The match began with a sharp clang. Jareth's saber whipped forward, wind essence trailing like ribbons — but Lyra was already moving. Her twin blades flashed in perfect harmony, deflecting each strike without giving ground.
Then, without warning, she flowed into Silver Current Flow. Her movements became a blur, blades cutting arcs of silver light. Jareth barely raised his saber in time before a final spinning slash sent it flying from his hands.
The match was over in less than twenty breaths.
The announcer's voice carried over the cheers. "Winner — Lyra Veylan!"
---
Before the noise faded, the next name was called.
"Kaelen Veylan of the Azure Peak Division versus Mira of the Crimson Lotus Sect!"
Kaelen — the youngest of the Veylan siblings, younger than Edran by a year — bounded onto the stage with a grin. His short black hair and quicksilver eyes reflected his boundless energy.
Cultivation: Qi Condensation – Late Stage
Cultivation Technique: Thousand Serpent Steps (Mid Mortal Grade)
Weapon: Dual short spears
Famed Skill: Serpent's Whip Strike — unpredictable sweeping attacks that strike from impossible angles.
His opponent, Mira, a Qi Condensation Mid Stage disciple, narrowed her eyes, flames licking along the edge of her staff.
The bout erupted into chaos almost immediately. Kaelen's footwork blurred as Thousand Serpent Steps carried him in spirals, closing in and retreating in the same breath. His short spears flickered in whipping arcs — the strikes coming from every direction.
Mira managed to block three before the fourth clipped her side, the fifth sweeping her legs from beneath her. She hit the ground with a thud, her staff clattering away.
The referee's hand shot up. "Winner — Kaelen Veylan!"
---
From the Veylan viewing box, Lord Veylan — their father — sat in silence, his eyes not on the victories but on the fine details: the fluid control of Lyra's qi, the explosiveness of Kaelen's strikes, and the cold, measured steps of Edran earlier that day.
Behind him, one of his advisors leaned in. "The younger generation's strength… it's not far from exceeding the older."
Lord Veylan's lips curved in the barest hint of a smile. "It had better."
---
Beneath the arena, in a shadowed tunnel, cloaked figures whispered as the cheers roared above.
"So… the Veylans bring three promising seedlings," one muttered.
"They'll grow into tall trees if left alone," another hissed.
The third chuckled darkly. "Then we sharpen the axes."