Wang Chen's effortless triumph over Bron of the Iron Body Sect sent a jolt of shock rippling through the Crimson Phoenix Arena—like a stone thrown into a bustling crowd, shattering the usual buzz. The spectators' chatter shifted sharply: gone were the arguments over "whose fists are harder," replaced by confused murmurs of "how did he pull that off?"
This wasn't a win won with brute force. It was a new way of fighting laid bare for all to see—and it left many old-school cultivators fidgeting, their fingers unconsciously twisting the cuffs of their robes, equal parts fascinated and uneasy.
Back in their preparation room, Li clapped Wang Chen's shoulder so hard it jostled him, grinning from ear to ear. "Hell of a move! Did you see that oaf's face? Looked like he'd swallowed a fly—something I'll never forget!" Even Jian, who usually kept his eyes cold and fixed only on the tassel of his sword, let a flicker of approval soften his gaze. Kael said nothing, but gave Wang Chen's arm a firm, heavy pat, his voice deep and solid: "You proved it—'going with the force'? That's real strength, too."
The bond between their team—forged in the fire of their mountain trials—only grew tighter after this shared win, each of them feeling the trust between them deepen.
By the tournament rules, their next match was a team battle against the Shadow Pavilion—a sect infamous for their slippery, deceptive tactics. They were masters of ambushes and illusions, the very definition of "assassin-style" fighters.
"The Shadow Pavilion won't face us head-on," Wang Chen analyzed, his Spirit Sense sharp enough to pick up the faint shifts in energy swirling around the arena. "They'll try to split us up, then pick us off one by one. We need to change how we play this."
"Oh? How're we gonna flip this?" Li asked, spinning his Gale-Fans eagerly between his fingers, the metal edges glinting in the light.
Wang Chen looked at each of his teammates, his gaze steady and calm. "They want to split us? Let them. But every time they try to 'split' us—we'll turn that into a trap for them."