The two-day break passed in the blink of an eye. When Wang Chen and his team stepped back onto the sand of the Crimson Phoenix Arena, the air itself seemed to vibrate with an invisible, oppressive heat. Unlike the cold cunning of their previous opponents, the disciples of the Blazing Sun Sect stood like five miniature suns, radiating a dry, overbearing aura.
Their lead disciple, Zhao Yan, was a young man with dark skin and a lean, muscular build, his hair cropped short like steel bristles. He stood with his arms crossed, his hawk-like eyes locked directly onto Wang Chen, brimming with undisguised challenge and fury. It was clear that Zhang Wei's whispers had successfully ignited this already volatile powder keg.
"The first match, best of three! Send out your combatants!" the referee announced.
From the Blazing Sun Sect's side, Zhao Yan strode forward without hesitation, planting himself firmly in the center of the arena. His intention was obvious: he would fight first, and he intended to crush at least two of the Muay Thai Sect's fighters, especially that Wang Chen.
"He's here for you," Li whispered, tapping Wang Chen's arm lightly with his fan. "The heat coming off him is intense, and we're not even close."
Kael took a solid step forward. "I will test his strength first. His explosive power is too great. You and Jian need to observe."
It was the most prudent plan. Wang Chen nodded, attaching a faint thread of his Spirit Sense to Kael to better perceive the flow of Zhao Yan's energy.
Kael stepped onto the platform, his presence as solid as a mountain. Zhao Yan looked him over, a scornful twist to his lips. "You're not my target. But crushing a rock like you will force that dodging rodent behind you to come out sooner!"
Without another word, Zhao Yan moved. There was no fancy footwork. He shot forward like a cannonball, straight at Kael. His fist, wreathed in incandescent red-gold light, looked like it was holding molten metal—the Blazing Sun Sect's signature technique, the [Molten Iron Fist]!
BOOM!
Kael crossed his arms, thick, earthy Qi instantly solidifying into the phantom of a giant stone shield. Fist met shield with a deafening impact. A wave of scorching heat exploded outwards from the point of contact, kicking up sand and dust at the arena's edge.
Kael grunted, his body shaking as he was forced to slide back half a step to steady himself. The phantom shield around his arms visibly dimmed, with faint, charred marks appearing at the point of impact.
"Oh? Not shattered in one blow. Your turtle shell is harder than I thought!" Zhao Yan laughed wildly, his assault becoming a torrent of blows. "Let's see how many you can take!"
A second fist, a third... Each strike was heavier than the last, the scorching fist winds causing the temperature in the entire arena to spike. Kael was completely on the defensive. His guard was impregnable, but each block consumed a massive amount of spiritual energy to withstand the invasive, burning force.
Watching from below, Wang Chen saw it clearly. Zhao Yan's style was brutally straightforward, relying purely on overwhelming force, using absolute heat and explosive power to destroy everything. This kind of power did, to some extent, counter those who relied on skill and variation.
"Kael is in trouble," Wang Chen said quietly. "His energy is depleting too fast."
Sure enough, after weathering the seventh devastating punch, the phantom stone shield around Kael's arms shattered completely. The impact sent him stumbling backward, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"First match! Blazing Sun Sect, Zhao Yan wins!" the referee announced immediately.
Zhao Yan retracted his fist, not even sparing a glance for the panting Kael. He pointed directly at Wang Chen in the waiting area and crooked his finger.
"You're next! Get up here! Let's see how your pathetic sphere stands up to my fists!"
The gaze of the entire arena instantly focused on Wang Chen. The pressure was tangible, mixing with the blistering heat radiating from Zhao Yan's body.
Li frowned. "This guy is seriously annoying."
Jian coldly spat out two words. "Foolish."
Wang Chen took a deep breath of the superheated air and stepped forward, walking steadily onto the platform. The peace and warmth of the river market still felt like a recent memory, but now, he had to face the inferno before him.
He didn't look at the jeering Zhao Yan. First, he nodded to Kael, who was just leaving the arena. Kael gave him a heavy, meaningful nod in return.
Then, and only then, did he turn to face Zhao Yan. The Adaptable Core appeared silently in his palm, its surface shimmering, as if contemplating what form to take.
"I've seen your fists," Wang Chen said, his voice calm. "Now, it's your turn to see mine."