The following day, a thick blanket of clouds filled the sky, casting a muted light over the Azure Lotus Sect. An unusual chill hung in the air, as a gentle wind whispered through the lush gardens, rustling the leaves of ancient trees and causing the vibrant blossoms of azure lotuses to sway gracefully.
The usual bustle and chatter that filled the sect's halls had vanished, leaving an eerie stillness in their wake. Today was no ordinary day; it was the day of the Martial Competition finals.
Practitioners and students alike had gathered from far and wide, their spirits high, yet a palpable tension lingered in the atmosphere.
Shimmering banners adorned the training grounds, fluttering in the breeze like guardian spirits watching over the competitors. Masters, clad in their ceremonial robes, moved about with purpose, ensuring everything was in place for the historic event.
The scent of incense mingled with the earthy aroma of damp soil, a reminder of the recent rains that nourished the land.
Dong!
In the distance, the faint sound of a gong echoed, and anticipation for today's event hung thick in the air. While the sun remained hidden, an unspoken promise of rivalry and honor loomed, drawing everyone together in eager anticipation of the battles to come.
The grounds, usually alive with laughter and pained grunts with echoes of swords clashing and fists colliding, transformed into a sacred arena where destinies would be forged and legends born.
" Daaamnnnn! The sect got money, " Long Huang said while nodding his head.
The sparring ground buzzed with an electric tension, an atmosphere thick with anticipation.
Thousands of spectators packed the stands, their eyes glimmering as they awaited the clash of the warriors of the final, each a force to be reckoned with.
Along the blood-stained platform, a palpable aura of danger and excitement hovered, as if the air held its breath, ready to witness an epic confrontation.
"Today's fights are going to be wild," some in the stands comment, excitement filled their eyes.
At one end stood Long Huang, the Calm Tempest, a figure of serene composure despite the chaos around him. His silver-like hair flowed like water against his black robes, framing a face that held both tranquility and the promise of devastation.
Clutched tightly in his grip was the Frostbite Serpent Sword, its blade shimmering with an otherworldly icy aura, reflecting the flickering torches scattered throughout the sparring ground.
Long Huang's reputation had grown, with whispering tales of his raw strength and his ability to remain unflappable even against the fiercest of foes.
Opposite him, the embodiment of fury, Chi Wei stood radiating an intensity that seemed to crackle in the air, charging the environment with a palpable heat. His fiery crimson robes billowed around him as if they were alive, fueled by his unbridled rage.
Chi Wei's eyes glinted with a feral light, a storm of emotions swirling within anger, pride, and desperation. At the 9th stage of Bone Tempering, he had something to prove, especially in the wake of his father being crippled, and today's duel was not just a battle; it was a quest for validation.
As the signal to begin echoed through the arena, the moment their fists collided, spectators gasped at the kinetic energy that rippled through the ground.
This was no ordinary duel; it was as if the very essence of the arena had transformed into a battleground of elemental forces.
"You've grown bold, Long Huang," Chi Wei sneered, cracking his knuckles, his voice a low growl of contempt.
"But boldness won't save you from the weight of your arrogance."
Long Huang merely smirked, his voice a calm ripple in the storm brewing between them.
"Arrogance? No. Just confidence. Something you'd recognize if you weren't so consumed by your flames."
" You still think I'm the same Chi Wei you beat as a child, " said Chi Wei with malice in his voice.
"You're still a child, you know," joked Long Huang, but Chi Wei didn't take lightly to his joke.
The atmosphere crackled with tension as Chi Wei and Long Huang faced each other in the bustling arena, eyes locked in a fierce contest. The crowd's murmurs swelled into cheers, anticipation thick in the air.
Chi Wei stood poised, muscles coiled with unyielding resolve, while Long Huang embodied calm confidence, his posture relaxed yet alert.
Chi Wei suddenly surged forward first, fists clenched, determined to unleash his raw power and crush Long Huang. The ground trembled with each step as he charged, aiming a ferocious punch at Long Huang's midsection. But Long Huang, anticipating the strike, flowed effortlessly to the side, evading the blow.
Whoosh!!
Seeing this, Chi Wei was enraged as he thought Long Huang was going to be an easy opponent. Now faced with the need to respond, Chi Wei unleashed the Azure Lotus Iron Fist Art, his fists glowing with fierce energy. In response, Long Huang drew upon his own fist art.
Ocean Wave Fist Art, Fourth Move:
Eternal Tsunami
His movements were smooth and fluid as he prepared to counter the incoming storm of Chi Wei's power.
Boom!!!!...
The clash of their fist set the stage for a breathtaking confrontation, each fighter unwilling to yield. The two traded blows for blow, causing injuries that would kill a normal person in minutes.
Even though Long Huang now boasted an impressive 140 tons of raw strength with the Ocean Wave Fist Art after his break through, the furious Chi Wei seemed uncanny in his ability to match him blow for blow, bolstered by the potent pills granted by his father and the Earth grade Azure Lotus Iron Fist Art that also seemed to have a strength multiplier.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boo...
The arena shook with the intensity of their exchanged blows, yet Long Huang remained unfazed. Using the Wind Deer Steps, he looked like he was dancing around Chi Wei, while evading each of Chi Wei's fiery strikes.
BOOM!
"You rely too heavily on borrowed power," Long Huang taunted, while parrying a brutal punch, the reverberation sending shockwaves through the ground beneath them.
"Pills can't replace true skill."
Long Huang might not have known what pills Chi Wei took, but he found that was the only explanation for Chi Wei's combat power.
Chi Wei's face twisted with wrath, emotions boiling over.
" Shut up, you're just jealous, and what skill? Let's see how skilled you are."
"When I reduce you to ashes!!!!"
With a gut-wrenching cry, he unsheathed his sword, venomous determination fueling his movements. At that moment, he unleashed a torrent of power, his ultimate techniques, the Azure Lotus Sword Art, and the forbidden Burning Blood Sacrifice.
A crimson aura erupted around him, fiery tendrils coiling and crackling with desperate energy, igniting not just his sword but his very life force as well.
Long Huang's eyes narrowed, recognizing the raw desperation and deep-seated hatred emanating from Chi Wei. He unsheathed his sword, too, knowing this was no longer a fight, just a fight; it was a reckoning.
As Chi Wei lunged, his blade trailing a fiery path, Long Huang prepared the Red Tiger Roaring Art, the technique he had conserved, knowing in his heart that this moment would define the battle.
As he unleashed it, a sound that was both thunder and divine echoed throughout the arena.
ROAR!!!!!...
The roar reverberated off the walls, disrupting the very fabric of the battlefield. Chi Wei stumbled, reeling from the overwhelming sonic assault, clutching his ears, his concentration shattered.
" Fuck!!!" Chi Wei screamed with clutching his ears.
Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Long Huang feinted left, drawing Chi Wei into a reckless slash. The tip of Chi Wei's sword slashed Long Huang's shoulder, creating a wound, but one he had anticipated. With a swift, calculated kick, Long Huang sent Chi Wei crashing to the ground.
"You fucking grass snake!" Chi Wei spat, his voice raw from the battle's wear and the ringing in his ears. "Do you think this changes anything? My blo....."
Though he seemed to be rambling on he was looking for an opening but the pain was too much " shit this bastard doesn't have any openings and now he pulls this stunt fuck! wha...."
Long Huang interrupted his thought, making hand gestures of a mouth talking.
" Blah, blah, blah,"
As he strode closer, the gravity of their rivalry settled between them like a heavy fog.
The crowd erupted into bursts of laughter, their laughter echoing through the air as Chi Wei's face flushed with humiliation and rage.
"You're so predictable," Long Huang continued, breathing heavily as blood trickled from the wound on his shoulder, staining the arena floor.
"All fury, no foresight."
Then Chi Wei, trying to gain the upper hand with a sneak attack, sprang up to his feet, screaming.
"You bastard! You'll pay for this!"
As he executed the Azure Lotus Sword Art.