The wind swirled gently as Shen Hao followed the administrator through a wide spiraling bridge made of floating light tiles. They curved upward and around like a glowing ribbon in the sky, leading toward the open gates of what could only be described as a mini coliseum.
And by "mini," Shen Hao meant "big enough to fit a mountain."
People were already gathering.
Like, a lot of people.
Some floated on flying swords, others hovered on beast mounts, and a few just stood dramatically on rocks because apparently that was a thing. The arena was stacked with tiered seats, glowing platforms, and banners fluttering with runes Shen Hao couldn't read.
"Master," Shen Hao whispered in his mind, "why is there a crowd forming?"
"Perhaps the administrator doesn't spar very often," Mo Han said calmly.
"Yeah, I'm sure it's totally normal to host a casual match with one terrified foreigner and invite half the city."
"Don't panic."
"I'm not panicking. I'm processing."
They reached the open center of the arena. Stone beneath their feet hummed softly with spiritual circuits. Shen Hao's boots clicked with every step, sounding way too loud in the growing silence.
Across the platform, several Void Gate guards formed a loose perimeter, holding the area clear.
A loud voice boomed from the announcer's platform above:
"Today, by unexpected and rare fortune—our honored Administrator shall spar with a guest from the far edges of the known universe!"
The crowd cheered.
Shen Hao's stomach dropped.
"Guest?! I didn't agree to that title!"
"At least they didn't say 'victim,'" Lingfeng quipped from his side.
Shen Hao looked to his left. The administrator stood with his hands clasped behind his back, expression calm as ever, silver eyes quietly scanning the arena.
"He's not even stretching," Shen Hao whispered. "Who doesn't stretch before a duel?!"
The announcer continued:
"In this match, no fatal blows. No realm-breaking techniques. Victory shall go to the first to land a single touch."
Shen Hao blinked.
"Wait, what?"
The administrator turned slightly toward him, smiling faintly.
"If you can touch me even once, I'll consider it your win."
Shen Hao stared. "You're joking."
"No," the administrator said.
He raised a single hand and gestured politely with a fist-in-palm salute.
"Whenever you're ready."
The crowd hushed.
Mo Han's voice entered Shen Hao's mind.
"This is your chance. He underestimates you."
"Master. He gave me a pity condition. This is spiritual charity."
"Then accept it and make him regret it."
Shen Hao took a deep breath.
Qi surged inside him. Purple and gold flickers danced between his fingers.
He stepped forward into stance.
And the match… began.
The second the referee—who honestly looked way too happy to be here—gave the signal to start, Shen Hao dashed forward with all the courage of a man who hadn't completely thought this through.
His Qi flared purple behind him. His dantian pulsed with compressed energy. His body felt light, sharp, ready.
"Focus," Mo Han said in his mind. "Don't waste time. Open with pressure."
"Yes, Master!"
Shen Hao launched his first move.
He stomped the ground, flickered sideways, spun with his palm raised—and went in for a straight, clean strike to the chest.
The administrator took a step to the left.
Just one.
Shen Hao's hand passed through air.
The administrator looked at him like a schoolteacher watching a student swing at a chalkboard.
"Try again," he said gently.
Shen Hao gritted his teeth. He stepped back, twisted mid-air, and fired a burst of purple Qi to blind him—then followed with a lightning-quick Ember Bloom right behind.
A purple Qi rose spun toward the target, elegant and deadly.
The administrator… blinked once, leaned back slightly, and the rose passed by, exploding behind him in a quiet hum.
Someone in the audience clapped. For the explosion.
"Master," Shen Hao hissed in his mind, "he's not even dodging. He's just… stepping!"
"Use your footwork. Don't rush. Read his rhythm."
Shen Hao nodded.
Then did exactly the opposite.
He charged again—faster this time, hopping between platforms, firing mini bursts of Qi to force movement. The administrator walked calmly to the side like he was shopping for groceries.
"Too slow," he said with a light smile.
Shen Hao swung again.
The administrator leaned sideways, hands still behind his back.
Shen Hao went for a spinning low sweep.
The administrator calmly hopped over it.
"You're doing great, Master," Lingfeng whispered. "If you were trying to become a motivational poster."
"Don't start."
"This is incredible. You're inventing a new style: Desperation Step Form."
Shen Hao growled, flared more Qi, and jumped back to reevaluate. The administrator didn't pursue. He just stood there, adjusting a fold of his sleeve.
The crowd was getting into it now.
"Make him run again!" someone shouted from above.
"Slide left this time, Administrator!"
"Spin move! Spin move!"
Shen Hao wiped sweat from his forehead.
"He's making me look like I've never trained a day in my life."
"Focus," Mo Han reminded him. "Calm. One clean hit is all it takes."
"He hasn't even moved from this platform!"
"Use that."
Shen Hao's eyes narrowed.
He might not win with speed…
But maybe… trickery?
Shen Hao slowed his breathing.
The crowd was still laughing, cheering, and enjoying the show, but his mind had gone quiet. He wasn't angry — not anymore. Now he was focused.
"He's too fast," he thought. "Or no… not fast. Just efficient."
The administrator stood a few meters away, hands still clasped, silver eyes waiting calmly.
"He hasn't even flared his Qi," Shen Hao realized. "Not once. He's reading my movements like they're written on paper."
"Then," Mo Han said calmly in his mind, "stop writing on paper."
Shen Hao's eyes flickered.
He raised his hand, formed the seal — the same one he used to launch Ember Bloom.
The purple rose of Qi began to glow, swirling gently above his palm. Its petals shimmered, pulsing with compressed energy.
The crowd leaned in.
"Again?" Lingfeng muttered. "I mean, it's a great move, but he already dodged it twice."
"That's the point," Shen Hao whispered.
He launched it.
It soared toward the administrator just like before — same speed, same glow.
The administrator shifted slightly, stepping to the right with that same unreadable calm.
And that's when Shen Hao moved.
He surged forward—not toward the administrator's body, but toward where the Ember Bloom had just passed.
He flared his Qi again—this time forming a second, smaller Qi burst behind the rose mid-flight.
The first rose swerved.
The administrator's eyes finally widened slightly.
It curved in the air like a guided comet—spinning sideways toward his left shoulder.
At the same time, Shen Hao dashed straight in with a palm strike toward the right.
The administrator raised one brow.
And then—
Tap.
Shen Hao's fingers brushed the edge of the man's robe.
The Ember Bloom exploded harmlessly off to the side.
But that one touch… landed.
The arena went silent.
Shen Hao froze, arm still outstretched.
The administrator stood there, perfectly still.
He looked down at the faint crease on his sleeve… then smiled.
"Well done."
Cheers erupted around the arena. Some were surprised. Some were just entertained. But all of them had just watched a tiny, unknown cultivator land a hit on the Administrator of Void Gate City.
Shen Hao was still staring, wide-eyed.
"Wait… that counted?!"
"You touched him," Mo Han confirmed calmly. "That was the condition."
The administrator gave a single fist-in-palm salute, bowing his head slightly.
"As promised… I admit defeat."
Shen Hao blinked.
"I—Wait, for real?!"