The morning sun crept above the horizon, its golden light spilling across the Qingling Sect's vast dueling grounds. Flags rippled in the crisp breeze, and the atmosphere buzzed with an almost unbearable tension.
Sect Masters, Emperors, Elders, and thousands of disciples filled the stands. Today marked the beginning of the disqualifier rounds where one defeat meant permanent elimination.
The elders in charge of the ceremony stepped forward, their voices carrying across the formation-sealed arena.
"The first duel of the day Hei Mu of Black Mist Academy versus Yin Rou of the Silken Vein Pavilion!"
Hei Mu vs. Yin Rou
The dueling ground dimmed as Hei Mu appeared, a figure cloaked entirely in shifting shadows. His presence was suffocating; his steps left no sound, and the faint shimmer of his killing intent coiled like mist.
Across him, Yin Rou walked lightly, her crimson silk threads slithering at her heels like serpents. Her lips curved in a faint, eerie smile.
The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"
For a moment, silence.
Yin Rou exhaled softly, then unexpectedly bowed. "I surrender."
A wave of murmurs erupted through the arena.
"What?""She didn't even try!""Cowardice? Or something else…?"
The referee frowned, his spiritual sense sweeping across her, searching for hidden deceit. Finding none, he nodded reluctantly. "Yin Rou withdraws. Hei Mu advances."
Chaos rippled through the stands some jeering, others whispering conspiracies but the match was decided. Hei Mu, impassive, simply melted back into the shadows, while Yin Rou left the field, her expression unreadable.
Tie Yuan vs. Prince Hong Ye
The next names summoned caused the ground itself to tremble with anticipation.
"Second duel Tie Yuan of Iron Vow Sect versus Prince Hong Ye of the Crimson Jade Dynasty!"
Tie Yuan stepped into the arena barefoot, each stride cracking the stone beneath him. His bronze skin gleamed like iron, and his fists clenched with the force of mountains.
Opposite him, Prince Hong Ye descended in a blaze of scarlet. Flames curled around his molten jade fan, his Mirage Flame aura distorting the very air.
The referee's hand fell. "Begin!"
Hong Ye struck first, his fan unfolding with a snap."Mirage Veil Blaze!"
Waves of illusory fire surged forward, cloaking the battlefield in shimmering heat. Images of countless flaming clones rushed Tie Yuan simultaneously, their movements indistinguishable from the true body.
Tie Yuan planted his feet firmly. "Pathetic illusions."
He roared, slamming his fist into the ground."Ground Collapse Fist!"
The arena floor split like paper. A shockwave of raw earth qi tore through the clones, scattering the veil of flames. The true Hong Ye appeared, sweat rolling down his brow as the mirage broke.
Gritting his teeth, the prince flipped his fan. "Fine. Let's see you endure this!"
His aura surged higher, condensing into a single lotus of flame."Lotus Heart Inferno!"
The blazing lotus expanded, hurling waves of incinerating heat toward Tie Yuan. The air shrieked as stone turned molten.
But Tie Yuan only grinned savagely, stepping forward. His fists gleamed with golden earth-light.
"Shock Meridian Hammer!"
He thrust his fist straight into the lotus, shattering it apart with sheer brute force. Flame scattered into harmless sparks. The ground quaked, and Hong Ye staggered backward, blood spilling from his lips.
The audience gasped.
Tie Yuan advanced, eyes merciless. One final strike landed on Hong Ye's chest, sending him sprawling across the dueling ground.
The referee raised his hand. "Tie Yuan is victorious!"
The Crimson Jade Empress rose abruptly from her seat, her face dark as a storm. Healers rushed to carry the severely injured prince away, his cultivation aura flickering like a dying ember.
Feng Ruo vs. Zuo Kuang
"The third duel Feng Ruo of Qingling Sect versus Zuo Kuang of the Obsidian Bone Sect!"
Feng Ruo stepped gracefully into the arena, her crimson robes swirling, flames coiling in her palms. Her eyes glittered mischievously, though tension lined her face she knew Zuo Kuang's infamy.
Opposite her, Zuo Kuang arrived dragging two chained corpses behind him, their lifeless forms stumbling like puppets. His bone spear gleamed with marrow-white light, radiating a poisonous aura.
The referee's hand fell. "Begin!"
Zuo Kuang sneered, wasting no time. "I'll crush Qingling's firefly."
He thrust his bone spear forward, unleashing his trump card immediately."Bone Poison Burst!"
The corpses exploded into fragments of black mist, swarming like locusts, dissolving the very ground.
Feng Ruo's eyes widened, but her reflexes saved her. She flipped backward, her robes aflame."Flame Veil Step!"
Fire cloaked her movements, allowing her to narrowly avoid the swarm. The audience cheered at her agility, but the duel had just begun.
She retaliated, her fan spinning."Scarlet Phoenix Waltz!"
Fiery wings erupted behind her, a blazing phoenix soaring across the ground. The flames incinerated much of the bone mist, but Zuo Kuang's laughter echoed.
"You think fire can purify death?"
He raised his spear high. Chains of spectral bone coiled out, lashing toward her."Soul Chain Bind!"
Feng Ruo countered desperately, summoning a fiery lotus to shield herself."Crimson Lotus Barrier!"
The lotus blossomed brilliantly but the chains shattered through, striking her chest and slamming her against the ground. Blood sprayed from her lips.
She staggered back to her feet, fire swirling faintly around her fingers. Her face was pale, qi already exhausted.
Zuo Kuang advanced coldly, bone spear leveled at her heart.
With one brutal strike, he sent her flying across the dueling ground, her flames extinguished.
The referee stepped forward grimly. "Zuo Kuang is victorious!"
Feng Ruo collapsed unconscious, defeated.
To be continued...