Chapter 14: The Trap Springs
The tournament's third round dawned, the arena packed with disciples and elders. Li Wei's opponent was Zhou Yan, a peak Qi Condensation disciple rumored to be Fang's ally. Zhou's Thunderclap Palm sent shockwaves through the air, its power amplified by a talisman—likely Liang Wei's doing. Lin Xue's warning about the tampered formations weighed on Li Wei's mind; a single misstep could be fatal.
As the match began, Zhou unleashed a barrage of Thunderclap Palms, each strike vibrating the platform. The arena's formations flickered, weaker than they should be. Li Wei's Spirit Sense confirmed the sabotage—qi currents were misaligned, allowing lethal force to pass. He activated Aurora Veil, its prismatic light deflecting Zhou's strikes. The crowd gasped as thunderbolts scattered harmlessly, illuminating the arena in rainbows.
Zhou sneered, drawing a talisman that crackled with lightning. "Liang Wei sends his regards," he whispered, activating it. A bolt of raw qi surged, bypassing the weakened formations. Li Wei dove, using Wind Step to evade, but the bolt grazed his shoulder, searing his flesh. Pain fueled his focus. He channeled Starfall Strike, auroral qi condensing into a blazing meteor. It crashed into Zhou, shattering his talisman and hurling him off the platform.
The crowd roared, but Elder Mei's gaze was sharp. She summoned Li Wei after the match. "The formations were tampered with," she said. "You survived, but others may not be so lucky. Find proof of the culprit, or the elders will blame you to avoid scandal." Li Wei nodded, his Spirit Sense already tracing Fang's qi in the crowd. Lin Xue joined him, her eyes fierce. "We'll expose Fang," she vowed.
That night, they infiltrated the formation control chamber, a hidden vault beneath the arena. Li Wei's Spirit Blade Formation cut through the locks, revealing tampered jade runes. Lin Xue identified Fang's qi signature on the runes, proof of his sabotage. But as they gathered evidence, Liang Wei appeared, his Foundation Establishment aura crushing. "You've meddled too far, ants," he said, his spear glowing with killing intent.
Li Wei gripped the scroll, Starfall Strike ready. The tournament was no longer just a test—it was a war.