Chapter 16: The Tournament's Heart
The tournament's fourth round dawned, the arena packed with disciples chanting for blood. Li Wei's victories had made him a target, his "dark horse" reputation drawing both admiration and envy. The jade screen flashed his next opponent: Fang Luo. The crowd buzzed—Fang's sabotage and Liang Wei's backing were whispered secrets, but no elder had acted. Li Wei gripped the Nine Worlds Ascension Art scroll, its warmth steadying his resolve. Lin薛 stood beside him, her Cloud Veil Formation ready to counter any tricks.
Elder Mei addressed the arena, her voice cutting through the noise. "The top sixteen fight today. Prove your dao, or fall." Her eyes lingered on Li Wei, a silent acknowledgment of the tampered runes he'd reported. The evidence was under review, but Fang's match would proceed.
Fang stepped onto the platform, his seventh-stage qi sharper than before, bolstered by a Blood Fury Pill's lingering effects. His short sword, Windfang, hummed with wind qi. "You've meddled too much, peasant," he sneered. "Liang's tal1600 ensured this arena's formations favor me."
The gong sounded. Fang attacked with Wind Blade Barrage, a storm of qi crescents. Li Wei activated Celestial Pulse, absorbing the attack's qi and redirecting it as a shockwave. Fang dodged, his speed enhanced by a talisman. The weakened formations flickered, allowing Fang's strikes to carry lethal force. Li Wei's Spirit Sense detected the sabotage's extent—Fang's attacks could kill without penalty.
Li Wei countered with Starfall Strike, a meteor of auroral qi crashing toward Fang. The disciple deflected with Windfang, but the impact staggered him. Lin Xue, watching from the sidelines, signaled a warning: Liang Wei was in the stands, his qi subtly manipulating the formations. Li Wei wove Spirit Blade Formation, its invisible blades guarding his flanks. Fang charged, his sword slashing wildly, but the blades sliced his arms, slowing him.
"You can't win!" Fang roared, swallowing another Blood Fury Pill. His qi spiked, his eyes bloodshot. He unleashed a Tempest Slash, a whirlwind of cutting qi. Li Wei's Aurora Veil refracted the attack, but the force cracked his ribs. Pain seared, but the scroll's voice echoed: The dao is unyielding. Li Wei combined Starlight Slash with Celestial Pulse, redirecting Fang's own qi into a blazing auroral blade. It struck Fang's chest, hurling him off the platform, his sword clattering.
The crowd roared, but Elder Mei's voice silenced them. "Li Wei advances. Fang Luo is disqualified for using forbidden pills." Guards seized Fang, his screams echoing as he was dragged away. Liang Wei's face was a mask of fury, but he said nothing. Li Wei, panting, felt Lin Xue's hand on his shoulder. "You did it," she said. "But Liang won't let this go."
The scroll pulsed, hinting at a breakthrough. Li Wei's dantian surged, teetering on the eighth stage of Qi Condensation. The tournament's final rounds awaited, and Liang's wrath loomed larger than ever.