The sky above the tournament arena burned crimson, rippling with Qi so dense it made the air hum.
The crowd roared as two figures crashed into each other midair — lightning and ice colliding in a shockwave that split the clouds.
Li Ming landed first, sliding backward across the cracked stage, his sword sparking with residual thunder.
Across from him, Xue Yan flipped gracefully, her frost-colored hair swaying as her spear struck the ground, leaving a trail of frozen dust.
Her lips curled into a smirk. "Admit it. I almost had you."
Li Ming wiped a bit of dust from his cheek. "Almost."
"'Almost' still counts," she said, spinning her spear and pointing it at him. "Besides, you're supposed to be my teammate, not my moving target."
Before Li Ming could answer, Bai Guo swooped in human form, yelling, "Both of you, save your flirting for after we win!"
Li Ming's face darkened. "Who's flirting?!"
