Chapter 11: The Tournament's Call
The first light of dawn crept over Dawnriver City, painting the grand arena in a soft golden hue. Jade carvings gleamed under the rising sun, their patterns reflecting the banners of the Ji Clan and the Hei Clan. The stands thrummed with cultivators, their qi a chaotic blend of anticipation and ambition. Lin Xuan stood at the arena's edge, his dark robes slightly frayed, his crimson eyes scanning the crowd with quiet intensity. Beside him, Liu Yue clutched her golden coin, her raven hair cascading like a midnight river, her moonlight eyes wide with nerves.
The tournament, orchestrated by the Hei Clan, was a grand ruse. Lin Xuan knew their true intent: to lure out the holder of the Scriptures of Severed Unity. He and Liu Yue, both at the 6th Layer of Qi Gathering, had entered not just for the prizes—a Spirit Essence Crystal, spirit stones, and a chance to join the Dawnriver Sect—but to get a foothold against the Hei Clan's schemes. As he breathed deeply, a faint trace of dark qi brushed his senses. Spies from the Zhi Clan and Crimson Claw Sect lurked in the chaos.
A resonant voice cut through the noise. Elder Gao Feng, a stern man with a 3rd Layer Qi Transformation aura, stepped onto a raised platform. "The first round begins now—a melee of fifty cultivators! The last ten standing advance. Fight with honor!"
The melee exploded into action. Lin Xuan turned to Liu Yue, his voice low but firm. "Junior Sister, stay defensive. Use your qi blade to protect yourself, and let me handle the offense. Our Crests will guide us." She nodded, her Celestial Unity Crest pulsing faintly. On his back, his own Crest glowed, a silent bond between them.
Lin Xuan moved with Celestial Glide, a blur as he dodged a fiery punch. His Tooth Dagger flashed, tearing flesh, while Energy Devour siphoned the man's qi, leaving him staggering. Then, a Crimson Claw disciple with a 7th Layer Qi Gathering aura circled him. "The Liu Clan's dog dares to step here?" he taunted.
"Courting death," Lin Xuan muttered. He sidestepped with Celestial Glide, the claw missing by inches. Drawing from the Human Emperor's Records, he unveiled Starlit Fang Strike—a qi-enhanced punch that shimmered like a falling star. Blending it with a Muay Boran elbow, he struck the disciple's chest. Bones cracked as the man crumpled, gasping. Nearby, Liu Yue deflected attacks with a defensive technique from the Records, her qi blade slicing a foe's arm with a grace that surprised her.
As the dust settled, ten cultivators remained. Lin Xuan's chest heaved, but his mind raced—Zhi Clan assassins lurked in the stands, their 1st Layer Qi Transformation curse qi a sign of Hei Clan backing. The black-robed Hei Clan elders watched from above, their dark qi a suffocating presence. That night, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged, his hidden silver-blue flame dancing as he refined a pill. The Crest on his back pulsed, guiding his practice of Starlit Fang Strike. Liu Yue approached, her raven hair glinting under the moonlight. "Senior Brother, those techniques… they feel strange yet familiar. How do you know them?" she asked.
A pang of ache stabbed Lin Xuan's heart. "I found them in the Master's Scroll," he said, avoiding her gaze. "And… you seem to know them too." Her moonlight eyes widened, a mix of confusion and recognition flickering. He tossed her a pill, his tone firm yet gentle. "Train harder, Junior Sister. The Hei Clan's trap is tightening." She caught it, nodding with determination, and the courtyard fell silent.