Chapter 12: The Crimson Claw's Ambush
The arena shifted, its stone floor marked with dueling circles. The crowd's anticipation was a living pulse. Elder Gao Feng announced the duels. Lin Xuan stepped into the ring, facing Wei Tao, a Crimson Claw prodigy with a 9th Layer Qi Gathering aura. "A Liu runt dares challenge me?" Wei Tao sneered.
Lin Xuan's fists clenched. "We'll see who falls first," he replied coldly. Wei Tao unleashed a claw storm, qi tigers lunging with feral intensity. Lin Xuan activated Celestial Glide, weaving through the onslaught like a phantom. Tooth Dagger flashed, slicing Wei Tao's shoulder, drawing a hiss of pain. Energy Devour drained the qi tiger, weakening its form. Then, Lin Xuan combined Starlit Fang Strike with a Muay Boran knee and a Kyokushin front kick. The punch lit the air, the knee shattered Wei Tao's guard, and the kick sent him sprawling. Liu Yue, having won her duel, rushed to his side, her raven hair a blur of pride.
Lin Xuan devoured Wei Tao's residual qi, his cultivation inching toward the 7th Layer. That night, the alley near their courtyard became a battlefield. Five Crimson Claw cultivators, led by Elder Zhao Kun, a man with a 1st Layer Qi Transformation aura, cornered them. "Hand over the Scriptures, or die," Zhao Kun growled. Lin Xuan's heart raced, but he stood firm. "Illusion Diversion!" he shouted, conjuring mirages. Celestial Glide dodged a qi blade, and Starlit Fang Strike with a Muay Boran elbow struck Zhao Kun's chest. Tooth Dagger felled two others, while Liu Yue's shield held the line. Zhao Kun fled, cursing, as Lin Xuan broke through to the 7th Layer.
Back in the courtyard, Lin Xuan sat by the silver-blue flame, refining a pill. The Crest guided him as he practiced Void Pulse Kick—a qi-enhanced kick from the Records, blended with Kyokushin Karate's power. Liu Yue approached, her moonlight eyes shining. "Senior Brother, you were incredible! We're stronger together." Her words warmed him, yet that familiar ache gnawed at his chest. "Train harder," he urged, tossing her a pill. "The Hei Clan won't stop." She nodded, her resolve mirroring his own.