Chapter 14: The Hei Clan's Shadow
The afternoon sun dipped low as the fourth round—a team battle—unfolded. The crowd's energy was electric. Lin Xuan and Liu Yue faced the Crimson Claw twins, Chen Hao and Chen Wei, both at the 8th Layer Qi Gathering. "Liu scraps think they can win?" Chen Hao taunted.
Lin Xuan's crimson eyes narrowed. "Illusion Diversion!" he called. Celestial Glide carried him forward, dodging a claw storm. Phantom Lotus Palm, blended with mixed martial arts jabs, struck Chen Wei's shoulder, the crack of bone echoing. Void Pulse Kick with Kyokushin power snapped Chen Hao's leg. Liu Yue's shield absorbed a retaliatory strike, her qi blade wounding a twin. Lin Xuan devoured their qi, nearing the 8th Layer.
From the stands, Hei Clan Elder Hei Long rose, his 7th Layer Qi Transformation aura a crushing force. "Hand over the Scriptures, boy!" he bellowed. Lin Xuan bowed mockingly. "Senior Hei courts death," he retorted. Elder Gao Feng intervened. "The tournament remains neutral," he declared.
That night, the courtyard was quiet under a starlit sky. Lin Xuan's silver-blue flame cast warm shadows as he refined a pill. He practiced Phantom Lotus Palm with a Muay Boran clinch, the Crest guiding him. Liu Yue approached. "Senior Brother, your strength amazes me, but the Hei Clan scares me," she admitted. The ache in his chest deepened. "We'll face them together, Junior Sister," he said, unlocking Celestial Wrath Elbow with Muay Boran power. Her trust fueled his resolve.