The barrier shimmered and descended, sealing the arena.
Li Tian and the Golden Lotus Sect heiress faced each other. Her robes flowed like water, and her aura radiated deadly precision. Even at Third Meridian Realm, she exuded control and refinement that could overwhelm most cultivators.
The crowd fell silent. All eyes were on them.
The heiress moved first. Her hands traced arcs in the air, sending out precise palm strikes that flowed like a river. Each strike carried hidden power, testing Li Tian's reflexes.
Li Tian remained calm. He did not attempt flashy techniques. Instead, he focused on reading the flow of her qi. Step, pivot, shift—every movement measured, conserving energy while avoiding injury.
Her attacks accelerated, a torrent of disciplined strikes. Li Tian sensed each strike's intention, predicting her flow. When one strike came too close, he twisted, letting the blow graze past, then countered with a compressed palm to her side. She blocked, but staggered slightly.
A murmur ran through the spectators. No ordinary Third Meridian Realm cultivator could match such refined movements. Even Zhao Feng, observing from the platform, leaned forward with interest.
The heiress countered with a spinning palm strike aimed at his shoulder. Li Tian ducked, rolled lightly, and followed with a precise strike toward her midsection. She leaped back just in time, her eyes widening in surprise.
"You are skilled," she admitted, voice calm but sharp. "Few can read my flow like that."
"I fight to survive," Li Tian replied evenly.
Strike after strike, the duel intensified. Each move was precise; neither wasted energy. The arena echoed with the sound of qi colliding, but Li Tian never revealed his Heaven-Defying technique. His dense meridian energy alone allowed him to match her refined attacks.
The heiress feinted, then swept low with a spinning kick. Li Tian barely avoided it, rolling forward and countering with a palm strike aimed at her leg. She blocked, but her balance wavered slightly.
A brief pause. They circled each other, eyes locked. Respect had begun to form. This was no ordinary fight—it was a battle of skill, perception, and strategy.
Finally, Li Tian saw the opening: a subtle shift in her stance, a momentary imbalance. He moved swiftly, precise, striking the side of her chest with concentrated energy. The impact sent her back a few steps. She stumbled but did not fall, her expression one of surprise and admiration.
The crowd erupted. Whispers filled the arena.
Li Tian bowed slightly. "The duel is yours to continue," he said respectfully.
The heiress nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "You are truly exceptional."
From the high platform, Zhao Liang observed quietly, intrigued. The boy's skill and composure were far beyond what most Third Meridian Realm cultivators could manage.
The duel had ended—not with destruction, but with respect.
Li Tian's reputation in the Meridian Trial grew further, and the first real test of skill had passed.