The announcer raised his hand and declared, "Fight!"
Without hesitation, Yuanggai moved, mirroring Salma's earlier tactic. A roaring wave of fire erupted from his blade, surging forward like a crimson tide, threatening to engulf Mei Rong entirely.
But Mei Rong was already in motion. A smirk played on her lips as she crouched low, her leg extended in a fluid crane stance. Then, with a whip-like motion, she lashed upward—her kick slicing through the incoming inferno. A sudden burst of wind followed her movement, splitting the flames apart like a blade through silk.
"Oh?" Kazel arched a single brow, watching with newfound interest.
Without wasting a breath, Mei Rong dashed forward. Yuanggai responded instantly, drawing his sword in a swift arc as he met her charge head-on. Each slash sent tongues of fire spitting through the air, streaking toward Mei Rong like fangs of a serpent. But she was unfazed. Her movements were fluid—dodging, weaving, and parrying when necessary. Sparks erupted where their weapons met, lighting up the battlefield in fleeting bursts of orange and gold.
Their battle was fast, relentless. To Yuanggai's growing frustration, Mei Rong wasn't just keeping up—she was matching him blow for blow.
The crowd roared in approval. A clash of fire and finesse, brute force and precision—this was a fight worthy of their cheers.
Yuanggai swung his sword in a wide arc, sending another torrent of flames surging toward Mei Rong. The fire howled as it spread, threatening to consume everything in its path, but Mei Rong was already airborne. With a single powerful step, she propelled herself off the ground, flipping over the blaze with effortless grace. The moment her feet touched down, she burst forward, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
Yuanggai's eyes widened in surprise, but his instincts kicked in. He barely had time to parry as Mei Rong's clawed fingers, enhanced by her Tiger Butterfly's essence, slashed toward his chest. Sparks danced as their weapons clashed—his flaming sword against her razor-sharp strikes. Their exchange was a blur, each movement calculated, each strike faster than the last.
Mei Rong spun, her butterfly-like agility allowing her to maneuver around Yuanggai's counterattacks. Her foot lashed out in a sharp, crescent-shaped kick, slicing through the air. Yuanggai blocked just in time, but the impact sent him skidding backward, his boots digging into the cracked ground. He gritted his teeth. This wasn't just speed—Mei Rong's strikes carried weight, precision, and intent.
With a sharp exhale, Yuanggai's Blazing Roc screeched behind him, and his aura surged. He dashed forward, this time aiming directly for Mei Rong's core. His blade burned hotter, its flames condensing into a narrow, lethal edge. Mei Rong met him head-on, her Tiger Butterfly flaring behind her, its wings releasing a faint golden glow.
The battlefield became a storm of fire and wind, each of them moving with the ferocity of a hurricane. Yuanggai struck from above, his sword a falling sun, but Mei Rong pivoted mid-step, her body bending in ways that seemed almost unnatural, evading the strike by mere inches. She retaliated with a rapid barrage of slashes, each one aimed at the gaps in Yuanggai's defense.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Their weapons clashed, sending embers and shimmering dust into the air. Yuanggai roared as he channeled more power, his flames surging into a spiraling inferno. But Mei Rong was undeterred. She spun into his firestorm, her Tiger Butterfly's wings glowing, creating a wind barrier that dispersed the blaze in controlled bursts.
It was no longer a battle of raw strength—it was a test of endurance, skill, and who could push the other to their limits first.
Up in the stands, Luo Shen gripped the armrest of his chair, his fingers tightening. His gaze remained locked on the battlefield, his mind racing. His best disciple—Yuanggai, the pride of the Jade Lotus Sect—was struggling.
He exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing toward another figure.
Bai Rong of the Blossom Sect.
The elder sat calmly, sipping his tea, his expression unreadable. Luo Shen clenched his jaw.
(He's been keeping her power a secret! I never thought the Tiger Butterfly could compete against the Blazing Roc like that!)
The realization sent a cold shiver down his spine. Mei Rong wasn't just skilled—she was a monster in disguise, her true strength only now being revealed.
"Tch!"
Yuanggai was forced back, his feet digging deep into the stone floor as he struggled to steady himself. He hadn't expected an easy fight, but he never thought it would be Mei Rong who'd push him this far. Sweat dripped down his temple, his breath coming in ragged gasps, while Mei Rong stood tall, unshaken. Her energy burned as fiercely as ever, her stance light, her footwork deliberate.
She lifted a finger, curling it toward herself in a taunting gesture. "You're not going to see your fiancée in the final round, Yuanggai."
Yuanggai clenched his jaw, his pride flaring at the jab. "Is that so??"
His grip tightened around his sword, the veins in his arms bulging as he took a firm stance. His Blazing Roc flared behind him, its burning wings spreading wide, casting an ominous glow over the arena. Then, his voice rang out with a sharp edge.
"Blazing Roc—Second Skill!"
A deep hum vibrated through the air as flames surged up his blade. The very air around him twisted from the sheer heat. Mei Rong's eyes flickered with caution. A prickling sensation ran over her skin—a warning. This was dangerous.
She shifted her weight, muscles coiling, ready to react. But then she saw it—Yuanggai's blade beginning its wide arc. It was too late to retreat. The force was already in motion.
"Fire Tornado!"
Yuanggai roared as he swung, his body taut as if wielding the heaviest blade in existence. A spiraling inferno erupted, a vortex of searing flames stretching high into the sky. The sheer heat washed over the entire arena, forcing many in the audience to shield their faces.
Bai Rong's expression darkened. His grip on his chair tightened. "This isn't just a fight anymore. This is an attempt at assassination!"
Across from him, Luo Shen smirked. "It's not, Bai Rong," he said smoothly, eyes glinting with amusement. "Your pupil could surrender anytime. If she says the word, I'll personally step in to stop the fight."
Bai Rong's glare was unwavering. "You mean to make her yield?"
Luo Shen leaned back, his smirk widening. (Mei Rong was never meant to be the one to force this skill out of him. But now that she has—let's see how she handles it.)
The Fire Tornado raged. Even from a distance, its pull was undeniable. The powerful vacuum sucked in everything nearby. Rocks and debris were lifted, spinning within the inferno.
Jin Shui, Batu, Xie Lian, and Salma, still in the arena, immediately felt its effects. Salma reacted swiftly, freezing her feet to the ground to anchor herself. Jin Shui and Xie Lian, however, had no such ability. He had to sprint against the pull, muscles straining to resist being drawn in. Batu was unmoved.
Mei Rong gritted her teeth. (He unlocked the second skill?!) Her boots scraped against the floor as the suction yanked her forward.
"Tch!"
She didn't hesitate. Instead of resisting, she leaned forward—and ran straight toward the Fire Tornado.
The crowd gasped. Instead of escaping, she was diving headfirst into the inferno. Every fiber of her being burned with exertion, but her instincts told her there was no other way. If she got swallowed by the flames, she was finished. But if she reached Yuanggai...
Bai Rong's heart pounded. His decision was made in an instant. "Damn it!"
With a single leap, he shot forward—directly into the Fire Tornado.
Luo Shen, still seated, only chuckled as he watched the chaos unfold. (Let's see how far this goes.)
"If that fire burns even a thread of my outfit," Kazel murmured, his voice chillingly calm.
He didn't resist the pull of the tornado. Instead, he allowed it to draw him in, his form eerily still as his hand reached for his sword. Slowly, deliberately, he unsheathed it, the blade gleaming with a cold, menacing light.
His blue eyes locked onto Yuanggai. "I will kill you."
The words weren't loud. They didn't need to be. They cut through the roaring flames, slipping into Yuanggai's ears and settling deep into his bones. A paralyzing chill ran down his spine, the contrast between Kazel's voice and the scorching heat making his body tense involuntarily.
And then—
"She yields!"
Bai Rong's voice rang out through the arena.
The Fire Tornado collapsed instantly, dispersing in an eruption of embers and smoke. Bai Rong was already there, his form a blur as he appeared beside Mei Rong, gripping her wrist. His other hand was raised, fingers curved into a claw-like shape, as though he had just torn apart the inferno itself.
The audience gasped. A stunned silence fell over the arena. Even Bai Rong, who had leaped in to save Mei Rong, froze in place.
Luo Shen's pupils and Weh's shrank.
Salma's breath hitched.
Jin Shui stiffened.
The crowd gawked, mouths agape, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
For standing there, untouched by the flames, was Kazel. His sword was an inch away from piercing Yuanggai's throat.
Yuanggai hadn't even noticed. He only now felt the cold kiss of steel against his skin, his entire body locked in place as if one wrong breath would seal his fate. The moment the fire had vanished, Kazel had already reached him.
No one had seen him move.
Not even Bai Rong.