The Azure Mist Pavilion's grand arena was electrified with anticipation. Today's match featured Linfei, the dark horse of recent duels, facing the formidable Yan Feilong, a renowned squad builder whose swift attacks and tactical prowess had swept through all challengers. The betting tables overflowed as cultivators and spectators loudly wagered silver and spirit stones. The odds were stacked against Linfei—his low platelet ratio, a sign of his earlier grueling breakthrough, made most gamblers believe the newcomer was destined to fall.
Yan Feilong, tall and composed, stepped onto the sand in crisp blue fighting robes. His reputation as a Squad Builder came from his ability to break down opponents' defenses and coordinate a barrage of attacks, often teaching teams how to defeat stronger foes. Now, with the crowd's faith at his back, he exuded a calm—but dangerous—confidence.
The bell chimed.
Linfei advanced, mind sharp, Qi surging at his core. He recalled every martial art he'd mastered—Iron Fist Boxing for raw power, Swift Serpent Steps for elusive movement, and the mysterious force of his silver ring for internal focus. The combination was his secret weapon.
Yan Feilong struck first, launching a flurry of punches and sweeping kicks designed to dismantle Linfei's rhythm. The speed was astonishing; Linfei dodged, slipping into the ghost-like Serpent Steps, his body weaving through attacks with fluid grace. When Feilong pressed, Linfei's Iron Fist answered—each punch ringing out with crisp intent, meeting the volley head-on.
The match became a symphony of speed and power. Linfei fused techniques as never before: evading, redirecting, luring Yan into overextension, then striking hard at exposed points. The silver ring pulsed gently, harmonizing his Qi and guiding his body's reactions, making each counterattack effortless and each offensive push unstoppable.
Yan Feilong's face hardened; he doubled down on squad tactics, attempting complex combination attacks, pivoting from high to low strikes. Yet Linfei adapted, his movements unpredictable and fierce. The audience gasped as blows landed in brilliant bursts—neither man willing to yield.
As the rounds stretched on, it was Linfei who gained ground. With a blazing sequence—a spiraling pivot using Serpent Steps, followed by a devastating Iron Fist punch to the chest—Yan Feilong staggered. The crowd erupted, stunned by the near-impossible reversal. Every bet on Yan Feilong now seemed a regret.
Retrieving his strength for a final push, Linfei summoned the full synergy of his martial arsenal. With a leap and a thunderous palm, he sent Feilong crashing down, victorious.
The crowd was frenzied, their cheers shaking the arena. Linfei, though bloodied and exhausted, stood tall—victory against all odds. The combined martial arts had propelled him through, the silver ring's latent function bridging technique and Qi.
As the dust settled, Linfei knew he had made believers of doubters, and the path ahead now led to even greater challenges, richer rewards, and deeper mysteries of the artifact at his side.
Would you like the next chapter to explore Linfei's recovery and new techniques, or an encounter with other powerful arena champions?