The crowd erupted with cheers as Si Ming stood tall amidst the dust and fading embers of his battle with Mo Jiang. Spectators hollered, bets exchanged hands, and emotions ran wild across the stands. A man in the crowd sobbed dramatically, gripping his sleeves. "I bet everything on that guy losing!" he wailed, voice breaking with regret.
Beside him, a woman laughed triumphantly, her purse now considerably heavier. "You should've had more faith," she teased. "I took a gamble, and now not only do I get my losses back, but I'll live comfortably for months! All thanks to Si Ming!"
But while the spectators reveled in the aftermath, Si Ming's focus remained unwavering. He turned his gaze to the lone figure stepping onto the stage—the top-ranked disciple of the Outer Sect. She was composed, exuding effortless confidence. Her steps carried the weight of undeniable skill, and her presence alone silenced the crowd.
The champion, Shen Xiyan, a dual-blade wielder with a three-element spirit root, stopped a few feet from Si Ming. Her swords, sleek and curved, rested on her hips, their edges faintly glowing with stored Qi. She regarded Si Ming with calm scrutiny before speaking.
"You've come far," she admitted. "I expected Mo Jiang to put you down, but you surprised me."
Si Ming tilted his head slightly, awaiting the inevitable attempt to make him doubt himself.
"But…" Xiyan continued, her smirk widening, "you've been fighting for a long time. After all these battles, your spiritual energy must be running low. You might be talented, but endurance is just as important as strength. And that—" she gestured at him, "is where you're outmatched."
Si Ming laughed softly, rolling his shoulders. "If you're trying to convince me to quit, then maybe you should use your fists instead of words."
Xiyan smiled. "I warned you. I am not like the others."
Her aura surged, revealing the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment—a significant leap beyond Si Ming's past opponents. The difference was stark. Many in the crowd murmured in agreement.
"You're out of your league," Xiyan declared.
Back at the Saintess's pavilion, Fenyue observed the match with keen interest. Her golden eyes gleamed as she folded her arms. "So," she mused aloud, "how will you fare in this battle Si Ming."
Mei-Mei shifted uneasily beside her. "Saintess… do you think Senior Ming can win?"
Fenyue's lips curled into an amused smile. "I wonder..."
Mei-Mei flushed. "Shen Xiyan is strong—she's cultivated for years, refined countless techniques. I'm worried he's like ck may end here"
The Saintess chuckled. "But you've made quite the fortune betting on your senior brother. I thought you'd have more confidence than tht"
Mei-Mei's blush deepened. "I—I'm just… uncertain."
The Saintess smiled knowingly, turning her gaze back to the Arena. "Perhaps, but I think this match will surprise even you."
The moment the referee signaled the start of the match, Xiyan launched her attack.
She dashed forward, her twin swords crackling with electric energy as fire coiled around their edges. Moving like a hurricane of destruction, she swung both blades simultaneously, each strike leaving trails of scorching heat and violent sparks.
Si Ming twisted his body, weaving through the flurry of attacks, his movements fluid like water. He relied on Void Resonance Meditation, stretching his Qi senses to their limits, predicting each attack a fraction of a second before it landed.
But Xiyan wasn't easily outmaneuvered.
She flicked her wrist, redirecting one sword mid-swing. The motion was unnatural, almost instant. Si Ming barely managed to block, his sword flashing as it parried her fire-infused strike. The force sent tremors through the Arena, dust swirling from the pressure.
"She's fast," Si Ming thought as he leaped back, gaining distance.
Xiyan didn't give him a moment to breathe. With a sudden burst, she activated Wind Step, a technique that allowed her to accelerate at blinding speed. She closed in within milliseconds, her swords shimmering with Qi-infused destruction.
Si Ming raised his blade, channeling Celestial Blade Arts infused with Fire Qi—a variation he had developed through his battles. With a blazing arc, he executed Starfall Slash, the normally pure-cutting technique now infused with roaring flames, expanding its area of effect.
Xiyan's expression flickered with surprise as she countered with Lightning Crescent, her sword carving through Si Ming's flames, neutralizing them with a crackling barrier of raw electricity.
Their attacks clashed, sending ripples of mixed elements across the battlefield—fire meeting lightning, wind battling Qi.
Xiyan grinned. "You adapt quickly. But even that won't be enough."
Si Ming narrowed his eyes, realizing he needed to change tactics. He had been defending, reacting—but it was time to take control.
In a seamless motion, he mimicked Bending, a technique derived from his mana manipulation knowledge, allowing him to reshape his elemental Qi in an unconventional way.
His free hand twisted, guiding compressed Wind Qi to coalesce behind Xiyan. A sudden blast of wind erupted, forcing her back, breaking her rhythm.
Not giving her time to recover, Si Ming dashed forward, executing Moonlit Dance, his blade moving in unpredictable sweeping arcs. His strikes were sharp but controlled, each infused with a fusion of elements—fire, and wind.
Xiyan defended fiercely, her dual blades intercepting each strike. But she was losing ground. For the first time, she was being pushed back.
She gritted her teeth, activating Stormfang Blades, surrounding herself in rotating lightning winds, creating a defensive dome.
Si Ming grinned. "Perfect."
He gathered Qi into his palm, compressing it with precise manipulation**, using his knowledge of mana control now adapted for Qi.
The spherical energy pulsed, roaring with untamed force. A swirling mass of pure Qi, growing denser by the second.
The crowd gasped, sensing the power from Si Ming's palm.
With a sudden pivot, Si Ming vanished, appearing behind Xiyan in a heartbeat.
She whirled, barely registering his movement.
But it was too late.
Si Ming thrust his palm forward, releasing the Qi compression sphere directly into her back.
The devastation was immediate.
The compressed Qi erupted, sending Xiyan hurtling across the stage, crashing into the Arena's stone wall with thunderous force.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Unconscious. Defeated. Shen Xiyan had fallen.
The referee paused, seemingly shaken by the abrupt conclusion, before raising his voice.
"Winner: Si Ming!"
For the first time in the history of the Outer Sect rankings, a stable boy had risen to the top.
Mei-Mei sat in stunned silence. "H-he… won," she murmured.
Fenyue smirked, resting her chin on her hand. "Impressive. He took what he knew and shaped it into something entirely his own. That strike—Qi compression… no one in the sect has ever thought to use Qi like that."
Mei-Mei shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "I should've placed more bets…"
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