Sikong Aofeng had long since sensed Gu Qingli's gaze, and he, in turn, was quietly observing the young girl with concealed interest.
He had always taken great pride in his son's natural gifts, and Sikong Ran had indeed lived up to his expectations, standing peerless among Loulan's younger generation in recent years.
Yet now, a dark horse had emerged—
The Sixth Miss of the Gu family.
Sikong Aofeng narrowed his eyes, those sharp pupils so reminiscent of his son's gleaming with sudden insight.
It seemed fortune had favored the Gu lineage this generation. Merely twelve years old, yet her strength had already surpassed even his own son's.
Though she was not a Spirit Illusionist, she was an exceedingly rare alchemist.
Recalling the way his son's eyes had sparkled when speaking of the Gu girl, Sikong Aofeng's lips curved in the faintest smile.
Such a formidable little lass—
"Xiaoli! You're going to win for sure!"
A sudden shout pierced the clamor of the crowded arena.
"Hm?"
Gu Qingli turned and, to her surprise, saw Sikong Ran, with He Zhongyi following closely behind. It seemed they had just arrived.
She rolled her eyes in exasperation—this fellow was far too shamelessly familiar.
"Heh heh."
Sikong Ran, as if sensing her silent rebuke from afar, grinned, while He Zhongyi looked toward her with worried eyes.
Dressed in flowing white, the girl stood poised and serene, her delicate figure exuding a quiet confidence. Amidst the noisy, chaotic throng, she was a luminous presence—radiant and composed.
It was not difficult to imagine that, in time, this seemingly fragile girl would grow into a woman of breathtaking brilliance.
"Will the duelists from the Snow Tiger and War Wolf regiments please take the stage!"
The host's voice rang out, drawing the crowd's focus once more to the grand platform before them.
"Xiaoli! Just remember one thing—protect yourself above all else!"
Gu Zhan gripped her hands tightly, his palms calloused and warm with years of hardship. A thousand words of worry condensed into that single sentence.
Gu Qingli's heart softened, touched by his concern.
"Father, I promise—I'll return safe and sound!"
Vice-Captain Qi leapt onto the stage with a flourish, his massive shoulders dwarfing Gu Qingli's petite frame.
The contrast between the two was almost absurd.
It was hard to believe such a delicate girl could possibly stand against a brutish, hulking man.
"Well, well—who would've thought the Snow Tiger Regiment would send a little girl to her death! Pretty face or not, don't expect me to go easy on you! Hahaha!"
"And they still dare to call themselves the top regiment in Loulan? What a disgrace!"
As Vice-Captain Qi's taunts echoed across the arena, the War Wolf troops erupted in jeers and laughter.
Behind him, the Snow Tiger warriors bristled, their eyes wide with fury. Though restrained by the rules, tension crackled in the air like a drawn blade.
Sun Jie's face was particularly grim—this had all begun with his impulsive challenge, and now even Xiaoli was involved. With the captain absent, if anything befell the Snow Tiger Regiment, he would carry that guilt for life.
The stakes of this duel were clear:
Whichever side lost would see its standing in Loulan's mercenary world fall drastically.
With a thunderous shout, Vice-Captain Qi unleashed his full strength—an overwhelming surge of blue energy burst from him, fierce and domineering.
Though both were Nine-Star Martial Warriors, Qi had already reached peak mastery, his aura pressing perilously close to that of a Martial King. Gu Qingli, by comparison, was still a breath behind.