- The truly magnificent show will begin soon… — Se Yan whispered quietly, deliberately drawing out his words so that each consonant clung to the air like spiderwebs clinging to branches.
Su Qingyue slightly narrowed her eyelids, her fingers involuntarily clenching the folds of her silk sleeve — a gesture that those who knew her would recognize as a sign of extreme anxiety.
Poison.
It was already pulsating in Xiao Chen's veins. Se Yan leaned back against the carved chair back, observing Xiao Chen. His gaze swept over the young man's ring, where flashes of spiritual energy now resembled spasmodic bursts — as if the artifact was trying to fight something that was penetrating deeper than ordinary wounds.
- Your daughter has chosen a rather capable young man — Se Yan said, his voice carrying a mixture of admiration and mockery.
Su Qingyue raised an eyebrow, never taking her eyes off the young man.
- She has staked her fate. Victory means freedom, defeat means becoming a concubine — Se Yan remained silent for a few moments, then spoke slowly.
- What an interesting woman… The willingness to risk everything for a dream is a rare quality in these times.
Su Qingyue did not break eye contact.
- Interesting? — she finally spoke. — Or simply desperate?
Se Yan merely smiled, saying nothing.
«Moreover, now that I know my role in this story» — Se Yan thought to himself. — «I have no intention of letting you go, Lady Su. Even if the fruit is plucked prematurely, it can still quench one's thirst, wouldn't you agree?»
*****
- I underestimated you!
Xiao Fenglue's roar thundered through the hall like thunder in a clear sky. His fingers dug into the hilt of his sword so hard that his knuckles turned white, while his eyes burned with a mixture of fire and fury.
Xiao Chen didn't have time to respond. Suddenly, his knees trembled as if the ground beneath him had turned into quicksand. His ears rang, and bloody spots swam before his eyes. He tried to clench his fist, but his fingers wouldn't obey, as if they belonged to someone else.
«You've been poisoned…» — The voice in his mind sounded not like a warning but like a death sentence. He recognized that cold timbre, which had never been more triumphant.
- Oh, is this the end? — Fenglue slowly raised his sword, the blade howling like a hungry spirit. — What a pity. I had hoped you would last longer… for her sake.
An icy wave of fear clenched Xiao Chen's throat, turning his breath into a hoarse whistle. His heart pounded so violently it seemed to try to break free from its ribcage — not because of the poison, but from the realization: this was the end.
Not a heroic death in battle against a celestial being, not a sacrifice for a great cause, but a dull, humiliating fall here in the arena, where the audience greedily caught every spasm of his body.
«Master, what should I do?» — Xiao Chen's voice trembled like a leaf in the wind.
He sank to his knees, his hands trembling helplessly. Thoughts of defeat swirled in his head, of how he, once an invincible warrior, now found himself on the verge of death.
Xiao Fenglue stood over him, his shadow looming, ready to deliver the fatal blow. Triumph mixed with slight surprise was evident in his opponent's eyes — he hadn't expected Xiao Chen to break so quickly.
No matter how he tried to connect with the master through the ring, it made no difference. Every attempt to reach out to the master via the ring went unanswered. The ring on his finger, which usually served as a bridge between him and his mentor, was now cold and lifeless.
[Ding! You have damaged Xiao Chen's mental state! Xiao Chen has lost 50 luck points. The master has gained 250 points]
«Can't reach your master?» — Xie Yan sneered. He knew that without his interference, Xiao Chen would have easily defeated Fenglue and put everyone in their place.
- As expected, Xiao Chen has lost — the man's voice from the crowd sounded matter-of-fact, as if he were announcing the result of an ordinary chess game.
- Master Fenglue has won — another added, his tone dripping with respect for the victor.
A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd. No one noticed the strange gleam in Xie Yan's eyes as he watched from the royal box.
- Looking at him, I think he'll kill Xiao Chen — one of the spectators whispered, and his words, like drops of poison, began to spread through the crowd.
However!
- Who dares to touch him! Don't worry, no one will be able to leave here alive today — a thunderous voice split the sky. The air thickened like jelly, and the ground beneath the spectators' feet became covered with a web of cracks.
A black mist surged from the rift, forming a figure in a hooded cloak that concealed its face. Only its eyes burned in the darkness — two bloody coals reflecting the screaming souls within.
The crowd recoiled in horror. Even Xiao Fenglue, who had been triumphant just a moment ago, pressed himself to the ground.
- Xiao Chen of the Linhua clan — the voice of the Enlightenment Dao(5) expert rang out like a bell purifying the mind. He bowed just enough for it to be considered a token of respect, but not a full bow. — Your father once saved my life. Today, the debt will be repaid.
- You… — at that moment, Xiao Chen was not only taken aback but also bewildered. His eyes widened, and his breathing became прерывистым. He felt blood rushing to his face, and his heart pounded in his chest as if trying to break free.
But then delight overwhelmed him. He closed his eyes, trying to comprehend what was happening.
The old man's expression seemed to grow even colder as he looked at Xiao Chen's state. His eyes, hidden beneath the hood, gleamed with icy light.
Suddenly, the being at the Enlightenment Dao(5) stage was filled with a murderous aura. The air around him boiled, warping into spirals, as if space could not withstand the concentration of power. Stones beneath their feet flew into the air, turning to dust, and the ground beneath Xiao Chen cracked open, revealing layers of rock older than the mountains themselves.
The master swung his palm — a movement as simple and perfect as the falling of a cherry blossom petal. But within it lay a technique that made gods tremble.
The mere fluctuations of his power were enough to repel many people standing far away from him. They flew backward like dry leaves in the wind, unable to withstand the powerful force. The air around them distorted, creating whirlwinds of energy that tore apart clothing and left burn marks on their skin.
- He wants to kill us! — a shrill scream cut through the air, echoing off the distorted space.
- Oh no, we must protect ourselves as soon as possible! — dozens of voices merged into a single cry of horror. The masters, who until this moment had considered themselves invincible, now looked like animals trapped in a cage.
Everyone in the ranking arena was stunned. Their faces contorted with fear, eyes widened in horror. They hastily tried to create protective barriers, weave qi patterns, erect shields of spiritual energy. But it was all in vain.
The moment their defensive techniques came into contact with the murderous fluctuations, something unimaginable happened. The masters, one by one, began to explode from within. Their bodies dissolved into the air, turning into a bloody mist that slowly dispersed, leaving only emptiness behind.
*****
Sorrow's Embrace:
Hello, traveler.
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