The arena hall stood wide and imposing, built from pale stone and dark metal veins that ran across the walls like frozen lightning. Tall pillars circled the arena, each carved with ancient patterns that faintly shimmered under spiritual pressure. Above, the high ceiling arched like a dome, open in places where light filtered in through crystal panels, casting long shadows across the floor. The arena itself was vast smooth stone tiles cracked and scarred from countless battles. Dust hovered lightly in the air, stirred by the tension between the two figures standing at its center.
Jian Wu stood still, her posture straight, one hand resting near the hilt of her sword. Her eyes were sharp and cold, locked onto the man across from her. The faint breeze from the open vents tugged at her hair, but she did not move.
Opposite her was Chen Yao Ying, a tall young man with a relaxed stance and a mocking smile. His robes fluttered lazily, yet the spiritual pressure around him told a different story heavy, sharp, and aggressive. A 9-star Dou Ba, clearly above her by one star.
Their eyes met.
No words.
Just killing intent pressing down like invisible waves.
The stone floor beneath them trembled slightly.
Chen Yao Ying broke the silence with a short laugh.
I've heard your name many times among the core disciples. Right jian wu, he said, his voice echoing faintly through the hall. He tilted his head proudly. Ah, pardon me. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Chen Yao Ying. Fifty-seventh rank among the core disciples.
He took a slow step forward, his gaze roaming freely.
I suppose you'll be entertaining me until your last breath.
Jian Wu's expression did not change. Her voice was calm, almost bored.
Ignorant, she said. And arrogant. A bad combination.
Chen Yao Ying burst into loud laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls.
Maybe, he said, grinning. But I do enjoy beauty and playing with it.
His figure suddenly blurred.
No vanished.
The air rippled like disturbed smoke. A dark shadow peeled away from where he stood, melting into the ground and disappearing without a sound.
Jian Wu's eyes narrowed.
Before she could react
A breath of cold air brushed her ear.
You're even more beautiful up close, Chen Yao Ying whispered.
Her body moved on instinct.
Clang!
Jian Wu spun, drawing her sword in a wide arc. Silver light flashed as the blade sliced through the space behind her. The force cut the air apart but hit nothing.
The shadow dissolved again, slipping away just before the sword could touch him.
Chen Yao Ying reappeared several steps away, standing casually with his hands behind his back, as if he had merely taken a stroll.
Jian Wu steadied her stance, sword held firmly now, her gaze sharper than before.
So, she said quietly, Shadow Teleportation.
Her lips curved into a faint, confident smile.
You think tricks like that will work against me?
In front of me, she added, this technique will be useless.
The air between them grew heavier.
Jian Wu took one step forward, her sword lowering slightly as her spiritual energy surged outward like a quiet storm. The carvings on the arena floor lit up faintly, reacting to her power. Thin petals of light forming in the air around her.
She lifted her chin and spoke clearly, her voice sharp and fearless.
Hey, arrogant boy, taste this, she said.
Her hand moved.
The air around Chen Yao Ying suddenly twisted.
Flowers bloomed out of nothingness white, pale blue, and faint silver spinning rapidly as thick vines of energy wrapped together. In a blink, she formed a flower shaped cage, sealing him inside.
The moment the cage closed.
Chen Yao Ying's body stiffened.
His spiritual energy began to drain.
Not slowly. Not gently.
It was being pulled out, absorbed by the cage itself.
His breathing turned heavy.
What…? His eyes widened as he felt the strength leaving his body. This is bad… he thought grimly. Very bad.
From the stands, the crowd erupted.
Cheers rolled like thunder through the hall.
Jian Wu !
So strong!
That technique!
Feng Jian jumped to his feet, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Sister Wu! Amazing! Amazing!
Lei Hu clenched his fists, eyes shining. Ling Xu nodded sharply, fully focused on the battle.
Feng Jian leaned toward them, speaking fast and excited.
This isn't just a trap. That cage absorbs spiritual energy directly. If you fight it, it fights back.
In arena hall but standing somewhere behind the pillar, Mike are also seeing this match of jian wu and Chen yao ying in between other students but he has weared his mask for hiding his identity for now. And says ah you are also grown up now jian wu.
Inside the cage, Chen Yao Ying roared and slashed forward.
His sword struck the inner wall.
Clang!
The impact sent ripples across the flower cage but before he could strike again, sharp petals burst from the walls, flying toward him like blades.
He twisted his body, blocking some, dodging others. Cuts appeared across his arms and shoulder. Blood splashed onto the stone floor.
Jian Wu stood outside the cage, her eyes calm, her stance firm. One hand was raised slightly, fingers moving with control and precision.
The petals, the walls, the pressure. All of it moved with her will. It was bound to her soul and consciousness.
Chen Yao Ying dropped to one knee, coughing hard. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. He planted his sword into the ground to support himself, breathing heavily.
He looked up, eyes burning.
…I underestimated you, he said hoarsely.
Jian Wu.
Slowly, he raised his arm.
But now, he continued, voice darkening,
you will taste my technique as well.
His arm began to rotate slowly, anticlockwise.
The shadows beneath his feet gathered. They compressed into a single black point.
Then, More appeared.
Small dark spots opened in different places around him. One by one, they grew larger, deeper, darker. From the shadow point, huge black spikes began to emerge, stretching outward like claws. The spikes pressed against the flower cage.
Cracks formed. The cage trembled violently.
This technique, Chen Yao Ying said coldly,
Is called Shadow spike emerging Hole.
Your flower cage is connected to your soul and consciousness, So when it breaks, you will suffer backlash or even death, he said
The spikes pushed harder. The flower cage start broke. Jian Wu's body shook.
Pain surged through her chest like fire. Her breath caught, blood rising in her throat. Her knees bent slightly as sweat rolled down her face.
Mike clenches his hand and says in his Mind, i know this situation will be hard for her but she will manage I trust you jian wu.
Jian wu feels something in her heart and she pushed it and her memory starts to come in front of her, she, Mike, jian dao, friends and then she tightened her grip.
Her eyes remained steady. Jian Wu's breathing grew uneven.
Blood slid down the corner of her lips and dripped onto the glowing flower cage below her. The moment the blood touched the petals, the cage reacted.
The flowers trembled.Then they changed.
Her blood soaked into the technique, turning the petals darker, sharper, alive with a fierce pulse. The cage tightened violently, and a deep hum echoed through the arena.
Inside, Chen Yao Ying suddenly felt it.
His shadow spikes shattered one by one.
The shadow holes collapsed. A crushing force surged inward, destroying his soul-linked attack from within.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
How…? he whispered, then shouted,
How is this possible?!
The flower cage stabilized, stronger than before.
Jian Wu stood trembling, her hand shaking as she forced her consciousness to hold the technique together. She had done it using her own blood to override his soul attack.
For a brief moment, she won. But then, Something invisible pierced her mind.
Not from Chen Yao Ying. From elsewhere.
A sharp, cold presence struck directly at her soul and consciousness.
Her eyes went blank. Ugh! Jian Wu screamed as the flower cage shattered outward. She was thrown back violently, crashing into the arena wall. A terrifying backlash tore through her body.
Mike's eyes narrowed instantly and says Someone attacked her… secretly. His gaze swept across the spectators, the pavilions, the shadows but whoever did it was deeply hidden. Even for him, tracking that presence was extremely difficult.
The dust settled. The flower cage was gone.
Chen Yao Ying staggered forward, free at last. He laughed coldly, wiping blood from his mouth.
Jian Wu, he sneered. You're nothing without your father backing you. He lifted his sword and began walking toward her.
Shock rippled through the crowd.
How did this happen? She lost the match!
That backlash!
Jian Wu coughed violently. Blood spilled from her mouth as her vision blurred. The arena lights stretched and twisted before her eyes.
Ho… how…? she murmured weakly.
I managed it… then why… why did I fail…?
Her thoughts scattered.
Why… why… why…
Her eyelids drooped.
Chen Yao Ying raised his sword.
Just as he prepared to strike.
A deep, calm voice echoed through the entire arena hall.
Enough.
The word carried pressure.
Chen Yao Ying halted instantly, his body stiffening. He looked around sharply.
Who? he shouted.
Who dares to stop me?!
Mike appeared in front of Jian Wu.
No sound. No movement. He was simply… there. He stood between them, his presence steady, overwhelming. He turned slightly and spoke to Jian Wu, his voice firm but controlled. Stabilize your mind. Circulate your energy. Heal yourself. Those words struck her consciousness like a command.
Jian Wu's eyes snapped open.
She tried to focus but she couldn't see his face. A mask covered it completely. She didn't know who he was, yet his voice forced her to stay awake.
Chen Yao Ying stared at Mike, fury rising.
Hey! he barked. Who are you? How dare you interrupt my winning match!
The arena exploded with noise.
Who is he? He looks fearless! He is real man!
No, this is wrong! Senior and junior disciples argued loudly.
Mike slowly turned his head toward Chen Yao Ying. His voice dropped, cold and sharp.
You're nothing but a weakling, he said. Using traps. Using hidden partners. Attacking at the most critical moment. He stepped forward. Someone was hiding and struck her soul, Mike continued calmly.
That was your second partner, wasn't it?
Chen Yao Ying froze.
His eyes bulged for a split second then he laughed loudly. Hey, hey, he said mockingly.
Are you joking? That's a serious accusation.
He spread his arms. Why would I need someone hiding in shadows? Look at meam I not strong? He sneered. You son of bitch.
Mike smiled faintly.
My answer? he said. No. He took one step closer. You're not strong, Mike continued. In fact, in front of everyone. You are weak.
Chen Yao Ying's teeth ground together. Rage flashed across his face, then he inhaled deeply and forced himself calm.
Ignorant fool, he said coldly. I'll tell you how to talk with seniors and show respect, you disrespectful.
He pointed his sword at Mike.
But tell me, what's your name first?
Mike's smile faded.
My name, he replied evenly, won't save you, little one. In the next instant, Mike vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Chen Yao Ying without using any visible technique.
Boom. A punch slammed into Chen Yao Ying stomach, his body folded the moment the fist landed. The punch struck his abdomen with a dull, hollow thud, knocking the breath clean out of him. Blood sprayed from his mouth in a thin arc, dark against the pale light of the arena but strangely, his body did not fly backward. He hung there for a heartbeat, suspended in the air like a broken puppet.
Before gravity could claim him, a hand clamped around his wrist.
Mike.
His grip was iron. With a sharp pull, Mike yanked Chen Yao Ying forward, dragging him straight back into range. There was no wasted motion, no flourish just brutal efficiency.
The second punch crashed into Chen Yao Ying's ribs.
The third followed immediately, sinking deeper, driving bone and breath inward.
The fourth landed lower, snapping his body forward as if he were folding around the blow.
The crowd barely had time to scream.
Mike shifted his stance.
One punch slammed into Chen Yao Ying's cheek, snapping his head sideways.
A second followed instantly, cracking against his jaw, blood and saliva bursting from his lips as his consciousness wavered.
Then silence. For a fraction of a second, everything seemed to stop.
Mike's foot rose.
The kick struck like a hammer, connecting squarely with Chen Yao Ying's chest. The impact exploded outward, the sound echoing through the arena hall as Chen Yao Ying's body finally broke free, shooting backward like a launched projectile.
He smashed into the arena wall.
Stone cracked. Dust and debris rained down as his body slid limply to the ground, leaving a dark smear of blood against the fractured surface.