The spectator stands erupted in a thunderous roar.
"This is… this is the ultimate sword technique of the Silver-Blue Empire!"
"Oh my, she's mastered Moonfall Starfall! I've heard even the old emperors of the Silver-Blue Empire never fully perfected this move!"
"That means the Earthling is in serious danger. Moonfall Starfall has the power to shatter an entire small planet!"
The giant warrior staggered to his feet in disbelief. "Impossible! She's so young… how could she possibly have mastered a technique of this level?"
An elven woman's face was equally grave. "Moonfall Starfall isn't just a sword technique. It represents an understanding of the very laws of the universe. Anyone capable of wielding it has already reached an extraordinary comprehension of the principles of wind."
The mysterious figure in the black robe nodded. "The Silver-Blue Empire proves why it's such a venerable power. Their depth of cultivation is immense. This princess's talent likely surpasses that of many royal ancestors."
Even in the VIP spectator zone, the atmosphere tensed.
"Zhenwu, what do you think that Earthling will do now?" the Overseer asked.
Zhenwu's expression was serious. "Moonfall Starfall is undeniably formidable, but look at Rowen's face. He doesn't seem panicked at all."
Indeed, faced with such a terrifying attack, Rowen's expression was not one of fear but exhilaration.
"How fascinating! Absolutely fascinating!" Rowen laughed aloud. "To witness a sword technique of such exquisite precision is worth a lifetime! But I won't surrender so easily!"
He drew a deep breath, letting the law of fire surge violently through his body. In this moment, memories of the past half month of training flooded his mind: the encouragement of his teammates, the honor of being an Earth warrior, every lesson learned.
"Since you've shown me the Silver-Blue Empire's ultimate sword, I'll show you the unyielding spirit of an Earth warrior!"
Rowen plunged his Starflare Rift Blade into the energy platform beneath him, forming intricate hand seals. This was a brand-new technique born from his tireless meditation over the past two weeks, combining the explosive power of the fire law with the precision of psionic control.
"Secret of Fire Solar Inferno!"
With a roar, the battlefield seemed to ignite. Stars behind him responded as though summoned, radiating blinding, scorching light. Flames erupted from the void, forming a massive vortex around Rowen.
The spectators were stunned once again.
"What is that technique? I've never seen fire law used like this!"
"He's channeling the power of a star? How is that possible?"
"Wait, look closely. He's not pulling power from a star he's simulating the star's energy pattern!"
On the Earth team, the three warriors leapt to their feet, eyes wide.
"This kid actually created a technique like this!" Hong said, awestruck.
Leishen's excitement erupted into a roar. "Ha! This is the spirit of Earthlings! Who says we're weaker than the other races of the universe?"
Rowen clenched his fists tightly. "Rowen, all in!"
On the battlefield, two starkly contrasting forces faced each other: one, the deadly elegance of swordlight like a serene moon; the other, a violent inferno like the raging sun.
Princess Silvermoon's eyes gleamed with admiration as she studied Rowen's creation. "Forcing me to use Moonfall Starfall is an achievement in itself. But this duel must end now."
Her sword flashed, a brilliant blade descending like a falling moon, tearing through the void and leaving black fissures in its wake.
Rowen reacted instantly. His fire vortex condensed into a towering column of flames, a solar flare incarnate, colliding with Princess Silvermoon's attack.
"Boom!"
The collision echoed across the cosmic arena, shaking the virtual universe itself. Protective barriers in the spectator zones trembled violently.
The energy platform beneath Rowen groaned under the immense pressure, beginning to crumble as shards of pure energy scattered through the void like a spectacular fireworks display.
When the dust settled, only two staggering figures remained on the battlefield.
Rowen knelt on one knee, his Starflare Rift Blade planted firmly to support his body, blood streaming from his lips. Princess Silvermoon fared no better; her silver armor was shattered in places, and her long sword bore several cracks.
"Cough… that was a remarkable duel," Princess Silvermoon said, wiping blood from her lips as she struggled upright. "But the outcome is clear."
Indeed, though both were heavily injured, Rowen's wounds were more severe. In raw power, the Silvermoon princess had the advantage.
A brief silence swept over the stands before it erupted into thunderous applause.
"Unbelievable! This has to be the highlight of the tournament so far!"
"Even though the Earthling lost, his performance will be remembered by all!"
"To go toe-to-toe with the Silver-Blue Empire's princess like that… Earthlings cannot be underestimated."
The giant warrior bellowed, "Rowen has the potential to become a true powerhouse! That Solar Inferno he created is already a prototype of an original law-based technique!"
The elven woman nodded. "Impressive. The ability to innovate on the battlefield is rare. Even though he lost, with time and effort, he could become a force to reckon with."
The black-robed figure also praised him: "Earth is a planet worth watching. Rowen's appearance might just herald more future prodigies."
In the VIP zone, the Overseer turned to Zhenwu. "What do you think?"
Zhenwu reflected. "Though Rowen lost, his potential is undeniable. Especially that Solar Inferno technique given time to refine it, his future achievements could be limitless."
"Should we ?" the Overseer hesitated.
"Observe further. No rush," Zhenwu waved them off. "Geniuses grow through adversity. This defeat may prove beneficial."
Back with the Earth team, though Rowen had lost, their faces were proud rather than dejected.
"Well done!" Leishen shouted. "Even in defeat, you fought with honor!"
Hong clapped him on the shoulder. "Forcing the Silver-Blue Empire's princess to her limits… Rowen exceeded all our expectations."
Row Feng watched Rowen struggle to rise, admiration in his eyes. "This is the spirit of Earth warriors never surrender, never yield!"
Rowen steadied himself, bowing deeply to Princess Silvermoon. "Thank you for the honor, Princess. Your swordsmanship is truly magnificent. I've learned much from this duel."
Princess Silvermoon returned the gesture with a smile. "You are strong as well. That final Solar Inferno left a lasting impression. I hope we can spar again sometime."
"Absolutely," Rowen nodded. "Next time, I won't lose."
The princess smiled gently. "I'll look forward to it."
The system's voice echoed: "First match concluded. Winner: Aria Silvermoon."
Though defeated, the applause for Rowen continued. This duel ensured that everyone remembered the young warrior from Earth.
Assisted by his teammates, Rowen left the battlefield. While his physical wounds could rapidly heal in the virtual universe, the mental impact of the battle required time to settle.
"How do you feel? Any insights?" Hong asked, concern in his voice.
Rowen took a deep breath. "Many… too many. Princess Silvermoon's swordsmanship taught me that mastery of the laws isn't just about stacking power it's an art. Every strike embodies a profound understanding of the law of wind."
"And your Solar Inferno?" Leishen asked, curiosity piqued. "That move was breathtaking!"
"It came from observing stellar motion," Rowen explained. "The essence of the fire law is energy release and transformation. Stars are the perfect embodiment of fire law in the universe. I tried to emulate a star's energy pattern. It's rough, but the foundation is there."
Row Feng nodded. "That's clever learning the principles from natural phenomena is a method many powerful warriors use."
"Exactly," Rowen said, gazing at the distant stars. "The universe holds endless wisdom. All we need to do is observe, understand, and learn."
At that moment, a familiar voice spoke. "Well said."
They turned to see Princess Silvermoon approaching, now in clean attire and a warm, serene smile on her face.
"Princess?" Rowen asked, surprised.
"I overheard your conversation," she said. "Your understanding of the laws is unique it inspired me as well."
She paused before continuing, "Actually, my Moonfall Starfall was derived from observing the moon's orbit. It seems our paths in cultivation share similar thought processes."
"That's wonderful," Rowen replied. "If you don't mind, perhaps we can exchange training insights more often."
"Of course. I would be delighted," Princess Silvermoon nodded. "But for now, you have more matches to face. I won't keep you. Good luck."
Watching her leave, Leishen sighed, "Even in defeat, the gains were tremendous. We witnessed top-tier swordsmanship and made such a valuable ally."
"Indeed," Hong agreed. "And this battle has also drawn attention to Earth from other cosmic powers. That's significant for our planet's future."
Row Feng turned toward the ongoing matches. "It's our turn next. Rowen brought glory to Earth we mustn't fall behind."
"Right!" Leishen raised his fists. "Let the universe see the strength of Earthlings!"
Discussion of the duel continued throughout the spectator zones.
"The Solar Inferno he created is truly original."
"Yes. Its power may not yet be complete, but the concept is ahead of its time. Given enough refinement, it could become his signature technique."
"Earth is an intriguing planet. Each of the four competitors they sent has a unique style."
"Indeed. That Hong seems experienced and steady. Leishen is wild and likely specializes in the lightning law. And Row Feng…"
"Row Feng may be the youngest, but his determination is remarkable. I predict he might have the most potential among the four."
"Let's wait and see. The upcoming matches should be even more thrilling."
The virtual universe company had arranged accommodations in a massive floating complex among the stars, providing comfortable living quarters, training facilities, and recovery systems. Though Rowen's injuries had healed rapidly in the virtual space, his mental fatigue required rest.
The Earth team was assigned a spacious four-bedroom suite, futuristic in design with transparent walls offering panoramic views of the glittering cosmos, fully equipped with advanced technology. The four gathered in the living room, a subtle tension hanging in the air.
Leishen sat at one end of the sofa, arms crossed, golden eyebrows furrowed, eyes full of confusion and unease. He stared at Rowen, who was meditating, before speaking.
"Rowen, I need to ask you something," his voice lower and serious. "Did you really give it your all in that match?"
The question hit like a stone cast into a still lake, rippling through the room. Hong and Row Feng's gazes turned to Rowen as well, the atmosphere thick with tension.
Rowen slowly opened his eyes, meeting his three teammates' stares. His expression was calm, but a complex emotion flickered in his gaze. He knew this question would come sooner or later, and that he had to provide an answer.
"Why do you ask?" he replied evenly, though his tone clearly skirted a direct response.
Leishen paced the room, clearly unsettled. "Because I know you! We've trained together long enough. I can tell you still had tricks left. The Starfire Wild Blaze Big Dipper Formation you never used once. And your control over the division of psionic weapons hasn't reached its limit either."
Hong's steady voice carried a note of disappointment. "Rowen, if you deliberately lost to Princess Silvermoon, I hope you can give us a reasonable explanation. We're a team. Any major decision should involve all of us."
Row Feng, though the youngest, looked serious. "Yeah, Rowen. We all noticed your restraint at the end. Solar Inferno was dazzling, yes, but I feel you have even more powerful techniques."
Rowen was silent for a moment. Then he let out a long sigh, rising from the sofa to stand before the transparent wall, gazing out into the vast starry expanse.