The arena trembled under the force of Zhao Yan's strike. His flame spear stretched like a burning pillar toward the heavens, its heat twisting the air, threatening to scorch the very sky.Disciples gasped, shielding their faces. Some collapsed to their knees, the weight of the fire qi crushing their lungs. Even seasoned elders raised their protective qi barriers.And in the middle of it all, Jiang Hao stood unmoving, arms loose at his sides, eyes half-lidded as if trying to remember whether he had left his tea flask back at the guest courtyard.Zhao Yan roared, slamming the spear down. Fire swallowed the arena in a wave of molten rage.Stone cracked. Dust exploded. The air filled with smoke and heat so intense it shimmered like a desert mirage.For a moment, it seemed Jiang Hao had been obliterated.Lin Xueyao's heart clenched. Her blade sang free of its sheath, instinct screaming to rush in. But she froze, Elder Tian's warnings echoing in her mind: Do not pry too deeply into that boy's strength. What you see will not be the truth.Mei Ling pressed her sleeve to her lips, her normally serene eyes wide with worry. "Senior Brother Jiang…"The flames roared… and then broke apart.A soft breeze whispered through the arena, scattering fire like dry leaves in autumn.Jiang Hao stood where he had been, dusting off his sleeve with faint annoyance. His robes were spotless, untouched by ash."…Too bright," he muttered. "You'll ruin my nap with all that glare."The silence that followed was deafening.Zhao Yan's jaw clenched. "You dare mock me?!" He leapt again, his aura doubling, fire qi condensing into dragons of living flame that coiled and snapped with molten fangs.Each dragon lashed at Jiang Hao with the fury of a volcano.Jiang Hao lifted his hand lazily, as though shooing away mosquitoes. His finger flicked once.The nearest fire dragon collapsed mid-flight, its body unraveling into harmless sparks.Another flick. Another dragon scattered like mist.One by one, his effortless movements undid Zhao Yan's painstaking techniques. Every flick was casual, every counter silent, as though swatting aside tantrums.The audience leaned forward, breaths caught. Was he even… using qi?Lin Xueyao gritted her teeth. Damn him. He makes it look like breathing. Like it costs him nothing…But beneath her frustration was awe. And something else she didn't want to name.Mei Ling, unable to restrain herself, laughed softly. "He's toying with him."Jiang Hao glanced over, catching her smile. His lips curved faintly in return, as if sharing an inside joke no one else understood.Zhao Yan saw it—and fury ignited anew. "You dare laugh while fighting me?!""Fighting?" Jiang Hao repeated, tilting his head. "I thought you were just warming up the arena. Saves me the trouble of making a campfire later."Laughter burst from the Azure Heaven disciples, quickly smothered when Zhao Yan's rage flared like an exploding star. His aura blazed white, his spear transforming into a column of pure flame."This ends now!" Zhao Yan roared.The ground split as he lunged, all his strength focused into one killing strike.Jiang Hao sighed, as though resigned to the overtime. His hand rose slowly, palm outward, almost lazy.When Zhao Yan's spear fell, the world seemed to shatter——and then froze.The fire collapsed inward, vanishing into Jiang Hao's palm like water down a drain. The blazing aura, the dragon cries, the heatwaves—all gone.Only Zhao Yan remained, standing stiff, eyes wide, his weapon trembling uselessly.Jiang Hao's hand hovered inches from his chest. Calm. Steady. Unstoppable."You're loud," Jiang Hao said softly. "Go cool off."He tapped Zhao Yan's chest with a single finger.The mighty Crimson Flame disciple flew backward like a broken doll, crashing into the arena wall with a thunderous crack. The fire spear extinguished, his aura shattered, his body slumping unconscious to the ground.Silence fell like a blanket over the crowd.The duel was over.The Crimson Flame Sect Leader's hand clenched at his throne. His elders whispered in urgent tones, their eyes flicking from Zhao Yan's unconscious form to Jiang Hao's calm, disinterested stance.Azure Heaven disciples erupted into cheers, their pride blazing.Lin Xueyao stared at Jiang Hao, emotions warring within her. Relief. Anger. Curiosity. Admiration. He infuriated her… yet he had protected their honor effortlessly.Mei Ling's smile softened, her eyes glowing with quiet wonder. She had seen gentleness in his casual gestures, even as he dismantled an opponent.Jiang Hao dusted his robes again, sighing. "That's enough, right? Don't tell me there's another one. My tea's getting cold."The audience didn't know whether to laugh or tremble.The dust had barely settled when the Crimson Flame Sect Leader raised his hand, stilling the rising tide of voices. His eyes were sharp as blades, his aura heavy as iron."Enough."The word rippled across the courtyard, silencing even the whispers of the wind.All eyes turned to him. The defeated Zhao Yan was carried away by trembling juniors, his body limp, his pride shattered. The Sect Leader's gaze lingered on the unconscious disciple, then slowly shifted back to Jiang Hao."You," he said, voice low but carrying to every corner. "Jiang Hao of Azure Heaven. Who is your master?"Jiang Hao blinked. "…Why?""Because," the Sect Leader replied, "I see no trace of Azure Heaven's known techniques in your moves. I see no fire, no water, no sword qi—only strength that belongs to… someone else." His eyes narrowed further. "And because a man like you does not appear out of nowhere."The audience tensed. Elders leaned in. Disciples held their breath.Lin Xueyao clenched her fists. If he reveals too much… if they realize the truth…But Jiang Hao only yawned, stretching as though bored of the entire conversation. "My master?" He smiled faintly. "An old man who nags too much and makes me work overtime."Laughter rippled among the Azure Heaven disciples, though strained by nerves. Elder Tian, watching from the delegation's side, smirked behind his beard. The boy knows how to dance with words.The Sect Leader's lips pressed into a hard line. He had no proof, no leverage. To push further would risk insulting Elder Tian himself. With visible reluctance, he inclined his head."…Very well. The trial is complete. Azure Heaven has passed."Cheers erupted from the Azure Heaven side. Relief surged through the disciples like a tide.As the formalities ended and the crowd dispersed, Lin Xueyao cornered Jiang Hao in a shaded corridor."You could have killed him." Her eyes burned with restrained fury. "You humiliated their strongest disciple in front of the entire sect. Do you realize what that means? You've painted a target on yourself—and on us!"Jiang Hao leaned against the wall, pulling out his tea flask. "Relax. If I wanted to kill him, I would have. Instead, I gave him a nap. Efficient. Merciful."Her hands trembled at her sides. "Do you think this is a game? Do you think being efficient makes you untouchable? One day, that laziness will cost lives—ours included."The words cut deeper than she intended. Silence stretched between them.Then Mei Ling appeared, carrying a tray of herbs as if she'd been waiting for the perfect moment. She smiled softly, breaking the tension. "Senior Sister, you're too harsh. Senior Brother Jiang protected us. That deserves gratitude, not scolding."Lin Xueyao turned on her. "Gratitude?! He flaunted power he shouldn't even reveal—""—and if he hadn't, you would have been injured," Mei Ling said gently, her eyes unwavering. "You fought bravely, but Zhao Yan was beyond you. Admit it."Lin Xueyao froze, her pride warring with truth. Her mouth opened, then closed again.Jiang Hao sipped his tea, watching the two women with calm detachment. "Should I… leave you two to argue about me? Or would you like me to stay for commentary?"Both turned on him at once."Shut up!"His lips twitched into the faintest smile.Later that evening, the delegation gathered in their guest courtyard. Azure Heaven disciples were buzzing with victory, their respect for Jiang Hao now mingled with awe and fear.One whispered: "He's a monster."Another: "No—he's our monster."Lin Xueyao sat apart, sharpening her blade with clipped movements, her thoughts storming.Mei Ling, by contrast, drifted near Jiang Hao, placing a small plate of pastries in front of him. "You didn't eat much after the fight. You should."He glanced at the plate, then at her. "Bribery?"Her smile deepened, serene and mischievous at once. "Gratitude."Lin Xueyao glanced over, irritation sparking again. "You spoil him too much. He'll get even lazier."Jiang Hao chewed thoughtfully, ignoring their bickering. "That's impossible. I've already optimized my laziness to perfection."Even Mei Ling had to giggle at that, while Lin Xueyao buried her face in her hands.But beyond the laughter and teasing, shadows moved.High in the Crimson Flame Sect's inner halls, elders whispered of the stranger who had embarrassed their brightest talents. Some called for vengeance. Others for alliance.The Sect Leader sat in silence, his mind replaying the moment Jiang Hao had devoured Zhao Yan's fire with a single palm."…That was not mortal technique," he muttered to himself. "No… that was the hand of an immortal."And in a darker chamber, another presence stirred. A spy, cloaked in the aura of the Demon Sect, slipped away into the night, carrying whispers of Jiang Hao's display to ears far more dangerous.
