Chapter 313: Final Phase (3)

The battles continued without pause. The living wood arena was already stained with blood in several places, but the protective runes prevented the damage from spreading or the structure from deteriorating.

Mo Tianhai was the next from the Verdant Sword group to step up.

His opponent was a young man at the 9° stage of Qi Liberation, coming from one of the weaker Domains. The youth wielded a pair of double axes, each the size of his torso, and his energy was heavy, clearly focused on brute strength.

As soon as the judge gave the signal, the opponent charged like an enraged bull. The axes cut through the air with a deep hum, creating shockwaves that made the wooden platform tremble.

Mo Tianhai did not move. He simply raised one finger.

His destructive sword intent exploded forward like an invisible tidal wave. The air in front of him distorted, and the opponent was struck head-on before he could even complete his attack. The axes flew from his hands. His body was thrown backward like a dry leaf in the wind, hitting the ground outside the arena with a dull thud. Blood flowed from his lips, and his eyes were wide in shock.

He did not even see the attack.

“Mo Tianhai wins!” the judge announced.

Murmurs spread once again through the stands.

“Another monster from the Verdant Sword!”

“His sword intent contains a destructive power that is rarely seen!”

“What are they feeding these disciples?!”

Mo Tianhai stepped down from the arena with a neutral expression, as if nothing had happened. He sat beside Kyrian and merely nodded slightly.

“Too easy.”

Kyrian simply nodded.

“Don’t complain. Better this way.”

The two exchanged a quick glance. They knew the more difficult fights were yet to come, but for now, the initial matches were just to eliminate the weakest.

Next was Mo Xia.

She stepped into the arena with her slender sword in hand, her eyes sharp as blades. Her opponent was a young man at the 9° stage of Qi Liberation, coming from a domain known for its movement techniques. He was fast, very fast.

The fight began, and Mo Xia attacked first, her sword drawing silver arcs through the air. But the opponent dodged every strike with impressive agility, moving like water flowing between stones.

She pressed forward, forcing him back, but he counterattacked with an unexpected strike. An open palm hit Mo Xia’s shoulder, and although she partially blocked it with Qi, the impact made her stumble.

Taking advantage of the opening, the opponent unleashed a sequence of rapid strikes. Mo Xia managed to block the first two, but the third struck her sword arm. The sword fell from her hand.

She still tried to fight barehanded, using palm techniques, but the difference in close combat was far too great. A well-placed blow to her chest sent her flying out of the arena.

Mo Xia fell to her knees outside the arena, biting her lip. She struck the ground with her fist, frustrated, but there were no tears. Only anger. Anger at herself.

Long Xue was next.

Her fight was more balanced. She faced a girl at the 9° stage of Qi Liberation, a specialist in ice techniques. The two exchanged blows for nearly five minutes, a beautiful clash to watch. Blades of ice against blades of wind. The entire stage became covered in a thin layer of ice and deep cuts in the wood.

But in the end, Long Xue’s opponent managed to trap her in a formation of ice, pinning her feet to the ground. A precise strike to the abdomen, and Long Xue fell, unable to continue.

Long Xue was supported by disciples of the Ancient Forest as she left the arena. Her face was pale, but she kept her head high. At least she had fought well.

Wu Jian stepped up next.

He was stronger than the two girls, at the 9° stage of Qi Liberation, with a solid foundation. His opponent was a young man of the same level, but with inferior technique. Wu Jian dominated the first minutes of the fight, his heavy sword cutting through the air with crushing force.

But then he made a mistake.

He underestimated a counterattack and left his flank open. The opponent seized the chance and landed a spinning kick to his ribs. Wu Jian felt the bone crack. The pain made him hesitate for a second, and that second was enough for two more strikes to land on his chest and face.

He fell like a felled tree.

Wu Jian spat blood onto the arena, trying to get up, but his body did not respond. The disciples had to carry him out.

Only Shen Yu remained.

The calm-faced young man stepped into the arena with his straight sword in hand. His opponent was a warrior at the 9° stage of Qi Liberation, muscular and armed with an iron staff as thick as a man’s arm.

The signal was given.

The opponent attacked with fury, the staff whistling through the air. But Shen Yu simply moved. His steps were light, almost floating. He dodged every strike with absurd precision, as if he already knew where the staff would fall before the opponent even decided to attack.

His Qi was extremely pure. Every time he channeled energy into his sword, the blade shone with a crystalline white light, so clean it resembled flowing water.

After three minutes of evasion and precise attacks, Shen Yu found an opening. His sword cut the opponent’s staff in half as if it were rotten wood, and a palm strike to the warrior’s chest sent him flying out of the arena.

“Shen Yu wins!”

He stepped down from the arena calmly, without celebration. He simply nodded to Kyrian and Mo Tianhai, who were watching from the side.

“Good work,” said Mo Tianhai.

Shen Yu only replied,

“I did only the basics.”

By the end of the day, the sun had already set behind the distant mountains. The floating city was illuminated by spiritual lights that glowed like giant fireflies. The stands were still full, but most of the fights had already taken place.

The Leader of the Ancient Forest Sect rose at the center of the stage, his voice echoing across the entire plateau.

“Today’s battles are concluded! Those who have qualified will return tomorrow for the continuation of the final phase. Everyone, rest. The Domain Gathering is not over yet!”

The participants stood up, some exhausted, others frustrated, and a few confident. Kyrian looked at his companions. Mo Xia and Long Xue had their heads lowered. Wu Jian limped, supported by a disciple of the Ancient Forest.

“Let’s go back,” Kyrian said simply.

The group walked in silence back to the Verdant Sword Tree. The night was cool, and the stars above the floating city seemed closer than ever.

Feng Yuan and Mei Ran were already waiting for them at the entrance.

“You fought well,” said Feng Yuan.

“Tomorrow will be another day.”

Mo Xia did not respond. She went straight to her room and closed the door. Long Xue did the same.

Wu Jian was taken to his room after receiving a pill from Feng Yuan to recover from his injuries.

Only Kyrian, Mo Tianhai, and Shen Yu remained in the central hall for a few moments, sitting in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

Kyrian looked out the window. Outside, the floating city pulsed with nightlife. Cultivators celebrated their victories. Others drank to forget their defeats.

He thought about the envoys of the fourth-level forces.

“Let’s rest,” Kyrian said, standing up.

“Tomorrow things will get serious for you.”

Mo Tianhai let out a low laugh.

“Serious? I didn’t even break a sweat today.”

“Good for you,” Shen Yu replied dryly.

The three of them went up to their rooms.

The Verdant Sword Tree fell silent in slumber, while outside, the floating city continued to shine beneath the starry mantle.

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