The arena lights buzzed with expectation as Linfei faced his next opponent—a fierce challenger known for his relentless dagger strikes and swift footwork. The crowd's murmurs buzzed through the stands, eager to see if Linfei's debut victory was a fluke or the start of a rising star.
As the battle commenced, Linfei shifted into the rhythm of the Swift Serpent Steps, his movements fluid and unpredictable. His feet seemed to barely touch the ground, gliding and pivoting as he dodged the dagger flurry aimed at his torso. Each evasion was precise—a weaving dance between life and death.
Using the synergy of his Iron Fist Boxing and agile footwork, Linfei pressed forward. His fists, solid and sharp, struck where the opponent's defence wavered—at joints and pressure points. A sharp palm crushed the dagger wielder's wrist, forcing a stagger, followed by a spinning back kick that sent the foe sprawling onto the sandy arena floor.
But the battle was far from simple. The twin-dagger cultivator countered by summoning bursts of Qi to enhance his speed, their blades flashing like lightning. Linfei was forced onto the defensive, bending and twisting, testing the limits of his stamina and mastery over the technique.
With sweat streaming down his brow, Linfei recalled every moment of training—each step of the Swift Serpent Steps and every calloused punch from Iron Fist Boxing. He began to blend the two styles more ever fluidly, his body adjusting with increasing ease. This battle not only tested his skill—it deepened his proficiency, embedding the martial arts deeper into his form.
Finally, seizing an opening as his opponent overextended in an ambitious strike, Linfei unleashed a lightning-fast palm strike to the chest followed by a devastating elbow to the side of the head. His foe crumpled, unconscious, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Escorting his opponent away, Linfei retreated to the Pavilion's rest hall. There, under the quiet glow of spirit lanterns, he consumed the rewards earned: a batch of rare pills. The atmosphere around him thickened with healing Qi as the medicine soothed his muscles and accelerated his internal Qi circulation.
A strange sensation stirred within—a loosening and expansion of his cultivation foundation. Linfei's dantian radiated warmth and density, signalling the beginnings of another breakthrough. His path forward was clear, but he knew the next steps would demand even greater resolve.