Chapter 11: The Tournament's Call
The first light of dawn crept over Dawnriver City, bathing the grand arena in a soft golden hue. The coliseum's jade carvings gleamed under the rising sun, their intricate patterns reflecting the banners fluttering overhead—the Ji Clan's Water & Sun Dao in vibrant blue and gold, and the Hei Clan's black widow sigil with its menacing crimson eyes. The stands thrummed with cultivators, their qi signatures a chaotic blend of anticipation and ambition, their voices a low roar that filled the air. Lin Xuan stood at the arena's edge, his dark robes slightly frayed from travel, his crimson eyes scanning the crowd with a quiet intensity. Beside him, Liu Yue clutched her golden coin, her raven hair cascading like a midnight river, her moonlight eyes wide with a mix of excitement and nerves.
The Dawnriver Tournament had begun, a grand event orchestrated by the Hei Clan—a shadowy lineage bound by a demonic pact with the kingdom's dark forces. Whispers among the crowd hinted at their true intent: to lure the holder of the Scriptures of Severed Unity, a martial text said to hold secrets of immense power. Lin Xuan's jaw tightened. At the 6th Layer of Qi Gathering, he and Liu Yue had entered not just for glory, but for the Spirit Essence Crystal, spirit stones, and a chance to join the Dawnriver Sect—resources to strengthen their stand against the Hei Clan's schemes. Yet, as he breathed deeply, a faint trace of dark qi brushed his senses—spies from the Zhi Clan and Crimson Claw Sect, their sinister auras weaving into the tournament's chaotic energy.
A resonant voice cut through the noise. Elder Gao Feng, a wiry man with a stern face and a 3rd Layer Qi Transformation aura, stepped onto a raised platform, his Dawnriver Sect robes pristine. "The first round begins now—a melee of fifty cultivators! The last ten standing advance. Fight with honor!" The crowd erupted, and Lin Xuan felt a surge of adrenaline. He turned to Liu Yue, his voice low but firm. "Junior Sister, stay defensive. Use your qi blade to protect yourself, and let me handle the offense. Our Crests will guide us." She nodded, her Celestial Unity Crest—a golden coin etched with a crown, yin-yang swirls, twin phoenixes, a lotus, orbiting stars, and sword patterns—pulsing faintly. On his back, his own Crest glowed through his robes, a silent bond between them.
The melee exploded into action. Cultivators clashed with fists, swords, and qi constructs, the arena a whirlwind of dust and shouts. Lin Xuan moved with Celestial Glide, his body a blur as he dodged a fiery punch from a burly opponent. His Tooth Dagger flashed, tearing flesh with precision, while Energy Devour siphoned the man's qi, leaving him staggering. Then, a mocking laugh pierced the chaos. A Crimson Claw disciple, tall with a sneer and a 7th Layer Qi Gathering aura, circled him. "The Liu Clan's dog dares to step here?" he taunted, unleashing claw-shaped qi that scorched the ground.
Lin Xuan's crimson eyes narrowed, a flicker of anger igniting. "Courting death," he muttered, his voice steady. He sidestepped with Celestial Glide, the claw missing by inches. Drawing from the Human Emperor's Records, he unveiled Starlit Fang Strike—a qi-enhanced punch that shimmered like a falling star. Blending it with a Muay Boran elbow (Sok Ti), an alien technique from the Records, he struck the disciple's chest. The impact was thunderous, bones cracking as the man crumpled, gasping. Nearby, Liu Yue deflected attacks with a defensive technique from the Records, her qi blade slicing a foe's arm with a grace that surprised her.
As the dust settled, ten cultivators remained, Lin Xuan and Liu Yue among them. His chest heaved, but his mind raced—Zhi Clan assassins lurked in the stands, their 1st Layer Qi Transformation curse qi a sign of Hei Clan backing. The black-robed Hei Clan elders watched from above, their dark qi a suffocating presence. That night, in their modest courtyard, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged, his hidden silver-blue flame dancing as he refined a pill. The Crest on his back pulsed, guiding his practice of Starlit Fang Strike. Liu Yue approached, her raven hair glinting under the moonlight. "Senior Brother, those techniques… they feel strange yet familiar. How do you know them?" she asked, her voice soft but curious.
A pang of ache stabbed Lin Xuan's heart. Her words stirred a deep, unplaceable emotion. "I found them in the Master's Scroll," he said, avoiding her gaze. "And… you seem to know them too, unknowingly." Her moonlight eyes widened, a mix of confusion and recognition flickering. He tossed her a pill, his tone firm yet gentle. "Train harder, Junior Sister. The Hei Clan's trap is tightening." She caught it, nodding with determination, and the courtyard fell silent, save for the crackle of his flame.