Chapter 12: The Crimson Claw's Ambush
The arena shifted for the second round, its stone floor marked with dueling circles under the midday sun. The crowd's anticipation was a living pulse as Elder Gao Feng announced the one-on-one duels. Lin Xuan stepped into the ring, facing Wei Tao, a Crimson Claw prodigy with a lean frame, sharp features, and a 9th Layer Qi Gathering aura. His claws gleamed with a reddish hue, a mark of Bloodshade Abyss Sect influence. "A Liu runt dares challenge me?" Wei Tao sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "Your clan's days are numbered."
Lin Xuan's fists clenched, but he kept his composure. "We'll see who falls first," he replied coldly. The duel began with a roar. Wei Tao unleashed a claw storm, qi tigers lunging with feral intensity. Lin Xuan activated Celestial Glide, his body weaving through the onslaught like a phantom. Tooth Dagger flashed, slicing Wei Tao's shoulder, drawing a hiss of pain. Energy Devour drained the qi tiger, weakening its form. Then, drawing from the Human Emperor's Records, Lin Xuan combined Starlit Fang Strike with a Muay Boran knee (Kao Tone) and a Kyokushin front kick (Mae Geri). The punch lit the air with starlight, the knee shattered Wei Tao's guard, and the kick sent him sprawling, defeated. The crowd gasped, and Liu Yue, having won her duel with defensive Records techniques, rushed to his side, her raven hair a blur of pride.
Lin Xuan felt a surge as he devoured Wei Tao's residual qi, his cultivation inching toward the 7th Layer. From the stands, Hei Clan elders watched, their dark qi thickening the air. That night, the alley near their courtyard turned into a battlefield. Five Crimson Claw cultivators, led by Elder Zhao Kun—a broad man with a scarred face and a 1st Layer Qi Transformation aura—cornered them. "Hand over the Scriptures, or die," Zhao Kun growled, his voice laced with curse-infused menace. Lin Xuan's heart raced, but he stood firm. "Illusion Diversion!" he shouted, conjuring mirages to confuse the foes. Celestial Glide dodged a qi blade, and Starlit Fang Strike with a Muay Boran elbow (Sok Ti) struck Zhao Kun's chest, drawing blood. Tooth Dagger felled two lesser cultivators, while Liu Yue's shield and qi blade held the line. Zhao Kun fled, cursing, as Lin Xuan broke through to the 7th Layer.
Back in the courtyard, Lin Xuan sat by the silver-blue flame, refining a pill. The Crest guided him as he practiced Void Pulse Kick—a qi-enhanced kick from the Records, blended with Kyokushin Karate's explosive power. Liu Yue approached, her moonlight eyes shining. "Senior Brother, you were incredible! We're stronger together." Her words warmed him, yet that familiar ache gnawed at his chest. "Train harder," he urged, tossing her a pill. "The Hei Clan won't stop." She nodded, her resolve mirroring his own.