Chapter 14: The Hei Clan's Shadow
The afternoon sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the arena as the fourth round—a team battle—unfolded. The crowd's energy was electric, their cheers a wave that crashed against the stone stands, where Ji Clan and Hei Clan banners fluttered in the breeze. Lin Xuan and Liu Yue faced the Crimson Claw twins, Chen Hao and Chen Wei, both at the 8th Layer Qi Gathering. Their crimson robes were streaked with claw marks, their Bloodshade Abyss Sect curses lending their qi a sinister edge. Chen Hao grinned, his teeth bared. "Liu scraps think they can win?" he taunted, his voice carrying over the roar.
Lin Xuan's crimson eyes narrowed. "Illusion Diversion!" he called, conjuring mirages that scattered the twins' focus. Celestial Glide carried him forward, dodging a claw storm that gouged the ground. Phantom Lotus Palm, blended with mixed martial arts jabs, struck Chen Wei's shoulder, the crack of bone echoing. Void Pulse Kick with Kyokushin power snapped Chen Hao's leg, sending him down with a cry. Liu Yue's shield absorbed a retaliatory strike, her qi blade wounding a twin. The crowd cheered as the twins fell, and Lin Xuan devoured their qi, nearing the 8th Layer.
From the stands, Hei Clan Elder Hei Long rose, his 7th Layer Qi Transformation aura a crushing force. "Hand over the Scriptures, boy!" he bellowed, dark qi coiling like smoke. Lin Xuan bowed mockingly. "Senior Hei courts death," he retorted. Elder Gao Feng intervened, his 3rd Layer Qi Transformation aura calming the storm. "The tournament remains neutral," he declared.
That night, the courtyard was quiet under a starlit sky, the silver-blue flame casting warm shadows as Lin Xuan refined a pill. He practiced Phantom Lotus Palm with a Muay Boran clinch, the Crest guiding him. Liu Yue approached, her raven hair glinting. "Senior Brother, your strength amazes me, but the Hei Clan scares me," she admitted, her moonlight eyes trembling. The ache in his chest deepened. "We'll face them together, Junior Sister," he said, unlocking Celestial Wrath Elbow with Muay Boran power. Her trust fueled his resolve.