The arena was different for the semifinals.
The formation barriers had been reinforced with three additional layers. The judges' pavilion had been expanded to accommodate visiting elders from allied sects. The stands were not just full, they were overflowing, with disciples standing in the aisles and sitting on the railings and perching on rooftops beyond the arena walls for a glimpse of the platform below.
Zhao Lingxi's opponent was a disciple named Chen Yulong.
Lan Yue had spent the previous night studying everything Bai Xuelan had compiled on him. Third year inner sect. Dual wind and lightning root. Fast, aggressive, and genuinely talented in a way that had nothing to do with pills or politics. He had earned his semifinal spot through clean victories and honest cultivation, and he fought with the joyful ferocity of someone who loved combat the way Tang Xiaoli loved alchemy.
He was not a weapon. He was not a puppet. He was simply good.
