Xun'er had barely approached when Han Yue's urgent whisper reached her ears.
Her eyes widened slightly—then, understanding dawned.
So that's what she's worried about.
Xun'er shook her head gently. She stepped closer, meeting Han Yue's anxious gaze with calm, steady eyes.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "I don't blame you."
Han Yue's breath caught.
Then, slowly, the tension in her shoulders released.
The two women stood side by side, lowering their voices in quiet conversation. Occasionally, their gazes would drift toward Xiao Jietian—specifically, toward his arm.
Xiao Jietian, waiting for the matches to begin, felt a mysterious chill creep up his forearm.
He glanced at the two of them, now chatting like old friends, and smiled inwardly.
At least my fish pond hasn't been bombed yet.
"Xiao Yan Zi." Xiao Jietian turned to his brother, who was practically vibrating with anticipation beside him. "How are your preparations?"
"Everything's ready." Xiao Yan's voice was low, steady. "Just waiting for the right moment."
With Yao Lao's guidance, he had prepared far more contingencies than in the original timeline. Nets within nets. Plans beneath plans.
"Good." Xiao Jietian patted his shoulder. "When the time comes, it'll be up to you. I can't directly intervene too much—but I'll provide some assistance. Crucial assistance."
He paused.
"Refining a Heavenly Flame requires effort. Only with effort comes reward."
Xiao Yan looked at his brother's smile.
An inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
Why do I feel like I'm being schemed against?
The Heavenly Flame was useless to Xiao Jietian anyway. His own flame, after using an Evolution Card, was already advancing—and he had a vague预感 that once it completed its evolution, it might surpass the limits of the Dou Qi Continent's Heavenly Flame Ranking altogether.
He had even used a Physique Card on his father.
He had originally prepared one for Xiao Yan as well.
It had failed.
The system's response: Xiao Yan already possesses a special physique. It is simply not as overtly manifested as others.
Dong——
A bell tolled through the air.
The clamour of the arena ceased instantly.
Su Qian's figure materialized in the centre of the plaza. His aged gaze swept across the assembled crowd.
"Today's competition will be slightly different." His voice carried to every corner. "Zi Yan, Xiao Jietian, and Lin Xiuya will advance directly. The remaining ten contestants will compete through lot-drawing."
He paused.
"Alternatively, any of you may challenge these three directly. Victory grants immediate advancement."
His gaze settled on the ten remaining competitors.
"…Does anyone wish to challenge?"
Silence.
Liu Qing shot Lin Xiuya a burning glance, fighting spirit flickering in his eyes. But in the end, he did not step forward.
Not yet.
The ten began drawing lots.
Zi Yan bounced over to Xiao Jietian, chewing contentedly on a pill.
"Xiao Jietian," she mumbled through her snack, "we're going to fight soon. You'd better not go easy on me!"
Nearby, Lin Xiuya immediately edged away.
Don't look at me. Don't notice me. I finally convinced Xiao Jietian to ask her to be gentle—I am NOT about to ruin this by attracting her attention.
"Alright." Xiao Jietian smiled down at the fierce little girl. "I'll fight you seriously. But you have to promise me something."
"What?"
"If you lose… you can't cry."
Zi Yan planted her hands on her hips, indignation radiating from her tiny frame. "I'm not a child! That would never happen! Just go all out and fight me properly—otherwise, if I win, you'll just make excuses!"
Her expression clearly said: I'm amazing. Acknowledge it.
Xiao Jietian suppressed a chuckle.
Magical beasts really are straightforward. No hidden agendas. Just pure, uncomplicated battle lust.
The ten contestants completed their lot-drawing.
Han Yue's opponent: the seventh-ranked contestant from the previous Strong Ranking. Also a peak Nine-Star Dou Ling.
Xiao Yan's opponent: ranked eighth. Also a peak Nine-Star Dou Ling.
"All contestants, please clear the arena."
At Su Qian's command, Xiao Jietian and the others returned to their positions.
The matches began.
First: Yan Hao versus Bai Hui.
Peak Nine-Star versus Nine-Star.
Yan Hao spent several rounds probing his opponent's rhythm. Then, having understood it completely, he hammered Bai Hui off the stage.
Decisive. Brutal. Efficient.
Xiao Yan's match.
He activated the Three Mysterious Transformations of the Heavenly Flame. His speed, augmented by Three Thousand Lightning Movement, became a blur.
One strike. Eight Extremities Disintegration.
His opponent flew off the stage.
Liu Qing's match.
Great Crushing Coffin Claw.
His opponent crashed to the ground, spitting blood.
Finally—Han Yue's turn.
"Senior Han Yue!" Xiao Jietian's voice carried across the platform. "Go for it!"
Beside him, Xun'er echoed, "Fight well!"
Han Yue glanced at them.
A beautiful smile bloomed on her face.
Their encouragement struck her like a stimulant, flooding her limbs with strength.
She had spent the entire night unable to sleep. But in that sleepless darkness, she had also pondered deeply—the technique Xiao Jietian had given her, its principles, its applications.
Now, she was ready.
She stepped onto the arena, facing her opponent.
Icy aura radiated from her body.
Lin Xiuya's brow furrowed. He sensed her cultivation level and frowned deeply.
"Senior Han Yue only broke through to Six-Star Dou Ling half a year ago," he murmured. "A few days ago, she was still Eight-Star. Now… she's at the peak of Nine-Star?"
Yan Hao, standing nearby, also fell into thought. "Could she have been concealing her strength all along?"
"Probably not." Lin Xiuya's gaze drifted—almost involuntarily—toward a certain figure on the high platform.
If I had to guess…
She's had some extraordinary fortune recently.
A very, very significant fortune.
The corner of his mouth curved with certainty.
Yan Hao, whose mental agility was… somewhat inferior to Lin Xiuya's, could only scratch his head in confusion.
On the arena, Han Yue and her opponent had already exchanged several rounds.
Both were ice-attribute cultivators. The battlefield had transformed into a frozen wasteland—thick frost coating the ground, massive ice pillars rising like ancient trees.
"Frost Moon Slash!"
"Ice Scar!"
BOOM—
The techniques collided. Ice shards erupted into the air, glittering like a storm of diamonds. For a moment, the entire arena became a world of falling snow.
Han Yue's breathing was steady. But she knew—prolonging this battle would not favour her.
Time to end it.
"Cold Starfall!"
High above, a massive ice sphere materialized—five metres in diameter. It plummeted toward her opponent like a falling meteor.
Xie Ming's eyes widened. He poured every ounce of his Dou Qi into defence.
"Ice Spirit Shield!"
A colossal shield of ice formed above him. The freezing aura of the battlefield itself seemed to flow into it, reinforcing, thickening.
The audience gasped.
"Is that… an Earth-ranked Dou Technique?!"
"The pressure from that thing—if it hit me, I'd only get to make one sound! If I made a second, I'd consider myself the victor!"