With the spiritual pressure trial complete, the atmosphere within the Sect Grounds grew tense. A giant platform had already been set in the center of the arena, carved with ancient runes that glowed with faint light. Around the edge, disciples gathered with excitement.
This was the part everyone waited for—the dueling stage.
The elder in charge stepped forward once again, his voice echoing through the field. "The second stage of the Sect Exchange Trial begins now—Combat Assessment! All qualified participants will now battle to demonstrate their true strength. These duels will determine rankings and potential recommendations to various sects."
"The rules are simple: No killing. No outside interference. If one party concedes or is thrown off the platform, the match ends. Grave injury is permitted—this is cultivation, not charity!"
Cheers broke out. Sect members from larger clans and powerful organizations smirked confidently. They'd been waiting for this.
Sun Xiyan stood near the Thunderclap Sect group, a sneer plastered across his face. "It's time," he muttered.
Beside him, his elder advisor looked uneasy. "Don't underestimate him. Su Yang is calm and precise."
"I know, but he's Bone Tempering Realm at best. I'm already mid-stage Vein Tempering. There's no way I can lose."
"Just don't overdo it. Make it look clean. We can't afford too much attention."
Meanwhile, Su Yang stood quietly near Jin Hao, arms crossed. His robes fluttered softly with the breeze.
Jin Hao elbowed him. "Bro, that Sun Xiyan has been staring daggers at you the whole time. I think he's going to try something."
"I know," Su Yang replied calmly. "His spiritual pressure during the trial was clearly suppressed. He's hiding his true realm."
"You saw through that?"
"Of course. He's in the Vein Tempering Realm. But his aura is unstable. That means he's either recently advanced or relying too much on external aids."
Jin Hao blinked. "That's crazy. You can tell that from one look?"
Su Yang smiled faintly. "Let's just say... I've learned how to read danger."
At that moment, the elder in charge called out names for the first few duels. Young disciples began to ascend the platform and fight fiercely.
Some duels ended in seconds. Others were brutal, dragging on until one fighter was barely conscious. But none drew more attention than what came next.
The elder's voice rang out again:
"Next match — Sun Xiyan of Thunderclap Sect versus Su Yang of Lu City!"
Chapter: Flames and Frost - Su Yang vs. Sun Xiyan
The atmosphere inside the sect's combat arena was heavy, charged with tension. Dozens of disciples and elders filled the stands, their eyes fixed on the circular platform at the center where the most awaited duel of the Sect Exchange Trial was about to begin.
Su Yang stood calmly at one end of the stage, his expression neutral but eyes sharp. He wore his simple black robes, sleeves fluttering in the wind. Across from him stood Sun Xiyan, dressed in elegant green robes marked with the emblem of the Green Abyss Sect. His aura was overwhelming for most Bone Tempering realm cultivators. He was at the Vein Tempering (Peak) realm—a full realm ahead of Su Yang.
But Su Yang wasn't nervous. He had seen Sun Xiyan's fight style. Arrogant. Straightforward. Brutal. A classic case of someone with too much power and not enough tempering.
The judge signaled the start. "Begin!"
Sun Xiyan wasted no time. He stomped forward, leaving cracked tiles behind. "You dared humiliate me in front of everyone with that pet of yours! I'll break your limbs and feed it to you!"
He shot forward, palm glowing with green wind elemental energy, and thrust it at Su Yang's chest.
Su Yang's eyes narrowed.
He's fast. But not faster than Max.
Su Yang sidestepped gracefully, his body sliding like a stream of water, barely missing the strike. He countered with a precise palm strike aimed at Sun Xiyan's exposed ribs.
Bang!
Sun Xiyan grunted as the strike landed, making him stumble. Shock spread across the crowd.
"He landed a hit? But Su Yang's only at Bone Tempering!"
"Did he just read that opening in Sun Xiyan's defense so easily?"
In the stands, a young girl from the Cloud Mist Pavilion leaned forward. Her silver eyes sparkled with interest.
"Interesting. He uses analysis rather than brute force."
Sun Xiyan roared in anger. "You got lucky!" His body flickered with speed as he unleashed a barrage of fists.
Su Yang was like a leaf in the wind. His footwork—learned from countless hours of analyzing spirit beast movement and flow—allowed him to dance around each strike. He only counterattacked when necessary, conserving his strength.
But Su Yang knew he couldn't win a prolonged battle. His opponent had more spirit energy and a stronger body.
"I have to end this quickly."
With a flick of his fingers, fire erupted around Su Yang's arms. Golden flames wrapped around his fists—the Heavenly True Fire Art.
Sun Xiyan blinked. "Fire elemental? You're desperate."
He raised his hands and formed a green wind shield around himself.
"Let's see how strong your little flame is!"
Su Yang didn't answer. He dashed forward and punched the wind shield. The flames surged.
To everyone's shock, the green wind started to melt away. Su Yang's golden flame was burning with the essence of laws—the same essence he had used to temper Lu Ying's body. It wasn't ordinary.
Crack!
The wind shield shattered, and Su Yang's flame-laced punch landed square on Sun Xiyan's shoulder, sending him skidding across the arena.
Sun Xiyan's eyes went bloodshot. He pushed himself up and screamed, "Enough! Let me show you real power!"
He activated his hidden technique—Vein Serpent Flow. Green serpent tattoos slithered across his arms as his speed and strength doubled.
Su Yang's expression hardened. The real fight was beginning.
The moment Sun Xiyan moved, he vanished from sight.
Boom!
Su Yang blocked just in time, his bones groaning from the force.
He's fast now. Too fast.
Sun Xiyan spun around and kicked Su Yang in the back. Su Yang rolled across the arena, golden flames cushioning his fall.
Coughing, he stood again. Blood dripped from his lip.
"Still standing?" Sun Xiyan mocked.
But Su Yang wasn't done. He activated the Karma Fire Body.
A red-gold aura flared around him, fusing with his True Fire.
The temperature in the arena spiked. Disciples in the crowd started sweating.
"What is that heat?!"
"That's not normal fire!"
Even Sun Xiyan looked uncertain now.
Su Yang's fire condensed into a spear in his hand. He narrowed his eyes. "I won't lose to someone like you."
With a surge, he hurled the fire spear.
Sun Xiyan summoned a barrier, but the spear exploded on impact, tearing through his defenses.
The explosion threw Sun Xiyan back again, singed and gasping. His robes were tattered, and his energy was draining.
Before he could recover, Su Yang appeared in front of him, his fist glowing.
"This is for Max."
BANG!
A final punch landed square in Sun Xiyan's gut, and the elder's prodigy collapsed.
Silence.
Then, the judge raised his hand. "Winner: Su Yang!"
The crowd erupted.
Jin Hao jumped up and shouted, "THAT'S MY BROTHER!"
In the elder stands, Sun Xiyan's elder gritted his teeth.