The sun had set, and the moon was slowly rising over the glittering capital. Lanterns illuminated the bustling streets, their warm glow dancing across shopfronts and carriages. The aroma of roasted meats and spices lingered in the air as nobles, cultivators, and merchants filled the roads, all abuzz with excitement for the grand day that awaited them.

Inside the Royal Restaurant, a few disciples of the Sanatan Flame Sect sat together, eating quietly after a long day of preparation. Most of their companions had already returned to the Royal Hotel, choosing to rest for the finals. The restaurant's carved wooden beams and silken drapes gave it an elegant, festive air, though tension hummed beneath the surface.

At the central table sat Shaurya, surrounded by his elders. Only Elder Feng Yu and Elder Wu were absent.

Shaurya leaned back slightly, glancing at the empty seats before tilting his head. "Where are Elder Wu and Feng Yu?" he asked, his tone calm but edged with curiosity.

Elder Wan, halfway through a bowl of steaming vegetarian chow mein, chewed thoughtfully before replying, "They both are guiding Xiao Rui and the others who will participate in tomorrow's finals."

Across the table, Lin Shu, her chopsticks poised above a bowl of rice, placed it gently back on the lacquered surface. Her eyes were steady, her voice soft yet weighty. "Well… tomorrow is a very big day."

Shaurya nodded once, his expression firm. "Indeed. It's not only just the finals… it's a personal battle. Xiao Rui versus Zheng Han."

Elder Liya, sipping tea, let out a long sigh, the steam fogging her lenses slightly. "Killing is against the rules of the tournament. Otherwise, I would want Xiao Rui to kill Zheng Han outright. After all… he tortured him too much."

Shaurya's lips curved into a laugh, rich and sharp. "Humiliation is worse than killing… I can't wait." His eyes glimmered with anticipation, the weight of unspoken vengeance hanging thick in the air.

Meanwhile, not far from the capital, deep within the moonlit forest, training roars echoed between the trees. There, Xiao Rui, Wang Tian, Luo Chen, Xiao Lian, and Cheng Fang stood in formation, their bodies drenched in sweat, their breaths ragged but determined.

Before them, standing calmly with composed poise, were Elder Wu and Elder Feng Yu.

Both elders stepped forward, their presences commanding. Elder Wu's voice cut through the night air. "So… we have to make a full strategy. We can't let the Sect Master down."

Elder Feng Yu's sharp gaze fell upon the Xiao siblings. "Xiao Rui, Xiao Lian… don't hold back. Just don't kill. Instead, make sure to humiliate your opponents and torture them to the point of begging for death. Like Sect Master once said—torture your opponent to the end, where he craves death but cannot have it."

The disciples nodded solemnly, their jaws tight with resolve.

Elder Feng Yu then stepped forward. His expression remained calm, his movements deliberate. "See this carefully. I will only demonstrate it once."

He gripped the hilt of his sword with his right hand, his left resting upon the scabbard. Straightening his posture, he widened his stance slightly. A massive boulder stood before him, looming nearly twenty feet tall.

A hush fell over the disciples as the air around Feng Yu began to shift—the wind itself bending, swirling unnaturally around him.

Then his roar split the night.

"Quick Draw: Aerial Slash!"

In a single, fluid motion, his blade was drawn. A brilliant arc of blue aura exploded outward, tearing through the air. The slash struck the boulder, and with a thunderous crack, the massive stone split cleanly in two—cut in a perfect upward arc. The motion was neither excessive nor restrained—pure control, flawless precision.

Gasps erupted from the disciples as their jaws fell open.

Elder Feng Yu calmly sheathed his sword and turned. "I hope you all saw that clearly."

Shocked nods followed.

He handed them a worn but powerful manual. "This is the technique: Quick Draw: Aerial Slash. You must concentrate your energy, channel your sword qi, and in a single motion… draw and strike. Your concentration, and the amount of power you pour in, will determine its strength. If done properly, you won't need to kill—but you can cripple your opponent badly. Very badly."

Without hesitation, Xiao Rui opened the manual, his eyes burning with determination. Drawing his blade, he began to practice the stance. The others quickly followed, each pouring their focus into training.

On the other side, Luo Chen approached Elder Wu, who began guiding him personally.

But Elder Feng Yu placed a hand upon Xiao Lian's shoulder, stopping her. "You're still a child. You can't use this technique with full concentration."

She looked up, blinking in confusion. "Then what should I do, Elder?"

Elder Feng Yu's eyes softened, but his voice remained firm. "Come with me."

They stepped slightly away from the others. Feng Yu shifted his stance, sliding his left foot back, bending forward. "This technique is better suited for you. It's called Thunder Slash — Lightning Speed."

Xiao Lian's eyes widened as sparks of lightning began to crackle around Feng Yu's body.

He gripped his hilt, entering a quick-draw stance. His eyes snapped open with a sharp inhale. With an explosive exhale, he dashed forward, his body sheathed in golden lightning.

In a blur, his blade unsheathed in a clean arc. Sparks split the night, and the ground itself seemed to quake.

Suddenly, near a large tree, blood rippled in mid-air.

A man in black robes—his presence completely hidden—was revealed in that instant. His lifeless body collapsed, the head severed cleanly, falling to the earth.

Xiao Lian staggered back, her jaw dropping in shock.

Feng Yu sheathed his blade once more, his face unreadable. "Did you see the technique properly?"

Still trembling, she nodded. "Y-Yes… Elder. But… who was that man?"

In the blink of an eye, Elder Feng Yu appeared beside her, his tone sharp and commanding. "Forget about him."

Startled, Xiao Lian stumbled backward, falling to the ground. As Feng Yu walked away, he tossed her a manual. "Practice well. And… forgive me for scaring you."

At that moment, Elder Wu arrived with Luo Chen, his face dark with suspicion. "I felt something strange… as if someone was monitoring us."

Elder Feng Yu pointed his thumb casually toward the corpse behind the tree. "Yeah. He's already dead."

Both Wu and Luo Chen turned, eyes widening at the sight.

Wu thought silently, awe filling his chest. Whoa… Elder Feng Yu is amazing. His skills… even I couldn't sense the enemy. If he hadn't killed him, I fear I still wouldn't have detected his presence.

Then, turning to Luo Chen, Wu barked, "Train harder."

Luo Chen nodded, though his eyes couldn't help but flick toward Feng Yu with newfound respect before he returned to practice.

Midnight came. The disciples eventually returned to their rooms for rest.

High above, on the rooftop of the Royal Hotel, Shaurya stood with his arms crossed, gazing at the night sky. A sly smile tugged at his lips.

"Spying on us, Jade Phoenix Sect? Dream on."

In a blur of motion, his figure vanished.

Silence hung for two minutes.

Then, suddenly, Shaurya reappeared—this time drenched in crimson blood. But it wasn't his.

All forty spies from Jade Phoenix Sect lay slain. Each had been highly trained in stealth, equipped with stealth robes capable of rendering them nearly invisible unless they moved. Yet Shaurya had killed them all—in just two minutes.

He looked down at himself, his robe dripping with gore. With a snap of his fingers, his body glowed, and in an instant, his robes were spotless—clean, as if untouched by blood.

He laughed to himself. "Of course… because I changed the robe, you lazy author. Hahahaha!"

[Author: Do you want me to tell Lin Shu that you were the one who stole her favorite cookies yesterday? And that you spilled tea on her food when you snuck into the kitchen for sweets last week?]

Shaurya froze, his face paling instantly. He quickly adjusted his tone, forcing a flattering smile toward the heavens. "Author, my dear, lovely Author… you got offended? Forget what I said. Heh… forgive me."

And thus, the sweet bickering between the mighty Author and Shaurya continued into the night.

Elsewhere, in another branch of the Royal Hotel, a storm brewed.

Liu Xiang slammed his palm onto a wooden table, splintering it into pieces. His eyes blazed with fury. "What the hell did you just say?!"

A black-robed figure knelt before him, trembling violently. "W-We lost connection with all the spies sent to monitor the Sanatan Flame Sect…"

Liu Xiang's roar shook the chamber. His rage blasted outward, sending the man crashing against the wall with brutal force.

"Sanatan Flame Sect… just wait. Tomorrow, I will humiliate you in front of the whole kingdom!"

Meanwhile, within his chamber at the Royal Hotel, Zheng Han sat by a window, the moonlight glinting off his sharp features. A teacup rested in his hand, steam rising in delicate curls. He took a slow sip, then exhaled deeply.

His voice was low, venom laced between each word. "Xiao Rui, Xiao Lian… you've become a little stronger and arrogant after joining that pathetic sect. No matter. Tomorrow… I will crush you."

His hand clenched tightly, shattering the porcelain cup into shards.

Time passed swiftly.

The dawn of the Grand Day arrived. The sun crept over the horizon, gilding the capital in golden light. The city bustled more than usual, the streets crowded as if for a festival.

The coliseum filled quickly—every seat taken, the atmosphere electric. Some spectators even stood atop rooftops, unwilling to miss a single moment of the clash.

Projection formations had been set up across the kingdom. In distant cities, towns, and villages, citizens gathered in the streets to watch the grand final. For one day, the entire realm stood united in anticipation.

This was not just a tournament final—it was a clash for supremacy. A battle between the two strongest sects of the kingdom. Whoever triumphed today would be crowned number one.

High above, in the royal chambers, King Tian Long entered with Li Dong, both settling into their seats. The king's booming laughter filled the chamber. "What a great day! I am super excited for today's match!"

Li Dong allowed himself a small smile. "I admit… even I am curious."

In the VIP room of the Sanatan Flame Sect, the gates opened. Shaurya, Lin Shu, and the elders entered, with the disciples—Xiao Rui, Xiao Lian, Cheng Fang, Wang Tian, and Luo Chen—following.

Shaurya and Lin Shu took their thrones, the elders seated at their sides. The disciples leaned against the railing, eyes burning with anticipation.

Shaurya inhaled deeply, his gaze firm as his voice carried across the room. "Finally… the finals of the Grand Sect-Clan Tournament. The day you've all been training for, for nearly a year. Do not let your efforts go in vain. You must win."

Wang Tian grinned confidently. "Don't worry, Master. Leave everything to us."

The others nodded firmly, their spirits unshakable. The elders exchanged proud smiles at their determination.

Then, the referee descended into the arena, holding a glowing formation stone. His voice boomed with infectious energy.

"Yo, yo, yo! Welcome to the day we've all been waiting for! The Final Battle—the last day of the Grand Sect-Clan Tournament! Are you all excited?!"

The coliseum erupted into thunderous cheers, the sound shaking the stadium to its very foundations. Across the kingdom, crowds roared in unison.

The referee grinned, raising his hand. "Then let's not delay any further—because even I can't wait! Please welcome our participants: Jade Phoenix Sect versus Sanatan Flame Sect!"

The audience's roar intensified, banners whipping in the morning breeze.

In the VIP room, Xiao Rui turned, glancing at his master.

Shaurya raised his hand in blessing. "Your master's blessings are with you. Go… and show Zheng Han your wrath."

Wang Tian clasped Rui's shoulder firmly. "Yes, Xiao Rui. Show that bastard his true place."

Luo Chen clapped his other shoulder with a grin. "Yeah. Shine, Xiao Rui. Who knows—maybe you'll even capture some beauty's heart."

Xiao Rui chuckled lightly, then closed his eyes. Inhaling deeply, he exhaled slowly. When he opened them, his gaze was sharpened with deadly determination and fury.

He leapt from the VIP room, descending onto the battlefield with a heroic entry—landing in a crouch, fist pressed against the cracked stone floor.

Across from him, Zheng Han flipped elegantly, landing on the battlefield. Stretching his neck, his sword resting casually on his back, he gripped its hilt with one hand. A devilish smirk spread across his lips.

"How are you, my slave?"

Xiao Rui's gaze was cold, his hand gripping his sword at his waist, stance poised. "I will take revenge for everything you did to me and my sister, you bastard."

Their eyes locked—Zheng Han's devilish grin against Xiao Rui's cold, deadly stare.

The audience erupted, the atmosphere crackling with tension.

Hovering above, the referee raised his hand high. "Let the Final Battle… Round One… BEGIN!"

His hand dropped.

Blue aura exploded from Xiao Rui, green aura flared from Zheng Han. Both stood gripping their hilts, swords poised to strike.

The final battle had begun.

Would Xiao Rui finally take his revenge?

Stay with us to know.

To be continued…...

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