Chapter 83: A World of Plum Blossoms

As the two ascended the stage, the betting ceased. A few inner disciples mingled among the many outer disciples, all crowding around the arena below. The air was thick with noise and excitement. If one were to ask when the sect was at its liveliest, it would undoubtedly be now.

"Come on, Quan Ruixin!"

"Go, Quan Ruixin!..."

"Go, Tianming."

...

"Quan Ruixin!"

Most in the crowd seemed to favor Quan Ruixin over Tianming, likely because Tianming was only at the tenth rank of Foundation Establishment, and rarely showcased his strength within the sect. Such doubts were not surprising, but Tianming cared little for these fleeting opinions.

He was content, for at least one true friend was cheering him on. Tianming smiled and nodded toward Hengcheng below, then withdrew his gaze and focused on Quan Ruixin atop the stage.

At this moment, Quan Ruixin had not drawn a weapon, but stood calmly, looking at Tianming as if pondering something.

"Make your move, or you won't have a chance," Tianming said coolly.

He could have ended the match with a single blow, but that seemed dull—like he was pretending weakness or bullying. At the very least, he wanted his opponent to display some skill; it would save face for both.

"Are you still hiding your strength?" Quan Ruixin did not attack, but stared intently at Tianming, his voice low.

Has he seen through me?

At his words, Tianming frowned in surprise. If Quan Ruixin knew his true power, why challenge him, or wager against him? Was it for reputation, or to profit from Tianming? Perhaps both.

Tianming chuckled, "Quan Ruixin, you have quite the business mind!"

"What do you mean?" Quan Ruixin asked, puzzled.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter if you don't understand. Since you won't strike, don't blame me for not giving you a chance," Tianming said, shaking his head.

He appreciated Quan Ruixin's shrewdness, but had no choice but to fight—for the ownership of ten thousand spirit stones.

"Please!"

Quan Ruixin remained stationary, raising his right hand. If he knew what Tianming was thinking, he would surely spit blood in frustration—his imagination was simply too wild.

"Hey, are you two going to fight or not? Are you treating us like monkeys? If not, get off the stage!" a hot-tempered young man shouted.

Hmm?

"Seems someone is more impatient than us," Tianming remarked with a smile. He glanced down, signaling his displeasure to Hengcheng, then refocused on Quan Ruixin. A mere fourth-rank Foundation Establishment youth was of no concern to him, and Quan Ruixin appeared to ignore the interruption as well.

Plum Blossom Flash!

Tianming became a flurry of plum blossom-shaped afterimages, unexpectedly launching his attack at Quan Ruixin. To the casual observer, it looked like a cascade of pale pink petals falling from a plum tree—especially without the enhancement of his Lightning Sword.

"I think you're the impatient one," Quan Ruixin sneered, meeting Tianming's assault by channeling fierce energy with both hands.

Below, Hengcheng, catching Tianming's glance, nodded and approached the brash youth. "So eager to fight? Let me spar with you."

"Mercy, mercy, I concede... I concede!" The youth instantly recognized the inner disciple garb—meaning Hengcheng was at least of the Spirit Void realm, far beyond his reach.

"What? What did you say? I didn't hear you!" With that, Hengcheng grabbed the youth like an eagle snatching a chick and tossed him onto another arena.

"You—"

Before he could finish, Hengcheng's fist, as large as a sandbag, filled his vision.

Bang!

Before the youth could react, Hengcheng's punch, suffused with the energy of heaven and earth, sent him sprawling. Cowed by defeat, the youth slunk away, silent.

...

A gasp! Such ferocity.

Witnessing the youth's fate, the outer disciples who were about to speak fell silent, their restlessness vanishing. They never imagined an inner disciple could be so domineering.

Bang! Bang!

Quan Ruixin advanced swiftly, energy blasting from his hands to both sides, attempting to cut off Tianming's attack route.

"Trying to block my assault?" Tianming mused, retreating in a blur of plum blossom shadows. Quan Ruixin, a veteran tenth-rank Foundation Establishment, possessed much deeper energy reserves.

Yet,

Tianming's mastery of Plum Blossom Flash was superb, darting skillfully between illusion and reality. Luckily, the arena was spacious; otherwise, evading Quan Ruixin's pursuit would have been much harder.

"Let's see where you run," Quan Ruixin sneered, concentrating his energy into a claw. The effect resembled Tianming's footwork, but with dazzling light energy wrapped around vibrant plum petals, forming a massive claw mark that swept forward, spanning several dozen feet.

Majestic!

Energy from all directions trembled violently, ripples of power surging forth with the luminous claw imprint.

Under the weight of this enormous claw, Tianming's expression grew serious. Truly a force to be reckoned with, a prodigy from the rankings—had he not recently learned several new techniques, he might not have lasted even a few exchanges.

Dust and stones swirled as Quan Ruixin's claw, imbued with immense energy, pressed down upon Tianming's position. The energy was so vast that its speed was not particularly fast. Still, in the confines of the arena, escape was nearly impossible, and Tianming had no intention of fleeing.

Such power could only be countered with a Heaven-rank technique!

Though his Heaven-rank skill was sword-based, Tianming understood the principle: one plus one equals two.

"Heaven-rank technique? Watch me break it with an Earth-rank skill!"

With that, Tianming raised his right hand, thick energy drawing upon the power of heaven and earth, gathering at his fingertips.

One Finger Gathered!

The colorless energy swirled around Tianming, amplified by the continuous use of Plum Blossom Flash, weaving real and illusory movements that confounded the eye.

Two Fingers Break the Spell!

At this moment, Tianming resembled a spear piercing the sky, plum blossoms scattering as if all creation paled in comparison.

In a flash, his attack shot toward the luminous claw at a cunning angle. However, Quan Ruixin seemed unfazed, standing still, ignoring the noise below and Tianming's coming strike, instead channeling energy to swell the massive claw above his head.

"Plum Blossom Radiant Claw and Plum Blossom Dominant Finger?"

Below, a sharp-eyed spectator quickly recognized the techniques used by Quan Ruixin and Tianming.

"...Heaven-rank technique, Earth-rank technique!"

"Terrifying—clashing with Heaven and Earth-rank skills right from the start!"

"Is this truly the Foundation Establishment stage?"

...

The outer disciples, most at lower Foundation ranks, gaped in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them.

How could this be?

Even Hengcheng was startled, though he hadn't asked Tianming which technique he chose—he had stolen a glance and committed it to memory.

He never imagined Tianming would master the technique just by copying it. Such talent was rare across the continent. At that moment, Hengcheng's admiration for Tianming surged like a river, endless and profound.

Of course, if Tianming heard this, he would surely laugh heartily...

"Plum Blossom Flash, Plum Blossom Dominant Finger? How... how could he learn it so quickly!" In a distant corner, a sweet, youthful voice mingled with the crowd's cries.

Had one approached, they would find a slender figure draped in a black cloak, sitting leisurely on a square stool, sipping tea while watching the stage intently. As Tianming unleashed his technique, she spat out her mouthful of tea.

Beneath the cloak, a lovely, adorable face flashed briefly into view—her expression shifting between astonishment and something more subtle, with a hint of admiration at her pursed lips.