Chapter 211: Blue Wind Imperial Family vs Burning Heaven Clan (IV)

Yun Che stood his ground, unfazed, his arms crossed casually as Fen Juebi fumed before him. His mocking smirk deepened as he tilted his head. "So, anymore tricks I should know about?" 

Fen Juebi's eyes twitched in disbelief, his hands trembling with a mix of exhaustion and fury. This man—this freak—had dismantled his clones with what seemed like casual ease, turning his proud technique into a spectacle for mockery. "You… you cheated!" he finally snarled. 

"Hey, the pot calling the kettle black," Yun Che shot back with a smug grin. "Accuse yourself much?" He paused for effect, then dropped the bombshell with a word that meant nothing to Fen Juebi but everything to his escalating frustration. "You know, steroids are prohibited in tournaments, right?" 

Fen Juebi's confusion was evident as his eyes narrowed. "What kind of blasphemy are you talking about?!" 

"Oh, you don't know what steroids meant." Yun Che's expression shifted into one of exaggerated pity, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Those little red pills of yours? Yeah, they're going to cost you your cultivation. You're burning through yourself faster than you realize." 

For the first time, Fen Juebi faltered. His pupils contracted ever so slightly, betraying the sting of Yun Che's words. He recovered quickly, shouting in denial, "Lies! Shut up!" 

Yun Che stepped back a few paces, waving his hand dismissively. "Cheat or not, I couldn't care less. I'm just here for the fun. So, come on—show me what you've got." 

With a roar of fury, Fen Juebi ignited his profound energy. Scarlet flames erupted around him, their heat distorting the air as they swirled into his Demon Flame Blade. The weapon's fiery glow bathed the arena in an ominous red, reflecting off the profound energy barrier as the temperature spiked dramatically. 

In a single, furious motion, Fen Juebi swung his blade, channeling all his energy into the attack. The flames spiraled outward, forming a massive, roaring tornado of fire. It surged forward like a ravenous beast, its deadly fangs aiming straight for Yun Che, seeking to consume him whole. 

Yun Che's smirk widened as flames ignited around his leg in a burst of orange brilliance. His Diable Jamble technique roared to life, casting dancing shadows across the arena. "Oh? Flames, huh? Two can play that game," he muttered, his tone dripping with nonchalance. Without hesitation, and to the shock of the audience, Yun Che charged straight into the tornado of fire. 

Instead of dodging, he coated his leg with Haki, its dark sheen absorbing the fire's blinding light. As the flaming tornado loomed over him, he planted his foot firmly and delivered an earth-shattering kick upward, scattering the inferno skyward. 

A collective gasp swept through the arena. 

"Did he just kick a fire tornado… into the air?!" someone in the audience stammered in disbelief, their voice cutting through the stunned silence. 

BOOM! 

The tornado exploded spectacularly above the arena, the flames extinguished mid-air as if extinguished by sheer force of will. A fierce windstorm swept through the arena from the aftershock, causing spectators to shield their faces. Yet, Yun Che stood tall, unmoved, his smirk still intact. 

Fen Juebi's expression twisted into one of shock and fury. His grip on the Demon Flame Blade tightened as he muttered in disbelief, "He… diverted an attack containing sixty percent of my strength like it was nothing…" 

"Fireworks!" Nezuko's cheerful voice broke through the tension, her innocent giggle contrasting with the gravity of the moment. 

Fen Juebi's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits as he leveled his blade toward Yun Che. His posture straightened, radiating pride and menace in equal measure. "What you saw was only an introduction," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Now, I'll show you the true power of our Burning Heaven Clan's Burning Heaven Fire! Believe me, it's something you'll remember for a lifetime." 

Yun Che yawned, his hands slipping casually into his pockets, his flaming leg still ablaze. The fire seemed to ignore him entirely, a testament to his overwhelming resilience. "Dude," Yun Che said, his tone half amused, half exasperated, "I've already seen your Burning Heaven Blasts, Fireballs, Tornados, and Mirages. At this point? You're not even close to surprising me." 

"Courting Death!" Fen Juebi shouted as fire ignited once more on his body and the Demon Flame Blade. Bringing along a strand of fiery silhouettes, he immediately attacked Yun Che. Before he was even fifteen meters away from Yun Che, the flames on his body suddenly changed from scarlet to blue.

Yun Che raised an eyebrow as Fen Juebi's flames transitioned from scarlet to blue, their intensity visibly heightened. "Hoo, Blue Flames, huh? System, any thoughts?"

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[Ding… Flames in this continent are categorized into multiple stages based on the user's cultivation level.]

[Here are the ranks by color:]

1. Orange Flame - True Profound Realm and below

2. Scarlet Flame - Spirit Profound Realm

3. Blue Flame - Earth Profound Realm

4. Purple Flame - Sky Profound Realm

5. White Flame - Emperor Profound Realm

6. Gold Flame - Tyrant Profound Realm

7. Star Scorching Flame - Sovereign Profound Realm

[Primordial Flames, like those of the Phoenix, Vermilion Bird, or Golden Crow, are Divine Fires unique to their respective Divine Beasts. These flames possess unique properties and do not follow the same ranking system.]

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"Wait a second," Yun Che interjected, his curiosity piqued. "You're saying that by infusing profound strength into flames, their color changes along with their power?"

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[Ding… Precisely. The color of flames reflects both the strength of the user's profound energy and the temperature of the flame.]

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Yun Che smirked as he folded his arms. "So, they're just transformed flames at the end of the day?"

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[Ding… Exactly. With your abilities, such as Fire Bending and the Heretic Fire Seed, these flames are trivial. Since you're immune to fire and can manipulate it freely, you can infuse your spirit force to alter its properties or push it beyond its natural limits. Compared to your current level, these flames are insignificant. Once you unlock your advanced Sharingan like the Mangekyō Sharingan and unlocked Amaterasu, even these so-called 'high-ranked' flames will seem like child's play—aside from the Primordial Beast Flames, which have unique divine properties.]

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"Hah," Yun Che chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, all these flames are just flashy displays to make people feel fancy, huh? Guess, I got worked up for nothing."

To the audience's astonishment, Fen Juebi's flames shifted to a vibrant blue, the hue shimmering with heightened intensity.

"To everyone's knowledge, only those who have reached the Earth Profound Realm are capable of conjuring such high-level profound flames!" one spectator exclaimed, their voice echoing through the arena.

The revelation sent a wave of excitement rippling through the crowd.

"Blue… Blue Flame!!" gasped another, as murmurs of awe spread among the spectators.

Yun Che casually rubbed his chin, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Might as well toss in some copper chloride or calcium chloride into a regular flame. Same flashy blue, less drama." He shook his head as if unimpressed by the display. 

Meanwhile, in the Burning Heaven Clan's seating area, Fen Duanhun leaned back, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "It seems my words spurred him to act rashly. Revealing his trump card so soon… such impatience. He's making a mountain out of a molehill—using a butcher's knife to slaughter a chicken. Still, with this display of blue flames, we'll need to reevaluate Fen Juebi's strength. Yun Che?" His voice dipped into a smug undertone. "Not even the faintest shred of hope left." 

"Come on, let me hear the sounds of you crying, begging, and struggling!" Fen Juebi's voice echoed through the arena, taunting as he burst forward. 

As if on cue, the blue flames on Fen Juebi's body flared violently, detonating outward. More than a dozen fiery tornados swirled into existence, their fierce spinning sending waves of heat rippling through the barrier. The tornados spiraled outward, filling the arena with roaring flames, leaving no corner untouched. 

The profound energy barrier glowed under the assault, containing the inferno as it surged to engulf Yun Che. The arena's atmosphere became suffocating, as if the air itself had turned into an unyielding, searing furnace. 

It was a spectacle to behold, the sheer magnitude of Fen Juebi's flames seemingly turning the arena into an unrelenting sea of blue fire.

"You know," Yun Che mused, casually pulling his hands from his coat pockets, a smirk playing on his lips. "These flames are impressive to look at. I'll admit…" 

Fen Juebi sneered, his confidence flaring as fiercely as the blue tornadoes around him. "So, you think you're going to clear them up? Flames of the Earth Profound Realm? Delusional, aren't you?" 

"Welp, I'm not just going to clear them up," Yun Che said with a shrug, his smirk deepening as the fiery vortexes closed in on him. "I'm going to make them actually…" He raised his hands horizontally, his voice sharp and commanding. "Stop." 

The arena fell into stunned silence as the raging blue flames ground to an immediate halt, leaving Yun Che standing unharmed in their midst. 

Gasps erupted from the crowd, jaws dropping in disbelief. 

"He controls the Blue Flames! How?! The Burning Heaven Flame is something no one can control but the Burning Heaven Clan!" Fen Duanhun shot to his feet, his voice trembling with shock. 

Yun Che chuckled, twirling his fingers with a nonchalant grace. The once-deadly flames began to swirl and dance around him, their ferocity tamed into an elegant display. With each motion of his hand, the fire moved as if obeying his very will. He turned the arena into a stage, transforming the flames into a mesmerizing, symmetrical performance with himself at the center. 

Fen Juebi stood frozen, disbelief and horror etched across his face. His clan's sacred Blue Flames, his pride and weapon, had been turned into a spectacle. 

"I don't know," Yun Che said, glancing casually at his opponent with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Let's make it go a little wild, shall we?" 

With a flourish of his hands, the flames burst upward, then downward, swirling chaotically before him. Spiraling tendrils of fire twisted and twirled, erupting in dazzling bursts of light. The controlled chaos painted the air with fiery trails, each move mocking Fen Juebi's supposed mastery. 

In that moment, the Burning Heaven Clan's pride was reduced to a mere joke, their once-feared flames now nothing more than a dance at Yun Che's whim.

"I might have a great idea," Yun Che mused, shutting off his phoenix flames. With a calm but deliberate movement, he began manipulating the surrounding blue flames. The wild energy, once uncontrollable, converged to his feet like a tide answering his command. Within moments, the roaring blue fire compressed into a concentrated, glowing orb, pulsing with raw power.

As long as he maintained his focus and control, the flaming orb will absorb any fire in its vicinity.

The audience gasped in disbelief. Every flame that had once burned ferociously under Fen Juebi's control now swirled obediently at Yun Che's feet. Even Fen Juebi stood frozen, his mouth agape, unable to fathom what was happening. These were his flames—enhanced by the pills and meant to incinerate Yun Che. Yet, they were being tamed and redirected before his eyes.

"Damn you, Yun Che! You dare take my flames away from me!" Fen Juebi roared in fury. Refusing to give in, he conjured more energy, his body turning illusory as dozens of clones appeared once more within the chaotic remnants of the blue sea of fire. Their identical expressions sneered with malice.

"Burning Heaven Slash!!" Every clone shouted in unison, unleashing a barrage of blue flame slashes toward Yun Che.

The flames surged forward in violent arcs, each carrying the might of Fen Juebi's enhanced power. Though still in the Eighth Level of Spirit Profound Realm, the profound pills had elevated his attacks to rival those of a Peak Spirit Profound Realm cultivator. The Demon Flame Blade in the hands of every clone unleashed a fiery wave over ten meters long, blanketing the arena in a storm of scorching blue destruction. 

The dozen slashes crashed toward Yun Che, cornering him amidst the raging inferno. The heat was overwhelming, and the air itself seemed to twist and ripple under the immense power. The audience watched breathlessly, convinced Yun Che had no way out of this relentless onslaught.

Fen Juebi's laughter echoed across the arena, filled with unrestrained glee as he envisioned Yun Che engulfed by the wrath of the blue Burning Heaven Flames. He could almost see it: Yun Che's porcelain face, twisted and blackened beyond recognition, his body consumed by the ferocious inferno. Everything was going exactly as Fen Juebi had planned, every piece falling neatly into place.

But one flaw in this flawless image gnawed at him: Yun Che's expression. From the start, not once had he seen fear. No panic, no desperation—just a calm, infuriating grin.

That grin deepened as Yun Che calmly raised his hands. The raging waves of blue fire, seemingly unstoppable, froze in midair as though caught in an invisible grip. Fen Juebi's triumphant laugh faltered as Yun Che wiggled his fingers, bending the flames with an effortless grace. The powerful firestorm he had conjured dissolved into streams of energy, siphoned directly into the glowing orb of concentrated flame pulsing beneath Yun Che's feet. 

With a faint flick, the remaining flames dispersed entirely, vanishing as if they had never existed.

"Wh… Wh… WHAT!!" Fen Juebi's voice cracked with disbelief.

The audience fell silent, jaws dropping across the arena. Members of the Burning Heaven Clan, including Fen Duanhun, bolted upright from their seats, their faces pale with shock. It was as though the impossible had just unfolded before their eyes. 

"This... this isn't possible!" someone from the Burning Heaven Clan stammered.

Fen Juebi staggered back, his earlier arrogance crumbling into a mask of disbelief and fear. His greatest weapon, his cherished blue flames, had been reduced to nothing—dispelled as easily as a candle snuffed in the wind. This wasn't just an attack rendered ineffective; it was his pride, his dignity, his very identity as a Burning Heaven Clan elite, torn apart and scattered like ashes.

Yun Che smirked, casually resting his hands in his coat pockets. "Psst. Got more of that energy?" His voice carried a mocking lilt, his tone taunting as if daring Fen Juebi to try again. His words weren't just a provocation—they were an invitation, a challenge to pour every last ounce of strength into the flames. Because every attempt would only fuel the growing, radiant orb of blue fire now swirling beneath Yun Che's command.

Fen Juebi clenched his fists, his mind reeling. The very flames that were supposed to consume Yun Che had become the foundation of his humiliation.

Fen Juebi clung desperately to his crumbling confidence, muttering to himself in frantic self-assurance. "The reason my blue flames were extinguished must be because... because they were only in their elementary stage! Yes, that has to be it! It's not me—it's him cheating with that orb of his!" His words sounded hollow, even to his own ears.

Still, he forced a sinister grin onto his face, though it twitched at the corners, betraying the strain of maintaining his composure. "Yun Che," he bellowed, his voice ringing across the arena, "you think extinguishing my flames means you've beaten me? Without that orb, you'd be nothing more than ash! Hahaha! The blue flames you saw were nothing—mere embers compared to the true might of my arsenal."

He raised his blade high, the flames around him intensifying. "If you have the guts… then try breaking through my Burning Heaven Dragon Flame!"

The crowd held their breath as Fen Juebi began conjuring his next attack. But he needed time, and he wasn't about to let Yun Che capitalize on the delay. "Get him!" he roared, commanding his clones to swarm Yun Che.

Dozens of fiery duplicates rushed toward Yun Che, each wielding identical flaming blades. The arena buzzed with the deafening sound of slashes cutting through the air, waves of Burning Heaven Slashes shooting toward him. Yet Yun Che, midair, simply smirked.

"Diable Jambe: Poêle à Frire—Spectre!" Yun Che roared, igniting his flaming leg once more. As the clones closed in, he unleashed a flurry of kicks, each more rapid and precise than the last. Flaming fireballs erupted from his leg, exploding midair in brilliant bursts. Each impact created stunning rainbow-colored rings as the fiery blasts obliterated the clones.

The audience gasped as Yun Che's fiery assault consumed the battlefield, reducing the wave of Burning Heaven clones into bursts of ash and flickering embers. The cascading explosions rippled across the arena, lighting up the profound barrier with dazzling intensity. 

With the clones decimated, Yun Che shot downward, diving through the remaining embers with the force of a meteor. He landed on one clone, his burning foot shattering it into nothingness with a single decisive strike. He straightened, the smirk never leaving his face, as the battlefield fell silent save for the faint crackling of dissipating flames.

Fen Juebi stood frozen, his grip on the Demon Flame Blade tightening. His "unstoppable" swarm had been wiped out in mere moments. He bit his lip, sweat trailing down his temple, but his trembling hands betrayed his growing fear.

As the fiery clones swarmed him from every direction, Yun Che knelt briefly on the charred arena floor, placing his hands firmly against the ground. His calm demeanor didn't match the tension in the air, but the sudden surge of profound energy from him sent a shockwave through the battlefield. The audience, already on edge, widened their eyes as Yun Che extended his leg horizontally, flames igniting in an instant.

"Diable Jambe! Party Table Kick Course!"

The crowd gasped as Yun Che flipped into a handstand, his legs engulfed in searing phoenix flames. He began to spin rapidly, transforming into a flaming vortex. His blazing kicks struck out in all directions, each rotation sending waves of heat and energy across the arena. Clones fell like dominoes, their fiery forms extinguished by the relentless barrage.

The spectacle was breathtaking. The arena lit up as Yun Che moved like a blazing spinning top, kicking through wave after wave of fire clones. Each strike erupted in a small explosion, leaving trails of embers in its wake.

Little Fairy's usually composed demeanor cracked as her eyes widened in surprise. The scene brought back vivid memories of the Phoenix Clan battle. So, he's improved this technique even further… she thought, a faint smile forming on her lips.

Cang Yue and Retsu exchanged glances, both recalling the last time they'd seen Yun Che unleash this move. Back then, it was impressive, but now? It was overwhelming. The sheer heat radiating from his fiery whirlwind was palpable even through the profound energy barrier.

For Xia Qingyue and the rest of the audience, however, this was their first time witnessing such a technique. Gasps, cheers, and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Some even stood from their seats, unable to take their eyes off the battle.

Within moments, Yun Che had decimated the majority of the clones. Fen Juebi, who had been standing at the back of the arena, could only grit his teeth as his forces dwindled. He clenched the Demon Flame Blade tightly, pouring every ounce of his profound energy into charging his ultimate move. His body trembled under the strain, but he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.

Still spinning, Yun Che's grin widened. The heat of his phoenix flames and the force of his spinning attacks ensured no clone could get close to him. In contrast, Fen Juebi's face twisted in desperation. He could no longer create more clones—his energy reserves were being completely consumed by his final gambit. 

The audience watched in anticipation as Yun Che finished his devastating technique, landing lightly on the ground, his burning legs leaving scorch marks on the arena floor. He dusted off his hands, standing tall, his sharp gaze locked onto Fen Juebi. 

"Are we done with the warm-up yet?" Yun Che taunted, his voice ringing with amusement. The crowd roared, while Fen Juebi's expression darkened, his ultimate move finally nearing completion.

As Fen Juebi bit his tongue, the blood essence he spat onto the Demon Flame Blade ignited a terrifying reaction. The blue flames surged upward, roaring with unnatural intensity. The entire arena trembled as a massive pillar of fire erupted from his body, illuminating the space in an ominous blue hue. The air crackled under the oppressive heat, and the audience felt the immense pressure radiating from Fen Juebi's unleashed power.

The surrounding blue flames that lingered in the arena were drawn toward him, sucked into the pulsating inferno enveloping his body. Even so, part of the energy was inexplicably pulled toward the glowing orb beneath Yun Che's feet, an irritation Fen Juebi couldn't ignore but dared not act on yet. His aura surged, dark and fearsome, as the flames that once danced chaotically around him shrank and condensed into a dense, lethal force. 

Fen Juecheng's face twisted into a grimace. "He actually sacrificed his blood essence to fuel the Dragon Flame at full power," he muttered, his voice trembling with a mix of shock and unease. 

From the stands, Fen Moli's aged face darkened further. "A desperate, but unavoidable choice," he said, his tone solemn. "I underestimated that boy, Yun Che. To force Juebi into burning his blood essence… it means Juebi's flames weren't even remotely threatening to him earlier. That boy... what kind of monster is he?"

Even Fen Duanhun, the Burning Heaven Clan's patriarch, clenched his fists tightly. "Losing blood essence will cripple Juebi's cultivation for years, but this guarantees Yun Che's defeat," he growled through gritted teeth. "If Juebi is disqualified from the tournament, we'll find a way to restore his position. Forcing our hand like this is intolerable!" 

"Hmph! Better to be disqualified than to lose outright!" Fen Juecheng spat, glaring venomously at Yun Che. 

Yet, even as the Burning Heaven Clan's elites seethed, there was a glimmer of fear in Fen Juecheng's eyes. Yun Che's composure, his unwavering smirk, and his casual dismantling of their clan's proud flames rattled him. For the first time, Fen Juecheng truly felt the weight of the threat Yun Che posed.

At eighteen… he's already this formidable, Fen Juecheng thought bitterly as he remembered Yun Che decimated Cang Shuo with an energy blast, his nails digging into his palms. If he's allowed to grow, what will he become in ten years? Twenty? A living nightmare... no, he cannot be allowed to live that long!

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Back on the battlefield, Fen Juebi, now surrounded by the coiling inferno of his Dragon Flame, gripped his Demon Flame Blade tightly. "You've humiliated me, my clan, and our flames!" he roared, his voice echoing across the arena. "But it ends here, Yun Che! This attack will end you!" 

The flames surged, forming the shape of a massive dragon that roared alongside Fen Juebi. The audience gasped, many shielding their eyes from the blistering heat radiating from the fiery construct. 

Meanwhile, Yun Che stood casually in the center of the arena, his hands in his pockets, his confident grin never wavering. He tilted his head slightly as if considering something amusing.

The atmosphere in the arena grew unbearably tense as Fen Juebi roared with everything he had. The Heaven Burning Dragon, his clan's ultimate forbidden skill, manifested in a fearsome display. A colossal purple fire dragon, forged from compressed blue flames and empowered by Fen Juebi's blood essence, roared as it surged forward. The air around it warped under the immense heat, and the ground beneath it charred and cracked as it barreled toward Yun Che with destructive intent.

The audience gasped collectively, a wave of fear rippling through the stands. Some spectators shielded their faces from the oppressive heat while others stared in horror, transfixed by the spectacle. 

At the Heavenly Sword Villa's seating area, Ling Yuefeng's expression turned grim. "Heaven Burning Dragon… That move violates every principle of this tournament," he muttered darkly. Turning to his subordinate, he sound-transmitted with urgency: "Ling Wugou, be ready to intervene the moment Yun Che falters. This match cannot end in death, not here!" 

Ling Wugou nodded imperceptibly, his profound energy already circulating as his robes billowed from the rising heat. His eyes remained locked on Yun Che, whose figure seemed insignificant before the monstrous flame dragon. 

Meanwhile, on the Burning Heaven Clan's side, Fen Duanhun sat rigid, his face carved from stone. He made no move to stop his son. To him, victory at all costs was paramount, even if Fen Juebi faced expulsion from the tournament afterward. "The disgrace Yun Che has brought upon our clan ends now," he muttered under his breath.

"Yun Che… DIE!!"

Fen Juebi's roar echoed through the arena, carrying with it all the fury and desperation of a cornered beast. With a savage wave of his arms, the blue flames on his body surged and coalesced, transforming into a massive purple fire dragon. The infernal beast, several tens of meters long and brimming with destructive energy, roared to life and charged at Yun Che.

The Heaven Burning Dragon tore through the air, its heat so intense that the arena floor cracked and bubbled in its wake. Waves of molten flame rippled outward, forcing spectators to shield their faces. The sheer power of the attack was enough to make hearts stop in terror.

"Flame Dragon… It's the ultimate forbidden skill—Heaven Burning Dragon!"

Amid the chaos, Yun Che stood unmoved. His posture was relaxed, his expression almost playful. The monstrous dragon, with all its terrifying might, seemed to faze him as little as a passing breeze.

As the flaming beast hurtled toward him, his smirk deepened. "Let's dance."

The audience froze, their breath caught in their throats as Yun Che moved. Instead of retreating, he surged forward, a bold and reckless defiance that left even the Burning Heaven Clan dumbfounded. Coating his leg with a dark, glimmering layer of Haki, Yun Che leapt high into the air, meeting the dragon head-on.

Gasps rippled through the stands. Cang Wanhe gripped the edge of his seat, his knuckles white, while Qin Wushang leaned forward, his jaw tight with tension. Cang Yue, Retsu and Mio shows indifferent expression since facing Wrath was way worse than facing this cheap dragon knockoff.

The audience watched in stunned silence as Yun Che evaded the fiery jaws of the dragon with an agile twist, slipping beneath its blazing chin in a fluid motion.

"Diable Jamble! Anti-Manner Kick Course!" Yun Che's voice rang clear, cutting through the roar of flames.

His right leg ignited with spiraling flames, burning with a golden hue that rivaled the dragon's own fire. In one explosive motion, Yun Che twisted his body, driving his flame-coated leg upward in a devastating kick that connected directly beneath the dragon's chin.

Boom!!!!

With an enormous sound, flames were swept all over the sky as the stone stage in the surrounding few dozens of meters instantly turned into fragments. Even the profound energy barrier slightly trembled. Under this incomparably powerful and ferocious strike, the flame dragon was smashed upwards, tumbling far away as the blue flames on its body also quickly dissipated. In the blink of an eye, the flame dragon that was originally a foot thick, had now already become half a foot thick as if passed the pulsing orb.

The impact resonated like a thunderclap, a deafening collision of power and precision. The flaming dragon's trajectory faltered, its head snapping back as Yun Che's kick forced it to rise skyward. The beast spiraled out of control, scattering embers and molten energy in its wake.

The audience sat frozen, their mouths agape as they tried to process what had just unfolded before their eyes. 

"He… he kicked the Burning Heaven Dragon upward?!" one onlooker stammered, disbelief dripping from every word. 

"With a single kick!" another shouted, their voice echoing across the arena. 

The crowd erupted in murmurs of astonishment. 

"Who is this guy?!" The question spread like wildfire, resonating through the stunned spectators. 

Even those who had witnessed Yun Che's prowess before found themselves at a loss for words. Xia Qingyue stared, her normally composed expression faltering as her crystalline eyes reflected the scene before her. Could she have faced the Burning Heaven Dragon with such ease? Not without revealing her true cultivation or utilizing the full extent of her Frozen Cloud Arts. Yet Yun Che… with one explosive kick, he sent it soaring skyward as if it were nothing more than an annoyance. 

Little Fairy, who rarely allowed herself to feel shock, found her eyes widening in disbelief. Then, a fleeting memory surfaced: Yun Che's devastating kick against a Menos Grande back at the Phoenix Clan. "So he's done it again," she thought, the corners of her lips twitching into a faint, begrudging smile. 

Gong Yuxian, Chu Yueli, and the other Frozen Cloud Fairies were no less stunned, their serene expressions cracking as they exchanged incredulous glances. Meanwhile, Nezuko couldn't hold back her laughter, the sound light and carefree amidst the tension. 

Back among the dignitaries, Cang Wanhe collapsed into his seat, his trembling hands gripping the armrests. Qin Wushang, a veteran of countless battles, was left speechless. The Chen sisters, Mai and Mei, gawked openly, while Xia Yuanba lost his balance and fell flat onto his rear. 

This was no fluke. Yun Che had just kicked a dragon on its chin and sent it flying—like it was nothing. 

Before the astonishment could settle, Yun Che acted again. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his position, teleporting above the stunned dragon. His figure spun rapidly, flames igniting around his outstretched leg as he spiraled downward like a flaming comet. 

"Diable Jamble! Concassé!" 

Yun Che's blazing heel slammed into the dragon's snout with an earth-shaking clash. The collision radiated an explosive shockwave that rippled through the arena, extinguishing smaller flames and sending the remaining embers scattering into the wind. 

The fiery dragon let out a final, tortured roar as its form began to collapse under the impact. Yun Che's power dominated the struggle, and in a climactic burst, the dragon's fiery body twisted and redirected its force, reversing its trajectory entirely. Using his hand, Yun Che grabbed the dragon's neck before swinging it with both his hands.

The audience collectively gasped. 

"What is he doing now?!" 

"You can have this back!" Yun Che shouted as the redirected dragon, once Fen Juebi's ultimate trump card, was now a spiraling inferno heading straight back to its creator. 

Fen Juebi's triumphant smirk was wiped clean, replaced by sheer, unadulterated horror. "No… no, no, NOOO!!!" 

The crowd held their breath, watching as Fen Juebi's own attack barreled toward him, its power undiminished, its rage now turned upon its master.

Fen Duanhun's eyes widened with alarm as the redirected dragon roared toward his son. Without hesitation, he shot forward, leaping from the Burning Heaven Clan's viewing platform. "Juebi!!" he bellowed. He knew the attack's devastating potential—if it struck Fen Juebi, survival was impossible. But before he could reach the arena, he slammed into the barrier that surrounded it, the protective ward glowing fiercely to repel his intrusion. 

The officials scrambled, trying to disable the barrier in time. Yet their attempts were futile; lowering it would not only jeopardize the spectators but also leave them exposed to the inevitable blast. 

The Burning Heaven Clan members could only watch in helpless horror. 

On the arena floor, Fen Juebi was frozen in terror. "No… this can't… be happening…" His hoarse cry echoed as the fiery dragon bore down on him. 

"AHHHHHH!!" 

The flames engulfed him, and the dragon detonated in a deafening explosion, shaking the arena to its core. Waves of searing heat surged outward, but the orb at the center of the battlefield pulsed, drawing the residual flames toward itself, diminishing the fallout. 

When the flames subsided, the audience collectively held their breath. Smoke and embers lingered in the air, obscuring the arena floor. Slowly, the Profound Display flickered, showing Fen Juebi's name still lit. A stunned hush fell over the crowd. 

"He's… alive?" one official murmured in disbelief. 

Within the smoldering crater, Fen Juebi's battered figure lay sprawled. His clothes were charred, his body visibly scorched, but his breathing, though labored, persisted. 

The answer lay at the heart of the arena—the mysterious orb. Unnoticed by most, it had been subtly absorbing the dragon's flames from the moment Fen Juebi unleashed the technique. Bit by bit, it had diminished the attack's potency. 

The truth was clear to Yun Che, who stood unscathed amidst the chaos. The orb's work was evident in the weakened explosion that had struck Fen Juebi. 

The forbidden skill "Heaven Burning Dragon," unleashed by Fen Juebi with tremendous effort and at the cost of his blood essence, was something that many revered as a near-unblockable, devastating force of the Burning Heaven Clan. Yet, to the utter disbelief of the audience, Yun Che casually deflected the attack as if it were child's play. 

Using nothing but his leg, Yun Che delivered a powerful kick to the fiery dragon's chin, sending it soaring into the air and halting its menacing trajectory mid-flight. As the massive dragon wavered above, Yun Che calmly positioned his palms, summoning his fire bending to redirect the monstrous attack entirely. In a shocking display of control, he sent the fearsome Heaven Burning Dragon hurtling back toward its master, its terrifying power now turned against the one who had summoned it. 

The crowd was left utterly speechless. Heaven Burning Dragon was a forbidden skill of the Burning Heaven Clan, a move so rare that most of its disciples would never even witness it, let alone perform it in their lifetime. Each time the skill had been unleashed in the past, it had required an opponent to put forth an immense amount of effort and endure significant risk to counter or block it. Yet here was Yun Che, treating it like a trivial nuisance. 

The dragon's fate was sealed in that single, shocking instant—a kick to its chin that disrupted its flow and a masterful redirection with his palms that completely negated its threat. 

To Yun Che, the Heaven Burning Dragon seemed less like an apocalyptic threat and more like an overconfident young snake trying to prove its might only to be grabbed by the tail and tossed away in an instant.

"Lucky for you," Yun Che said, his tone sharp but laced with amusement. "If that dragon had hit you with its full power, we wouldn't be having this conversation." 

The audience gasped in unison as Fen Juebi rose to his feet like a marionette controlled by pure desperation. His charred body seemed to defy all reason as profound energy exploded out of him, now dyed in an unnatural, menacing red. The surge of power sent shockwaves through the arena, making the already tense crowd shudder. 

"This aura… it's the Forbidden Berserk Pill!" Ling Wugou shouted, his voice cutting through the commotion. "Fen Juebi is cheating!" 

"Stop the match!" one official yelled urgently. 

"We can't!" another responded, panic clear in his tone. "He's out of control! If we lower the barrier, those flames will incinerate the audience!" 

Fen Juebi's agonized roar filled the air. "RAAAAAH!!" His body trembled violently as crimson flames erupted uncontrollably from him, his energy fluctuating wildly. To the discerning eyes of the experts in the crowd, the sight was horrifying—his cultivation wasn't increasing but dropping precipitously. 

Yun Che's sharp eyes narrowed as he quickly assessed the situation. Fen Juebi's cultivation was unraveling before him, plummeting from the Eighth Level of Spirit Profound Realm lower and lower. The overdose of pills had pushed his body past its limits, and now it was breaking down. His burst of strength is the result of the energy going out of control.

Yun Che raised his hand, his Heretic Fire Seed blazing to life as he bent the crimson flames emanating from Fen Juebi, channeling them into the pulsating orb at the center of the arena. The orb greedily devoured the chaotic flames, glowing brighter with every surge as if feeding on Fen Juebi's desperation. 

"YUN CHE!" Fen Juebi roared, his voice filled with raw fury and despair. His swings became wild, each one releasing a torrent of flame slashes. But Yun Che was untouchable, effortlessly weaving through the attacks with measured grace. 

"You… If you didn't exist, none of this would have happened!" Fen Juebi screamed, his voice hoarse and cracked. 

With a primal shout, Fen Juebi poured what remained of his dwindling strength into forming a massive fireball. The energy coursing through it made the ground beneath his feet crack and tremble. 

"Burning Heaven Blast!" 

He hurled the blazing attack with all his might, its size dwarfing any of his previous attempts. 

Instead of dodging, Yun Che sprinted forward with his hands behind him, a fearless glint in his eye. The audience held their breath as he leapt into the air, charging straight for the colossal fireball. 

"What is he doing?!" someone screamed. 

"Does he want to die?" 

Yun Che's aura surged as he concentrated his strength into his right leg, igniting it with the fierce heat of his Diable Jamble. 

"Diable Jamble!!" Yun Che roared, thrusting his flaming leg into the heart of the fireball. 

A brilliant explosion of light and heat erupted as Yun Che's strike collided with Fen Juebi's attack. But instead of being engulfed, Yun Che tore through the fireball, dispersing its flames into a thousand fragments. Each fragment was swiftly sucked into the orb, disappearing into its voracious void. 

Yun Che's leg ignited with a fiery burst, the phoenix flames roaring brighter than ever as he propelled himself toward Fen Juebi. 

"Bien Cuit: Grill Shot!" Yun Che bellowed, his voice resonating with unwavering confidence. 

The fiery kick connected with Fen Juebi, sending a shockwave rippling through the arena. The sheer heat of Yun Che's attack ignited Fen Juebi's tattered clothing, leaving trails of ash in its wake. His kick struck directly against the Demon Flame Blade, and with a thunderous crack, the weapon shattered into fragments. 

The audience collectively gasped. 

"He… He just destroyed an Earth Profound Realm sword… with a single kick!" one spectator exclaimed, his voice trembling with disbelief. 

The Burning Heaven Clan's members stared, their faces pale and expressions frozen in shock. Even Fen Duanhun, Fen Juebi's father, and Fen Moli, the great elder, could do nothing but gape in horror. 

Yun Che didn't stop there. The momentum of his strike carried him forward, his fiery foot crashing directly into Fen Juebi's dantian. 

A visible ripple of energy burst forth as the concentrated blue flames within Fen Juebi—enhanced by the forbidden red pills—went out of control. The flames erupted chaotically, surging out of Fen Juebi's body like an unstable geyser. 

But Yun Che's pulsing blue flame orb, hovering nearby, reacted immediately. Like a ravenous beast, it began absorbing the escaping energy, devouring the uncontrolled flames faster than they could spread. 

"Aaaaahhhh!!!" Fen Juebi screamed, his body trembling uncontrollably as the energy drained from him. 

The once-mighty heir of the Burning Heaven Clan was left hanging in the air, his strength utterly depleted, before plummeting to the charred arena floor with a resounding thud. 

The crowd was stunned into silence. 

It was unknown when everyone in the Sword Discourse Arena had stood up. Every single person's gaze was stupefied, and were silent for a long while, as if the sound of this world had already been completely sucked out.

Fen Juebi's father, brother, and the Burning Heaven Clan's great elder were frozen in disbelief. Their pride, their prodigy, had been defeated so decisively that no words could encapsulate the humiliation. 

As Fen Juebi lay defeated, the pulsing blue flame orb in the arena began to shift. It absorbed the last remnants of energy, glowing brighter before transforming. Its surface took on a glossy black hue with faint pentagonal patterns etched across it. 

Yun Che smirked as he glanced at the newly transformed orb, now resembling a soccer ball imbued with explosive power. 

"Just as I imagined," he murmured, spinning the fiery creation on his finger like a toy. 

The match was over, and Yun Che had not only won but utterly dismantled his opponent—physically, mentally, and symbolically.

As the newly transformed ball hovered in Yun Che's hand, a system notification chimed in his mind: 

----------------

[Ding… Fiery Soccer Ball Mark III - Name will evolve as it upgrades.] 

[Effect: When this ball strikes a target, it releases explosive energy proportional to the stored energy within it. ]

[Current Appearance: Blue with pentagonal patterns, surrounded by harmless blue flames for visual effect.] 

[Explosive Strength: Grand Perfection Spirit Profound Realm. (Scales with energy stored.)]

[Upgrade Requirement: Absorb 10,000 points of Earth Profound Realm Energy.] 

[Note: The blue flames are purely aesthetic unless activated for combat. When not in use, it functions as an ordinary soccer ball with a fiery appearance.] 

--------------

Yun Che inspected the ball, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. 

The audience had no idea what they were witnessing. To them, it looked like Yun Che had conjured a weapon unlike any they'd ever seen, but only Yun Che knew the untapped potential this new creation held.

Yun Che tossed the flaming ball lightly into the air, catching it effortlessly as though it were a harmless toy. His grin widened as he glanced at Fen Juebi, now battered, charred, and visibly struggling to stand. 

"Wohoo… got me a souvenir," Yun Che declared, his voice dripping with amusement. He balanced the ball on his foot as he shows an impressive level of control as he flicked it up and spun it. The audience gasped in awe. "Still got my old soccer skills."

"What is that?" one spectator muttered. 

"It's like he stole Fen Juebi's fire and turned it into a weapon!" another exclaimed. 

"Did he… just make that during the fight?" 

The murmurs filled the arena, but Yun Che paid no attention. His focus remained on Fen Juebi, who staggered to his feet, his once-mighty aura reduced to embers. His cultivation had plummeted catastrophically from the Spirit Profound Realm to the True Profound Realm—a devastating fall from grace. 

"Yun Che!" He turned around, Fen Juebi was shaking on his feet.

"You're still kicking?" Yun Che teased, spinning the ball on one finger. "Pun intended." 

Fen Juebi's charred and trembling form burned with shame more than anything else. His flames had betrayed him, his dantian had been struck, and the effects of the red profound pills had ravaged his body. Losing ten whole levels of cultivation in a single match was beyond humiliating—it was catastrophic. 

"You…" Fen Juebi growled weakly, his voice rasping from exertion. 

"This thing's got potential," Yun Che continued, ignoring Fen Juebi's protests as he juggled the ball with effortless ease. "A long-range weapon for my kicks… just what I needed. So, thanks, man. You've been very generous today." 

Cang Yue, Retsu, and even Xia Qingyue couldn't hide their astonishment. Yun Che had turned his opponent's own strength into a tool for his arsenal and done it with the kind of flair that left a lasting impression. 

Fen Juebi's legs buckled beneath him, his fury and shame overwhelming what little strength he had left. 

Fen Juebi's trembling hand gripped his shattered sword as he raised it shakily. His face was twisted in desperation and defiance. "You bastard! Face me like a man!" 

Yun Che sighed, raising an eyebrow in exasperation. "No thanks. Just concede, man. I don't have the heart to beat you like this." 

But Fen Juebi refused to give up. With unsteady steps, he began to walk forward, dragging his broken weapon as his charred body screamed in protest. "Yun Che!" he bellowed, his voice hoarse and cracking. 

The scene was painful to watch. He had already lost his cultivation, tarnished his reputation, and disgraced his clan. Now, all that remained was a pitiful display of stubborn pride. 

Yun Che scratched the back of his head, muttering, "Man, what am I supposed to do now?" 

Casually, he tossed the flaming ball to the charred arena floor, letting it bounce idly. But to his surprise, the ball rebounded and struck Fen Juebi square in the face. 

Boom! 

The ball exploded with a fiery burst right on impact, sending Fen Juebi flying backward as smoke trailed from his face. He landed unconscious, sprawled across the arena floor. 

The arena fell into an eerie silence. 

The flaming ball rolled harmlessly across the arena, still glowing in its "flame mode," as Yun Che stood there, blinking in disbelief. 

"Uhhh… whoops. I forgot it's still in attack mode," Yun Che muttered, a bead of sweat forming on his temple. He picked up the ball and inspected it, noting the incredible force of the explosion. "Didn't think it'd pack that much punch." 

The crowd remained stunned, their mouths agape. Fen Juebi's face was smoking, his unconscious form a stark reminder of the sheer ridiculousness of what had just transpired. 

"Man, this is really awkward," Yun Che said, scratching his head. 

Yun Che raised his hands half-heartedly, the flat tone of his voice matching the lackluster enthusiasm he felt. "Yay…" His words seemed hollow as he picked up the flaming ball, now cool and harmless in his hand, and started walking away. The eyes of the entire arena were still on him, but there was no victory cheer, no excitement. It was as if the entire arena had collectively experienced secondhand embarrassment. 

The silence that followed the explosive finale was almost suffocating. Yun Che couldn't shake the feeling that he was some kind of bully, delivering a final blow to someone who was already broken. The awkwardness of it all gnawed at him, but there was no time to dwell on it. The tournament was far from over, and there would be more battles to fight especially in the round of 32. 

Finally, the announcement broke the tense silence. 

"Fen Juebi did not get off the ground for more than ten breaths of time, Blue Wind Imperial Family's Yun Che wins! He will advance to the round of 32." 

The official's voice wavered, tinged with awkwardness and disbelief, as though even he couldn't fully process the shocking outcome. Yet his words shattered the tension lingering in the Sword Discourse Arena, and the audience erupted into a cacophony of noise. 

Cheers, gasps, and disbelieving murmurs filled the space. 

Since the start of the ranking tournament, Yun Che had been an unstoppable force, defying expectations at every turn. He had stunned the audience with impossible feats and unconventional methods—dispatching Fen Juebi's clones with strange, hypnotic music, displaying impeccable hand-to-hand combat, and now, redirecting the Burning Heaven Clan's ultimate forbidden skill with the ease of a master swatting away a fly. 

This wasn't just a win—it was a statement. 

Yun Che had achieved a decisive and complete victory over Fen Juebi, a member of the prestigious Burning Heaven Clan, leaving no room for doubt about his superiority. 

For many in the crowd, it felt surreal. Yun Che had entered the tournament as an underdog, a participant from the lesser-known Blue Wind Imperial Family. Most had dismissed his chances entirely. Yet, with each round, he shattered expectations, leaving an indelible impression on every witness. 

In the stands, Cang Yue let out a sigh of relief, though she couldn't help but palm her face at the absurdity of Yun Che's victory. 

"He really won… but that was so awkward," she muttered to herself. 

Nonetheless, relief swept through her. With Yun Che's victory, all members of the Blue Wind Imperial Family had successfully entered the round of 32. The next rounds promised to be even tougher, but she was determined to advance as far as possible and secure a strong ranking. 

For now, though, all she could do was shake her head and prepare for what was to come. Yun Che's unorthodox methods never ceased to amaze—and perplex—her.

As he walked off the arena, murmurs started to fill the air. The Burning Heaven Clan, who had once carried an aura of arrogance, now stood in shame. Their Great Elder, Fen Moli, glanced over at Fen Duanhun, whose face was a storm of anger and disbelief. The clan master was seething with rage, his face red with fury. 

They had lost all three of their key matches. The clan that once prided itself on its strength had been humiliated before the entire arena. Their downfall was palpable. Even low-level sects, who had managed to slip into the round of 32, now had better rankings than they did. The disgrace of losing before even reaching the round of 32 was a wound that would not heal easily. 

Fen Duanhun, in particular, couldn't stomach the humiliation. He stood there, breathing heavily as he clenched his fists. His eyes burned with the desire for revenge, though the reality was undeniable: the Burning Heaven Clan had been thoroughly outclassed. 

The members of the Burning Heaven Clan exchanged uneasy glances. They were humiliated, and they knew it. They had failed, and the consequences of their failure would be far-reaching. 

As the Blue Wind Imperial Family members slowly made their way off the arena, Fen Duanhun's mind was already racing. He might not be able to avenge this loss in the tournament, but once they left the protection of the villa, he knew that retribution would be inevitable. The Blue Wind Imperial Family, despite their success, would soon find themselves in a world of trouble. 

But for now, the humiliation of the Burning Heaven Clan was complete. And no amount of future schemes could erase the stain they had left on the tournament's history.

Fen Moli slumped back into his seat, his withered hands trembling as he glanced nervously at Fen Duanhun. The Burning Heaven Clan's master wore a mask of fury, his face flushed with humiliation and rage. The defeat of Fen Juebi, the clan's supposed prodigy, was the final nail in the coffin. 

The clan's reputation was in shambles. 

Not only had Fen Juebi been decisively beaten, but his use of forbidden techniques—the burning of his blood essence and the cheating with the Forbidden Berserk Pill—had resulted in his profound strength plummeting disastrously. Despite all this, he still lost. 

Utterly. Completely. Humiliatingly.

It wasn't just Fen Juebi. The entire Burning Heaven Clan had been disgraced. Fen Yuange had fallen to Cang Yue, their "weakest" participant, and Fen Jin had been defeated effortlessly by Unohana Retsu, the mysterious and elegant parasol woman. And now this: Fen Juebi, their brightest hope, reduced to a charred and unconscious heap after being defeated in the most ignoble way imaginable by Yun Che. 

For the first time in centuries, the Burning Heaven Clan would fail to even breach the top four, falling below even the top 32. Low-ranking sects now stood ahead of them. Their elite disciples had all been vanquished, their pride shattered. 

Murmurs spread like wildfire across the audience. 

"How did Yun Che kick that Heaven Burning Dragon so casually? That was a forbidden skill! Isn't that supposed to be nearly invincible?" 

"I… I don't know! Maybe it's the blue orb he created. It seemed to absorb the dragon's power, making it easier to counter!" 

"But even then, it's not something a True Profound Realm practitioner could achieve! He must be hiding his true strength. Maybe he's not even from the True Profound Realm!" 

"It's not just Yun Che. What about that Unohana Retsu? She hasn't even broken a sweat yet! Her flower illusions are incredible, but what else is she hiding? These people can't be normal!" 

"Fen Juebi's defeat ensures the Burning Heaven Clan is out of the top four. This changes everything. Could the Blue Wind Imperial Family take their place among the Four Great Sects?" 

"Not so fast. They've only reached the top 32. They haven't faced elites like Ling Yun yet. Don't forget, Ling Yun could wipe out most of these people with a single sword stroke!" 

"But think about it! Cang Yue, Unohana Retsu, and Yun Che are shaking the world right now. With this momentum, the Blue Wind Imperial Family might reclaim its former glory!"

The Burning Heaven Clan's downfall was one thing. But Yun Che and his companions had accomplished more than just a victory—they had made their names unforgettable and sent shockwaves through the Blue Wind Empire. 

The arena buzzed with endless chatter, the Blue Wind Imperial Family firmly planted as the center of attention. Where admiration once surrounded the Burning Heaven Clan, now only sympathetic glances and muted pity remained. 

Amidst the noise, Yun Che casually tossed his newly-formed fiery ball into the air, catching it as he strode toward the edge of the Sword Discourse Arena. His demeanor was calm, his steps measured, as though the chaotic battle moments before were nothing more than a warm-up. 

Behind him, however, Fen Juebi stirred. 

The once-proud prodigy, his body battered and charred, pushed himself off the scorched ground. His eyes burned—not with flames, but with a hatred so intense it bordered on madness. His expression twisted into something unrecognizable, a reflection of despair and humiliation. Without warning, he pulled out the last of the Berserk Pills and shoved it into his mouth, swallowing it in a desperate gulp. 

A surge of unnatural power exploded from his broken form, flames licking his battered body as he screamed with unrestrained rage. The audience gasped, some rising from their seats in alarm as Fen Juebi launched himself forward, his fist ablaze with blue fire. 

"I will kill you!!" 

The roar cut through the arena like a blade. 

The crowd froze, their murmurs silenced. Fen Juebi's figure was a blur of fury, his hatred driving him faster than thought. His target was clear—the calm, retreating back of Yun Che. 

To Fen Juebi, this wasn't just a loss. It was a humiliation of the highest order, a disgrace that shattered not only his pride but the honor of his entire clan. Yun Che, the one who had reduced him to this pitiful state, had to pay. This wasn't about victory anymore. It was about vengeance. 

His father's harsh words and the shameful reality of their clan's failure echoed in his mind like endless knives, cutting into his psyche and driving him further into madness. All reason had fled; only the overwhelming desire to destroy remained. 

Fen Juebi charged forward, his flame-covered fist hurtling toward Yun Che's back with all the power of his despair and fury. 

Cang Yue clenched her fists as she watched Fen Juebi's disgraceful charge. "Shameless! Attacking after he's already lost!" she hissed, her voice laced with anger. Her hand instinctively moved toward her sword. Beside her, Retsu's calm demeanor remained, though she had begun to draw her parasol, the tip aimed in Fen Juebi's direction. 

The audience erupted in jeers and condemnation. 

"Disgraceful!" 

"Does he have no shame left?" 

"He's lost everything, and now this?" 

Fen Juebi's crazed eyes ignored the scorn of the crowd. To him, the world had narrowed to a single target: Yun Che. The humiliation of his loss, the shame of his clan's downfall, and the mocking gazes of thousands weighed heavily on his crumbling sanity. His fists burned with flickering blue flames as he surged forward, his broken body pushed beyond its limits by the rampaging energy of the pills. 

"Man, this guy's annoying," Yun Che muttered under his breath, his steps slowing. He turned slightly, his fiery ball still balanced in one hand. 

"Juebi, stop this at once!" Fen Duanhun's voice thundered from the Burning Heaven Clan's seating area, laced with desperation. "You've lost! We can deal with this later, but not here! Not like this!" 

But Fen Juebi didn't hear—or didn't care. 

"Huarrggghhh!" His roar echoed across the arena as he burned what little energy he had left. His cultivation, already depleted, struggled to maintain even Peak True Profound Realm. Yet his fury and hatred propelled him forward, faster than the villa officials could reach him. 

Yun Che turned fully, his expression shifting to one of mild annoyance. "This does count as self-defense, right?" he asked, addressing no one in particular. 

The officials scrambled, shouting warnings as they moved to intercept Fen Juebi. But Yun Che didn't wait. 

"You said before… if I know how to throw a punch?" His tone hardened as he raised his right fist, his eyes locking onto the oncoming Fen Juebi. 

The fiery ball glowed brighter in one hand, while his other fist clenched tightly, radiating an unshakable confidence. As Fen Juebi closed in, Yun Che exhaled, his stance firm. 

Boom!!

The arena trembled as Yun Che's fist collided with Fen Juebi's head, the force echoing like a fifty-ton sledgehammer hitting steel. Fen Juebi's body crumpled instantly, slamming into the charred arena floor with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and his chest, mangled and raw, was barely recognizable beneath the gruesome damage. His eyes rolled back, his vision faded into darkness—utterly defeated and unconscious.

The arena was deathly silent. There was no flashy display of profound energy, no flames, no dramatic techniques—just a single, devastating punch.

Yun Che straightened, shaking out his hand. 

"Juebi!!" The roar of fury shattered the silence. "Junior, you dare!" Fen Duanhun's voice thundered like a storm, filled with rage and bloodlust.

Ling Wugou's face paled as his senses flared. Fen Duanhun's profound aura surged, overwhelming and oppressive, a furious hurricane of energy. "He's going to attack!" Ling Wugou shouted, unable to intervene as the clan master's strength far outstripped his own.

Above the arena, Fen Duanhun's figure blurred as he launched himself forward, crossing the hundreds of meters separating him from Yun Che in an instant. His target was clear: the young man who had humiliated his clan.

Ling Yuefeng, sensing the imminent threat, prepared to intercept, but he hesitated as another presence surged forward.

Yun Che stood unflinching, his Haki sensed the attack long before it came, but he didn't move a muscle.

Fen Duanhun's fist ignited with purple flames as he closed the final meters—

Thwack!

Before Fen Duanhun's blow could connect, an elegant figure appeared between them, moving faster than the eye could track.....