Storm of Swords

The resounding chime of the huge golden bell echoed through the air, signaling the commencement of the first round. The initial clash unfolded between the formidable Fish team and the mighty Phoenix team. Stepping onto the open battle arena were warriors chosen for their prowess, including the skilled Li Ying Ying and the spirited Xiao Bai.

As the intense face-off ensued, the Phoenix team exhibited their might, swiftly eliminating six members of the Fish team. This left only Xiao Bai and Li Ying Ying standing against eight formidable opponents, creating an unequal yet compelling eight-versus-two match. Pride gleamed in Xiao Yang's eyes as he watched his younger brother, while the fervent cheers of Xiao Rui echoed in support of Li Ying Ying.

The ensuing battle was fierce, with Li Ying Ying and Xiao Bai displaying unparalleled agility and teamwork. Xiao Bai's speed proved unmatched as he skillfully expelled three opponents from the arena, leaving only five to focus their onslaught on Li Ying Ying. The unexpected turn came when a sword found its mark, leaving a visible scar on Li Ying Ying's cheek. A momentary pause hung in the air as she touched the wound, her eyes widening with a mix of surprise and anger. In response to the blood drawn, Li Ying Ying's spirit flared, and she rallied with a fierce cry, "You dare to mar my beautiful face, you scoundrels!" With sword in hand, she launched a relentless counterattack, swiftly dispatching the remaining adversaries and securing victory for the Fish team. Li Ying Ying exited the battle arena with swift grace, wiping away the blood from the minor scars on her face.

The second battle of the first round unfolded, with Wei Yang's team once again facing off against the victorious Fish team. As the Fish team selected eight members for this round, Zi Qian couldn't shake off his concern for Wei Yang, well aware of his injuries from the perilous Forest of the Dead. Before stepping onto the battlefield, Wei Yang cast a reassuring smile toward Zi Qian, a silent acknowledgment of his readiness. Once on the arena, Wei Yang lived up to expectations, swiftly incapacitating all adversaries, securing victory for his team with only four teammates eliminated. The subsequent match pitted the Dragon team against the Fish team, with Zi Qian, Xing Xing, Xuanming, and Jiahao as the chosen representatives. The opposing team fielded formidable contenders, setting the stage for a gripping confrontation. As the battle commenced, Zi Qian observed the contrasting abilities of his teammates. While Jiahao proved disappointingly ineffective, trailing behind Xuanming in each skirmish, Xing Xing defied expectations. Despite her outward appearance, her agility and precision with two golden daggers called Twin crescent daggers were remarkable, swiftly overcoming opponents. Simultaneously, Xuanming showcased his mastery with a spear known as the crimson lotus spear, overpowering adversaries with strategic prowess. Without a doubt, Zi Qian's mastery of Qing Feng reflected extensive practice and a pursuit of perfection. Zi Qian's skillful use of Qing Feng, honed through diligent practice, proved instrumental in overpowering his opponents. The Dragon Team's effective teamwork secured their victory in the end. The entire crowd erupted in applause and cheers, with a special enthusiasm for the Crown Prince.

Despite Jiahao's foolishness and cowardness, Zi Qian couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for successfully avoiding elimination and showcasing his skills. Overcoming his annoyance, he enthusiastically embraced Xing Xing, and together, they joyfully leaped in celebration as the winners were announced. Zi Qian affectionately patted Xing Xing's head, commending her with a "Well done, Xing Xing!" This heartwarming moment caught the attention of Xiao Yang and Xuanming, bringing genuine smiles to their handsome faces. Zi Qian, acknowledging Wei Yang, exchanged a glance and a thumbs-up, silently expressing gratitude to his master for the excellent training.

Certainly, without Wei Yang's guidance, Zi Qian wouldn't have progressed so significantly in martial arts, despite being a skilled fighter. With the winners of the first-round match retreating, the eagerly anticipated second round commenced. Zi Qian had missed witnessing Xiao Yang's remarkable skills against the Black Sorceress, but now, facing the formidable opponents—the twin brothers Nan Yuan and Nan Quan—Xiao Yang and his teammates had a challenging battle ahead. According to Xing Xing's shared rumors, the brothers were dubbed the 'Twin Terror,' known for their invincibility when fighting together. Originating from a tribe in the southeast, they sought entrance to Lingtian Academy to carve a name in the cultivation world after their family fell victim to a wild beast massacre. Contrary to their fearsome nickname, the 'Twin Terror' exhibited a friendly demeanor.

"Ah, Xing Xing, how do you know all these?" Zi Qian inquired as he playfully hit Xing Xing's shoulder. Xing Xing chuckled and replied, "Brother Qian, I know everything about what happens in the state," "Alright then, Miss All Knowing, how about you fill me in on the latest gossip in the state?" Zi Qian teased, prompting laughter from Xing Xing and an irritated look from Jia Hao. Zi Qian arched an eyebrow, whispering to Xing Xing, "Why does that good-for-nothing keep staring at me like he wants to cause trouble?" Xing Xing glanced at him and cautioned, "Don't let it bother you, but we should stay vigilant. He seems intent on making things difficult for us."

Zi Qian shifted his gaze to Shen Xiao Yang, then turned to Xing Xing, saying, "Miss All Knowing, do you have any insights about this young master of the Shen family?" "I was quite surprised to see him here too. There's some buzz about him. It's remarkable because the eldest young master of the Shen family is usually a reserved person, hardly engaging with anyone. More surprisingly, he's never ventured beyond the Shen Manor since childhood, so he's essentially new face to the cultivation world. This is our first time encountering him. Interestingly, he seems to have developed a close connection with you. However, there's no information available about his abilities and his martial arts. I'm also curious to see how this battle unfolds," Xing Xing explained.

"He killed black sorceress and I guess he should be powerful what do you think?" Zi Qian said hesitantly.

"Indeed, defeating Black Sorceress is no small feat. It suggests that Shen Xiao Yang possesses considerable strength and skills. His power might hold surprises, considering his background of being secluded in the Shen Manor," said Xing Xing.

Prior to the match, Nan Quan conveyed goodwill to his opponents, saying, "Good luck to you all! I hope that you will go easy on us," as they bowed and smiled. "You were correct, the Twin Terror are surprisingly friendly. Why do you think they were given such a menacing title?" Zi Qian inquired.

"Brother Qian, appearances can be deceiving; you'll be surprised soon," Xing Xing replied with a wink. "What's with that Twin Terror title? These guys don't deserve it. They are pathetic. I'm sure they'll lose this round," Jiahao laughed loudly, mocking the Twin Terror. Nan Yuan heard his words but just smiled and bowed. "Hey liu Jiahao, don't be so rude. At least they don't hide behind their brother like a sobbing baby, unlike some people," Xing Xing mocked, sticking her tongue out. " LIU JIAHAO, YOU DARE TO CALL ME BY MY NAME, YOU LITTLE-," jiahao was about to say but he remained quiet as Xuanming came.

The match was about to commence, a moment eagerly awaited by Elder Xu. As the match began, the friendly demeanor of the Twin Terror shifted drastically. Their expressions turned fierce, devoid of any signs of mercy. Summoning their swords, they and their teammates advanced aggressively towards the opponents. However, Xiao Yang remained at the back, observing the fight. Instead of engaging, he stood there, caressing his bracelet with a smirk on his face. One by one, all of Xiao Yang's teammates were eliminated, leaving him alone against the remaining eight opponents. The Twin Terror moved in synchronized fashion, wielding their swords menacingly as they approached Xiao Yang. Unperturbed, he smirked and adjusted his stance.

Nan Yuan's sword tip hovered just in front of Xiao Yang's closed eyes, yet his smirk remained unwavering. Suddenly, Xiao Yang's eyes opened, radiating a brief blue glow. The weather instantly transformed, and the sky became shrouded in black clouds, echoing with thunder. Lightning began to strike, eliminating the six opponents from the battle arena, leaving only the Twin Terror. Xiao Yang's bracelet glowed, transforming into a versatile sword-whip combination, more precisely a whip sword. "Amazing! He can control lightning, that's incredible!" exclaimed Xing Xing, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. "I thought it was just a normal bracelet," Zi Qian said, clearly astonished. Even Elder Xu couldn't help but express his intrigue with a subtle "Interesting" as he observed Xiao Yang. The intense fight scene left everyone bewildered. Xiao Yang's swift movements with his sword and whip combination easily countered the Twin Terror's attempts to defeat him.

Xiao Yang skillfully depleted the spirit essence of the Twin Terror, and with a swift motion, he yanked his sword forward, transforming it into a whip. The whip coiled around Nan Quan, tightening its grip and forcefully propelling him out of the battle arena. Refusing to surrender, Nan Yuan exerted his utmost effort to match Xiao Yang's rapid movements. Determined to turn the tide, he resolved to unleash his distinctive technique. Nan Yuan initiated a technique that seemed to harness his spirit essence, enabling him to manifest in multiple directions simultaneously, creating a bewildering, split-space attack against Xiao Yang.

A split-space attack is a technique where the user, through some supernatural or martial means, creates the illusion of being in multiple locations simultaneously, confusing and overwhelming their opponent with attacks from different directions. Nan Yuan called this technique as ' Spatial Mirage'.

Xiao Yang discerned the true Nan Yuan, securing their victory. However, in the midst of the triumph, Zi Qian was frozen, gripped by a sudden chest pain. Clutching his chest, a pained expression etched on his face, Zi Qian exchanged a concerned glance with Xiao Yang. Witnessing Zi Qian's distress, Xing Xing, alarmed, hurried to the clinic for medication. During the break before the third round, only Zi Qian and Xiao Yang remained. As Xiao Yang approached Zi Qian, the latter, grappling with dizziness and chest pain, staggered backward. On the brink of falling, a pair of hands swiftly encircled Zi Qian's waist, preventing the impending collapse. Gazing upward, Zi Qian discovered his rescuer to be none other than the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince gently restored Zi Qian to an upright position, maintaining a grasp on his hand. Unbeknownst to them, Xiao Yang observed the scene with clenched fists, his brows knitted, before walking away in silent discontent.