Ling Lian on the stage

As Xu Qi jumped out of the arena, the crowd of outer court disciples parted to make way for him. The males were cautious while the females had mixed reactions, some had admiring glances while others had a tinge of blush. He walked through them with the grace of a celebrity basking in the spotlight, his smile never leaving his face.

When he reached Ling Lian who was already gearing up for her match, Xu Qi whispered into her ear, "Did I do well?"

"Well, you certainly know how to put on a show," Ling Lian replied with a giggle as she patted his shoulder, "But remember, we're not here to win a popularity contest."

"Thanks for the reminder, Ma'am!" Xu Qi quipped back with his smile widening as he nodded to her words of caution. He didn't forget, of course. And Ling Lian was just concerned that he might've gotten full of himself from all the attention.

On the side, they could see Zhou Feng who already walked out from the ground where he dropped, his head drooped as if all the fiery spirit he had was extinguished. He walked back and the other disciples parted for him. However, he didn't return to Zhang Han's side.

It's understandable. However, it didn't matter at all. If he did walk back to him, many would believe that Xu Qi's words might carry some truth and if he didn't, they'd just think he's too embarrassed to face the person he had a crush on after being humiliated.

It was a lose-lose situation for them.

Xu Qi watched that with a hidden smile. No matter how malicious it turned out, he simply dished out what Zhou Feng had thrown at him first.

Before long, the other matches in the arena concluded. The winners rejoiced and the losers walked back with clenched fists and grim expressions.

"Looks like it's your turn." Xu Qi said as he looked up at the projection in the sky and Ling Lian's name appeared as the next participant. Her opponent was one of the few fifth stage Elemental Awakener disciples, a young lady named Qin Liran. She was among Ling Lian's friends who pulled her away earlier. They were both rivals and friends so Xu Qi knew it would be interesting.

"Heh. Ranran was the last person who wanted to fight me," Ling Lian giggled as she glanced at the young woman who was already looking in their direction with a wry smile. "But I guess it's fate. Should I go easy on her?"

Xu Qi chuckled at Ling Lian's question, knowing full well she was just trying to gauge his thoughts on the matter. Given that she even had a nickname for her, they're probably closer than what she let on, "You know the stakes, Ling Lian. You do what you think is best."

He gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder. As long as Ling Lian doesn't get careless, no one among the outer court disciples will be able to defeat her.

And with that, Ling Lian followed Qin Liran to their stage. They walked together and chatted a bit with smiles on their faces but as soon as they jumped in, their faces immediately switched to a serious mode.

Qin Liran gave a courteous bow, a gesture of respect and friendship, despite the competitive atmosphere. The crowd grew quieter, anticipating the showdown between these two powerful young women.

Their match was immediately put on the center screen as everyone was interested in the only sixth stage Elemental Awakener of the outer court this year.

"Sister Ling. Your boyfriend is such a menace, isn't he?" Qin Liran said with a playful smile as they faced each other.

"Boyfriend? I like the ring of that in my ears. But you're right, he is." Ling Lian's voice echoed with amusement across the arena, her eyes never leaving Xu Qi as she spoke. "You better watch out if you draw him next."

Many of the female disciples sighed in a mix of envy and admiration at Ling Lian's casual mention of Xu Qi as her boyfriend. Xu Qi, on the other hand, felt some heat on his cheeks. He wouldn't deny it but their relationship, in his eyes, was more than that. It didn't need to be labeled simply. He glanced at Xiao Yue and noticed she was also looking at him, a hidden fire was ignited within her deep-blue eyes.

"Oh. Will he also try and provoke me?" Qin Liran's smile grew more mischievous, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'd love to see how he could handle a fifth stage Elemental Awakener."

"Worse, you'll be charmed by him." Ling Lian teased, making Qin Liran blink a few times, not understanding the underlying message.

Their banter was cut short by the sound of Elder Qiang's voice reverberating through the air, signaling the start of their match. Both of them took their stances, Ling Lian with her usual graceful poise and Qin Liran with a fiery determination in her eyes.

It was a dance of elements as Ling Lian and Qin Liran began their battle. The arena was bathed in the soft glow of their qi, Ling Lian's wind and water, and Qin Liran's earth and fire mingling together, creating an aura that was both mesmerizing and intimidating. The crowd watched in awe as the two young women showcased their mastery over their respective elements, each attack a testament to their dedication and training.

The first few minutes were even but over time, the sixth stage Elemental Awakener's strength began to shine through. Ling Lian's wind and water elements danced around Qin Liran's earth and fire, weaving a complex trajectory that was as beautiful as it was deadly.

Xu Qi was reminded of how strong Ling Lian was compared to other outer court disciples and yet, during their sparring, she never went all out. Her control was so precise that she could even make a mockery of someone like Zhou Feng who was just two stages below her let alone Zhang Han and Qin Liran. He watched with admiration as she moved, making her every gesture as elegant as a silent poem.

The elders and the inner court disciples all nodded in approval at the display of finesse and power that Ling Lian exhibited. Some were already wondering when she would go up to the inner court and who would take her under their tutelage.

The battle grew intense, the air thick with the clash of the elements. Ling Lian's wind and water whipped around Qin Liran, who remained steadfast in her stance, her earth and fire forming a fiery spectacle that threatened to engulf her opponent.

However, that was her last stand. Ling Lian's eyes narrowed and she took a deep breath, her qi surging. She remembered the feeling when Xu Qi stimulated it during their intimate training sessions. The wind picked up around her, the skirt of her robes fluttered, and her long hair danced in the air as if it had a mind of its own.

"Sorry, Ranran. I'll treat you to your favorite sweets next time." Ling Lian spoke with a smile as she launched a powerful gust of wind, activating a spell as her resonance to the primal elements of the wind rose significantly, showing what could only be accomplished by someone at the peak of the Elemental Awakener Realm.

Qin Liran was hopeless against it. Her eyes went wide as she realized that Ling Lian's strength was in no way close to what she'd shown during their last sparring a week ago. It's not just her breakthrough to the sixth stage that made the difference but a lot more that Qin Liran couldn't fathom.

The wind spell struck her, sending her flying backward. Qin Liran's barriers of earth and fire crumbled, revealing the shock on her face. She landed with a thud outside the stage, her eyes closed, and didn't move for a moment.

"Winner. Ling Lian!" Elder Qiang's voice boomed through the arena as Qin Liran opened her eyes, a defeated smile on her lips but at the same time she was thrilled by the power she had just witnessed.