Chapter 206: The Second Round (VI) - Cang Yue vs Wu Lie

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Blue Wind Imperial Family – Cang Yue ------versus----- Wu Clan, Wu Lie

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Cang Yue felt her heart pound as she stepped onto the arena platform, her nerves creeping up like an unwelcome shadow. Her opponent was Wu Xingwu, the last remaining elite of the Wu Clan. She knew she had to tread carefully; the Wu Clan had proven ruthless in their battles. She had seen Retsu face one of them before and didn't want to resort to unlocking her full cultivation to stand a chance.

"It's the Wu Clan… I'm not sure…" she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. The pressure was reminiscent of what she'd felt before her battle with Ling Feiyu—a crushing weight of expectation and fear of the unknown.

"Yue-sama, you got this!" Nemu reassured her, smiling brightly. Meanwhile, Kon, acting as her plush punching bag, endured her stress-relief punches with a pleased look on his face. 

"If Retsu could do it, you can too," Yun Che added, his voice calm and steady. His words reminded her of the hours they had spent training, and the confidence in his tone gave her a flicker of hope. "They rely on brute force. Just remember their pattern. If you stay focused, you'll have the edge."

Cang Yue nodded, taking a deep breath. She slapped her cheeks lightly twice to shake off her anxiety. "You're right," she said, mostly to herself. "I can do this." Determined, she turned and made her way toward the arena.

Watching her go, Retsu stood beside Yun Che, her worry evident in the way her hands fidgeted. "Is she going to be all right? It's the Wu Clan. If it were you, I wouldn't be worried, but Little Yue…" Her voice trailed off as her eyes followed Cang Yue's figure.

"Don't worry," Yun Che said, placing a reassuring hand on Retsu's shoulder. "Have faith in her. We've trained her well. Trust her."

Retsu leaned against him, but her expression remained troubled. At the same time, Little Fairy shared her worried look as well.

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As Cang Yue stepped into the arena, the crowd quieted, the tension palpable. Her opponent, Wu Fei, leapt down from his seating area with a powerful, effortless motion. His shoulder-length hair swayed as the wind caught it, and his sharp eyes locked onto her with visible disdain. He walked with the arrogance of someone who had crushed countless challengers, his Wu Clan robes fluttering around his broad frame.

Strapped across his back was a massive axe, its size alone enough to intimidate. Cang Yue had watched his previous matches; his brute strength and precise, devastating strikes had overwhelmed every opponent so far. Yet, she noticed one peculiar detail—he hadn't used his axe in a single fight. Was he saving it for her or did no one manage to force him to use it?

The moment their eyes met, she straightened her back and tightened her grip on her swords. She couldn't let his aura overwhelm her. She had trained too hard to falter now.

"Oh, look, the little girl with the three swords from the royal family. Do you think you have what it takes to beat me?" Wu Lie taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Cang Yue kept her guard up, her expression calm but her grip on her swords tightening. Normally, she wouldn't let words like these affect her, but the Wu Clan's reputation preceded them. Despite her nerves, she stood her ground. She had faced worse—Wrath's aura alone was more terrifying than this brute.

"You don't know someone's strength until you've seen it," she responded, her tone steady despite the fire in her eyes.

"Strength?" Wu Lie let out a loud, mocking laugh. "One punch. That's all it takes for me to crush weaklings. You'll be no different. A little girl from New Moon City—just a nobody pretending to be important."

His words hit a nerve, and for a brief moment, Cang Yue's resolve hardened further. So, the Wu Clan knew about her time in New Moon City. But how? No one there had seen through her disguise as Lan Xueruo.

Wu Lie noticed her reaction and smirked wider, licking his lips. "Tell you what," he added, his tone shifting to something even more sinister. "If I win, you'll come to my room tonight—and bring your little friend with you. I am going to enjoy two beauties in my arms."

Cang Yue's teeth clenched, her knuckles whitening as her grip on her swords tightened. "You fiend," she spat, her voice low but laced with fury.

From the seating area, Retsu and Yun Che bristled with anger, their faces darkening. Wu Lie's words had crossed a line. Neither spoke, but the fury in their eyes was clear: if he somehow survived this fight, they wouldn't let him walk away unscathed.

"Begin!"

Wu Lie wasted no time, launching a sudden attack to catch Cang Yue off guard. This was his signature move—pouring all his strength into a single punch to end matches quickly. Yet, to the audience's shock, Cang Yue didn't dodge. Instead, she stood firm, shifting her stance and raising her hand to block the blow. She absorbed the impact, her feet skidding slightly but staying planted.

The arena erupted with gasps. No one had ever blocked Wu Lie's raw power before.

"Haha… the little girl's got strength," Wu Lie sneered, but before he could follow up, Cang Yue grabbed his arm. With a sharp twist and a powerful spin, she hurled him across the arena. Her calm expression betrayed none of the fury boiling beneath. His earlier words about her and Retsu still echoed in her mind, but she focused her anger into precision.

"You dare!" Wu Lie roared as he surged to his feet, releasing his inner power in a burst of energy. He charged her again, fists flying with brute force, but Cang Yue had already analyzed his movements. She weaved and dodged with grace, anticipating every strike. Then, in a swift counter, she delivered a sharp punch to his ribs, sending him staggering backward.

The crowd erupted again as Wu Lie wiped a trickle of blood from his lips. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling mixture of rage and excitement.

"Haha… little girl makes me bleed. Hahaha!" His laughter grew louder, more unhinged. "She made me bleed!"

Then, with a dramatic flourish, Wu Lie removed a thick bracelet from his arm. Immediately, a violent purple aura erupted around him, surging like a storm. Cang Yue's eyes narrowed. She could feel the shift in his energy—his beast essence was beginning to take over.

The crowd grew restless as Wu Lie reached for the massive axe strapped to his back. With a single hand, he lifted it effortlessly, the sheer size and weight of the weapon silencing the arena. It was the first time in the tournament he had drawn his weapon, and the tension among the audience was palpable.

The clang of metal echoed across the arena as Wu Lie charged forward, his massive axe raised high. The sheer weight of the weapon caused cracks to form in the ground beneath his feet with every step. Cang Yue stood her ground, her twin swords.

Wu Lie swung his axe in a brutal horizontal arc, the force generating a gust of wind that sent dust and debris flying. Cang Yue anticipated the blow, pivoting on her heel to evade. With the fluidity of a dancer, she retaliated, her twin swords moving like a blur.

CLANG! 

The crowd gasped as Cang Yue deflected the axe mid-swing, and she delivered a sharp counterstrike, carving a shallow cut across Wu Lie's shoulder. He roared in pain, his blood staining the arena floor. 

Wu Lie grinned, his teeth bared. "Not bad for a little girl, but let's see how long you can keep up!" He raised the axe high and brought it crashing down with a thunderous blow. 

Cang Yue crossed Shisui and Shusui in an X-block, intercepting the attack just before it could land. Sparks flew as the weapons collided, the sheer force driving her to her knees. The crowd held their breath as the ground beneath her cracked from the impact. 

With a determined cry, Cang Yue twisted her blades, redirecting the force of the axe to the side. Wu Lie staggered briefly, but recovered and swung the axe again, this time in a wide, sweeping arc. Cang Yue ducked low and surged forward, her swords flashing as she landed a flurry of strikes against his torso. 

"Ki Hayate (Hurricane)" Cang Yue crouches and dashes forward, drawing her swords at the same time. As she dashes, she performs downward slashes, simultaneously causing omni-directional slashes behind her.

Wu Lie growled, backing away as blood dripped from multiple shallow cuts. Cang Yue backs up as despite using beast essence. His body was quite durable. "You're stronger than I thought… but you're still just a little girl playing with sticks!" 

He slammed his axe into the ground, the impact sending a shockwave that rippled through the arena. Cang Yue leapt into the air to avoid the tremor, twisting gracefully as she brought both blades down in a coordinated slash. Wu Lie barely managed to raise his axe to block, but the force of her strike sent him skidding backward, his boots leaving deep grooves in the arena floor. 

Seizing the moment, Cang Yue leapt into the air again, her figure framed against the brilliant lights of the arena. With a sharp inhale, she channeled her strength, gripping Shisui tightly in her sword arm. 

"Sanjuroku Pound Ho! (36 Pound Phoenix)!"

She swung the blade in a wide, precise arc, the motion fluid and deadly. The crowd gasped as a spiraling, dragon-shaped air-compressed projectile burst forth from her blade, roaring toward Wu Lie with unstoppable force. 

The attack struck him square in the chest. The sheer impact sent him hurtling backward like a ragdoll, his massive frame crashing into the ground with a deafening boom that shook the entire arena. Dust and debris erupted from the point of impact, momentarily obscuring him from view. 

The audience erupted into thunderous cheers and shocked murmurs. 

Cang Yue landed gracefully, her eyes locked on the dissipating cloud of dust. Her breathing was steady, her determination unshaken as she readied herself for whatever came next.

"Wow, Neesan went all out against him!" Kon's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his excitement palpable as he clung to the edge of his seat. 

"She didn't take any chances. It's a Wu Clan elite, after all," Yun Che commented, his tone serious, though a faint smile showed his pride. 

Retsu remained silent, her eyes never leaving the arena, while Nemu observed calmly beside her. Nearby, Mio leaned forward with interest, and Mai and Mei clapped and cheered enthusiastically alongside Yuanba. Even Du Ming's usually reserved demeanor shifted as his cheers for Cang Yue grew louder. 

The crowd's murmurs swelled like an undercurrent, filled with awe and disbelief. 

"She's in a league of her own," someone whispered. 

"Who would've thought she could hold her own against a Wu Clan elite?" 

Fen Juecheng sat rigid in his seat, his composure fraying. Sweat beaded his brow as he watched the once-unassuming Cang Yue dominate the match. How did she get this strong? His thoughts raced as he mentally strategized for his clan. If her sword strikes were this potent, he needed a countermeasure—and fast. 

On the imperial platform, Cang Wanhe's usually composed face showed unrestrained pride. His eyes glistened with emotion. Never had he seen his daughter display such mastery and strength. 

"Yue'er… you've grown stronger," Xue Ling murmured softly to herself, her gaze steady as she took in every detail of her sworn sister's performance. 

Inside her mind, Yuyun's voice chimed in with a warning, her tone carrying concern. 

"Yue'er, be careful. I don't think this is over yet." 

Cang Yue took a deep breath, her grip firm on her swords. 

"I know…" she replied inwardly, her resolve sharpening.

Wu Lie spat blood, his grin widening. "Enough playing around. You'll regret pushing me this far!" He tore off his second bracelet, and an ominous purple aura exploded from his body, surging outward like a tidal wave. 

Cang Yue steadied herself, her grip on her swords tightening as she watched his transformation. His muscles swelled, his body doubling in size. His legs thickened, hooves replacing his feet, and massive horns erupted from his head. His human features gave way to the terrifying visage of a bull. 

The audience recoiled in shock. 

"What is that?! He's transforming!" 

"Is that the Wu Clan's beast essence?!" 

Wu Lie let out a thunderous roar, his voice a guttural blend of man and beast. He slammed his massive fists together, the sound reverberating through the arena like a drumbeat. 

Cang Yue's eyes narrowed. She shifted into a defensive stance, her twin swords gleaming under the harsh arena lights. Her heart pounded, but she refused to falter. 

"Little girl," Wu Lie rumbled, his voice distorted by his transformation. "This is your end!" 

Wu Lie spun midair with his axe, the massive blade cutting through the wind with an ominous hum. Cang Yue's eyes widened as she stared at the transformation before her. His already formidable frame had grown even larger, his muscles bulging with raw, unrestrained power. The audience mirrored her shock, their murmurs filling the arena. 

This wasn't the same Wu Lie they had seen before—one who relied on brute strength alone. Now, wielding his axe with deadly precision, he was unleashing his full potential. 

Cang Yue drew her twin swords with swift precision, crossing them just in time to block his incoming strike. The collision rang out like thunder, halting the massive axe mid-swing. 

"Not bad for a little girl," Wu Lie sneered, his smirk widening as he pressed harder, his sheer force rattling the arena floor. He swung again, the heavy axe striking with relentless aggression. 

"You…" Cang Yue gritted her teeth, holding her ground as sparks flew from her blades. The audience held their breath, marveling at how she managed to block such overwhelming strength with her twin swords alone. 

"Nice… the little girl really knows how to fight!" Wu Lie roared, lifting his axe high above his head for another devastating strike. 

In the stands, Cang Wanhe and Xue Ling watched with growing concern. Wu Lie's attacks were unyielding, each blow heavier and more dangerous than the last. Yet Cang Yue didn't falter. 

Sensing the imminent force of his next strike, Cang Yue didn't retreat. Instead, she raised her swords, her body brimming with newfound energy. Her arms flexed as her muscles thickened, veins pulsing with enhanced power. With a calm determination, she reached for Wadou Ichimonji, drawing the blade and biting down on its hilt. 

The crowd erupted into gasps as they realized what was happening. 

"She's using it again…" someone murmured, recalling the unforgettable scene from her battle with Ling Feiyu. 

With her blades in both hands and Wadou Ichimonji clenched firmly in her teeth, Cang Yue assumed her Three Sword Style once more. Her stance was poised, unwavering, and radiating unrelenting strength. 

"Ichi-Gorilla! (One-Strong Strength!)" Cang Yue's right arm surged with power, muscles swelling visibly as her strength dramatically increased. The reaction from the crowd was instantaneous—gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the arena. 

"Ni-Gorilla! (Two-Strong Strength!)" Her left arm followed, the muscle mass growing in perfect symmetry. She raised her swords high above her head, their gleaming blades radiating confidence and determination as a spectral silhouette of a gorilla briefly enveloped her form. 

"Santoryu... (Three Sword Style)," she declared, her voice carrying over the stunned silence. 

Wu Lie let out a guttural laugh, the sound echoing with both disbelief and growing rage. "Is this a test of strength? You overestimate yourself!" He channeled his inner beast power, muscles bulging as he swung his massive axe with unrelenting force. 

Cang Yue didn't flinch. Instead, her three swords struck out in perfect unison. "Nigori-Zake! (Two-Strong Strength Slash!)" she roared. 

The clash was cataclysmic. Her blades met his axe with a thunderous impact, sending bright sparks flying in every direction. The sheer force of the collision seemed to reverberate through the arena, causing the ground beneath their feet to tremble. 

"What a strong attack!" Wu Lie bellowed, his voice tinged with both astonishment and fury as he struggled to maintain his footing. 

The crowd held their breath, mesmerized by the spectacle of brute strength versus refined technique. On one side, the towering, half-man, half-bull figure of Wu Lie; on the other, the poised and unyielding form of Cang Yue, wielding her three swords with calculated precision. 

Cang Yue's determination proved superior. With one final surge of strength, her combined slash overpowered Wu Lie's axe, sending him hurtling backward. His massive frame crashed against the arena's protective barrier with a resounding thud. 

The audience erupted in shock as Cang Yue's arms returned to their normal state, the visible power subsiding. She landed gracefully on the arena floor, her composure intact, as though the entire battle had been nothing more than a warm-up. 

"The muscles cause strains on my arms," Cang Yue muttered, exhaling deeply as she powered down her enhanced muscles, her arms returning to their usual sleek and toned appearance.

"Well, duh," Yuyun's voice sounded in her mind, filled with both amusement and exasperation. "You amplified your strength to ridiculous levels. It's not recommended for prolonged use, even if it boosts your attack power. Remember when you shattered that Moon World tree during practice?"

Cang Yue winced at the memory. "Urrgghh… I know. And the muscles don't even make me look pretty. On top of that, my movement becomes sluggish. More muscle mass doesn't necessarily mean more power if I can't keep up the speed."

"That's all you care about?" Yuyun sighed dramatically.

Before Cang Yue could retort, Wu Lie's enraged roar echoed across the arena. "Little girl! You dare!" he bellowed, his massive form charging forward. Despite the overwhelming strength of her previous attack, Wu Lie emerged seemingly undamaged, his half-bull form pulsating with energy as he swung his axe in a series of heavy, relentless strikes.

Cang Yue's eyes widened in surprise. How durable is this form? she thought, raising her swords to meet the onslaught. The sound of clashing steel reverberated through the arena, each impact a testament to the immense power behind Wu Lie's attacks.

On the sidelines, Xue Ling watched with concern etched across her face, her hands gripping the railing tightly. She couldn't help but feel anxious as Cang Yue faced the barrage of attacks. But to the keen observer, something unusual was happening.

Cang Yue wasn't simply blocking. Her movements, while fluid and controlled, carried a subtle brilliance. With each swing of Wu Lie's axe, she angled her swords just right to divert the force away from herself, minimizing the strain and damage she received. The crowd, focused on the spectacle of strength, didn't immediately notice the finesse behind her technique.

Cang Yue pushed against Wu Lie's axe with her twin swords, forcing him back before leaping high into the air. Her swords glinted under the arena's light as she prepared her next move. 

"Tora Gari! (Tiger Hunting)!" she shouted, crossing her swords and channeling her energy into them. With a fierce cry, she descended in a slashing arc, her aura manifesting into the spectral form of a tiger's head. The attack landed with devastating force, slamming Wu Lie into the arena floor and leaving deep cracks in the ground. 

Despite the power of her attack, Wu Lie's half-bull form proved incredibly resilient. He slowly rose from the crater, brushing off the rubble like it was nothing. "Is that a mosquito bite? You'll have to do better than that, little girl!" he sneered, his voice rumbling through the arena as he emerged from the dust. 

Cang Yue landed gracefully, narrowing her eyes as she assessed the situation. She could feel the strain on her arms from her earlier techniques but knew she couldn't afford to let up. Channeling her inner energy, she infused her second sword with profound power. 

Charging forward, she closed the gap between herself and Wu Lie. The audience held their breath as she raised her swords, their aura growing more intense. 

"Nanajuni Pound Ho! (72 Pound Phoenix)!" she roared. Holding both swords horizontally above her shoulder, she swung them in a powerful circular motion, releasing twin air-compressed dragon projectiles that spiraled toward Wu Lie. 

The two slashes tore through the air with explosive force. Wu Lie instinctively raised his axe to block, but the combined power of the attack was overwhelming. His weapon shattered in his grasp, and the impact sent him hurtling backward into the arena's protective barrier. 

The crowd erupted into stunned applause. "She can launch more than one?" someone in the audience exclaimed, recalling her earlier single-blade technique that had defeated Lin Yueru with a single strike. 

Cang Yue exhaled deeply, her swords still vibrating from the immense energy she had unleashed.

"More! Show me more, little girl!" Wu Lie roared, his booming voice shaking the arena. Charging at her, he struck with relentless force. Cang Yue managed to block, but his amplified strength overwhelmed her. The force of his attack sent her flying backward, her swords spinning through the air before embedding themselves into the arena floor. 

"Little Yue!" Retsu shouted from the seating area, concern flashing in her eyes. Yun Che leaned forward, his gaze intense as he assessed the situation. 

"Yue'er… are you okay?" Yuyun's voice echoed in her mind, steady but worried. 

Cang Yue pushed herself up, brushing the dust off her clothes. "Didn't expect that," she muttered, frustration evident in her voice. She had underestimated Wu Lie's raw power, and now she needed to recover quickly. 

Wu Lie's intimidating form loomed closer as he picked up her fallen swords, brandishing them like trophies. "Hah! To think these little sticks would make fine weapons for me," he sneered. 

"Lie'er! Finish her!" his elder shouted from the stands, his voice filled with urgency. 

With a wild grin, Wu Lie charged again, swinging her own twin swords in heavy arcs. Cang Yue nimbly dodged each strike, her body bending and twisting with her Kami'e skill. His attacks, though powerful, were sluggish and predictable. She danced around his strikes, evading every blow with precision. 

"Without her weapons, she's as good as gone," Fen Juecheng sneered, his eyes alight with schadenfreude. 

"Hahaha… defeated by her own weapons! How humiliating!" Fen Juebi joined in, his laughter echoing through the arena. 

Little Fairy and Chu Yueli watched the battle unfold with a mix of worry and apprehension. To them, Cang Yue seemed like a novice—a soft-hearted girl thrust into a brutal arena. Chu Yueli's delicate features were tense as her eyes followed every movement, while Little Fairy's expression, though worried, held a glimmer of faith. 

"She's too soft against that thing, Onee-san." Chu Yueli murmured, her voice tinged with concern. 

Little Fairy's gaze didn't waver from the arena. "She may seem soft, but don't underestimate her," she replied calmly.

"That rascal trained her. She won't lose to something like this." Little Fairy speaks in her mind.

Chu Yueli turned to her sister, surprised by the confidence in her tone. "You really think she can win?" 

Little Fairy nodded faintly, her eyes narrowing as she watched Cang Yue dodge another heavy strike. "She's not just fighting with skill. She's fighting with purpose. That's what makes the difference." 

Cang Yue knew she couldn't dodge forever. Each move drained her stamina, and the pressure was mounting. But in her mind, a spark of determination flared. 

"There's one technique… I practiced it once," she thought, her heart racing. "I don't know if I can do it again, but now's the time to try!" 

Planting her feet firmly on the ground, she focused inward, her energy surging. The arena held its breath as Cang Yue prepared to turn the tide of the battle.

"Let's see how you feel being defeated by your own swords!" Wu Lie, now in his beast form, roared as he brandished Shisui and Shusui, their edges gleaming with deadly intent. He lunged forward, aiming a ferocious strike at Cang Yue.

Instead of retreating, Cang Yue stood her ground, her arms crossing in front of her. A faint metallic gleam spread over her skin as she coated her arms with Haki, turning them jet black. The twin blades descended with all the force of Wu Lie's Peak Spirit Profound Realm strength, but the moment they struck, they stopped dead, unable to pierce her defense.

The arena fell silent, the crowd staring in stunned disbelief. She had stopped a full-powered strike with nothing but her arms—completely unscathed.

"You can't beat me if all you know is how to swing a sword without understanding how to wield it," Cang Yue said, her voice calm and steady.

With a sudden motion, she uncrossed her arms and took a deep breath, energy swirling around her like a brewing storm. "Mutoryuu! (No Sword Style) Tatsumaki! (Twister)"

A whirlwind of power erupted from her fists, forming the unmistakable shapes of dragon kirins as they spiraled upward. The attack struck Wu Lie with immense force, launching him high into the air amidst roaring winds and shimmering energy.

From the sidelines, Yun Che and the others watched in awe as the crowd gasped. Cang Yue had not only mastered Tatsumaki but had executed it flawlessly without even needing her swords.

Wu Lie spun wildly in the air, his profound energy bursting outward to shatter the remnants of the tornado that had flung him skyward. With a roar, he unleashed his full strength, his controlled bull form amplifying his power. "Don't underestimate me!" he bellowed, gripping Cang Yue's twin swords tightly as he spun like a top, descending toward her in a devastating attack.

Cang Yue, her arms still gleaming with Busoshoku no Haki, calmly assessed the situation. Without hesitation, she activated Soru, disappearing in a blur of speed. In a heartbeat, she retrieved the lone sword resting on the arena floor—the Wadou Ichimonji.

"Die!!!" Wu Lie roared as he closed in.

Unfazed, Cang Yue took her stance, preparing to draw the Wadou Ichimonji. Her eyes sharpened with focus as she channeled her Haki into the blade. The crowd gasped collectively as the sword transformed, its surface darkening to a deep, pure black. The once simple weapon now radiated an overwhelming aura of power.

"Kokutou…" she whispered as the transformation completed. Her voice rose in tandem with her energy. "Shi Shi Sonson! (Lion's Song)"

In a flash, she vanished again, her speed blinding. The motion was seamless—a rapid unsheathing, a precise and devastating slash, and a resheathing of the blade—all executed in the span of a single second.

Slash!

Wu Lie froze mid-spin, his eyes wide in disbelief. The sound of steel cutting through air—and something more—echoed across the silent arena. A thin, precise line of light shimmered in his path before his spinning momentum faltered, and his body crumpled to the ground.

The arena erupted into chaos as the audience erupted in awe and disbelief, their cheers a thunderous roar.

The single slash was all it took. Both combatants stood frozen, their movements halted as though time itself had paused. The twin swords Wu Lie wielded were flung from his massive bull-like arms, spinning through the air before embedding themselves into the arena floor with a resounding clang. 

The audience sat in stunned silence, watching as Cang Yue stood with her back to Wu Lie. Her sword was already halfway sheathed, her composure steady, her expression veiled by resolve. Across from her, Wu Lie's towering form trembled, the immense power of his bull transformation faltering.

"I am sorry…" Cang Yue whispered, her voice low but carried by the hush that had overtaken the arena.

A spray of blood erupted from Wu Lie's chest, staining the air as his monstrous form lost its brilliance. The light in his glowing eyes dimmed, replaced by emptiness. With a final shudder, his body collapsed to the ground, the arena trembling under the weight of his fall.

Cang Yue turned to face her fallen opponent, her grip tightening briefly on the hilt of her blade before she fully sheathed it with a soft click. She sighed, her gaze somber. She hadn't aimed for any vital points, yet the damage she inflicted was irreversible. Wu Lie's monstrous form was broken beyond repair. Yun Che's words echoed in her mind—this transformation forced upon the Wu Clan disciples was a one-way path. Once they succumbed to it, their humanity was lost forever.

She had defeated him before that could happen. It was mercy, but it felt bitter. 

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Blue Wind Imperial Family – Cang Yue wins!

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"Sigh, that girl worries me," Xue Ling muttered, her voice heavy with concern. She wasn't the only one; Retsu, seated nearby, sighed softly as well. Though they trusted Cang Yue's abilities, facing the Wu Clan was no small matter. Yet, despite the odds, Cang Yue had tackled the challenge with resolve and precision. 

"Yuu-neesan did well. Kon-sama is proud!" Kon declared dramatically, pretending to wipe tears from his eyes.

Retsu chuckled softly at his antics and silently proud of Cang Yue, while Yun Che leaned back with a grin. "She's come a long way," he said. "She just learned the singular sword slash yesterday, and now she's already perfected it with two swords. That girl really is a genius. Face the Heavenly Sword Villa and Wu Clan all by herself."

Nemu, sitting quietly beside him, nodded in agreement. "Yue-nee-sama's training is showing. Her adaptability is remarkable."

The group watched Cang Yue as she gracefully exited the arena, her calm demeanor belying the intensity of her battle moments ago. The crowd's awed whispers followed her every step.

"She won? Against the Wu Clan?" someone in the audience exclaimed in disbelief. Murmurs spread through the crowd as the reality of the match settled in. 

The Wu Clan was no ordinary opponent—they were a powerful force under the Four Great Sects. First, Retsu had bested Wu Fei, and now, Cang Yue had defeated Wu Lie. Their failures were an unbearable blow to the clan, especially to Wu Xingwu, who stood gritting his teeth in frustration. The Wu Clan's efforts to eliminate the so-called conspirators in the deaths of their elder, Wu Nie, and his grandson had now completely fallen apart. They planned to let the feral forms loose and blamed it on them should the conspirators killed in the arena. 

"Incredible. Such incredible prowess in the way of the sword," an elder from another sect remarked, his voice tinged with awe. 

"More like three swords," another added, shaking his head in amazement. 

Cang Yue froze in her tracks, her Haki screaming a warning as she turned back toward the fallen Wu Lie. A feral, unrelenting aura surged from his unconscious form. The arena collectively gasped as Wu Lie, who moments ago lay defeated, began to move. But this was no longer Wu Lie. 

His body convulsed, and grotesque transformations overtook him. His human features contorted, vanishing entirely as his form expanded into that of a massive, humanoid bull. His muscles rippled, his horns grew longer, and his face was now fully beast-like. 

"ROARRR!!" 

The thunderous roar shook the arena as the newly transformed Wu Lie stood, fully consumed by his feral form. His consciousness was entirely gone—this was no longer a human being but a rampaging beast. 

Cang Yue's eyes widened in alarm. The eerie similarity to the previous transformation from the Wu Clan was unmistakable. But this time, it had happened almost instantly after defeat. 

The audience erupted into chaos. Elders from the villa scrambled to act, their protective barrier already deactivated, leaving the spectators exposed. But before they could intervene, two silhouettes flashed into action with astonishing speed. 

One figure moved with an icy precision, freezing the area around the transformed Wu Lie in an instant. The beast roared as frost rapidly encased its limbs and body, locking it in place. The other silhouette descended like a blade of wind, a sharp, radiant slash cleaving through the frozen beast with surgical precision. 

"Slash!!" 

The frozen form of Wu Lie shattered, the beast's blood burst out from its slashed chest before it fell backwards. The figures avoided fatal attacks to preserve the sanctity of the tournament. The audience held their breath, stunned by the sudden resolution. All eyes turned toward the two figures who had intervened, their silhouettes slowly coming into view against the dissipating mist. 

Cang Yue's breath hitched as her Haki confirmed the identities of the figures who had intervened. The first was Xue Ling, her blade gleaming as she delivered the finishing strike that silenced the feral bull for good. The other, whose presence sent a chill across the arena, was none other than Chu Yueli, whose precise ice-based techniques had frozen the beast solid moments before the decisive blow.

Xue Ling's blade had cut cleanly through the creature's thick chest, the force of her strike causing a burst of blood to stain the arena. The bull let out a final, pitiful roar before collapsing permanently, its monstrous form fell backwards to the arena floor.

The audience was stunned into silence before breaking into murmurs of disbelief. Two renowned figures, each respected and feared in their own right, had just joined forces to protect Cang Yue. The sight of Xue Ling and Chu Yueli standing side by side on the arena floor sent waves of shock through the crowd.

Cang Yue, though relieved, watched with some apprehension as the two protectors turned to face each other. Their gazes locked in a silent clash, tension crackling between them. It was clear neither had expected the other to step in.

Xue Ling's piercing stare bore into Chu Yueli. Why are you here? her eyes seemed to ask. I can protect her myself. 

Chu Yueli's gaze was equally sharp, silently retorting, As if I would leave her safety entirely to you. She is precious to me as Nezuko's guardian and Mihawk's disciple.

For a moment, the arena was charged not with the aftermath of battle but the unspoken rivalry between the two powerful women.

"Ehehehe... Mama and Haha are funny," Nezuko chirped from her seat on Gong Yuxian's lap. The Asgard Mistress sighed, watching her daughter Chu Yueli's increasingly impulsive behavior. Despite her composed nature, Chu Yueli's actions had betrayed a protective instinct, revealing a crack in her usual calm. Nezuko, however, seemed blissfully unaware of the tension, her innocent voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere like sunlight breaking through clouds. She clapped her hands with delight, unfazed by the intensity of what had just transpired.

Xue Ling and Chu Yueli exchanged one final glance before wordlessly gliding back to their seating area. Cang Yue let out a breath, a mixture of relief and mild exasperation. The rivalry between the two women was palpable, but she couldn't deny that their intervention had saved her precious time and effort. What struck her most was their uncanny ability to coordinate effortlessly, even amidst their unspoken competition.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Sword Villa's enforcers moved swiftly, carrying away the unconscious bull that was once Wu Lie to place it under strict observation. Ling Wugou, overseeing the arena, turned his sharp gaze on the Wu Clan elders and issued a stern warning. "Should such an incident occur again, the consequences will be severe, including penalties against your clan."

The Wu Clan elders bowed in acknowledgment, their faces impassive, but their eyes betrayed their simmering fury and resentment. Though they agreed publicly, their minds were already calculating their next move. It was clear that the Blue Wind Imperial Family had become their primary target. Eliminating them was now a top priority, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their goal.

"You okay?" Yun Che asked as Cang Yue returned to their seating area, brushing dust off her robes.

"Yes," Cang Yue replied, her tone calm but her gaze sharp as she focused on Wu Xingwu, the last remaining elite of the Wu Clan. "These people are barbaric. Only one of them is left, Che'er, and we must keep him in mind."

Yun Che nodded, his expression darkening as he followed her gaze. "We won't let the same thing happen again," he muttered, recalling the panther-like transformation from before. This time, they had crippled the bull before it could cause irreparable damage, but the Wu Clan's methods were growing more dangerous. His eyes narrowed at the elders, whose frustration was poorly concealed behind their stiff expressions.

The Wu Clan elders clicked their tongues in irritation, their faces twisted with barely contained rage. Not only had their warrior been defeated, but Cang Yue had also thwarted the complete feral takeover. Wu Lie's failure was absolute. To them, he was now useless, a loose end that needed to be silenced before his continued existence jeopardized their plans.

Cang Yue clenched her fists, her heart heavy with anger and pity. Her gaze bore into the Wu Clan's cold, calculating faces, filled with disgust for their actions. These were people who stripped their disciples of humanity, reducing them to tools for their own ambitions.

How many lives have been sacrificed for their gains? she thought bitterly, her chest tightening as she considered the atrocities committed under the shadow of the Mighty Heavenly Sword Region's influence. Wu Lie, even in his monstrous state, was a victim of their cruelty. Her pity for him burned alongside her loathing for the ones who had shaped him into what he became.