With a surge of Spiritual Energy swirling inside him, Qin Lan dashed forward like a shadow cast by a falling blade. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly from the force of his movement as he closed the gap between them in a blink.
Xiao Wei, meanwhile, remained calm.
His sword—a Tier 2 weapon—gleamed under the sunlight. Though he lacked the advanced training of a traditional swordsman, in his previous life he had wielded a sword enough times to understand the fundamentals. Muscle memory, instinct, and calm intent flowed through him.
*I may not be a master of the sword, but I only need one good strike*Xiao Wei thought.
Qin Lan struck with a horizontal slash aimed for Xiao Wei's ribs, hoping to end it early with a decisive blow. But to the spectators surprise, Xiao Wei twisted his body, parried with precision, and deflected the sword with the flat of his own.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A rapid series of blows echoed through the arena as Qin Lan launched a barrage of attacks—downward cuts, rising jabs, sweeping strikes. Yet, each time, Xiao Wei moved with practiced focus, deflecting the attacks or dodging them by mere inches.
Even Old Yang's expression shifted.
"He's not just a simple Martial Apprentice Realm Cultivator... that level of control over his body and sword... it's only natural when someone fought with sword for years"Old Yang muttered to himself in a low voice.
The crowd, which had expected a one-sided display, began to murmur again. Cheers for Qin Lan were now mixed with startled exclamations at Xiao Wei's surprising performance.
"Enough games!"Qin Lan growled, visibly frustrated that a Martial Apprentice Realm opponent was still standing.
His Spiritual Energy flared around him, swirling into his sword.
"I'll end this now—Sky Exploding Slash!"Qin Lan shouted, his sword bursting into bright blue light, slicing through the air with devastating momentum.
The spectating Cultivator gasped.
"That's the same High Tier Human Grade Martial Technique, Qin Lin used to defeat Chen Xiao!"
Xiao Wei's eyes narrowed.
He braced himself and raised his sword defensively. The moment Qin Lan brought down his blade, it felt as if the sky itself cracked. A powerful wave of force surged downward—Xiao Wei blocked it with both hands.
CRACK!
The impact shattered Xiao Wei's Tier 2 sword instantly. The fragments scattered like broken stars, clinking as they hit the ground. Xiao Wei was forced a step back, his arms trembling slightly from the force, but he remained standing.
If Qin Lan had mastered the Sky Exploding Slash beyond the Initial Stage, the result could have been far worse.
Breathing hard, Qin Lan stepped forward, sweat on his brow. His Spiritual Energy was clearly diminished, but his pride demanded more.
"It's my win, I'll end it properly this time!"Qin Lan declared smugly.
With a cry, he raised his sword once more, ready to unleash another Sky Exploding Slash.
But before the attack could begin, Xiao Wei moved.
His figure blurred as he activated Water Flow Steps, a Movement Technique as graceful as it was fast. He flowed like water, his footsteps nearly silent, closing the distance before Qin Lan could react.
Qin Lan's eyes widened.
"What—?!"Qin Lin gasped.
Xiao Wei's right fist glowed faintly with Spiritual Energy as he gathered his strength and executed a powerful strike.
Mountain Fist!
The moment his fist collided with Qin Lan's sword, an explosion of force erupted at the point of impact. The sword vibrated violently under the impact, and with a sharp snap, his Tier 2 sword shattered into two jagged pieces.
CRASH!
The fragments clattered to the ground, while Qin Lan stumbled backward in disbelief.
But it wasn't a flawless victory. Xiao Wei's fist began to bleed. His knuckles were bruised and cracked—striking a Tier 2 weapon directly with his fist, even with a Martial Technique, took its toll. Blood dripped from his hand, staining the dirt below.
Yet he stood tall.
The audience was stunned into silence.
"He broke the sword... with his bare hand?"
"What Martial Technique was that?!"
Old Yang leaned forward.
"A Middle Tier Human Grade Fist Martial Technique and he comprehended it already at a Large Perfection stage."Old Yang muttered to himself in low voice.
Qin Lan, panting, stared at the remains of his sword. His face turned red with frustration. The backlash of Sky Exploding Slash and the cost of Spiritual Energy had drained him.
At that moment, he take out a small jade bottle from his Storage Ring.
Click.
He popped the top and revealed a glowing pill inside—Tier 1 Spirit Power Pill.
Without hesitation, he threw the pill into his mouth and swallowed.
The surge of Spiritual Energy returned quickly to his limbs, and his Spiritual Energy presence spiked once more. Because he was in the middle of the battle, he was not able to fully absorbed the pill effect and only one-fifth of his Spiritual Energy returned.
Xiao Wei narrowed his eyes.
On the other side, Shi Man stepped forward, furious.
"That's cheating! This is just a sparring match! Why are you using pills to recover mid-fight?!"Shi Man shouted.
The crowd murmured in agreement.
Even some neutral spectators frowned at the unsportsmanlike act.
Qin Lan scoffed.
"It's not cheating. I'm a Tier 1 Alchemist. I refined these pills myself."Qin Lan said calmly although he felt ashamed to
He pulled out a badge from his Storage Ring—a jade medallion engraved with one star symbol of the Alchemist Guild.
The badge glinted under the sunlight, and a few Cultivators in the crowd nodded in recognition. Indeed, it was genuine.
"Just because it's a spar doesn't mean I should hold back. As a Cultivator, we must be prepared to use all resources to survive. Or is your side too weak to understand that?"Qin Lan said arrogantly.
Shi Man clenched his fists, but Shi Feng placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him.
Xiao Wei, however, remained unmoved.
Qin Lan's lips curled with pride as he tucked the medallion away. His Spiritual Energy get replenished by the Spirit Power Pill. He smirked, confident that his declaration would silence any accusations.
Shi Man took a step forward, anger flashing in his eyes.
"You—!"Shi Man said.
But before he could speak, Xiao Wei raised his hand, gently halting him.
"Let it go"Xiao Wei said calmly, his eyes fixed on Qin Lan.
Then he laughed—not mockingly, but with quiet amusement that echoed strangely in the tense air.
He tilted his head slightly, looking at Qin Lan as if the young child boasting of something insignificant.
"What a coincidence. I also happen to be a Tier 1 Alchemist. I was planning to visit the Alchemist Guild in Feng City soon to apply for my badge."Xiao Wei said casually, his voice neither arrogant nor weak.
The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Silence fell over the onlookers. A few jaws dropped.
Then, slowly, Xiao Wei reached into his Storage Ring and pulled out a small, clear jade vial. Inside sat a Tier 1 Spirit Power Pill, nearly identical to the ones Qin Lan had consumed. He held it up between his fingers, letting the crowd see it—but he didn't eat it.
"I refined this myself. But I didn't plan to rely on it during a simple spar."Xiao Wei said, his voice still light, but his eyes sharp.
The implication stung harder than a slap.
Qin Lan's face darkened.
"You're lying! You're just making things up to look impressive!"Qin Lan snapped, his voice loud and unsteady.
"But it's the truth"Xiao Wei replied, his tone unshaken.
His calmness only made Qin Lan's frustration more obvious.
Before the argument could spiral, Qin La send a voice transmission to Qin Lan.
'Qin Lan, don't embarrass the Qin Clan further.'
Qin Lan froze. His fingers clenched and unclenched, knuckles whitening. He looked at Xiao Wei, but the fire in his gaze now carried a flicker of hesitation.
With no more words, he let out a frustrated growl and rushed forward—this time abandoning his broken weapon. He clenched his fists, clearly intending to fight hand-to-hand.
Spiritual Energy surged around Qin Lan's arms as he threw himself at Xiao Wei with renewed fury. His strikes were wild but fueled by desperation, aiming to overwhelm Xiao Wei through raw strength and relentless pressure.
But Xiao Wei met him head-on, raising his own fists to engage.
Each time their fists collided, it sounded like stone striking steel. Dust swirled around them. Xiao Wei's steps were measured and precise, his every motion fluid and reactive. His Water Flow Steps allowed him to glide across the ground, absorbing the rhythm of Qin Lan's movements like flowing water around jagged rocks.
Despite the difference in Cultivation Realms, Xiao Wei's Spiritual Energy remained firm and stable, his strikes focused and refined. Every punch he blocked or deflected chipped away at Qin Lan's stamina and composure.
*****
[Author Note]
Thank you for taking the time to read my novel. Your thoughts and feedback mean a great deal to me. As a writer, I'm always striving to grow and improve, and your comments can help guide me in that journey.
If there's anything you particularly enjoyed, I'd love to hear about it. And if there's something that didn't work for you—whether it's a character, plot point, pacing, or anything else—please don't hesitate to let me know. Honest and constructive feedback, whether positive or critical, is incredibly valuable.
Your input not only helps me understand what readers connect with, but also what areas might need more attention. I truly appreciate every comment, and I'm grateful for your support.
Thank you again for reading!