Chapter 113: Stepping Forward Without Hesitation

I felt a bit dizzy this evening, so I took a short nap and ended up waking at nearly two in the morning.

Sweating bullets!

My apologies, everyone. Please bear with me.

I need recommendations! It seems I’ve been overtaken in the rankings~

***

A peak four-star magic swordsman is comparable in overall combat power to a mid-level five-star swordsman or mage, but the outcome of an actual duel depends on individual ability.

On the arena stage, the dark-skinned youth who had unseated the five-star junior magic swordsman ‘Leio’ was undoubtedly a formidable talent. Should he advance any further, he would certainly become a young expert whom the various official mercenary corps would scramble to recruit.

Yet, under such circumstances, a four-star mage actually had the audacity to speak arrogantly and issue a challenge... and the opponent was even a student from the Qingyun Empire. How could he not be furious?

Looking closer, he saw the opponent was only at the fourth rank of the four-star level. The dark-skinned youth almost thought he had run into a fool.

Xu Wen, however, squeezed out of the crowd without hesitation.

The opponent was indeed very strong and rich in combat experience, but not enough to make him fearful.

Was his true strength really just that of a four-star, fourth-rank fire mage?

This minor misjudgment alone had already caused some interference for his opponent. Moreover, through their brief exchange just now, he had already caught a glimpse of the opponent's combat strengths and patterns.

Yet, the opponent knew absolutely nothing about him!

Without hesitation, he walked toward the official arena registration desk.

At this moment, everyone was anticipating a battle between the student from the distant Qingyun Empire and the student from the Blood Mansion, so naturally, no one stepped in to cut the line.

After verifying his cultivation, bone age, mercenary group, and mercenary rank, the official in charge nodded, signaling that Xu Wen could take the stage—though he would have to wait for the current champion to finish resting.

"If I knock the enemy off the stage, does that count as a win?"

"Of course."

The official nodded and replied, "But you must wait until the champion has finished resting before the fight can begin." After every match, the champion was allowed ten minutes to rest, recover their battle qi, spiritual power, and stamina. Before the match started, mages were permitted to cast defensive magic.

Xu Wen nodded and turned around.

"Junior Brother Xu! Be careful!"

"Vice Captain... it’s up to you now."

Ailin and the others squeezed over, one after another, to cheer him on.

Xu Wen gave a calm smile, nodded, and with a composed demeanor, slowly walked onto the stage.

The seven-star swordsman took a large gulp of wine, smiling as he watched Xu Wen’s back: "Let me see just how capable the genius youth favored by Dean Nodin truly is."

Boom!

The moment he stepped onto the stage, the crowd below immediately erupted.

"What’s going on over there? So lively!"

Outside the plaza, a group of people happened to be passing by. Startled by the wave of sound coming from afar, they looked toward the commotion. The three youths were none other than the Fourth Prince, who had just been released from his house arrest, Lu Piaoling, and a beautiful youth dressed in men's clothing.

"It’s just someone defending the stage; is there really a need to make such a fuss?"

Lu Piaoling grumbled, only to be met with an eye-roll from the beautiful youth:

"Big Brother Lu, it seems you’ve never even challenged the arena yourself. Fourth Prince, why not just let Big Brother Lu go up and knock the person on stage off? What do you think?"

"Little sister, stop teasing me. With my level, wouldn't I just be going up to get beaten?"

As soon as these words of self-awareness left Lu Piaoling's mouth, the Fourth Prince and his little sister looked at him with newfound respect. Before they could even praise his newfound humility, he followed up with another remark:

"I’ve realized it now: I’m only fit to govern a country or serve as a civil official. Being a famous general is just not for me."

"You’d burst if you didn't brag!"

Turning her back to him, the little sister urged them to go see what was happening: "Fourth Royal Brother, let’s go take a look. There might actually be a powerful newcomer."

"Fine."

The Fourth Prince nodded. "Let’s see who’s making such a scene." It had been a long time since he had seriously watched a match at an official arena like this.

Before they even reached the stage, the three of them recognized one of the participants:

"Why is it him?"

"Didn't that kid just successfully defend the stage a while ago and obtain the 'Black Stone Blade' from the 'Black Chief' mercenary corps? Why is he back? Is he addicted to defending the stage?"

Lu Piaoling rolled his eyes in astonishment, staring at the stage.

"It really is that guy 'Xulan'. No wonder it caused such a stir. Then his opponent..." The little sister’s interest was suddenly piqued, and the three of them quickly scanned the other person on the stage...

"Eh?"

It was actually him!

Recognizing the youth on the stage, the three were dumbfounded, looking at one another in shock.

Hastily asking someone nearby and clarifying the situation, the ‘little sister’—who was cross-dressing—lowered her voice and said through gritted teeth: "You damn kid, you’d better win. If you dare to lose face for our Qingyun Empire, I... I will personally see to it that both of you are thrown into the swamps of the Mud Dragon Pool!"

Qingyun Academy versus the Blood Mansion?

To think that kid actually dared to accept that challenge...

Even after staying in the Blood Alliance for so long, they themselves wouldn't dare to stir up such a sensitive topic.

After the initial shock, the Fourth Prince was the first to calm down, saying to the other two: "Watch closely. After all, he is a disciple of *that* person. He is well-qualified to represent the four-star disciples of Qingyun Academy."

"Hmph."

The little sister was still fuming.

The gap between the Blood Mansion and Qingyun Academy, and the gap between the Qingyun Empire and the Blood Alliance, were already very apparent. If they were to lose after this battle, the issues they had tried so hard to avoid would surely blow up. She glared at the two on the stage with resentment, her mind already wandering toward how she would ‘torture’ the defeated fool to vent her frustration.

"Begin!"

The ten minutes were up, and the person in charge announced the start of the battle.

The dark-skinned youth ‘Xulan’ opened his eyes, and a pale, earthy-grey, sand-like battle qi quickly covered his body, forming a suit of armor that resembled a toad’s skin—mottled, yet tightly interconnected, looking incredibly sturdy.

Below the stage, the defeated Gao E was still watching the opponent who had beaten him with unconcealed humiliation and unwillingness, but unfortunately, no one was paying him any mind.

The earth-type Quicksand style’s battle qi armor inherently possessed the ability to weaken attacks, and it was exceptionally sturdy; attacks of the same level could hardly cause damage, and even higher-level attacks had very limited effect.

He had relied on this armor to fight five-star professionals to a standstill, and ultimately, he had used hidden equipment that stored battle qi energy to defeat the five-star magic swordsman ‘Gao E’ in one fell swoop.

Xu Wen was well aware of all this...

The moment the announcer below declared the start of the battle, a ring of blazing fire rapidly formed around his body.

Xulan was more prone to rage than expected, especially when provoked by a weaker opponent at a lower level. The ten minutes of waiting hadn't calmed him down; instead, he was eager to defeat his opponent with a quick and decisive battle. He didn't want to engage in a long, drawn-out grind like he had with the powerful five-star magic swordsman.

Seeing Xu Wen complete his first spell, he snorted coldly. Although slightly surprised by the fluidity and subtlety of the magic, he didn't hesitate to stomp on the ground and launch a rapid sprint!

Whoosh!

A layer of dark-grey quicksand rock rose from the arena, swirling up like a tidal wave to obscure Xu Wen’s vision, and as Xulan closed in, it surged toward Xu Wen with equal speed.

The battle officially began, and the audience’s emotions were instantly ignited. They cheered, shouting slogans for Xulan to destroy the kid from Qingyun.

The voices of Ailin and the others were completely drowned out. Only the seven-star swordsman took another lazy gulp of wine, his eyes narrowing slightly, staring fixedly at the two figures rapidly closing in on the stage.

"Thinking of closing in with this method?"

Xu Wen sneered inwardly. A whip formed of black flames snaked out from his right palm like a phantom. He tightened his grip!

"Go!"

Three bright rings of fire dragged beautiful flames behind them, splitting into three paths—up, left, and right—dodging the quicksand barrier and simultaneously firing at the opponent hidden behind the rocks.

Attacks equivalent to a four-star mid-level intensity landed on Xulan’s body like a mere tickle; however, three clear marks appeared on Xulan’s quicksand battle qi armor.

"Is that all you’ve got?"

Xulan channeled his battle qi, slowly healing the cracks in his armor while sneering, and charged within twenty meters of Xu Wen without stopping!

Just then.

A crisp ‘crack’ sounded in the air, and a black trail quickly dissipated!

Below the stage, by the time the crowd reacted, the ‘Black Flame Whip’ had already extended with lightning speed to its maximum limit. In less than two seconds, it whipped Xulan three heavy blows from behind the quicksand barrier.

Even Xulan hadn't reacted in time!

The essence of an Earth-Emperor level spell.

The features of the Black Flame Whip were its speed, physical damage, and magical damage.

The first lash felt like a lightning strike to Xulan, halting his momentum; the second lash widened the cracks in his armor, bringing him to a complete stop; the third lash caused the quicksand barrier, which relied on external battle qi, to lose its support and collapse, leaving a clear tear in Xulan’s armor!

Ugh!

Xulan was terrified. He couldn't afford to continue his assault and retreated in a hurry. He drew a yellow sword and quickly slashed several lines in the air, forming a hollow, three-dimensional cone-shaped defense around his body.

When he looked up again, his gaze toward Xu Wen had become noticeably grave.

The crowd below had also fallen into a dead silence!

A single exchange had forced Xulan to retreat and reveal his defensive technique!

Xu Wen had succeeded with his first strike, but his expression showed no joy. He raised both hands, and with a dense sound of ‘pop-pop-pop’, fine powder filled the center of the arena.

"That is..."

"What is that stuff?"

Although Xulan didn't know what it was, his instinct told him—it was dangerous!

Just as he was about to leap away, the black whip mark had already sliced through the powder, striking the cone-shaped defensive barrier around him.

Although the power contained within the magic couldn't stop Xulan from moving, it successfully delayed his escape from the powder zone...

BOOM!!!

A shocking wave of fire erupted, forming a massive fire cloud that nearly filled the entire arena!

The suddenly expanding cloud of fire startled everyone below, causing an instinctive reaction to back away. Some even activated their own battle qi and defensive skills.

The appearance of the fire cloud also made the seven-star swordsman below frown. His ears twitched; he heard several sharp *swoosh* sounds within the flames, followed by a muffled groan!

Immediately after, a black shadow was sent flying off the stage.

The crowd below erupted...

Xulan was defeated!

The fire cloud dissipated, revealing Xu Wen’s exceptionally tall and straight silhouette.

Scanning the area with a calm gaze, Xu Wen’s eyes finally landed on a young man who had been isolated by the crowd:

"Hey you, get up here!"