Turbulent Skies
The Azure shield spun around, intercepting the bear cultivator's powerful fist. Just as it seemed like the shield would shatter, a flash of long hair appeared, and the bear cultivators suddenly retreated. The shield dissipated, revealing the figure behind it – Ling Tian. He looked around, confused, and that's when he saw her – Jin Shè, the Snake Queen's daughter.
"Are you okay, Ling Tian?" Jin Shè asked, her voice gentle as she smiled.
Ling Tian's gaze lingered on her, and when he realized she was the one who had saved him, his expression turned arrogant. "You shouldn't have saved me!" he exclaimed, his voice loud and dismissive. "I could have taken them down!"
Jin Shè's face fell, and she frowned, her eyes flashing with anger. "You ungrateful fool! I save you, and this is how you repay me? You're so arrogant!"
With a swift motion, she turned and flew away, leaving Ling Tian standing alone. The specter looked at them with a shocked expression, his mouth open. "Arrogant, indeed," he whispered.
The crowd erupted into cheers as the ring announcer took the stage, his voice booming through the arena. "And now, for our third match, we have Chen Léi versus Gao Yuan!"
Gao Yuan, a young man with a slender build and short silver hair, stepped into the ring. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, seemed to gleam with an inner light. He was a member of the Heavenly Clan, and his cultivation level was impressive – the 9th layer of the Core Formation stage.
Chen Léi, on the other hand, was a robust young man with short black hair and piercing golden eyes. He was a member of the Thunder Clan, and his physique seemed to be infused with the power of lightning. His cultivation level was also at the 8th layer of the Core Formation stage.
The two opponents faced each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. Gao Yuan began to circle around Chen Léi, his eyes fixed intently on his opponent. He took a step forward, his movements fluid and deliberate. As he did, his eyes gleamed with starlight, and he focused his heavenly energy.
With a subtle motion, Gao Yuan's right hand sealed into the Tian Zhan posture. His thumb and index finger formed a circle, while his middle finger extended outward, bent at the second knuckle. His ring and pinky fingers curled inward, touching the palm of his hand.
As he channeled heavenly energy into his hand, a brilliant white light began to emanate from it. A razor-sharp, ethereal blade materialized, measuring three feet in length and one inch in thickness. The edge of the blade glowed with a soft blue light, and Gao Yuan's eyes seemed to burn with an inner intensity.
With a swift and graceful motion, Gao Yuan slashed downward, unleashing his Heavenly Slash. The blade sliced through the air, leaving a trail of glittering stardust in its wake. A powerful shockwave erupted from the slash, visible as rippling air distortions that seemed to shake the very fabric of reality.
Chen Léi's eyes narrowed as he anticipated Gao Yuan's attack. His body sealed into a unique stance, his feet shoulder-width apart and his knees slightly bent. His fists were clenched, and his arms extended in front of him, with his torso angled forward and his head lowered.
As he focused thunder energy into his body, his muscles began to ripple and expand. A brilliant yellow glow enveloped his arm and torso, representing enhanced strength and durability.
The air was electric with tension as Gao Yuan's Heavenly Slash hurtled toward Chen Léi. The young cultivator's eyes flashed with determination, and he slammed his fists together with a deafening crash.
The impact created a massive wave that collided with Gao Yuan's slash, releasing a brilliant flash of light and a deafening clap of thunder. The two energies clashed violently, causing the air to shake and the ground to tremble.
The crowd held its collective breath as the two cultivators stood locked in a fierce standoff, their energies locked in a struggle that seemed to shake the very foundations of the arena.Chen Léi's eyes blazed with lightning as he inhaled deeply. His body sealed into a unique stance, his feet together, knees slightly bent, fists clenched, and arms at his sides. His torso angled forward, and he unleashed a mighty roar, releasing a massive amount of thunder energy.
A visible wave of yellow energy erupted from his body, rushing towards Gao Yuan. Gao Yuan attempted to dodge, but the thunder roar engulfed him. His body was knocked backward several feet, and he crashed down, motionless.
The force of the attack had caused internal damage, and Gao Yuan lay still, seemingly defeated. "That was a powerful attack," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I must counter with my space element."
From his prone position, Gao Yuan focused his heavenly energy. A brilliant white glow enveloped his body, and his eyes blazed with starlight as he sealed a unique hand sign, Tian Ji Shou. His thumb and index finger formed a circle, while his middle finger extended outward, bent at the second knuckle. His ring and pinky fingers curled inward, touching the palm.
He channeled his energy into the ground, creating a massive spatial distortion. The air around Chen Léi rippled and distorted, and his body was lifted into the air, suspended by invisible forces.
Gao Yuan teleported behind Chen Léi and struck him with a powerful palm strike. Chen Léi's body hurtled toward the ground, his internal damage worsening. His body was battered, and his breathing grew labored.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Gao Yuan, seemingly defeated just moments before, had turned the tables on Chen Léi. The young cultivator's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed intently on his opponent as he struggled to regain his footing.
The ring announcer's voice rang out, filled with excitement. "It seems the table has turned, the winner is Gao Yuan!" The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing through the arena. The specter's eyes lit up with interest. "This guy is special, I like his tactics." He muttered to himself, his gaze fixed intently on Gao Yuan. Just then, someone approached the ring announcer and whispered something in his ear. The ring announcer nodded thoughtfully, then stepped forward, his voice commanding attention. "Shh, silence! It seems this is the end of the first round, as the next combatants have been called for some reason, so it has been canceled. We are starting the second round tournament with... Ling...