The atmosphere of the arena had completely transformed. Where there were once jokes and laughter, there was now only terror and a deathly silence.
Ye Fang stood in the center of the arena like a burning ember. One after another, the legendary warriors of Sanmiao City had bit the dust. Some he dispatched with a simple shove; others had their swords bent like twigs by his bare fingers. The System's voice echoed in his mind like a machine gun:
[Ding! Second opponent defeated!]
[Ding! Third opponent defeated!]
...
[Ding! Sixth opponent defeated!]
The soil of the arena was soaked with the sweat and shattered pride of those warriors. Now, it was the turn of the seventh warrior—Li Wei. The same Li Wei who, moments ago, was mocking Ye Fang by calling him 'crazy' and a 'mosquito.'
As Wang Long called out Li Wei's name, silence fell. Li Wei's legs were trembling. He had seen how Ye Fang tossed his companions into the air like toys. He swallowed hard and suddenly bent over, clutching his stomach.
"Wait! Wait, Lord Wang Long!" Li Wei shouted in a wavering voice. "Today... I don't feel quite well. Last night, while I was practicing in the forest to increase my cultivation, some wild 'Beasts' ambushed me. I sustained internal injuries in that fight, so I am in no condition to fight today!"
The crowd watched him in disbelief. Everyone knew Li Wei was making excuses just to save his life and avoid humiliation.
Li Wei cast a terrified glance at Ye Fang and backed away, saying, "Yes! Truly! My Qi is very unstable. If I fight today, my Cultivation Base might be destroyed forever. I apologize, but I cannot take part in this match!"
Ye Fang looked at Li Wei with a sidelong glance and gave a cold smile. "Oh, Senior Brother Li Wei! You were so full of spirit yesterday. Did those 'Beasts' attack your tongue too? Because you were talking quite a lot back then."
Li Wei's face turned red with shame, but his fear was greater than his embarrassment. He turned and ran toward the edge of the arena without looking back.
Little System's screen flickered again, and the numbers changed:
[Mission Update: Strategic Victory!]
Total Goal: 10
Defeated/Withdrawn: 9
Remaining: 1
Ye Fang loosened his fists and looked at City Lord Wang Long. "Lord, it seems the line is getting shorter. Is the next 'champion' ready, or are they about to fall ill suddenly too?"
Wang Long took a deep breath. He realized that the energy within Ye Fang was beyond the reach of the city's average warriors. Now, only those who were the true 'pillars' of Sanmiao City remained.
The heaviest silence yet descended upon the arena. The wind itself seemed to have stopped. After seven warriors had fallen, a figure entered through the main gate, causing thousands of citizens to stand up and bow in respect.
He was a tall, elegant young man wearing a costly white and gold robe embroidered with dragons flying through clouds. His face held neither arrogance nor cruelty, but a deep sense of peace and grace. With every step he took, a blue and golden shimmer sparked on the ground.
City Lord Wang Long stood from his seat, joined his hands, and said, "Welcome to the Sanmiao City Arena, Young Master Yan Kai Long. We are immensely pleased that you accepted our humble request to join this match."
Whispers broke out in the crowd. An experienced cultivator said in a trembling voice, "Oh, it's him! The chief representative of the Long Tian Sect and the future leader of the Yan Kai Clan! It's impossible even to estimate his strength."
Another added, "Yes, I heard he is at the Golden Core Peak Stage. He is just one step away from reaching the Spiritual Ring level. He might even be more powerful than the City Lord himself!"
Ye Fang fixed his gaze on the youth. He felt that the person standing before him was unlike any warrior he had faced before. Just then, Little System provided data on Yan Kai Long.
"Host, be careful. This is Yan Kai Long. He possesses the White Dragon Martial Soul, the Thunder Dragon Vein flows in his blood, and his physical strength is as unshakable as a mountain due to his Blue Dragon Body. He is a true warrior."
Yan Kai Long came to the center of the arena and bowed his head respectfully toward Ye Fang. His voice was deep and pleasant.
"Master Ye Fang," Yan Kai Long said gracefully. "I watched your previous matches. Your strength and composure are truly admirable. It would be an honor to duel with a talented warrior like you. I am not here to belittle you, but to understand my own limits and your skills."
Ye Fang was impressed by his humility. He bowed in return and said, "Senior Brother Yan Kai Long, your name and reputation preceded you. Despite being the representative of a great sect, I am pleased to see such humility. I will do my best to make this match worthy of you."
Yan Kai Long slowly drew his sword, which began to crackle like lightning the moment it left the scabbard. "This is my 'Dragon Breath Sword.' I will use my full power during this match, for it would be a sin to insult your skills. Are you ready?"
Ye Fang clenched his fists. That 1% active power within his body was slowly awakening. "I am ready, Senior Brother."
The temperature in the arena began to rise sharply. Thunder rumbled in the air as Yan Kai Long gripped his sword.
"Be careful," Yan Kai Long said calmly. In the next instant, a massive explosion of blue and white light erupted from his body. His Thunder Dragon Vein was fully activated. Small lightning dragons began to dance around his blade.
Yan Kai Long's speed was so great that he became nothing more than a streak of lightning. He lunged with a direct strike. The energy emerging from the sword transformed into a massive White Dragon, roaring as it surged toward Ye Fang.
Ye Fang pushed himself back with all his agility, but the resonance of that strike was so powerful that he felt a heavy pressure on his chest. His God-Demon power was holding him steady, but Yan Kai Long's Blue Dragon Body and the depth of his cultivation were genuinely pushing him. The arena floor began to crack beneath their feet.
Ye Fang realized that physical strength alone would not stop this Golden Core Peak warrior. "Little System, now is the time!" he said inwardly.
Suddenly, Ye Fang pulled out one of the random talismans he possessed and channeled his energy into it. He tossed it into the air without a second thought.
Instantly, a heat so intense that rocks began to melt spread through the arena. It was a Flame Phoenix Talisman. From that small piece of paper, a torrent of flames erupted and took the form of a massive Flame Phoenix. The phoenix was so magnificent and terrifying that its shriek made the arena walls tremble.
The sky above the arena split in two. On one side was Yan Kai Long's roaring white lightning dragon, and on the other was Ye Fang's blazing fire phoenix.
The dragon and the phoenix collided. The fusion of lightning and fire sent a blinding light across all of Sanmiao City. The dragon tried to tear the phoenix apart with its lightning, while the phoenix absorbed that electricity into its divine fire.
For the first time, beads of sweat appeared on Yan Kai Long's face. He gripped his sword with both hands and poured all his Golden Core energy into it. "Magnificent! I have never seen such a match in my life!"
Ye Fang did not back down either. He merged his fists with the fire of the phoenix. There was a strange glint in his eyes—he was neither going to surrender nor retreat.
The collision of their energies created a massive vortex in the center of the arena. City Lord Wang Long and the others watched, mesmerized by this historic battle. Between the dragon's roar and the phoenix's shriek, it was clear that Sanmiao City was witnessing the dawn of a new era.
As the flames and lightning reached their peak, a massive explosion sent the arena's dust soaring into the sky. Amidst the smoke and debris, both warriors stood firm before each other, waiting to see how this great war would end.