Standing in the center of the arena, Yan Kai Long smiled, but this time his smile held the deep pride of a true warrior. As the heat from Ye Fang's triple-boosted phoenix began to melt the very walls of the stadium, Yan Kai Long calmly lowered his sword and spoke in a resonant voice.
"Magnificent, Junior Brother! The power of your talismans is truly admirable. But do you know what this Blue Dragon Body really is?"
His voice echoed through the stands. People held their breath, listening intently. A flash of memory flickered in Yan Kai Long's eyes.
"Five years ago, I entered a secret Blue Dragon Trial from which no one expected me to return alive. There, I stared death in the face and eventually earned this Dragon Inheritance. This is not just power; it is my blood and sweat."
He took a step forward, and the blue scales on his body glowed even more intensely.
"Years later, I endured the strikes of Heavenly Thunder on my bare skin. Most people are turned to ash by that lightning, but I channeled it into my veins and awakened my Thunder Dragon Veins. And as for this White Dragon Martial Soul... it has been with me since birth. It is the honor of our Yan Kai Clan, passed down through generations."
He raised his 'Dragon Breath Sword' once more, pointing its tip directly at Ye Fang's phoenix. A mixture of white, blue, and golden energy erupted from his frame, as if an ancient dragon itself had awakened.
"So come, Junior Brother! No more words—only action. Put forth your full strength, for I shall not retreat a single inch!"
Ye Fang took a deep breath. His phoenix was now so massive due to the three boosts that its shadow covered the entire arena. "Senior Brother, I respect your hard work and legacy. But today, my phoenix isn't built for stopping either!"
Without a second's delay, the triple-boosted phoenix lunged like a burning sun toward Yan Kai Long. Simultaneously, Yan Kai Long swung his sword, and his three thunder dragons combined their power to meet the phoenix's charge.
A vortex of lightning and fire surged into the air, reaching the very clouds. It was no longer just a fight between two men; it was a war of two legacies and two indomitable wills.
In the center of the arena, the clash between Yan Kai Long's sword and Ye Fang's phoenix reached a level where ordinary cultivators could no longer track their movements.
Ye Fang's phoenix, drenched in the energy of three powerful boost talismans, struck out like wild lightning. Its speed was so immense that Yan Kai Long's three Thunder Dragons struggled to corner it. Every time the phoenix's fire lunged at a dragon, a tremor was felt throughout Sanmiao City.
Yan Kai Long stood firm. His blue dragon scales absorbed every strike, but even so, the triple-boosted power of the phoenix was forcing him to give ground. He executed a semi-circular slash with his sword, the resulting white light cleaving the phoenix's flames in two.
But Ye Fang wouldn't stop. He had poured his entire being into the phoenix. The phoenix dived and released a massive torrent of 'Internal Fire' directly over Yan Kai Long, who quickly parried it with his lightning dragons.
It was a neck-and-neck struggle. For a moment, it seemed the phoenix would seize a dragon's neck; the next, the Heavenly Thunder would singe the phoenix's wings. The stone walls of the arena were now reduced to rubble.
Ye Fang's face was covered in sweat and grime. He clenched his fists, confused as to why he couldn't break Yan Kai Long's defense even after using three major boost talismans.
He called out to the System, "Little System! What's happening? I've used everything—three boosts at once—and he's still standing firm. Why can't my phoenix defeat him?"
Little System's voice echoed in his mind, unusually serious:
"Host, power isn't everything. Yan Kai Long's combat experience is many times greater than yours. He spent five years between life and death in that Blue Dragon Trial. He is capable of reading your every move."
The System continued:
"Furthermore, you must understand that he is still sitting on several secret and powerful techniques. He has only introduced his inherited powers so far, but he hasn't even begun using the core martial arts of the Long Tian Sect. His foundation is so strong that he is slowly absorbing your increased power."
Ye Fang saw that Yan Kai Long still held the upper hand. The warrior didn't look tired; instead, the light in his eyes grew sharper. As the fight dragged on, the depth of his Golden Core Peak energy became strikingly clear.
"Junior Brother," Yan Kai Long's voice was clear even amidst the noise. "Your willpower is unparalleled. But a dragon cannot be frightened by fire alone."
Yan Kai Long concentrated his 50% power into a single point. His three thunder dragons merged into his sword. The pressure became so intense that Ye Fang felt the ground sinking beneath him. The tide had turned completely toward Yan Kai Long's experience.
Suddenly, the sky above the arena, which had been red and blue from the battle, turned pitch black. A cold, suffocating wind blew, making the citizens tremble. Yan Kai Long and Ye Fang both froze in mid-air, sensing a horrific danger.
Dozens of shadows descended from the black clouds, wearing long red and black robes. A stench of Blood Qi filled the air.
"Blood Coffin Sect!" someone screamed in terror.
In the center stood an old man with sunken eyes and a face as white as a skeleton—an Elder of the sect. He pointed a withered finger at Yan Kai Long. "Finally... we found you. Your Blue Dragon Body and those Thunder Dragon Veins... they are priceless gifts for our sect."
Without warning, the Elder waved his hand, and a massive wave of blood surged toward Yan Kai Long. But before it could reach him, a golden lightning bolt descended from the main throne.
BOOM!
City Lord Wang Long now stood in the center of the field, burning with a golden aura. "How dare you? How dare you attack my guests in the Sanmiao City Arena?"
The Blood Elder let out a cold, raspy laugh. "City Lord, we have no quarrel with you. We just want Yan Kai Long. His body is a treasure! If we turn him into our 'Blood Puppet,' our sect will be invincible. Get out of our way, or this city will be reduced to ash."
Wang Long's face flushed with rage. "You come to my city and speak such vile things before me? I have only one answer for your kind!"
The City Lord concentrated his full power into his palms. "9 Thunder Palm Attack!" he roared.
Nine massive palms of lightning erupted from his hands, lunging at the sect members. The first three strikes instantly dispersed the blood mist.
"You spoke of touching my guest," Wang Long said, the ground trembling with every step. "Now you shall face the wrath of the City Lord of Sanmiao City. You will not leave this place alive—not even your ashes will leave!"
The friendly duel had turned into a real battlefield. Ye Fang and Yan Kai Long looked at each other and immediately forgot their rivalry. They stood side-by-side. The real enemy was now in front of them.