The arena did not calm.
If anything-
The tension grew sharper.
Xu Tian stood his ground.
His breathing steady.
His focus clear.
The man across from him no longer held back.
His presence pressed forward.
Heavier.
More direct.
"You're still standing," the man said quietly.
Xu Tian didn't answer.
The man moved.
Faster than before.
His figure closed the distance in an instant.
A strike came from above.
Strong.
Direct.
Xu Tian raised his arm.
Blocked.
The impact landed.
A heavy force traveled through him.
His footing held.
But the pressure was clear.
The man followed immediately.
No pause.
Another strike.
From the side.
Xu Tian turned.
Redirected.
The force brushed past him.
The air cracked sharply.
The man stepped in again.
Closer.
Faster.
Xu Tian stepped back once.
Then stopped.
"…Too aggressive," he thought.
The pattern was changing.
Less testing.
More force.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
The next attack came.
Direct.
Xu Tian moved.
He shifted his body.
Avoided the strike.
Then-
Countered.
A short motion.
Precise.
The impact landed against the man's shoulder.
The man staggered half a step.
Then stabilized instantly.
His eyes narrowed.
"…Good."
The word carried weight.
He moved again.
This time-
Even faster.
Xu Tian reacted.
But this time-
He was late.
The strike landed.
Clean.
Against his side.
A heavy force pushed him back.
Two steps.
The ground beneath him cracked slightly.
The crowd reacted.
A low murmur spread.
Xu Tian steadied himself.
His breathing remained even.
But the difference was clear.
"…Stronger than before."
The man didn't give space.
He advanced again.
Closing the distance.
Xu Tian adjusted.
His stance lowered slightly.
More stable.
More grounded.
The next exchange came immediately.
Strike.
Block.
Redirect.
Counter.
Their movements blurred.
Faster.
Sharper.
Each impact carried more weight.
Xu Tian felt it clearly.
"…This is pressure."
The man attacked again.
A sequence this time.
One.
Two.
Three strikes.
Each one faster than the last.
Xu Tian moved.
Barely keeping pace.
His movements tightened.
More precise.
Less margin.
The third strike connected.
Not fully.
But enough.
Xu Tian stepped back again.
This time-
Three steps.
The difference widened.
The man exhaled slowly.
"…You're adapting," he said.
Xu Tian didn't answer.
But his eyes sharpened further.
The energy inside him moved.
Faster now.
Clear.
Responsive.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Into the pressure.
The man attacked again.
Xu Tian didn't retreat.
Their strikes collided.
A loud impact echoed.
The force spread outward.
This time-
Neither moved.
For a moment.
The balance held.
Then-
Xu Tian shifted.
His arm moved.
A cleaner motion.
More precise.
The impact landed.
The man's stance broke.
Just slightly.
Xu Tian saw it.
And pressed forward.
Another strike.
Then another.
The man stepped back.
One step.
Then two.
The crowd reacted again.
Louder this time.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He moved again.
Closing the distance.
The man adjusted quickly.
His movements sharper.
More focused.
The next clash came harder.
Their strikes collided again.
Faster.
Stronger.
The air between them distorted.
Xu Tian felt it clearly.
"…Closer."
The energy inside him responded.
Not forced.
Natural.
The man's expression changed.
"…You're improving mid-fight."
Xu Tian didn't deny it.
He stepped forward again.
The pressure shifted.
No longer one-sided.
Now-
Balanced.
The man's eyes narrowed.
Then-
His presence surged again.
He stepped forward.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
Xu Tian reacted.
Their strikes collided once more.
The force exploded outward.
The arena floor cracked beneath them.
This time-
Xu Tian slid back.
Half a step.
The difference returned.
The man stood firm.
"…You're not there yet," he said.
Xu Tian remained calm.
But his focus deepened.
Because he could feel it.
That point.
That edge.
Just out of reach.
The next strike came.
Xu Tian stepped forward.
Not back.
Their attacks collided again.
Harder.
Sharper.
The impact echoed across the arena.
The crowd leaned forward.
Watching closely.
Xu Tian held his ground.
But the pressure continued to build.
Stronger.
Heavier.
Relentless.
And this time-
He was reaching his limit.