The Crimson Horned Lion Flame surged violently, instantly transforming into a massive flaming beast head that roared as it charged toward Xiao Feng.
The air trembled under the heat.
The blue flame in Xiao Feng's palm suddenly surged, finally transforming into two blue, perfectly round flame arcs. The flame arcs circled around his hands, like two spiritual blue snakes, perfectly covered his fists like a gear.
Gazing at the two individuals' exquisite fire control abilities in the arena, which were like a beautiful performance, countless people on the grandstand let out exclamations of amazement.
They didn't expected that two new disciples would have such a precious control over flame.
Seeing the flame arcs in Xiao Feng's hand, a hint of surprise flashed in Zhou Li's eyes. The opponent's fire control ability exceeded his expectations. However, if it was just this much, it was still within the limits of what he could handle.
His foot pushed on the ground and his body almost transformed into a shadow, directly charging towards Xiao Feng.
"Hiss!" Seeing him charging head-on, Xiao Feng also raised his fist and counter attack.
As Zhou Li's figure shot forward like a blazing shadow wrapped in violent crimson flame, the massive beast head formed from the Crimson Horned Lion Flame roared fiercely in front of him.
Its burning jaws tearing through the air as it lunged toward Xiao Feng with overwhelming pressure and scorching heat that caused the very space around it to distort.
Xiao Feng did not retreat even half a step, his expression calm and unwavering as his foot pressed firmly against the ground, sending his body forward in a direct counterattack.
While the two blue flame arcs circling his fists tightened and accelerated. Their rotation becoming sharper and denser as they wrapped around his arms like perfectly meshed gears forged from condensed fire.
The distance between them vanished in an instant as both figures collided head-on.
The moment Xiao Feng's fist met the descending force of the flaming beast head, a violent explosion of fire erupted outward. Red and blue flames clashing fiercely at the center of the platform and sending waves of heat crashing into the surrounding arena formations.
The impact forced both of them backward, Zhou Li sliding several steps across the ground with his robes whipping violently in the air.
While Xiao Feng's body also retreated slightly, his feet carving faint scorched marks into the stone surface as he absorbed the force without losing balance.
There was no pause or hesitation.
The moment they stabilized themselves, both of them moved again almost simultaneously.
Their figures blurring as they rushed toward each other once more with rising intensity.
Zhou Li's eyes sharpened as his hands formed rapid seals, the Crimson Horned Lion Flame around him surging violently before suddenly splitting and reshaping, transforming into multiple illusory beast forms that roared as they took shape.
Flame wolves with blazing fangs, serpents twisting through the air with burning bodies, and a half-condensed lion silhouette formed from pure fire all charged forward together.
Their movements coordinated yet chaotic, surrounding Xiao Feng from multiple angles with overwhelming pressure.
This was no longer simple flame manipulation.
This was a structured flame attack technique, combining illusion, form, and power to confuse and overwhelm the opponent while creating multiple simultaneous threats that were difficult to defend against.
The crowd burst into shocked exclamations as they witnessed the technique unfold, clearly recognizing that Zhou Li had begun using true offensive flame methods rather than relying purely on control.
However, Xiao Feng remained completely calm in the face of the incoming assault.
His gaze steady as he observed the approaching beasts without the slightest trace of panic or urgency. He did not attempt to replicate the technique.
He did not try to match it with similar forms.
Instead, his control shifted inward once again.
The Serena Sea Dragon Flame surrounding him began to rotate, at first gradually. Then with rapidly increasing speed, three streams of deep blue flame condensing around his palm as their motion tightened and sharpened.
Within a single breath, the rotating streams formed a small cone-shaped structure, its size modest and unassuming at first glance, resembling a shallow bowl formed from swirling flame.
But at its tip, all the power gathered.
Layer upon layer of heat and rotational force converging into a single point so dense that the surrounding air visibly warped under its presence, creating a faint distortion that spread outward like ripples.
This was not a battle technique designed for combat.
This was an alchemical processing method, used for breaking down the most stubborn medicinal herbs and beast cores by focusing intense rotational force and heat into a single precise point for maximum efficiency.
A technique meant for refinement, now repurposed for destruction.
Zhou Li saw the change, but he did not stop his attack, his confidence pushing him forward as he roared and commanded the flame beasts to strike simultaneously.
The beasts lunged forward from every direction, their claws, fangs, and burning bodies crashing toward Xiao Feng while Zhou Li himself followed closely behind.
His palm wrapped in raging crimson flame as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow.
At that exact moment, Xiao Feng stepped forward.
His movement was simple, yet carried a strange sense of inevitability.
The rotating flame cone shot forward instantly, not with explosive force but with terrifying precision, cutting through the air like a spiraling drill of condensed fire aimed directly at the core of the incoming assault.
The two attacks collided.
Boom—!!!
A massive explosion erupted, red and blue flames clashing violently as the impact sent a storm of fire expanding outward, heatwaves crashing across the arena as the surrounding formations flared brightly to contain the destructive force.
The entire center of the platform was engulfed in flames and smoke, thick clouds rising rapidly and obscuring everything within, leaving only chaotic fluctuations of energy visible through the haze.
For a brief moment, nothing could be seen upon the platform.
The crowd fell completely silent, every gaze fixed on the center of the smoke as anticipation and tension filled the air.
Slowly, the smoke began to disperse.
Bit by bit, the chaotic flames faded, and the outlines of two figures gradually emerged from within the lingering haze.
As the smoke cleared completely, Xiao Feng's figure was revealed first, standing calmly at the center of the arena with his posture straight and composed, his robes untouched and his expression as calm as ever.
As if the intense battle that had just taken place had not affected him in the slightest.
The blue flame around him had already disappeared, leaving behind no trace of the power he had just displayed.
A short distance away, Zhou Li lay on the ground in a far more miserable state. His clothes torn and scorched in multiple places, faint trails of smoke rising from his body as his breathing grew heavy and uneven.
A thin line of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, falling onto the platform beneath him as his aura fluctuated weakly, no longer stable or controlled.
His flame had completely collapsed.
Silence spread across the arena and no one dared to break this silence.
The result of the battle was undeniable.
Zhou Li had lost.
Zhou Li's fingers tightened against the ground as he struggled to push himself up slightly. His eyes locking onto Xiao Feng with a mixture of shock, unwillingness, and burning humiliation that he could not suppress.
"This… isn't over…"
His voice came out hoarse and strained, barely steady as he forced the words through clenched teeth.
"If you have the courage… tell me your name…"
Xiao Feng turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Zhou Li without any change in expression, calm and unmoved as if he were looking at something insignificant.
"Xiao Feng."
The name was spoken simply, without emphasis or pride.
After a brief pause, he added in the same steady tone.
"If you want to come again, you can find me anytime."
There was no arrogance in his voice.
Yet the calm certainty within those words struck far deeper than any insult.
Zhou Li's expression froze.
Before he could respond—
Xiao Feng had already turned around.
He walked off the platform with the same steady pace he had entered with. His figure gradually moving away without a single backward glance, as if the outcome of the battle had already been decided long before it began.
For a moment, the arena remained silent, before erupted.
"Xiao Feng?!"
"That Xiao Feng at Qi Refining Realm!"
"The one accepted by the Supreme Elder?!"
Shock spread instantly through the crowd, expressions changing from disbelief to awe as the realization of his identity spread like wildfire among the gathered disciples.
Zhou Li's pupils shrank violently as a cold chill ran down his spine, the arrogance that had filled his expression earlier disappearing completely, replaced by something far heavier.
Fear.
And regret.
Not far away, the core disciple who had been observing the entire battle stood frozen in place, his face pale as the weight of the situation finally settled in his mind.
Meanwhile, Xiao Feng had already left the arena.