The man was ready and blocked her attacks with ease. Jian Li could only watch as her attacks were deflected to the side and repeatedly dodged.
They continued to attack and defend, both their attacks and defences increasing in ferocity as Jian Li kept summoning new weapons from her inner world.
It seemed as if she had an unlimited supply of them as she quickly summoned them back and forth.
"If you don't give up, I'll keep fighting until the end!", the man shouted, his voice echoing throughout the woods.
Jian Li responded by throwing wooden spear after wooden spear, each one getting dodged by the man in white.
His movements were even faster than before and he ducked away from the attacks, throwing a series of kicks toward Jian Li.
Jian Li had a difficult time blocking them all, her body feeling weaker than before. She could feel her arms and legs weakening and her breathing was becoming heavier. The fatigue was finally catching up with her.
"You're getting weak now, girl. Let's end this.", the man said arrogantly as he raised his hand high into the air.
Jian Li immediately felt a rush of cold wind as the air around her grew frigid.
The white robes of the stranger began to change colour as the cold air around them turned black.
"Sha..."
Jian Li was stunned as she looked around her.
Everything was turning black and she could see the trees and the sky around her getting swallowed up in a vortex of darkness.
All the sounds of the forest were gone. There was no sound of birds chirping or the rustle of leaves in the wind.
There was only the silence of the void.
Jian Li felt like she was being pulled towards the dark hole as she was slowly drawn into it. Her body was being sucked into the vortex of nothingness as she felt herself starting to fall into the endless abyss of the void.
She could hear her heartbeat growing louder and louder as she felt her body grow heavier and heavier with every passing second.
Suddenly, there was a light above her. It was warm and inviting as Jian Li felt a sudden burst of energy coming from above.
She felt her body suddenly become lighter and her eyes opened, staring at the sky.
A familiar sphere was floating in the air. Jian Li recognised it as the World sphere that had transported her into the tournament realm.
A cheer rose from the crowd as they saw her and the other contestants appear again.
Jian Li nodded to show appreciation for the praise. Her heart was still racing and she could feel a sense of exhilaration as well as exhaustion in her body.
"These are the ones who survived in the world sphere and are eligible to enter the second half of the tournament.", Meng Liang said.
The crowd cheered and applauded as the surviving contestants continued to teleport to the arena.
Many familiar faces showed themselves to her but, Jian Li looked around for the person she wanted to meet the most. She found him right at the back of the group, standing next to a young boy.
Jian Chen and Chen Zhen instantly noticed her gaze as their eyes met, smiling in return.
"I was searching for you!", Jian Chen said, before walking toward Jian Li with a concerned look on his face.
She was just happy to see her elder brother again.
"How are you? What happened?" Jian Chen asked as he came closer. After noticing that most of the blood on Jian Li was not her own, Jian Chen let off a sigh. A grateful look took over his face, making Jian Li somehow feel relieved herself.
"I'm okay. How was the first half tournament for you?" Jian Li asked.
Jian Chen was dressed in the same outfit as he was during the first half of the tournament. It almost seemed as if he was untouched throughout the whole ordeal.
"It was… interesting." Jian Chen said, shaking his head. "The second half is going to be more exciting, I can tell. Many people will fight with their reputations on the line, and a few of them are quite formidable."
"But you shouldn't worry about me, Li. You should focus on yourself." Jian Chen added, smiling at her.
Jian Li smiled back at him.
"I'll be fine. I know my limits. But don't worry. I'll do my best," Jian Li said.
Abruptly, a flash of light erupted above them. The world sphere imploded, sending rainbow fragments all over the contestants on the stage.
Jian Li sensed her wounds rapidly close up and her energy and strength returned as the fragments landed on her. She could feel her body getting lighter as she returned to her peak condition.
"And now, only the victorious contestants stand on the stage!", Meng Liang yelled out.
"Thank you all for coming. The second half of the tournament will begin in a few minutes. Please wait patiently and rest.", Meng Liang said, before vanishing from the stage.
The crowd was in a celebratory mood, cheering on and applauding the remaining contestants.
Jian Chen and Jian Li were still standing on the stage, looking around when both of them felt a chill run down their spines.
Both of them looked where they felt the chill and saw He Yu waving them toward her. She gave them an approving nod as they made their way to her.
"Ye would be proud of both of you. Well done.", He Yu said.