As the message registered, I found myself back in the arena. The roaring crowd, the imposing battleground, and Xiao Yun standing opposite me. I felt disoriented, as if waking from a vivid dream.
A voice from the crowd interrupted my thoughts. "What are the two of you doing just standing there? Begin the duel! We didn't come to watch a staring contest!"
Shaking off the feeling, I turned to see the referee looking impatient. The weight of reality came crashing back. Before I could speak, Xiao Yun's voice echoed through the arena.
"I surrender!" she declared, making sure everyone heard her.
I shifted my gaze to her, trying to decipher the familiar cold expression on her face. Yet, deep down, I could sense a shift, a warmth emanating from her very core.
Suddenly, Elder Meng swooped onto the arena floor, voice booming, "The winner of this tournament is me, the new elder of the eighth division!"
