Yang Feng stood silently at the edge of the cliff, the wind whipping around him as he gazed across the chasm at Xiao Mei. His face betrayed no emotion, save for the faintest of smiles that tugged at his lips. His calm demeanor masked the storm that brewed within him. It had been years since they had faced each other in battle, yet nothing had changed. This moment, this clash, had always been inevitable.
On the opposite cliff, Xiao Mei stood tall, her pink hair swaying in the wind, illuminated by the fading light of the evening sun. Her brown eyes, normally soft and inviting, now glowed with an intense pink hue, a sign of her full determination. Her hand gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, but her gaze never wavered from Yang Feng. Her heart beat steadily in her chest, and her expression remained serious, almost cold.
Xiao Mei and Yang Feng both knew that they were at their best when facing each other. There were no playful taunts, no unnecessary words exchanged—just an understanding, a shared respect that only they held for one another. It was in these moments that they showed their truest selves, baring their emotions only in the quiet tension that filled the air between them. To anyone else, their faces would seem devoid of feeling, but they could see through each other's masks. Beneath that calm exterior, they each knew how fiercely the other burned with the desire to surpass their rival.
The battlefield below them, the jagged plains stretching out beneath the cliffs, was a stark contrast to the poised calm of the two figures standing above. Their clones—perfect reflections of themselves, created through their immense control of qi—fought with relentless ferocity. The ground quaked as they clashed, sending shockwaves through the earth.
Yang Feng's clone moved with the precision of lightning, each strike swift and sharp as thunder. His movements were fluid, almost effortless, as he darted between attacks, delivering blows that crackled with energy. Bolts of blue lightning arced from his fingertips, cutting through the air and forcing Xiao Mei's clone to stay on the defensive. Each strike was calculated, aimed to overwhelm and dismantle his opponent's defense with pure speed and power.
Xiao Mei's clone, however, was no easy target. She fought with the grace of a seasoned warrior, each movement deliberate, her swordsmanship flawless. Her strikes were not as fast as Yang Feng's, but they were precise and powerful, the weight of her blows causing the very ground to tremble with each swing of her blade. She commanded gravity itself, causing the battlefield around her to warp as she unleashed bursts of gravitational force to counter Yang Feng's lightning. Every time his clone tried to close the distance, she would send a wave of crushing pressure, forcing him to retreat or risk being overwhelmed.
The two clones fought in a deadly dance, neither side gaining the upper hand for long. Lightning and gravity collided again and again, the shockwaves of their clash sending rocks and debris flying across the battlefield. It was as though the very elements of the Azure Domain were warring against each other, the power of the heavens clashing with the force of the earth.
Yang Feng watched the battle unfold from above, his eyes scanning the movements of both his clone and Xiao Mei's. Despite the ferocity of the fight below, he remained calm, unmoving. He had fought Xiao Mei enough times to know that she would never let up, that she would push him to the very brink, and that was exactly what he wanted. There was no thrill greater than facing her in combat—no opponent who could make his heart race quite like she could. It wasn't just about winning or losing; it was about surpassing each other, reaching new heights that neither could achieve alone.
On the other side, Xiao Mei stood just as resolute. Her gaze never left Yang Feng, but her mind was acutely aware of the battle being fought beneath them. She knew that her clone was fighting on even ground, but the real challenge would be the moment she and Yang Feng clashed. Like Yang Feng, she relished this opportunity. Despite her serious expression, there was a fire within her that only Yang Feng could bring out—a fire fueled by respect and rivalry. He was the only person she had ever truly wanted to surpass, the one who made her push beyond her limits every single time.
The wind howled between them, carrying with it the tension of a thousand unsaid words. They didn't need to speak. Their understanding went beyond that. This fight, like all their previous ones, was an expression of the unspoken bond they shared—a rivalry rooted in mutual admiration and the desire to become stronger.
Just as they were about to leap into action, both of them felt it—a sudden, massive surge of qi that rippled through the ground and sky alike. The very air seemed to hum with energy, and the earth beneath their feet trembled violently. Their eyes widened in shock, and for the first time since they had locked gazes, they both looked away from each other.
To their left, in the distance, the ground was moving—no, it was more than that. Something immense was rising from beneath the earth. Yang Feng's calm smile vanished, and Xiao Mei's serious expression shifted into one of concern. Whatever it was, it was big. Too big.
The earth itself seemed to split open, revealing a colossal creature as it swam through the ground like a fish gliding through water. Its massive body, covered in shimmering blue scales, stretched for what seemed like miles, disappearing into the horizon. It was as if the very land itself had come to life, moving with an ancient, unstoppable force.
"The Earth Azure Dragon..." Xiao Mei whispered, her voice barely a breath.
Yang Feng's heart skipped a beat. The Earth Azure Dragon, the strongest of all mythical beasts in the Azure Domain, had surfaced. Its scales reflected the dying light of the sun, casting a majestic blue glow across the battlefield. Each scale was the size of a house, and its long, serpentine body extended into the earth, its movements so fluid it appeared to swim effortlessly through solid rock. The sheer size of the creature was enough to make even the strongest warriors tremble.
Just then, a desperate voice pierced the tension. "Yang Feng! Help me!"
Yang Feng's gaze snapped to the source of the cry, and he spotted Ling Bing in the distance. His friend was running, his figure small and frantic compared to the massive dragon. In his arms, Ling Bing cradled something glowing and golden—the dragon's egg.
Yang Feng's eyes widened in realization. The egg. That explained the dragon's fury.
Without thinking, Yang Feng turned and was about to leap off the cliff to help Ling Bing. But before he could move, he felt a hand grab his arm. Xiao Mei.
"Are you insane?" she hissed, her voice sharp with urgency. "Have you seen the size of that thing? You're nothing but an insect to it! You'll die if you go after it!"
Yang Feng jerked his arm free, his eyes blazing with determination. "If we don't stop it, everyone in the testing grounds—Immortals and Celestials alike—will die. What's the point of this test if we let that happen?"
Xiao Mei's eyes darted back to the dragon, its colossal body looming over the horizon as it moved through the earth with terrifying ease. She knew Yang Feng was right. The beast was far too powerful to ignore, but even so, her mind raced with doubt. Here in the testing grounds, their powers were severely restricted. They weren't at their full strength. Right now, they were just ordinary Qi Zun-level fighters. Facing a creature like the Earth Azure Dragon in this state was nothing short of suicide.
Yang Feng's expression softened as he sensed her hesitation. His voice was firm but reassuring. "I have a plan. I can't do this alone, Xiao Mei. I need your help."
She stared at him for a long moment, her mind racing. The Earth Azure Dragon was a nightmare, its presence overwhelming. But then she looked at Yang Feng—the fire in his eyes, the unwavering resolve in his stance—and something clicked inside her. This wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about facing the impossible and coming out stronger. It was about standing beside the one person who understood her better than anyone else.
With a deep breath, Xiao Mei released her grip on her sword and nodded. "Alright. What's the plan?"
Yang Feng smiled, his gaze shifting toward the dragon that loomed over the horizon. "We bring it down."
And so, standing together on the cliffs, their hearts burning with determination, Yang Feng and Xiao Mei prepared to face the greatest threat the Azure Domain had ever known. The Earth Azure Dragon, a creature of unimaginable power and majesty, was now their target. And though the odds were against them, though their powers were limited and the stakes were higher than ever before, they were ready.
Together, they would face the impossible. Together, they would bring down the Earth Azure Dragon.And as the great beast swam beneath the earth, its scales gleaming in the light of the fading sun, Yang Feng and Xiao Mei prepared for the fight of their lives