The crowd murmured with disinterest, their jeers and laughter filling the air as Yang Feng stood and began his descent toward the arena. The stadium, illuminated by an ethereal glow from the high-hanging spirit orbs, seemed almost too grand for a mere bronze-rank match. Around the stairs, several spectators muttered their disdain, their voices laced with mockery.
"If you're looking for a fight, why don't you go play in the gardens?" one jeered.
"This match is going to be over before it even starts," another said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "What a waste of time."
"I mean,what do they have to show. They're basically level 0 and don't know how to release their spiritual beasts anyway," one of the spectators explains while his group nod at him."For fresh bronze levels,they sure do have some audacity to show up here," another finishes.
Yang Feng ignored them all, his expression calm and unreadable. Inside, however, he could feel a faint flicker of excitement. This was what he had been waiting for—a spiritual battle, a test of strength, and a chance to stretch his long-dormant abilities. It wasn't the grandeur of the arena or the judgmental stares of the audience that motivated him; it was the simple thrill of battle.
Descending step by step, Yang Feng's gaze remained locked on Ling Yun, who stood confidently in the center of the arena. The younger boy's posture was rigid, his expression a mixture of nervous determination and eager defiance. When Yang Feng finally stepped onto the arena floor, Ling Yun smirked.
"Finally getting the courage to face me?" Ling Yun called out, his voice carrying easily over the ambient noise of the stadium.
Yang Feng chuckled softly, his demeanor as relaxed as ever. "Courage? How could I bear to battle a child?"
Ling Yun's smirk faltered, his confidence cracking ever so slightly. "You know we're the same age, right?" he shot back.
Yang Feng's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "Not in power, we're not." He kept his thoughts to himself, the words echoing internally: I've lived for 800,000 years. Of course, we're not the same age.
Ling Yun bristled, but before he could retort, the announcer interjected, stepping between the two combatants. "Alright, fellas! Are we doing this or what? The crowd's waiting, and I'm sure they're ready for some action!"
The crowd responded with scattered boos and sarcastic remarks. "Leave the arena, losers!" one voice called.
"My eyes are crying from boredom," another quipped.
"What even is this, spiritual fighting 101?,you have nothing to show,leave already." someone else groaned.
Yang Feng turned his head slightly, glancing at the sea of disapproving faces. His gaze was sharp and steady, but he didn't respond to their provocations. Instead, he turned back to Ling Yun, his expression softening into a faint smile. "Let's give them a good show."
Ling Yun's eyes flickered with determination. He nodded, his earlier irritation replaced by a focused resolve. "Let's really blow their minds."
The announcer, sensing the shift in tension, grinned and raised his arms to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like we've got a lesson on our hands! Fighters, take your positions!"
Yang Feng and Ling Yun faced each other, their eyes locked as the crowd buzzed with renewed interest. The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, counting down: "Three… two… one… FIGHT!"
Ling Yun wasted no time. Dropping into a low stance, he extended his hand, and a ripple of golden energy surged outward. A yellow sparrow materialized beside him, its feathers glimmering like sunlight captured in gold. The bird let out a piercing screech, its sharp cry cutting through the arena and silencing the crowd for a moment. Its wings flared, and it hovered mid-air, radiating a fierce, primal energy.
Ling Yun grinned. "Your move."
But Yang Feng didn't respond. He stood motionless, his arms crossed casually, as though he were entirely uninterested in the unfolding battle. The crowd began to stir, murmuring in confusion.
"What? He can release his spiritual beast? Impossible" someone asked.
"Wait,where the spiritual beast of the other guy? " another pointed
But others leaned forward in their seats, their curiosity piqued. "Wait… maybe there's more to this."
Ling Yun's smile grew as he started acting "What are you waiting for? Release your spiritual beast,or have you not learnt that yet" he teased, his voice tinged with annoyance.
Yang Feng tilted his head slightly, his expression as calm as ever. "If you're my match, I don't really have to, now do I?"
The crowd gasped at his boldness. "Wait,he can release,his spiritual beast too?,What era are these demons from!" a student exclaimed in shock.
Upon hearing Yang Feng's insult,Ling Yun's eyes widened in disbelief before narrowing in anger. "You arrogant—" He stopped himself, his frustration boiling over. Pointing at Yang Feng, he barked, "Sparrow! Attack!"
The fight had begun. 2 vs 1.
The golden sparrow screeched again, its wings beating furiously as it launched forward. Mid-flight, it unleashed a flurry of steel-like feathers, each one gleaming dangerously as it sliced through the air toward Yang Feng.
Yang Feng moved with effortless precision. In an instant, blue lightning crackled around him, and he disappeared from his spot, reappearing several feet away. The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers as his Lightning Step technique left a trail of faint sparks in his wake.
Ling Yun's eyes darted to where Yang Feng had reappeared, but before he could react, Yang Feng was already in motion again. The sparrow screeched in frustration, adjusting its trajectory to follow him. The two combatants danced across the arena, the sparrow releasing wave after wave of steel feathers, only for Yang Feng to dodge each attack with uncanny speed.
But just as Yang Feng seemed to have the upper hand, Ling Yun appeared behind him, his golden spear poised to strike. He swung with precision, the blade slicing cleanly through Yang Feng's form—only for it to dissolve into a crackling burst of lightning.
The crowd erupted in disbelief. "No way!" someone shouted.
"Unbelievable!" another yelled. "Where did he go?"
Ling Yun froze, his eyes darting around the arena. Then a voice came from behind him, calm and slightly amused. "I'm surprised. I didn't know you were this fast."
Ling Yun spun around, finding Yang Feng standing a few feet away, his hands casually at his sides. Ling Yun's grip on his spear tightened as he stared in disbelief. "How are you even doing that?" he demanded.
Yang Feng chuckled softly. "The same way you're doing it."
For a moment, Ling Yun looked genuinely confused. Then his eyes narrowed, his expression shifting to one of realization. "But you didn't release your beast…" His voice trailed off as the truth dawned on him. His eyes widened in shock.
"Or did I?"
The entire arena fell silent, the tension thick in the air. The realization rippled through the crowd like a wave.
"An invisible type!" someone whispered, breaking the silence.
Ling Yun's confidence faltered as he glanced down, his mind racing. "This is bad," he muttered under his breath.
But before he could finish processing his thoughts, Yang Feng appeared directly in front of him, his expression calm yet commanding. "Hey," Yang Feng said, his voice low but firm. "Eyes on me."
Ling Yun's head snapped up, his gaze locking onto Yang Feng's as the tension reached its peak.