Li Xiang's eyes widened in shock as the cherry blossom vortex hit him, his confident smile frozen in place. He stumbled backward, his sword falling from his grasp, and his eyes fixed on Zhao Min with a mix of awe and terror.
"Impossible...how did she...?" he stammered, his thoughts racing with disbelief.
Zhao Min's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "You should have kept your distance, Li Xiang," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Your overflowing confidence was your downfall."
As Li Xiang struggled to get back to his feet, Zhao Min's thoughts turned to Elder Fang's words. "Test every opponent, understand their techniques and weaknesses." She had done just that, and it had paid off.
Li Xiang's face contorted in anger and humiliation, his eyes blazing with a fierce determination. "I won't lose...I won't be defeated by a mere girl..." he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Zhao Min's expression remained serene, her smile unwavering. "You already have, Li Xiang," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "And soon, you'll understand the true meaning of defeat."
Li Xiang's eyes widened in horror as he realized the true extent of Zhao Min's technique. "This...this is a High-Grade technique!" he stammered, his mind racing with fear and surprise.
Zhao Min's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "You're just now realizing that, Li Xiang?" she said, her voice dripping with amusement.
The cherry blossom vortex continued to rage around her, its speed and power increasing with every passing moment. Li Xiang stumbled backward, his eyes fixed on the swirling petals in terror.
"How...how can she control such power?" he thought, his mind reeling with shock. "This technique...it's impossible for a mere mortal to wield!"
Zhao Min's thoughts were serene, her focus solely on the technique. "Cherry Blossom First Form...rotate, accelerate, and compress," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the vortex.
The petals began to glow with a soft, pink light, their speed and power increasing exponentially. Li Xiang's eyes went wide with terror as he realized he was about to be consumed by the vortex.
"No...no, this can't be!" he screamed, his voice lost in the roar of the technique.
Zhao Min's expression remained serene, her smile unwavering. "It's over, Li Xiang," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "You should have stayed out of my way."
The vortex engulfed Li Xiang, his screams echoing through the air as he was consumed by the swirling petals. Zhao Min's thoughts were triumphant, her focus solely on the technique.
"I...I did it," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with pride. "I mastered Cherry Blossom First Form."
The vortex dissipated, leaving behind a trail of destruction and a single, defeated figure. Li Xiang lay on the ground, his eyes fixed on Zhao Min with a mix of fear and awe.
"You...you're a monster," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Zhao Min's smile grew wider, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "I'm just getting started, Li Xiang," she said, her voice dr
ipping with amusement.
(End of Time)