"Qi Condensation Mid-Stage, activate!"
Within his room, Chen An shouted abruptly while sitting cross-legged, his eyes flashing with brilliance.
Around him, several spirit talismans, intricately inscribed with dense runes, pulsed with light. The complexity of the talismans exceeded the norm, and their uneven, roughly drawn characters betrayed imperfections in Chen An's crafting. Nonetheless, they were functional, albeit barely.
Before him lay several spirit stones, their radiant energy rapidly draining. In mere moments, the stones crumbled to dust.
As the glow of the talismans faded, a flicker of joy crossed Chen An's face. But it quickly disappeared, replaced by a look of deep contemplation.
"Four times now... Am I destined to remain stuck at the early stage of Qi Condensation forever?" he murmured, his brows furrowed in frustration.
This marked the fourth time Chen An had fallen back from the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. The fleeting surge of strength from his breakthrough brought elation, only for the inevitable regression to plunge him into despair.
Removing the now-dim talismans from his body, Chen An prepared to leave.
Today was the day of his final duel with Yun Xiao. Having come this far, no mistakes could be afforded.
Even without a successful breakthrough, he resolved to give this fight his all.
---
A faint hissing sound broke his thoughts.
From the folds of his clothing, the red-ringed snake he had tamed slithered out and coiled itself around Chen An's palm. The serpent, no thicker than a thumb, flicked its tongue and affectionately nudged his hand.
Over the past few days, Chen An had deliberately left the snake behind during his matches, knowing it offered little tactical value in direct combat.
But this time, the snake seemed intent on joining him.
"You want to fight alongside me? This battle will be dangerous."
To his surprise, the snake nodded in an oddly human-like gesture. Only now did Chen An realize the creature could understand his words.
"Must be the effects of the Beast-Taming Incantation," Chen An mused. The spell likely established a connection between their minds.
With a slight smile, he allowed the snake to coil around his arm before heading out.
---
Outside, Li Muchen awaited him. Seeing Chen An emerge, he approached with a playful nudge to his shoulder.
"Brother, I didn't expect you to make it this far! One last fight and you'll be a legend in the sect!" Li Muchen chuckled. "Did you know people are already betting on your match against Yun Xiao? The odds are set at 1 to 50!"
"One to fifty?" Chen An raised an eyebrow. The staggering disparity revealed how little faith anyone had in his chances against Yun Xiao.
"Who did you bet on? Me or Yun Xiao?" Chen An asked, scrutinizing Li Muchen.
Scratching his head awkwardly, Li Muchen confessed, "Well... I didn't want both of us to lose everything, so I placed 50 spirit stones on Yun Xiao."
"But don't get me wrong! I'm rooting for you to win! After all, we're in this together, right?"
Amused, Chen An reached into his storage pouch and handed over ten spirit stones.
"Place these on me winning. Let's see if I can make a fortune with those 1-to-50 odds!"
Li Muchen hesitated. "Are you sure you want to throw those stones away?"
"Hey! The fight hasn't even started yet. What makes you so sure I'll lose? What if something unexpected happens?"
Their banter helped lighten Chen An's mood. Li Muchen, clearly aware of the tension surrounding the duel, had intentionally sought to lift his spirits.
---
The two arrived at the disciples' arena, which was now packed with spectators. Inner and outer sect disciples alike had gathered, filling the area with anticipation.
Most were less concerned about the tournament itself and more eager to see whether Chen An could pull off the impossible against Yun Xiao.
As Chen An approached, the noisy crowd parted instinctively, forming a path leading directly to the stage.
On the opposite side, Yun Xiao also stepped into view.
"Take this," Yun Xiao's grandfather, Yun Henqiu, said sternly, handing him a small object. "I don't want any surprises in this fight."
Yun Xiao frowned. "Grandfather, I've already told you—I don't need such things. No matter what tricks Chen An uses, I'll crush him with my strength alone!"
Yun Henqiu's expression darkened. "What I'm giving you is merely insurance. You should understand what this duel means for our Yun family. I cannot allow even the slightest risk!"
Reluctantly, Yun Xiao accepted the item, though resentment simmered beneath his calm facade. To him, Yun Henqiu's insistence signified a lack of trust in his abilities—a slight to his pride.
Now, his hatred for Chen An burned even brighter. He resolved not just to defeat Chen An but to utterly annihilate him.
---
Both fighters ascended the stage, their gazes locking in an intense standoff.
"I won't give you a chance to surrender," Yun Xiao declared coldly, his killing intent palpable. "Before everyone here, I'll kill you today."
Facing Yun Xiao's overwhelming hostility, Chen An remained unfazed. The playful demeanor he often wore was gone, replaced by a serene calmness—like the surface of a tranquil river concealing powerful undercurrents below.