"Elder Yun, that elegant young man in white—is he truly your descendant?"
Beneath the stage, a middle-aged man with a stern face, a short beard, and a dignified demeanor addressed Yun Hengqiu. This was his first time observing the tournament, and judging by Yun Hengqiu's respectful attitude, his identity was unmistakable.
He was none other than Meng Wentian, the Sect Master of the Spirit Rune Sect!
"Yes, Sect Master. That young man is my grandson, Yun Xiao," Yun Hengqiu replied, bowing deeply while concealing a faint frown.
It wasn't that Yun Hengqiu held any grudges against Meng Wentian. Rather, it was the overwhelming scent of camphorwood emanating from him that caused discomfort.
Everyone in the sect knew of Meng Wentian's two passions in life: cultivation and camphorwood. His retreat was adorned entirely with camphorwood, and wherever he went, the distinct, almost overpowering scent followed.
Yun Hengqiu could never understand how anyone could enjoy the peculiar mix of fragrance and pungency. But today, he endured the discomfort, buoyed by the hope that Yun Xiao's performance might leave a lasting impression on the Sect Master.
"I've long heard of your exceptional grandson. Such talent at his young age! He may well become a leading figure among the younger generation of our sect," Meng Wentian remarked, his gaze fixed on Yun Xiao, nodding in approval.
Yun Hengqiu was naturally pleased by the praise, but his joy was short-lived as Meng Wentian's attention shifted to Chen An.
"As for that young man fighting Yun Xiao, he seems quite fascinating. From what I've heard, he started as an outer disciple and a mere laborer at that. Yet, he not only reached the Qi Condensation stage but also displayed extraordinary talent in crafting spirit runes. I haven't encountered such a curious individual in years."
The subtle tone in Meng Wentian's voice betrayed a greater interest in Chen An.
After all, geniuses like Yun Xiao, while impressive, were not entirely uncommon. But not all of them successfully matured, their arrogance often becoming their downfall. A successful cultivator needed more than talent; they required resourcefulness and the willingness to adapt.
In this regard, Chen An intrigued Meng Wentian deeply.
Despite his inferior spiritual roots, he had defied expectations and entered the path of cultivation. Though supposedly dull-witted, his mastery over spirit runes was astonishing. His ingenuity in combat baffled his opponents, leaving everyone wondering what other tricks he might have up his sleeve.
"I admit, Chen An is indeed intriguing," Yun Hengqiu said with calculated poise. "However, I remain confident in Yun Xiao's ability to overwhelm him. If Chen An prevails, it will only be due to clever tricks, not true strength."
His words subtly demeaned Chen An, framing any potential victory as mere luck and emphasizing Yun Xiao's superiority.
Meng Wentian, however, did not comment, merely turning his gaze toward the stage where the atmosphere had reached a boiling point. Both Yun Xiao and Chen An radiated fierce energy as the decisive battle was about to erupt.
---
"Die!"
Yun Xiao wasted no time. As the battle commenced, he launched a lightning-fast sword strike aimed at Chen An's throat.
The blade was so swift that it tore through the air with a sharp whistle.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, instead of using his signature Water Prison Rune to trap himself and wait for his opponent to exhaust themselves, Chen An made a bold move.
In a flash, his figure blurred, leaving behind several afterimages as he narrowly dodged Yun Xiao's lethal attack.
"That's the Swift Rune!"
A spectator gasped as they noticed the faint glow of numerous Swift Runes affixed to Chen An's legs. With the added speed, Chen An managed to match Yun Xiao's agility, evening the playing field.
This marked a significant shift in strategy for Chen An. He had abandoned his usual reliance on defensive tactics, signaling a departure from his previous battles.
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
In the Spirit Rune Sect, combat prowess often played second fiddle to utility and strategy. Unlike mages or warriors who excelled in direct combat, rune cultivators were rarely known for their battlefield dominance. Successfully integrating runes into combat required exceptional talent and a deep understanding of battle dynamics.
Chen An had already demonstrated his unparalleled rune-crafting abilities. Now, everyone eagerly awaited whether he could also excel in utilizing them to fight.
"Futile! You may dodge for now, but you cannot escape forever. Using such petty tricks against me, your defeat is inevitable!"
Frustrated by Chen An's evasive maneuvers, Yun Xiao shouted, his voice dripping with contempt.
But Chen An paid no heed to Yun Xiao's taunts.
He had carefully planned for this battle, mentally simulating countless scenarios. His evasive maneuvers weren't aimless; he was biding his time, searching for an opening to strike decisively.
As the saying goes, "Strike while the iron is hot."
Chen An knew his early Qi Condensation cultivation put him at a disadvantage against Yun Xiao, who had already reached the mid-stage. Dragging the fight out would only worsen his odds. A swift, decisive strike was his only chance.
All he needed was one perfect moment.