The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as the announcer's voice echoed across the arena. "The next battle will be between Yan Ling, the prodigious daughter of Clan Leader Yan Shengtian, and Liu Yun, the peak practitioner of Core Formation 9 Star!"
A collective murmur rippled through the crowd. The air felt electric, as everyone in the arena was holding their breath in eager anticipation. This match was not just another battle. It was the culmination of years of rumors, whispers, and growing expectations. No one had seen Yan Ling fight before, though her rapid cultivation had been the subject of much speculation. Her progress had been swift, almost unnatural, and now, finally, the clan would see if she could back up her reputation.
Yan Zi stood at the edge of the arena, his heart beating in time with the rising excitement. His eyes were locked on the stage, where Yan Ling stood with an aura of cold, quiet confidence. Despite the numerous battles already fought that day, this one felt different—this one felt like the climax of the entire tournament. "Yan Ling… so this is it, huh?" he muttered to himself, watching her closely.
"Aha, the final battle, huh? No pressure, right?" he chuckled softly, though his words were more nervous than he'd like to admit. He still couldn't help but remember how Yan Ling had treated him before—how she had looked at him like he was nothing more than a nuisance. She'd made it clear that his lack of cultivation and his position as a 'waste' was something she couldn't overlook. But now, as he stood there watching her, he realized he had no grudge left to hold. "Who cares about all that nonsense? I'm just glad to be here, in this moment."
For a brief moment, Yan Zi found himself lost in thought. The past few days had been a whirlwind—full of uncertainty, humiliation, and a little bit of personal growth. He hadn't expected to find peace, but the moments he spent with his family had allowed him to leave the old resentments behind.
Meanwhile, the elders gathered at the side, exchanging hushed words as they too observed the scene.
Elder Gaung's sharp eyes never left the stage, his voice filled with a strange mix of admiration and tension. "Clan Leader, it seems the time has come for the final battle. Your daughter faces Liu Yun, the peak practitioner of the Core Formation realm. What are your thoughts on this match?"
Yan Hong, Yan Zi's father, folded his arms and smiled with quiet pride. His face was a mask of stoic confidence. "Of course, I believe in my daughter. Yan Ling is not one to back down, no matter who her opponent is. She's the future of this clan."
Elder Gaung nodded approvingly, though there was an underlying tension in his expression. "Indeed. It's not just the match itself, but the weight of it. Liu Yun is a beast in his own right, but if anyone can take him down, it's her."
At the mention of Liu Yun's name, Elder Gong, who had been standing with the others, leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He smirked at Elder Hong beside him, who had been unusually quiet up until that point.
"Well, Elder Hong, what do you think of this match?" Elder Gong asked, unable to hide the playful tone in his voice.
Elder Hong, a usually serious and stoic figure, sighed deeply, as though the question weighed heavily on him. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his brow furrowing as if pondering something far more complicated than a mere match. "This... this will be the greatest battle we've seen in a long time," he replied, his voice carrying the gravitas of someone who had seen many battles. "Everyone has waited for this moment for so long, and now, at last, we'll witness the clash of two titans." He paused for a moment, then added with a grin, "I just hope they don't destroy the entire arena in the process."
The other elders chuckled at his words, with Elder Gaung shaking his head in exasperation. "Well, it's not like we haven't had a few broken pillars before. But, yes, the stakes are high." He smirked. "After all, Liu Yun may be strong, but Yan Ling is no slouch. The whole clan has been waiting to see if she can truly live up to the legend."
"Ah yes, the legend," Elder Gong added, chuckling under his breath. "We've all heard the stories. The 'Monster' of the Yan Clan." He winked at Yan Hong. "Tell me, Elder Hong, are you secretly worried? She might just steal your thunder, after all."
Yan Hong's eyes twinkled, and for a moment, a rare flash of amusement crossed his face. "If she does, then I'll just be happy to watch her shine. But don't worry, I've got plenty of thunder left in me." His voice was filled with pride, but his expression softened as he looked toward his daughter. "She's my daughter. I trust her with everything."
As the announcer called for the final preparations, the crowd went silent, their collective breath held in anticipation. "Alright," Elder Gong said, his tone light but with a touch of mischief. "Shall we get the popcorn for this one, or is it too early to start betting?"
Elder Gaung let out a sigh, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "We'll see if the arena is still standing after the match. Then you can bet all you want, Gong."
The tension was thick in the air, the crowd on the edge of their seats as the battle between Yan Ling and Liu Yun was about to begin.
As Yan Ling and Liu Yun stood across from each other in the arena, the tension in the air was almost palpable. The temperature seemed to drop as the two powerful cultivators released their auras, creating a pressure so immense that it made some of the weaker disciples nearby stumble backward, their feet barely staying planted. The crowd watched with bated breath, the magnitude of the power on display sending ripples through the entire audience. Even the elders couldn't help but react to the intensity of it all.
"What a presence," Elder Gaung muttered, his eyes flickering between the two figures. "This is no ordinary battle."
As the pressure mounted, Liu Yun gave a small, almost self-satisfied smile. His eyes locked onto Yan Ling, and with a nonchalant shrug, he spoke in a tone that was as smooth as it was arrogant.
"Junior Yan Ling," Liu Yun began, his voice loud enough to be heard by all, "Don't worry. I won't force myself or hurt you too badly. After all, I've proposed to you many times, but you've always rejected me."
A small, almost imperceptible frown formed on Yan Ling's face at his words, but she didn't flinch or react aggressively. She simply lifted her chin slightly, her voice as calm as ever, though the biting coldness in it was unmistakable.
"Do you really think someone like you is worthy to marry me?" Yan Ling's words were as sharp as a blade, each syllable dripping with disdain. The crowd gasped, some even snickering at Liu Yun's expense.
Liu Yun's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Ah, worthy or not, we'll find out soon enough," he said, his voice smooth as ever. He raised his hand in a playful gesture, as if it were nothing more than a casual bet. "How about this? If I win, then you'll have no choice but to marry me. But, if I lose, I promise to never bother you again."
The entire arena fell deathly silent at his words. The audacity of the proposition was met with stunned expressions from nearly every onlooker. Even the usually stoic elders exchanged uneasy glances.
"This brat... what is he thinking?" Elder Gaung muttered under his breath, his eyes widening slightly at Liu Yun's words. "Does he seriously believe Yan Ling will agree to such a thing?"
From the back of the arena, where Yan Shengtian stood watching, his voice boomed out, sharp and filled with disdain. "You brat! What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Liu Yun, unfazed by the harsh tone, gave a polite bow toward Yan Shengtian, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Uncle Yan, surely you must agree that someone like me would be far more suitable as your son-in-law, don't you think?"
Yan Shengtian's eyebrows shot up at the suggestion, his expression shifting from a mask of stoic seriousness to one of complete incredulity. "Son-in-law? Nonsense!" He barked, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice as he glared at Liu Yun. "You, as my son-in-law? Why don't you try to marry a pig while you're at it?"
The crowd erupted into laughter at Yan Shengtian's words, with some of the younger disciples snickering while the older ones tried to suppress their chuckles. Liu Yun's confident expression wavered for just a moment, but he quickly recovered, nodding respectfully.
"Well then, we shall see, won't we?" he replied, his smile still plastered on his face, though it was becoming strained.
As the back-and-forth continued, Yan Ling stood completely still, her expression calm and serene, as if nothing in the world could rattle her. She looked up at Liu Yun for a moment, her gaze colder than the chill in the air.
"Alright then," she finally said, her voice low and measured. "Let's see if you can back up that arrogance with action."
The words were barely a whisper, but they hung in the air like a challenge. The crowd held its breath, everyone sensing that the real battle was about to begin.
For a brief moment, everything stood still. The arena, the crowd, the air—it all seemed to freeze in time. Then, the wind stirred. A soft breeze swept across the stage, tousling Yan Ling's long hair. It fluttered behind her like a silken ribbon, and for a moment, she appeared to glow with an ethereal beauty, her composure unshaken by Liu Yun's words or the weight of the battle ahead. The breeze seemed to carry with it the promise of something magnificent.
The tension in the air was so thick it was almost tangible. Everyone watched in silence, eyes fixed on the two figures in the center of the arena, awaiting the next move.
Yan Zi, who had been observing the entire exchange with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, felt a strange sense of pride. Despite the harsh words exchanged between the two, he knew that this was the moment everyone had been waiting for. This was more than just a battle for strength; it was a battle of pride, legacy, and determination.
"This is it," he thought, his hand subconsciously clenching into a fist. "Let's see what she can do."
The silence stretched on, as if the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for the next move, the next step. Yan Ling's gaze was unwavering, her focus absolute. Liu Yun, on the other hand, was still smiling—confident, cocky, and ready for whatever came next.
The stage was set. The battle was about to begin.