Seven warriors remained.
The air crackled with Dao energy, the ground scarred from previous battles. The scent of blood and burning qi filled the arena, a testament to the fierce combat that had unfolded.
Xiao Lan stood in the center, calm and collected, his dark eyes scanning the battlefield.
His latest victims, Xuan Zhen and Sun Wuji, lay unconscious at the edge of the battlefield.
But there was no time to rest.
The remaining warriors had seen enough.
They had all come to the same realization—
Xiao Lan was the biggest threat.
And now?
They were going to eliminate him.
A tense silence filled the air.
Then—
They attacked.
Bai Yueru was the first to strike.
Her emerald sabers flashed, carving twin arcs of wind energy, slicing through the air toward Xiao Lan's throat.
At the same time, Hei Fang vanished into the shadows, reappearing behind Xiao Lan with a dagger aimed at his spine.
From above, Qiao Lian's whip lashed forward, glowing with a violet light, seeking to bind him in place.
Meanwhile, Mo Cheng, the quiet swordsman, finally unsheathed his black blade—
A sign that he was truly taking this fight seriously.
Xiao Lan exhaled.
Then—
He moved.
Time seemed to slow.
Xiao Lan's body blurred, moving with the fluid grace of a phantom.
With a simple tilt of his head—
Bai Yueru's twin saber slashes missed completely, cutting nothing but air.
At the same moment—
Xiao Lan's foot stomped down, sending a shockwave through the ground—
BOOM!
Hei Fang, who had been lunging from the shadows, was blasted away, his dagger flying from his grip.
Qiao Lian's whip wrapped around Xiao Lan's arm, but before she could reinforce it with energy—
Xiao Lan jerked forward.
Qiao Lian's body soared through the air, her graceful stance breaking as she was yanked off her feet.
And finally—
Mo Cheng's black blade slashed down—
A strike so fast that space itself trembled.
But Xiao Lan simply raised his hand—
CLANG!
His bare palm caught the blade.
A collective gasp rippled through the battlefield.
Mo Cheng's eyes widened in shock.
"You…" he muttered.
Xiao Lan's grip tightened around the blade.
"Not fast enough."
Then—
He twisted.
The sheer force ripped the sword from Mo Cheng's grasp, sending it spinning into the air.
Mo Cheng staggered back, eyes filled with disbelief.
And that's when Xiao Lan attacked.
Xiao Lan's body vanished—reappearing directly in front of Mo Cheng.
His palm smashed forward—
CRACK!
Mo Cheng's ribs shattered, his body flying backward like a broken doll, landing in a crumpled heap.
Bai Yueru tried to retreat—
But Xiao Lan chased her down.
With a single step, he closed the distance—
His fist smashed into her gut.
She gasped, eyes wide, coughing up blood before collapsing to her knees.
Two down.
Five left.
Hei Fang, Qiao Lian, Wei Xu, Xiao Qing, and Xiao Lan.
The remaining warriors staggered backward, fear creeping into their expressions.
Xiao Lan stood tall, his gaze indifferent, as if the battle was merely a chore.
"You all should've worked together from the start," he remarked.
Hei Fang clenched his fists.
"Shut up!"
Then—
He lunged.
His shadow-infused dagger aimed for Xiao Lan's throat.
But—
Xiao Lan didn't move.
He simply tilted his head slightly, letting the blade pass an inch from his skin.
Then—
His fingers snapped forward, grasping Hei Fang's wrist.
Hei Fang's eyes widened in horror.
"N—!"
CRACK!
Xiao Lan twisted.
Hei Fang's wrist snapped, his dagger falling to the ground.
Then—
A palm strike to the chest.
BOOOOM!
Hei Fang's body flew backward, slamming into the arena wall.
Unconscious.
The crowd fell into a stunned silence.
Only four warriors remained.
Xiao Qing tightened her grip on her crimson spear, stepping forward.
"You're not the only strong one here, Xiao Lan."
Xiao Lan smiled slightly.
"Let's find out, then."
Xiao Qing's spear flashed forward, a blur of crimson light.
Xiao Lan dodged, his body weaving between her strikes like flowing water.
But Xiao Qing didn't let up.
Her spear techniques were fast, precise, and unpredictable—a testament to her years of training.
Still—
Xiao Lan remained untouched.
Then—
He moved to counter.
His fingers snapped forward, aiming to disarm her.
But—
Xiao Qing smirked.
"Got you."
Then—
Her Dao energy exploded outward.
BOOOOM!
A burst of crimson flames erupted from her spear, catching Xiao Lan off guard.
For the first time—
Xiao Lan staggered backward.
The crowd gasped.
Xiao Qing had landed a hit.
But—
Xiao Lan simply dusted off his robe.
"You've improved," he admitted.
Xiao Qing twirled her spear.
"And you've been underestimating me."
Xiao Lan exhaled.
"Alright then."
His Dao energy surged.
"Let's end this."
Then—
He vanished.
Xiao Qing barely had time to react before—
A palm strike to the chest.
A shockwave erupted.
She coughed blood, her spear flying from her grip.
And in the next instant—
She collapsed.
The crowd exploded in shock.
Only two warriors remained.
Qiao Lian.
Wei Xu.
And Xiao Lan.
The final battle was about to begin.