Atlas took a deep breath, straightened his freshly donned robes, and approached Shen Xue with what he hoped was a confident stride. He cleared his throat, then placed a hand over his heart, flashing a diplomatic—albeit slightly desperate—smile.
"Shen Xue, my dear, formidable, and incredibly wise opponent" Atlas began, choosing his words carefully.
"Surely, in the grand scheme of martial arts, our battle is but a minor skirmish, a tiny ripple in the vast ocean of combat. Would it not be more beneficial for both of us to resolve this with words rather than fists?"
Shen Xue folded her arms, unimpressed. "You tried this last time. It didn't work."
Atlas sighed. "True, but consider this! In a world brimming with conflict, must we always default to violence? Perhaps a gentleman's agreement, a pact of mutual benefit—"
"Atlas."
"Yes?"
"If you don't fight me, I'll fight you anyway."
Atlas's hopeful grin wavered. "Right. Just thought I'd check."
Shen Xue raised an eyebrow. "You're not getting out of this."
Atlas groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, okay, but what if—and hear me out—we stage the fight? You hit me, I dramatically fall over, everyone gasps, and we call it a day?"
Shen Xue stared at him, deadpan.
"No."
Atlas threw his hands up. "What if I bribe you?"
"No."
"An all-expenses-paid meal at the finest restaurant in the city?"
"Still no."
Atlas crossed his arms and pouted. "You drive a hard bargain, Shen."
She smirked. "I don't negotiate."
Before Atlas could attempt another desperate ploy, Master Daokan called out
"Bao versus Ren, step forward."
Atlas nearly collapsed in relief as the attention shifted away from him. He scurried back to the sidelines, whispering to himself
"Another day, another chance to negotiate."
Bao stepped into the ring, his eyes locked onto Ren. The two warriors faced each other in silence, the tension between them almost tangible.
Bao inhaled deeply, centering himself. Unlike Lin Wuye or Jiang, his body lacked their hardened physique, but his Qi reserves ran deep. If nothing else, he could sustain his techniques longer than most.
With a single step, he launched into the first technique of the Silver Lotus Sect—
Whispering Breeze.His body glided like a wisp of air, his movements elusive and unreadable as his fist cut toward Ren.
Ren didn't move. At the last possible moment, he tilted his head slightly, letting the strike pass by harmlessly.
Bao wasted no time, shifting into Rushing Wind. His speed doubled, his fists blurring into a near-invisible flurry of strikes. The air howled as his attacks rained down in relentless succession.
Ren finally responded, weaving effortlessly between Bao's strikes. He parried a punch with the back of his hand, then stepped forward, pressing into Bao's space. His movements were frustratingly simple—direct, efficient—but they carried the weight of complete mastery.
Bao grit his teeth and pushed forward. His Qi surged, allowing him to maintain his technique longer than most, but it also made him reckless. He struck out again, but Ren anticipated it, stepping just out of reach before slamming a palm into Bao's chest.
Bao stumbled, his breath hitching from the force. But he refused to fall.
"Again" Bao muttered, resetting his stance.
Ren smirked. "You're persistent."
Bao launched forward, his movements smoother, more refined, as he maintained
Whispering Breeze and Rushing Wind, changing step so fast it felt simultaneously. He was fast—faster than he had ever been before. And for the first time, Ren had to block rather than evade.
Bao saw his opening. He twisted, driving his fist toward Ren's ribs.
It landed.
Ren took a single step back, a faint look of approval in his eyes.
But in the next breath, he struck back. His fist drove into Bao's stomach with the force of a collapsing mountain. The air in Bao's lungs vanished instantly. He barely registered the pain before his vision blurred, his body sent flying across the arena.
He crashed hard, coughing violently as his limbs refused to obey him. Ren exhaled, stepping back calmly.
Shen watched intently. "Ren isn't just strong. He's terrifying."
Bao groaned, pushing himself up from the ground, his body screaming in protest. His limbs trembled, and his breath came in ragged gasps, but he refused to surrender. His Qi was still surging within him, and that meant he could still fight.
Master Daokan watched from the sidelines, his sharp eyes analyzing every movement.
"He's pushing his body past the limits" he murmured, his voice unreadable.
"His body is weaker than the others, but his Qi reserves are immense. If he can maintain control, he might still turn this around."
Beside him, Shen smirked. "He's got heart, I'll give him that. But Ren isn't the kind of opponent who'll let him push forward much longer."
Yue Wuye, standing with her arms crossed, observed quietly.
"Even so, he's forcing Ren to work harder than expected. That alone is impressive."
Bao steadied his stance, inhaling deeply. The pain dulled under the sheer force of his will, and he launched forward again, his form shifting back into Whispering Breeze. His movements became unpredictable, his strikes weaving through the air like the wind itself.
Ren exhaled, mildly irritated now. "You don't know when to stay down, do you?"
Bao ignored him, pouring his energy into Rushing Wind. His speed spiked again, his strikes blurring into a tempest. He weaved and lashed out, forcing Ren onto the defensive for the first time in the match.
Master Daokan's eyes flickered with interest. "He's adapting. His instincts are getting sharper.''
Ren clicked his tongue, stepping back, dodging each strike with ease—but there was a subtle shift in his stance, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
Bao saw it.
Seizing the moment, Bao pivoted and twisted his entire body into a single, explosive punch. His fist connected squarely with Ren's jaw, sending a shockwave rippling through the air.
Master Daokan's brows lifted ever so slightly. "He landed a clean hit.''
Ren staggered back a step, touching his chin. He blinked once, then frowned. "That... actually hurt."
Bao exhaled sharply, his entire body burning with exhaustion, but he stood firm.
"I'm not done yet."
Ren rolled his shoulders, his irritation now palpable. "Alright. I've humoured you enough."
Master Daokan's gaze darkened. "Now comes the real test."
Ren shifted his weight, his posture subtly changing. Before Bao could react, Ren moved—too fast for the eye to follow. One instant he was standing still, the next, his fist buried deep into Bao's abdomen.
Bao's breath caught, his vision flashing white as pain exploded through his body. But something instinctive took over. His hand shot out, grabbing Ren's wrist just as the force sent him staggering back.
A surge of power ignited in his core.
Master Daokan's eyes widened slightly. "Oh...?"
Bao felt it—the third step.
Gale's Kiss. The air around them howled as Bao's qi flared wildly, reinforcing his battered body. Pain flooded his limbs, his muscles screaming in protest, but his qi absorbed the damage, allowing him to move again.
Ren's expression darkened. "You're still standing?"
Bao didn't answer. His fists clenched, the wind roaring around him. He dashed forward, faster than before, his strikes sharper, deadlier.
Master Daokan nodded approvingly. "He's enduring it... but for how long?"
Ren let out a slow breath, his stance shifting. Then, with no hesitation, he surged forward, intercepting Bao's next strike. The impact sent a gust of wind through the arena, but this time, Ren didn't give an inch. He countered immediately, twisting Bao's arm and slamming a knee into his ribs. Bao gasped, but instead of collapsing, he forced himself through the pain, retaliating with a wild, sweeping kick. Ren sidestepped cleanly, bringing his elbow down on Bao's shoulder with brutal precision.
Shen clicked her tongue. "He's done."
Yue Wuye sighed. "He lasted longer than I expected. But Ren is still the better fighter."
Bao's vision swam. His body, already battered, finally betrayed him. He dropped to one knee, struggling to stay upright, but Ren was already preparing the finishing blow.
A final strike landed cleanly against Bao's chest, sending him sprawling across the floor.
Master Daokan exhaled. "It's over."
Ren stepped back, rolling his shoulders. "You put up a good fight" he admitted.
Bao lay on the ground, chest heaving, his Qi finally spent.
Shen smirked. "Not bad, kid. Maybe next time."
Yan Shuren, returning from sending Layla to the physician, frowned as he saw another battered-up child. He turned to Master Daokan.
"Why didn't you punish Ren for making a kid pass out?"
Master Daokan remained calm, his gaze unwavering.
"Because the lesson wasn't just for Bao. Strength isn't just about enduring—it's about understanding limits. If Ren had held back, Bao would never know how far he still has to go. A true warrior must experience hardship to grow."
He glanced toward the ring where the remnants of the battle still lingered.
"Unlike your fight with Meilin, which was frankly one-sided and you making Meilin like a bouncing ball leaving many holes in the main compound, Bao and Ren were almost equals. Their battle was a true test, not just of power but of adaptation and endurance. If I punished Ren for this, I would be undermining the very lesson Bao needed to learn."
He turned toward a nearby servant and spoke in a low but firm voice.
"Take Bao to the physician. Make sure he's well cared for."
The servant nodded, swiftly carrying out the order. Meanwhile, the rest of the fighters—Lin Wuye, Jiang, Layla all bandaged up and Yan Shuren—returned, taking their places among the spectators. The air was thick with anticipation, but no one was more confused than Atlas, who had been subtly edging his way toward the exit.
Then, with a slight smirk—something rare for him—Master Daokan clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention.
"And now, the final match of the day."
Atlas froze mid-step. "Wait, what? That was the last fight, right?"
Master Daokan turned toward him, his tone far too eager.
"No, Atlas. This is the last fight. You, against Shen Xue."