The second round of the Verdant Moon Sect's Grand Competition had no elegance.
No rules.
Only survival.
Ten disciples stood at the edges of a vast, jagged arena carved from ancient stone and encircled by rune-etched walls. From above, thousands of outer court disciples watched in silence, breaths held.
A formation master activated the array.
> "Begin!"
The words had barely faded before chaos erupted.
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### **The Start of the Storm**
Shadow moved the moment the bell rang—not toward anyone, but away, ducking behind a broken pillar near the platform's edge.
Across the arena, others surged into combat. Blades clashed, Qi flared, and power exploded like waves against rock. One fighter had already been flung off the edge—his spirit shield broken, his mind unconscious.
Shadow crouched low, watching.
> "Too early. I need to see who survives the first blood."
He scanned each figure.
Then saw him.
**Fan Shu**.
A silent, broad-shouldered man with a calm expression and empty eyes. His body glowed faintly with dense Qi, wrapped around him like steel. A practitioner of **Stone Heart Body Art**—tough as iron, brutal as a landslide.
**Fifth Level of Foundation**.
His gaze found Shadow immediately.
And locked.
> "Someone sent him after me," Shadow thought.
Fan Shu didn't charge.
He **walked**.
One step at a time.
Deliberate. Heavy. Inevitable.
---
### **The Clash Begins**
Shadow rose from behind the pillar, sword still sheathed.
Fan Shu stopped five paces away.
> "You—Elder Yan's orphan."
His voice was calm. Distant.
> "They said you're dangerous. I don't see it."
Shadow's grip tightened.
> "Then come closer."
Fan Shu obliged.
His foot shattered stone as he launched forward, palm glowing with earthen light. He struck—**Stone Fracture Palm**—a technique that focused all his Qi into a single burst of brute-force impact.
Shadow side-stepped just in time. The palm hit the ground where he had stood and **split** the stone into fractured slabs.
Dust exploded.
Shadow rolled to the side—another palm flew past, grazing his shoulder.
Even a graze felt like being struck by a hammer.
> "He's fast… and stronger than the last one."
He ducked beneath the third palm, countering with **Flash Blade Art – Pulse One**.
His sword slashed a thin line across Fan Shu's side—drawing blood.
The man didn't flinch.
Didn't even blink.
He punched.
Shadow barely blocked—his blade shuddered under the weight, and his arms trembled.
He retreated three steps.
Fan Shu followed.
---
### **Desperation and Deflection**
Shadow shifted tactics, launching **Pulse Two** from mid-air. It struck Fan Shu's forearm—another shallow wound, but enough to push him back.
Fan Shu grunted and swept a kick toward Shadow's ribs.
He took it, barely guarding—**sent flying**.
Shadow crashed into a stone outcropping. Blood ran down his lips.
> "He's reading my sword now."
> "My advantage is fading."
Fan Shu stalked forward, raising both hands. His Qi flared brighter—glowing with orange-gold light.
> "I'll break you in front of everyone."
He punched—twice, thrice, each faster, tighter. Shadow parried, blocked, rolled, countered with a desperate elbow.
Then—
> *CRACK!*
A fist struck his side.
Shadow's vision went black for half a second.
> "Ribs…"
He collapsed to one knee.
Fan Shu stood above him, arms raised.
---
### **Thunder Awakens**
Shadow bit his lip, blood running down his chin.
> "One more mistake and I'm out."
He closed his eyes.
And reached for it.
The storm inside.
Not the full burst. Not the reckless, suicidal wave.
Just the **controlled pulse**.
**Thunder Slash – Suppressed Form**
His blade began to hum softly.
Lightning traced across the steel, crawling like snakes beneath his skin.
Fan Shu's fist descended.
Shadow stepped forward—not back—and raised his blade.
**CLANG!**
Steel met flesh—and this time, flesh cracked.
The thunder-infused strike hit Fan Shu's side, the lightning slamming into his ribs.
**BOOM!**
Fan Shu was hurled backward, crashing into a pillar. Dust exploded.
He groaned—but rose again.
Blood stained his robe.
His chest burned with lightning scars.
Shadow staggered. His right hand trembled. His breathing came ragged.
But he stood.
Fan Shu wiped blood from his lip.
> "That… was interesting."
He smiled.
> "Now I'll take you seriously."
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