The arena still echoed with shouts and disbelief from the previous match. Shadow's blood marked the stage, but so did his victory.
In the high pavilion, the Sect Master no longer scowled. His fury had cooled, hardened into something more dangerous—**calculation**.
"No more testing," he said coldly to Elder Gai. "Assign Yun Qiang. Rank Four."
Elder Gai blinked. "Yun Qiang? The beast summoner?"
"Yes," the Sect Master said. "Let's see how he fares when surrounded. Let him taste war."
---
The bracket shifted above the arena.
**Match 44: Shadow (Rank 100) vs Yun Qiang (Rank 4)**
The spectators gasped.
"The beast summoner?"
"He's ranked above Zhao Yan and Lei Zhong!"
"And his white tiger… it's terrifying. A thunder spirit beast bonded since childhood!"
Jian Wu cursed under his breath. "They really want him gone."
He rushed to Shadow's side, pressing a second healing pill into his hand. "This one's stronger. Use it wisely."
Shadow nodded and swallowed it without a word.
Warmth spread through his chest. It numbed the worst of his wounds, slowed the bleeding. But his ribs still ached with every breath.
Still, he walked to the arena. Alone.
Opposite him stood **Yun Qiang**—tall, cloaked in dark green battle robes, a silver chain wound around his wrist.
At his side sat **Baihu**, the thunder-furred white tiger. Its glowing eyes locked on Shadow, rumbling low.
Yun Qiang smiled faintly. "I've seen what you can do. Impressive. But your lightning won't help you here."
He raised his hand.
"Let me show you what true coordination is."
The bell rang.
---
The moment it rang, Baihu sprang forward—a blur of speed and deadly intent. The ground cracked beneath its paws. It vanished, reappearing midair in a streak of lightning.
Shadow barely raised his sword in time to parry. The tiger's claws clanged against steel, sending a jolt up his arm. The sheer weight behind the beast nearly knocked him off his feet.
Before he could counter, Yun Qiang launched five spirit talismans into the air, forming a glowing pentagram.
"**Summoner's Domain – Thunderfall Jungle!**"
In an instant, the platform twisted. The arena became a battlefield of illusion and spirit energy. Lightning vines crawled across the floor. Mirage versions of Baihu danced in and out of visibility. Every sense was overwhelmed.
Shadow gritted his teeth and spun in a defensive arc, trying to slash through the illusions.
But Baihu's real body struck from the side.
Claws raked across Shadow's back—blood sprayed, and he fell into a roll.
Yun Qiang didn't let up. His staff extended, glowing with thunder runes. He slammed it into the ground, sending shockwaves through the entire domain.
Each pulse disrupted Shadow's footing. The illusions multiplied.
"He's going to lose!" one disciple shouted.
"There's no way to track the real Baihu!"
Shadow staggered to his feet, wounds flaring. Every breath burned.
Baihu's roar echoed from everywhere. The illusions were flawless.
Then the real one lunged from above.
Shadow didn't dodge.
He planted his feet.
"Thunder Step!"
He vanished, reappeared behind Yun Qiang, blade drawn in a swift arc—**Flash Blade Art – Fang's Reversal!**
Yun blocked it with his staff, but the force slid him back five steps.
Baihu was already circling.
Shadow's breathing was ragged. His arms trembled.
But inside, the storm churned.
He watched the terrain. Felt the pulses. The timing.
He shut his eyes for one heartbeat.
And saw the rhythm.
When he opened them, they glowed with violet arcs.
He parried a claw from Baihu and responded with a blade to the side, slicing through another illusion.
Then the domain shifted again. This time, Yun Qiang's voice boomed.
"**Domain Expansion – Thunder Bloom Lotus Formation!**"
A hundred lightning lotuses bloomed across the platform, each one spinning and sparking, creating zones of paralysis and magnetic Qi.
Shadow leapt over one, but Baihu came in low. A claw slammed into his thigh. He stumbled.
Yun's staff came down.
Shadow barely raised his sword to block—but the shockwave cracked the floor.
Shadow flew back, tumbling through two lotus traps. Electric sparks tore through his limbs.
He hit the ground hard, groaning.
Baihu was already mid-leap.
Shadow raised his blade.
It trembled.
His eyes dimmed.
But he exhaled—and stood.
His feet grounded.
The storm answered.
He sheathed the sword.
Lightning began to swirl.
It wasn't just combat now.
This was declaration.
"I've had enough."
He raised both hands.
His core ignited.
His meridians surged.
The sky responded.
Clouds thickened. The winds howled. The arena trembled.
"**Thunder Slash – Full Burst!**"
The heavens cracked.
A divine spear of lightning roared down, striking with the fury of judgment.
The Summoner's Domain shattered.
Lotuses burst.
Illusions burned.
Baihu yelped as the light devoured it.
Yun Qiang screamed—the blast flung him like a ragdoll across the field.
The ground split. A crater formed.
When the light faded…
Only Shadow stood.
Smoke curled from his robes. His hair whipped in the wind.
His blade glowed faintly.
The referee stared.
Then raised his hand.
"**Victory — Shadow!**"
Silence.
Then the crowd exploded.
Disciples screamed. Elders murmured. Top 10 disciples stood in silence.
Ren Shun narrowed his eyes.
Xue Mei's lips parted in fascination.
And the Sect Master leaned back, expression cold.
Because this… was not a victory.
It was a warning.
The storm no longer approached.
It was here.
And it had a name.
---
**End of Chapter 71**