~~~

Huang Shing has been waiting for this day.

Feng Zhi cannot believe this day has come.

When Huang Shing joined the Eternal Flame Clan, he thought he would find Feng Zhi right away, defeat him, and rescue Yi Jiao. Never once did he imagine it would take him more than four years to stand on the same stage as him.

When the buffoon joined, Feng Zhi did not even notice. Once he did, he assumed the idiot would get himself killed in a matter of months. Never once did he imagine that Huang Shing would become one of the more promising disciples of their generation.

His quest was wrong from the start. The man who wronged him was not guilty of even half the things he sought revenge for. The anger and spite Huang Shing felt for Feng Zhi have become very dull things.

Feng Zhi never wanted to put this idiot in his eyes. If he had to acknowledge him, it should have been only as an annoyance. But before he knew it, the idiot was right behind him. Before he knew it, his world had been intruded upon.

And yet…

And yet..

He cannot wait to face the fighter in front of him!

“Huang Shing of the Eternal Flame Clan vs. Feng Zhi of the Eternal Flame Clan!”

Earth Realm, Level Seven.

Earth Realm, Level Eight.

Feng Zhi is the Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan. It should be unthinkable for any member of his own Sect to fight him seriously. Doing so would lower his odds in the next round. It is not just normal but expected for someone like Huang Shing to surrender.

[Fourth Dragon Slaying Palm - Blooming Lotus]

[Eternal Radiance]

Golden flames crash into blooming pink energy, blinding the audience and shattering their expectations. The idea that either fighter could possibly be holding back dies a quick death. The Eternal Flame shines with enough power to reduce weaker cultivators to ashes, yet Huang Shing’s technique keeps it at bay until both attacks have run their course.

“You are using the Eternal Flame from the start?” Huang Shing asks, looking at the molten spot where their powers met. “Young Master, the crowd won’t like you if you don’t start slow.”

“I am starting slow,” Feng Zhi points out.

Huang Shing snorts.

“Bastard.”

“Buffoon.”

Under the casual banter, both fighters are carefully studying each other. Most fights so far have been between fighters who did not know each other beyond their reputation, but that is not the case for Huang Shing and Feng Zhi. They are more than familiar with each other’s fighting styles, and how they navigate that knowledge will likely decide the victor.

[Fourth Dragon Slaying Palm - Blooming Lotus]

A wall of golden flames rises in front of Feng Zhi to block Huang Shing’s attack. Unlike other types of barriers, the Eternal Flame blocks attacks by consuming them as they try to pass through. To overcome it, Huang Shing needs to use more power than Feng Zhi can burn in an instant, something easier said than done. The Eternal Flame gives Feng Zhi access to a source of power that is purer and more potent than anything Huang Shing can put forth.

However, Huang Shing has known that for years.

Moving to the side in a burst of speed, Huang Shing unleashes another [Blooming Lotus]. His attack is once more met with a wall of golden flames.

“Do you really think I will stand still and let you attack?!” Feng Zhi shouts as he bursts out from the flaming wall.

Huang Shing grins and twists on his heel, a movement technique carrying him away. Feng Zhi tries to catch up to him. Flames burst from his back and propel his body forward.

He is still too slow.

Huang Shing leads Feng Zhi in a straight line, then immediately accelerates to the right and jumps. Taking advantage of the pull of the Earth Realm, Huang Shing twists his body and accelerates on his descent. The awkward triangle places him right behind Feng Zhi. The Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan cannot turn around in time.

Because Feng Zhi, unlike everyone else in the delegation, could not take the Elixir.

[Fifth Dragon Slaying Palm - A Hundred Blooming Lotuses]

The impacts strike Feng Zhi’s unprotected back one after another. Huang Shing’s Qi roars as he pours as much power as possible into that single moment, knowing that he will never get a better chance to end the fight.

The Elixir created by Brother Jin and the people of the Apothecary enhances the effects of the Spring of Enduring Valour. In other words, it is useless when used by someone who already bathed in those waters. This was not an issue for most of the Eternal Flame Clan’s delegation, but Feng Zhi is different. As the Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan, he has had access to all its best resources from the moment he was born.

The Spring of Enduring Valour is no exception.

[Sixth Dragon Slaying Palm - Endless Bloo-]

[Golden Vestment]

Gold surges around Feng Zhi, forcing Huang Shing to immediately leap back. As nice as landing that final move would have been, there’s no point if he ends up without an arm. The golden flames wrap all around Feng Zhi’s body and flicker like fireflies. The effect is visually impressive, which Huang Shing immediately dislikes. More importantly, Feng Zhi has no blind spots now. Any attack thrown at him will be immediately burned.

“I will admit this,” Feng Zhi says, looking Huang Shing in the eyes as hundreds of golden sparks shine around him, each one strong enough to reduce a lesser cultivator to ashes. “You are strong, so strong that I cannot afford to hold back.”

Huang Shing will deny to the end of his days that those words had any effect on him. It is a statement that will ring completely false as the entire Crimson Cloud Arena can feel his aura roaring with joy and his mouth howling with laughter as he throws himself into the fight.

Feng Zhi fires the sparks, forcing Huang Shing to move around the ring to dodge. He goes left and right, up and down, never stopping for even a second. Some of the sparks crash into the barrier while others strike the ring. A few turn and start chasing him.

It does not matter.

If Feng Zhi weren’t capable of at least this much, there’d be no point in this fight. Huang Shing’s aura shrinks in size yet grows dense as he stacks layer upon layer of Qi into it. He is not good at making barriers, and he lacks talent for the more esoteric arts. All he has is the same thing he has had since the beginning of his journey.

The Nine Dragon Slaying Palms.

[Sixth Dragon Slaying Palm - Endless Bloom]

His fists blur as he strikes the sparks away one by one, meeting force with force and Qi with Qi. No matter what Feng Zhi throws at him, Huang Shing will Overcome it. His soul sings and expands with resolution.

He will defeat Feng Zhi here and face Brother Jin in the Top Eight!

~~~

“He is not bad,” Lord Feng Gui says, observing the fight carefully.

“Cousin Feng Zhi’s control over the Eternal Flame has grown by leaps and bounds,” Feng Zhuo affirms, nodding happily.

“A good sentiment, my son,” Lord Feng Shang says, closing his eyes while he takes a sip of tea. “However, that is not who your Uncle is talking about.”

Lady Ling smirks. Feng Hao frowns. Feng Zhuo refuses to let his smile dim. Lady Feng merely sighs and shakes her head.

Only Elder Xue decides to speak up.

“Lord Feng Gui, truly?”

“My son is as excellent as I expect him to be,” Lord Feng Gui says. “His opponent, however, is fighting him as an equal despite coming from no relevant background.”

As he speaks, Huang Shing leaps in between the golden flames, hitting one back at Feng Zhi before moving to strike, forcing Feng Zhi to move back.

“How is he doing that?” Feng Hao asks, blinking at the scene. “Shouldn’t the Eternal Flame be burning him?”

“Usually, that would be the case,” Feng Zhuo answers before his father or uncle can. “But look closely, Little Hao. He has layered so much Qi around himself that the Eternal Flame cannot burn through it quickly enough. This allows him to interact with the flame…to a degree. Normally, that would be impossible for a cultivator of his level, but he is leveraging his Dao against Feng Zhi’s Eternal Flame.”

“Precisely,” Feng Gui says, crossing his arms. “Battles between cultivators are battles of Dao. No matter how many techniques or skills you learn, the one who is better at imposing his existence over reality wins. Pay close attention, son. One way or another, this fight will prove illuminating.”

~~~

The heat in the ring is such that the air has become distorted, and the stone has begun to melt. Even those in the Earth Realm would find it painful to breathe.

Yet Huang Shing remains standing.

Remains fighting.

Feng Zhi frowns. The buffoon isn’t only withstanding his power. He is thriving. He bounces around the ring like a demented monkey, getting close one moment and far away the next one. Feng Zhi’s golden flames chase after him, but they are always a step too slow.

A shadow appears above him. Fire rises from Feng Zhi like the roar of a volcano and burns a hole through the barrier’s ceiling. The ensuing pillar of flames can be seen for several miles, yet Huang Shing is no longer there.

Feng Zhi senses him behind him. He cannot turn in time, but he already expected an attack from that angle. The Eternal Flame shines on his back, forming a miniature sun.

[Fourth Dragon Slaying Palm - Blooming Lotus]

[Incandescent Eternal Scorching]

The ensuing blast sends both fighters flying in opposite directions, each slamming against opposite ends of the barrier.

Annoying.

Feng Zhi breathes fire as he stands up. Anger radiates from his body, but it is not because his technique and Huang Shing’s countered each other. It is also not because he has yet to land a solid hit on Huang Shing despite the fight taking place in such a limited area. Both are things he expected.

However, that impertinent fool is already thinking about his next fight!

Feng Zhi felt it the instant they clashed. The buffoon’s soul is so loud that Feng Zhi could not have ignored it even if he tried it. Huang Shing is already eager to fight Qing Jin. He fully believes in himself. Believes in his victory.

Why doesn’t Feng Zhi feel that confident?

Feng Zhi’s kick cuts through the air, unleashing a crescent-shaped flame that Huang Shing leaps over. The instant he does, Feng Zhi makes a fist, and the construct explodes behind Huang Shing, making him lose balance in mid-air.

Feng Zhi’s flaming fist slams into his face.

The crack that follows is entirely too satisfying, yet Huang Shing immediately gets back up. His eyes are shining. Seeing Feng Zhi. Seeing beyond him.

Seeing himself overcoming him.

[Golden Prominence]

The audience looks away as a golden sun erupts in the ring and shakes the whole stadium. There is no place for Huang Shing to run. All that he can do is surrender to the golden flame.

[Fourth Dragon Slaying Palm - Blooming Lotus]

The pain erupts in his gut. Feng Zhi grits his teeth and plants his feet. However, a second blow staggers him. His control flickers for a moment, and the golden flames explode. Outside the ring, Emperor Xiang frowns and immediately strengthens the barrier, lest the crowd be reduced to ashes.

Feng Zhi and Huang Shing end up lying on the ring, both struggling to stand up. Huang Shing’s body is covered in blisters. He had made his aura as dense as possible to endure his flames, but that had not been enough.

And yet, Huang Shing still manages to grin through the pain.

This is exactly what Feng Zhi did not want to happen.

The Eternal Flame gives Feng Zhi access to a power greater than what a cultivator of his level should be capable of. However, controlling the Eternal Flame requires a lot of energy. The weaker Feng Zhi is when summoning it, the higher the risk of being consumed. All his former attacks had taken that into account. They had been relatively small but focused. Potent yet easier to control.

It had not been enough to hit Huang Shing.

Feng Zhi brings his hands forward, unleashing a huge blast of golden flames. Huang Shing jumps over it, but Feng Zhi brings it up like a whip, managing to hit Huang Shing. The idiot falls and rolls around before getting back on his feet. Gold shines in Feng Zhi’s hand as he brings it against the ring and unleashes a huge explosion that blasts Huang Shing away. His breathing has become heavy.

Feng Zhi feels it in the air. The difference between himself and Huang Shing has been slowly but surely asserting himself. His Eternal Flame is being overcome. He is being overcome. Golden flames blaze around him, cloaking his body and turning the ring into nothing but molten rock. A swing of his arm causes fire to rain down on the ring. A step forward sends forth a wave of lava.

At that moment, Feng Zhi almost looks like a fiery demon. It is impressive for the audience, but those who know better see the display for what it is, the last desperate struggles of someone about to lose. Such a blatant display of power consumes far too much energy. Huang Shing will surely win the endurance contest.

Feng Zhi laughs.

Even if he were to win, what would be the point? Hasn’t he already accepted on some level that he cannot win against Qing Jin? Isn’t that the real reason why Huang Shing thinking about facing Qing Jin annoyed him so much?

When did he become so unworthy?

The paper knife in his pocket feels heavier, a reminder of his inadequacy. It is always the same. Even though he knows the right answers, his mind keeps falling prey to the same traps. He vacillates at the worst moments and fails because of it. Hadn’t he said it once?

The only thing a cultivator cannot do is doubt himself.

Feng Zhi roars as he tosses golden flames at Huang Shing. He can see his father looking down at him, his face blank. Lady Ling is smirking like she always does. Feng Hao...

Feng Hao is cheering for him.

That fool. He overestimates him, but perhaps that’s why he feels so at ease when spending time with him or Yi Jiao. When they see him, they see a different version of himself. A stronger version. A better version. One free of the useless inadequacies that continue to plague him.

Why hasn’t he become that yet?

If the Eternal Flame can burn everything away, then why can he not burn away his useless fears and doubts? Why can he not cleanse everything that is rotten?

…

Why can’t he do that?

The Eternal Flame around Feng Zhi grows smaller as he focuses it inward. He thinks of himself, his family, his family, and his Sect. He pictures the rot in it, the taint, and imagines it sublimated into golden brilliance. His soul burns with a single will. If fire really is an element of cleansing, then let it be so!

Something in the air changes, and several people are suddenly paying closer attention to the fight. Lord Feng Gui wears a pensive look, while Lady Ling looks remarkably sour. Feng Zhuo merely smiles in joy.

Feng Zhi breathes, and the Eternal Flame breathes with him.

“I am going to win,” Feng Zhi declares, meeting Huang Shing’s eyes. His foe laughs in joy, instinctively understanding what is happening.

“If you’re going to say big words, say them with your soul!” Huang Shing shouts, dashing forward.

Flames push Feng Zhi forward to match him. Both fighters roar as golden flames and pink Qi clash in the ring. Dao meets Dao for the first time, and reality quivers around them, uncertain of which way to bend. However, just as the balance is about to tilt…

A blade surges.

Huang Shing stares in shock at the flaming blade that pierces his chest. However, his shock cannot compare to that of Feng Zhi, who stares in complete incomprehension at the weapon that has burst out of his clothes.

“...the paper knife…” Feng Zhi whispers in realization. Immediately, his eyes seek Huang Shing. He opens his mouth. To explain? To apologize? He does not know. He never gets to say anything.

“What’s...that… look for...” Huang Shing says, smiling despite the massive wound on his chest. “The victor… has to… smile…”

Feng Zhi cannot reply. Huang Shing slumps forward and falls to the ring.

“Winner! Feng Zhi of the Eternal Flame Clan!”

~~~

“Impressive,” Liu Jin says as the audience’s cheers echo throughout the arena. Next to him, Ruan Leji snorts. Theirs will be the last match of the day.

“Impressive? That was nothing but luck,” Ruan Leji says. “To think the Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan would need the activation of a relic to defeat a member of his own Sect. Pathetic.”

“Do not look down on luck,” Liu Jin counters. “Like it or not, luck is the result of what we cultivate. The awakening of that relic is nothing other than the culmination of Young Master Feng Zhi’s efforts. Had he not walked the path he walked, it would not have happened.”

“I did not expect the Emperor of the Storm Dragon Empire would be one for such banal sentimentality,” Ruan Leji says, his hand going to the sword at his hip. “Can I take that to mean you are hoping for luck in our battle?”

The Sword of the Wind King vibrates with anticipation, like a hungry beast before a hunt. Liu Jin meets its aura with complete calm.

“At the very least, I intend to show the result of what I have cultivated. Do your best to endure it.”

~~~