Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

"Xiao Ling of the Xiao family, Major Gold Rank. White Rose of the Ice Sect, an initial Gold Rank."

Two figures stepped onto the grand stage.

White Rose was an enigma wrapped in elegance. She wore a flowing white robe, and a delicate mask obscured her face.

But even through the disguise, her presence was captivating. There was a quiet lethality to her movements, like a blade hidden within silk.

A beauty to behold, yet like the flower she was named after, she was covered in thorns—deadly and unyielding.

Opposite her, Xiao Ling walked in with his usual air of leisure, hands tucked in his sleeves, his posture relaxed.

Unlike his opponent, there was no hint of tension in his body. But those who knew Xiao Ling understood—his casual demeanor was not to be mistaken for carelessness.

It was the confidence of a warrior who had nothing to prove, yet everything under control.

The arena went silent.

Then, the referee raised his hand.

"Fighters, take your positions!"

The moment the referee's whistle blew, White Rose wasted no time. She leaped backward, landing with effortless grace before summoning her Spirit Beast.

A deep, guttural growl echoed through the arena.

A massive black wolf materialized beside her, its fur gleaming like polished obsidian. Its golden eyes burned with an eerie intelligence, and every step it took sent tremors through the stage.

"A wolf from the northern region?" Xiao Ling finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity rather than concern. "Could it be... the Spirit Sovereign Wolf?"

Up in the stands, Ace nearly lost his balance.

"Oh great. We're really just slapping 'Spirit' in front of every name... Spirit Tomatoes, Spirit Milk, Spirit Wolves—what's next? Spirit Chopsticks?" He grumbled internally.

As if to confirm his growing frustration, the commentator's voice boomed across the stadium.

"That's correct! That is indeed a Spirit Sovereign Wolf! Even in its infant form, it's a rare-ranked beast. But from what I can see..."

The commentator paused.

Then, with a tone of awe, he continued, "Master Blind has just confirmed—it's an adult Spirit Sovereign Wolf, meaning it's an Epic-Rank beast!"

A wave of gasps and murmurs swept through the crowd.

Back on the stage, the battle unfolded with breathtaking precision.

Xiao Ling remained perfectly calm, effortlessly weaving between the wolf's lunges while simultaneously parrying White Rose's relentless sword strikes.

His movements were fluid, as if he were merely taking a leisurely stroll rather than fighting a Gold Rank warrior and her epical beast.

With each dodge and deflection, the crowd held their breath.

"He's toying with them." Old Man Blind finally spoke, a hint of admiration in his tone.

White Rose and her Spirit Sovereign Wolf were attacking in perfect harmony, their strikes fast and ruthless—but no matter how hard they tried, Xiao Ling always seemed to be one step ahead.

....

....

"Yifeng, which title did you choose to compete for?"

The two Hua brothers, Hua Tiger and Hua Ting, enters the room to check in.

"Crimson Flame Dragon," Yifeng answered.

"Phew, that's good," Hua Tiger said, visibly relieved.

Hua Ting nodded and added, "Yifeng, you don't need to challenge Xiao Ling this year, he's already 14 and is a gold rank. Plus there four Gold Ranks have made it into the finals this year. Avoid them if you can."

"Yes, elders. Don't worry," Yifeng reassured them.

Meanwhile, Ace remained focused on the ongoing battle.

White Rose, despite her valiant resistance, had ultimately lost—her arm severed, her body sent flying out of bounds. The referee immediately pronounced her disqualified.

"They sure do have the stupidest reasonings," Ace muttered to himself.

"That's because you don't understand honor," the voice in his head chimed in again.

"Next, for the Crimson Flame Dragon title!"

The commentator's voice rang through the stadium, bringing a new wave of excitement.

"We have Hua Feng of the Hua Family, Peak Silver Rank!"

A young man stepped onto the stage, his long crimson robes fluttering in the wind. His stance was relaxed, but his eyes burned with a quiet intensity.

"And facing him—Red Bone from the Heavy Mount Sect, Initial Gold Rank!"

A burly figure walked forward, each step making the ground tremble. Unlike Hua Feng's elegance, Red Bone was sheer brute force—a mountain of a man wrapped in muscle and scarred battle armor.

The crowd murmured. A Peak Silver against an Initial Gold? The gap was obvious.

The referee's whistle pierced through the arena, and in an instant, the match began.

Red Bone wasted no time—his fingers flicked out several talisman papers, their golden inscriptions flaring to life as they ignited midair. The flames coiled and twisted like serpents, licking across the battlefield, turning the ground beneath them into a scorching inferno.

Yifeng didn't flinch. His grip tightened around his dagger as he launched forward, his movements fluid, weaving through the encroaching fire like a shadow slipping through cracks.

Red Bone was already on him. He stepped into Yifeng's path, his fists crackling with energy as he threw a powerful straight punch aimed at Yifeng's ribs. The force behind it was immense—a single solid hit could shatter bones.

But Yifeng saw it.

He twisted at the last second, his dagger flashing in the firelight as he redirected the punch, the blade grazing Red Bone's knuckles, drawing a thin line of blood.

Red Bone sneered. With a stomp, he ignited the ground beneath them, sending a sudden burst of flames roaring upwards. The air rippled with heat, distorting Yifeng's vision for a fraction of a second.

A feint.

Red Bone was already moving—he came in low, his body shifting seamlessly through the fire, a flaming elbow strike aimed straight for Yifeng's gut.

Yifeng barely had time to react. He jerked his body sideways, but the strike still grazed his ribs, sending a wave of searing pain through his side. He gritted his teeth, rolling with the impact instead of resisting, using the momentum to flip backward and create space.

But Red Bone didn't let up.

He chased Yifeng like a relentless beast, his attacks growing fiercer. A flaming fist tore through the air, narrowly missing Yifeng's face as he ducked.

Another strike came—a spinning back kick wreathed in flames—forcing Yifeng to raise his dagger in defense.

CLANG!