Wasting no time, I activated Song of Pure Flame. Spiritual energy flowed to me, refilling my depleted reserves. Last time, it took three days to gather a hundred Qi. Now, I needed just enough to close the gap with Huo. Song of Pure Flame let me not only cultivate but also manipulate fire to an extent—not fireballs or arrows, but enough to direct a stream at an enemy.
I knew nothing of Huo's fighting style. My guards were mute as fish, and servants only bowed or cursed behind my back. As the arena gate creaked upward, I braced for anything—including the inevitable insults.
The moment I stepped onto the sand, boos erupted from the stands. "He's so cowardly, they dragged him here! So pathetic, even servants despise him! A dishonorable thief who lost his cultivation—Bastard Kai!" Rotten vegetables pelted me.
Then, a colossal surge of spiritual energy rippled through the air. A tiny flaming spear shot from the elders' box, vaporizing Su Tai instantly. Black ash settled on the sand as I stared, horrified.
"Kai Shen is a legitimate heir of the Shen Clan," Mo Shan's voice boomed, amplified by spiritual energy. "Questioning this challenges the entire clan!"
He'd killed Su Tai for calling me a bastard? Half the sect flung that insult to my face, the other half whispered it. Wait—I'd thought it was just an insult. Was I illegitimate? A true bastard? I'd deal with that tomorrow.
"Begin!" Mo Shan commanded.
Huo gave a formal bow. I returned it a second later. I recalled needing to bow to the elders and audience, but something felt off. My hesitation saved my life.
Huo unleashed a swarm of searing fireballs without a moment's pause. Charging through was impossible. I activated Dance of Embers, and the world slowed. I dodged at the last second, deactivating the technique—only to pay for it. The fireballs exploded.
The blast hurled me onto the scorching sand, blood filling my mouth. Through ringing ears, I caught Huo's words.
"…will die! For the glory of our ancestors!" He turned his back, basking in the crowd's adoration. Their cheers were firmly against me. But I had surprise on my side—or so I thought, until I closed the gap.
He spun at blinding speed, slashing with his hand. Only Dance of Embers saved me. I activated it reflexively, nearly matching his speed.
"Learned a new trick?" he sneered, spreading his arms to reveal a massive fire wall encircling me. The flames closed in slowly—deliberately, I was sure. If he wanted, they'd have consumed me instantly. Playing with me? A fireball hurtling my way confirmed it.
Using Song of Pure Flame alongside Dance of Embers was grueling. At one point, both techniques faltered, and I nearly burned alive. Fireballs came from all angles, impossible to dodge without movement skills. Then I found balance—Song of Pure Flame stopped absorbing external Qi but let me manipulate fire without disrupting my speed. Another realization hit: Huo didn't control all the fire. The wall technique was too complex for him; he merely fueled it, occasionally tweaking small sections. Bingo.
I lunged, arms outstretched. Huo smirked, but fear flickered in his eyes as I seized control of part of his fire. With a mental push, the fiery wave surged toward him. My plan was simple—defending against one's own energy is near impossible, and the wave was mostly his. It failed spectacularly.
"Nice amulet, huh?" he laughed. "A clan heirloom, Core Formation-grade protection. It's great having a family that backs you, right?" The crowd roared, cheering anything this brute said.
I didn't listen to his taunts. Using the breach, I charged. Dance of Embers nearly collapsed, but I got close enough. Unleashing Song of Pure Flame, I let the impurities clogging my meridians ignite. Black flame erupted from my mouth, and for a moment, I resembled a mythical dragon. The crowd gasped as I directed the stream forward. Ripples spread across the amulet's protective film.
"Impossible!" Huo paled, momentarily forgetting his technique. I was already beside him, black flame seeping from my pores. Without overthinking, I threw a straight hook at his head. He blocked clumsily with the amulet's flickering barrier. Wait—this muscle-bound giant, in a world of cultivators and martial arts, couldn't fight?
I unleashed a flurry of blows. Black flame poured endlessly, and I shuddered at the sheer volume of toxins the Alchemy Pavilion had tried to force into me. Even that wasn't enough. The amulet's field, though cracked, absorbed my strikes. What if…
I tried seizing the black flame with my will. It resisted—too wild, too vicious. I felt close, but something was missing. Then it hit me.
What if the key to breaking Huo's amulet lay in merging my techniques in a way he'd never expect?