The lightning youth clicked his tongue and stopped retreating.

Instead of dodging the fourth jab, he grabbed the spear shaft with one hand—lightning bursting from his fingers.

The spear youth's eyes widened. He twisted immediately to free his weapon, but the lightning youth kicked forward, slamming his knee into the spear wielder's stomach.

A heavy thud echoed.

The spear youth skidded back, coughing once, but didn't fall. He spun his spear and reset his stance.

"Annoying," he muttered.

The lightning youth smirked. "Then keep up."

He rushed in, electricity trailing behind him like small shooting sparks. His punches weren't fancy—just straightforward, powerful hits backed by his Thunder Hawk's aura.

The spear youth blocked the first few with the shaft, but each hit rattled his arms.

He gritted his teeth.

Fine.

He shifted his weight and stepped in instead of backing off. His spear moved in tight, controlled motions—small angles, quick taps, redirecting force rather than resisting it head-on.

A jab.

A twist.

A strike to the ribs.

This time the lightning youth hissed, electricity faltering for half a second.

"He got him!" someone shouted.

But the lightning youth wasn't done.

He grabbed the spear again—but this time he didn't try to overpower it.

He pulled it toward himself suddenly.

The spear youth stumbled forward.

In that brief moment, the lightning youth flicked his wrist and sent a burst of lightning point-blank into his chest.

A flash.

A crack.

The spear youth slammed onto his back, clothes smoking faintly.

Gasps filled the arena.

But before Tian Lei could raise his hand to declare the result—the spear youth rolled to his feet again.

He was unsteady, but standing.

He lifted his spear with a shaky arm.

"Not losing… that easily."

Some disciples cheered.

The lightning youth narrowed his eyes. He stopped smiling.

"Fine," he said. "Then I'll finish it properly."

He stepped forward, electricity gathering around his entire body. His Thunder Hawk screeched overhead, wings spreading wide.

The spear youth planted his weapon into the ground. Wind swirled around him, the Gale Wolf's howl echoing faintly.

Both prepared their final strike.

Tian Lei leaned forward slightly, interested.

The lightning youth vanished in a burst of speed—

The spear youth swung upward with all his force—

BOOM.

Dust exploded everywhere.

When it cleared, one figure was down on one knee, spear snapped in half.

The other stood panting, electricity fading from his arms.

Tian Lei raised a hand.

"Winner: Lightning kid."

The crowd erupted.

The lightning youth exhaled and stepped back, while the spear youth let himself fall onto the ground, exhausted.

Tian Lei didn't give anyone a pause.

"Next two. Hurry up."

More figures approached the stage, the air heating with excitement as the selection continued.

Two more disciples stepped forward—one carrying twin short swords, the other with heavy gauntlets wrapped around his fists.

They entered the ring, beasts appearing behind them.

The twin-sword girl had a Crimson Fox spirit—fast, sharp, agile.

The gauntlet youth had an Ironback Bear—thick muscles, solid defense, slow but powerful.

Tian Lei raised his hand.

"Begin."

The girl moved first.

She shot forward in a blur, twin blades slicing in quick arcs. The gauntlet youth lifted his arms, blocking the first strike with a dull clang. Sparks flew where steel met metal.

She didn't stop.

One cut to the shoulder.

One to the ribs.

A quick stab to the leg.

But each one hit solid defense. His skin barely reddened.

"Your blades are annoying," he said, voice calm.

Then he swung his fist.

Just one punch.

The girl flipped back instantly—she wasn't stupid. That punch would have crushed her ribs if it landed.

She rushed in again, going for speed. Her fox spirit boosted her footwork; she circled him like a streak of red light, blades hitting from different angles.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

Every hit was blocked.

The bear youth's guard was like a wall.

Tian Lei clicked his tongue. "Good defense, but he's too passive."

Su Mingyue nodded. "She's wearing him down slowly."

In the arena, the gauntlet youth suddenly changed pace.

He stomped the ground.

The floor shook.

The twin-sword girl stumbled for half a second—and that was enough.

He rushed her like a boulder rolling downhill.

A punch slammed toward her head.

She ducked—barely.

A second punch hit her side and sent her flying across the ring.

Gasps rose.

She coughed, but her eyes sharpened. She forced herself up, wiping a bit of blood from her mouth.

"So you can move fast," she muttered.

The bear youth cracked his neck. "Only when needed."

She inhaled once… then vanished forward.

This time, she went lower, faster, legs almost scraping the ground. Her fox spirit flickered behind her, boosting her movements.

She aimed for the joints—elbow, knee, ankle.

Small hits.

Precise hits.

The bear youth tried to block, but his big movements couldn't keep up. His knee bent. His stance weakened.

She jumped high.

Both blades came down at once.

CRACK.

His guard broke.

He fell to one knee, breathing hard.

Before he could rise, she placed one blade at his neck.

"Done," she said quietly.

He exhaled once and lowered his head.

"I lose."

Tian Lei lifted his hand.

"Winner: Twin-swords girl."

The crowd clapped loudly, excitement rising even more.

Three winners so far.

The masked girl.

The lightning youth.

The twin-sword girl.

Tian Lei pointed again at the glowing stones.

"Next match! Don't waste time."

Two more figures stepped out, ready to fight.

The next two disciples walked onto the stage—one carrying a long staff, the other with no visible weapon at all.

But as soon as his beast spirit appeared, the crowd understood.

A Shadow Panther formed behind the unarmed youth, its dark body blending into the air around him. His presence instantly felt sharper, quieter—dangerous.

The staff user's beast was a Stone Serpent—thick, sturdy, wrapped around him like armor.

Tian Lei nodded once.

"Begin."

The unarmed youth vanished first.

Everyone blinked.

"Where—?"

He reappeared behind the staff user, leg sweeping out in a fast kick.

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