~~~

Meng Yue frowns as she looks at the ring. The tournament officials are still hard at work, removing the last of Xiao Shuang's ice so the next fight can begin. As her master, she should be proud of the strength of her disciple, and she is.

However...

"What is wrong?" Her sister, Bai Lianshi, asks without looking at her. "Usually, you'd be insufferably smug about your disciple's victory."

"It is nothing," Meng Yue replies. Bai Lianshi hums but says nothing. Three seconds of silence go by before Meng Yue continues speaking. "I am just thinking about Xiao Shuang. That is all. The situation has not been kind to her."

"It has been a trying time for her," says Bai Lianshi's disciple, Bai Wen. "However, if you would allow me this opinion, I believe Little Sister Shuang is strong enough to overcome it, Lady Meng Yue."

"Senior Sister," says Fu Lihua, Shao Zhilan's disciple. "Overcoming it has nothing to do with it. It is about how she feels right now. You cannot deny Little Sister has been…" She laughs nervously, mindful of Meng Yue's presence. "Tense."

Shao Zhilan smirks. "I am sure that will sort itself out once she has her husband at her side."

"Master!"

Disciple and master share a laugh while Bai Wen blushes. However, Bai Lianshi says nothing, and neither does Meng Yue. By every standard, Xiao Shuang is the perfect disciple, and Meng Yue has found great joy in teaching her. Even if she wasn't that talented, Meng Yue would still love her.

And it is because she loves her that she worries.

Her Dao, the very thing that should be Xiao Shuang's source of strength…It feels.. frayed..

"Chen Guo of the Infinite Mountain Sect vs. Qing Jin of the Eternal Flame Clan!"

Finally, the ring has been cleared, and the next fight is announced. Both fighters step into the ring.

Meng Yue blinks.

She is not the only one.

~~~

Liu Jin blinks.

The ring shakes as Chen Guo steps on it. He carries with him a shield so large that even two people standing on top of each other would be unable to match its height. It is rectangular in shape and made of some dark metal. Its surface is gnarled like an old tree. If Liu Jin tilts his head, he can almost see a face glaring at him from it.

"The Final Sight," Liu Jin says.

"You are familiar with it," Chen Guo notes. His voice has an odd rumbling quality to it. "Good."

He slams the shield down onto the ring.

Liu Jin braces himself for an attack as the entire ring is left trembling by the weight of the shield, but none comes. Instead, walls of gnarled iron rise around him and Chen Guo, trapping them inside an iron dome that covers the entire ring. Liu Jin can no longer hear or sense the crowd. It is as if the outside world has completely stopped existing.

"This is the Impenetrable Dome of Woe," Chen Guo explains, making no attempt to attack. "It is a space of absolute isolation, great for defense but also for privacy. Here, no one can see or hear us. We can speak freely."

Liu Jin blinks once more.

"I was not expecting you to talk this much," he says.

Chen Guo's mouth twitches. Liu Jin gets the feeling it is his version of a smile.

"It is not like me. However, duty demands I talk today." He takes a deep breath, somehow seeming to grow taller as he does. "Emperor Qing Jin of the Storm Dragon Empire, I stand before you with a message from my grandfather."

Liu Jin's eyebrows rise in his head.

"Your grandfather? Are you referring to–"

"I speak of the one who stands at the top of the Infinite Mountain Sect. I speak of the Old Man of the Mountain."

The Old Man of the Mountain.

His name is something that has been lost to the ages, though many believe he was once a member of the Chen Clan, perhaps the first member of it. Of the many cultivators on this side of the Dead Plains, he might be the oldest. Some say he is also the strongest, surpassing even the other Divinities. That Chen Guo feels comfortable enough to call him grandfather says much.

"I am flattered," Liu Jin says, willing his voice to remain calm. "What is it that he wishes to say to me?"

"The path you are on is perilous. Persist and you will perish. Those on the other side of the Dead Plains already know of your existence. They will hunt you down, destroy your Empire, and make you nothing more than a forgotten memory," Chen Guo says. "The only way to avoid this is by surrendering to the Infinite Mountain Sect."

"So you can deliver me to them?"

"So we can protect you from them," Chen Guo declares. "My grandfather says this: Though the Heavens might turn from him, Old Jiang's disciple will always find shelter under our mountain."

He speaks bluntly and simply.

Liu Jin is left reeling.

"Do you agree with this?" Liu Jin asks Chen Guo. "You are offering shelter to a man who will attract foes to your Sect."

"My grandfather has spoken," Chen Guo says. "I am not an unfilial grandson."

Chen Guo's words sink into the world and become the foundation of a truth that will not be moved even if a thousand years pass. To doubt them in any way would be an unthinkable insult.

The Infinite Mountain Sect's support is not something Liu Jin was counting on when he decided on this plan. Old Jiang's history with them was not in any of the memory jades he witnessed, but it is not outlandish to assume he encountered them in the past.

However, that's just the thing. It is not information contained within his master's jades.

"I see," Liu Jin says. "However, kind as your offer is, I am afraid I cannot accept it."

"I ask that you reconsider," Chen Guo says immediately.

"I decline still."

Chen Guo does not reply this time. His brown eyes remain fixed on Liu Jin as if trying to change his mind through the sheer weight of his stare. Weaker men might have succumbed, but Liu Jin's will does not bend.

"Very well," Chen Guo says, resigned. His eyes turn grey like stone. "I will have to use force."

Chen Guo lifts his shield. The moment he does, the iron dome comes down, and all the noise from the outside world rushes back. The crowd's boos at being denied the opportunity to watch the fight immediately turn to cheers that make the whole arena vibrate with their energy.

Chen Guo's Qi blows it all away.

Earth Realm, Level Nine.

Without a doubt, he is the strongest opponent Liu Jin has faced in this tournament. The greatest jewel produced by the Infinite Mountain Sect.

Chen Guo punches, and the attack fills the entire space in front of Liu Jin. There is no room for him to dodge. All he can do is endure the blow, his aura rising and growing in density as he does. Almost immediately, the second blow comes, leaving Liu Jin no doubt as to how Chen Guo intends to approach this fight.

Power against power.

Purple lightning sparks as Liu Jin hurls it to meet Chen Guo's incoming fist. It roars as it slams into the wave of pure force. A second punch is countered in the same way, as is the third. However, while that happens, a thick purple mist begins scattering throughout the ring, filling every corner of it and rising to the ceiling.

"Poison," Chen Guo says, looking at the mist. There is no judgment in his voice. He is neither angry at the tactic nor worried about it. And really, why should he feel either?

None of it has gotten close to him.

Though most of the ring is full of poisonous mist, the area around Chen Guo is nothing but clean air. It is as if there were invisible walls separating him from the rest of the world. Liu Jin can only smile. He was not expecting the poison to do much, but he was also not expecting it to be kept at bay so easily.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Liu Jin banishes, hiding amid the poisonous mist. He carefully examines Chen Guo's Qi, probing it for any weakness.

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Chen Guo stomps.

Once again, the impact of his actions does not match the size of his body. A gigantic weight presses against every inch of the ring. Liu Jin grits his teeth as he manifests a snake construct around his body to defend himself. Unlike others in the tournament, Chen Guo's Dao is fully integrated into his fighting style. As Chen Guo prepares to stomp the ground once more, Liu Jin strikes.

A white poisonous snake is unleashed from Liu Jin's palm. Though the impact of Chen Guo's attack falls on Liu Jin, the Qi construct continues making its way through the air. Chen Guo's eyes widen almost imperceptibly as the snake trespasses his territory with blinding speed.

Final Sight comes up.

The gnarled surface of the shield receives the technique and endures it without trouble. Even so, Chen Guo looks at Liu Jin with new wariness.

"A mountain is not a monolith," Liu Jin says. His robes are a bit damaged by Chen Guo's attack, but his body is unharmed. "Even a snake will find its way through if given time."

"Perhaps," Chen Guo says. He starts walking. "However, a mountain's strength does not lie in its hardness."

In the blink of an eye, he's right in front of him.

"A mountain covers the land as far as the eye can see!" Chen Guo finishes, holding the shield in front of him and bringing it against Liu Jin.

[White Venom Fist]

[Black Charging Meteor]

The ring explodes. The force of the two techniques colliding shatters it into thousands of pieces and sends them flying against the barrier. Each small impact rings like a cannonball, making several members of the audience fall out of their seats and clearing out every cloud in the sky. Even the city below them trembles under their might.

"The mountain endures throughout the ages," Chen Guo continues. A wave of his shield dismisses the dust and the poisonous mist. There is not a single wound in his body. "Through storms, quakes, and fire, it shall not falter."

"Interesting," Liu Jin says. He raises his hand and examines it. There is some minor damage there, but it is gone in the blink of an eye. "However, are you really in any position to call yourself a mountain? You are not the one who has stood tall throughout the ages. In the Infinite Mountain Sect, there is only one mountain, and it is not you."

The poison begins filtering through the empty space around Chen Guo, trespassing on his territory. Immediately, stone rises to cover every inch of his body. Even his face is hidden behind a mask of stone.

[Art of the Roaming Thief]

Purple lightning covers Liu Jin's body as Chen Guo charges. In the blink of an eye, he's inside Chen Guo's blind spot. A spear of lightning appears in his hand, and he brings it against Chen Guo's side.

Chen Guo is already behind him.

It has to be an extension of his Dao, Liu Jin muses as the shield comes down. The mountain is always there. Chen Guo did not move to dodge his attack. He'd always been there. Chen Guo knew where he was weakest and chose to attack the spot where one would be in the best position to strike him.

Despite the situation, Liu Jin smiles.

The attack phases through his body and hits the ring, turning into a deeper crater. As the mirage of Liu Jin fades, dozens more appear all around Chen Guo, each created by Art of the Roaming Thief. Their Qi feels exactly the same as Liu Jin's, and there are no vibrations on the ground for Chen Guo to identify the real one.

However, he has no need to. Chen Guo smashes his shield against the ground. Once again, a heavy weight falls over the ring, but this time, Liu Jin is ready. A snake construct materializes around his body and slithers through the attack without harm. Lightning glows around the construct right before he rams it into Chen Guo.

Final Sight meets it head-on.

Lightning and poison mix as Liu Jin's construct tries to break through the ancient relic, but the shield stands tall, empowered by Chen Guo's Qi and glowing with bronze light. It seems to grow even as Liu Jin's power wreaks havoc all over the ring. Liu Jin grits his teeth; his strength falters for a single moment.

Chen Guo roars.

A step forward is taken. A mighty push is given. This time, Liu Jin is the one who is blown away by the clash, his construct shattering and his body slamming against the barrier.

"In the Infinite Mountain Sect, my grandfather is the strongest. You are not in front of my grandfather. You are in front of me," Chen Guo says. "In this ring. In this space. None is higher than me."

"I see," Liu Jin says, standing up and dusting his robes. "I must say that is a little disappointing."

Chen Guo's face cannot be seen behind his mask of stone, but Liu Jin can feel his frown.

"Your Dao mastery far surpasses what anyone else in the tournament has shown so far," Liu Jin says. "And yet, you feel the need to confine yourself to this ring to make that statement. Even in your own mind, a future where you are the strongest does not exist. What is the point of your size if your soul is so small?"

Chen Guo's whole body recoils. Since the fight began, every single one of Liu Jin's words has been an attack on his Dao, and at last, he's grabbed hold of a sizable weakness.

"Do not confuse respect with weakness," Chen Guo says. "There is value in tradition. There is strength in respecting our elders."

"Is there strength in being unable to step out of their shadows? Your grandfather must be ashamed to have become such a stumbling block on your path."

Chen Guo's aura explodes.

As the wave of force slams into him with the strength of a hurricane, Liu Jin understands he went too far. He knew it even before saying the words. If he ever gets the chance, he will have to apologize.

More importantly, though his words succeeded in angering Chen Guo, they also failed in the most important way. Angry as Chen Guo's aura is, there is something far worse under it.

Intent.

Calm. Wrathful. Intent.

"Legacy. Tradition. History." Each word is carefully enunciated before Chen Guo suddenly appears in front of him. The shield is inches from Liu Jin's face before he dodges.

However, the mountain is already there.

"Each of those makes us greater than what we are!"

The shield slams into Liu Jin's face.

"I stand tall because of what came before me!"

A second blow with the shield follows. Liu Jin tries to dodge again, but he cannot. His body is being pulled towards Chen Guo by gravity, the weaponized pull of the Earth Realm. The realization hits Liu Jin an instant before the shield bashes his head once more and knocks him deep into the ground. Blood flows from Liu Jin's mouth.

"The Infinite Mountain was there before me! The Infinite Mountain will be there after me!"

Again, the shield comes down.

Liu Jin tries to get up, but the gravity keeps pulling him close to Cheng Guo. His back has already hit the barrier's floor. Purple lightning rages around him, yet Chen Guo does not falter even as his stone armor cracks.

"However, right here and now, I am the Infinite Mountain!"

[Black Colliding Star]

Final Sight comes down for the third time, glowing with black energy. All of Chen Guo's intent is focused on it. Its weight increases as gravity does, accelerating beyond every limit and reaching a level of mass that would destroy more than Imperial Cloud City if not for the barrier around the ring.

[Hollow]

Every light dims, and people all over the city shiver for reasons that have nothing to do with cold. Reality shifts and gravity falters as Chen Guo's technique misses. He looks around and finds nothing. The ring is gone. The audience is gone. The arena is gone.

There is nothing around him but a black void.

"What?" He turns around, looking at the dark void the world has become as Liu Jin appears before him. "What is this?"

"It is not something I like using," Liu Jin says, sighing in relief as his wounds heal. "It is too strong, you see. I have tried to control it, but the more I try, the more it grows."

Realization dawns on Chen Guo.

"This thing… is your Dao?" He sounds horrified. Disgusted. In some ways, the emotion is more extreme than when Liu Jin insulted his grandfather. "I am disappointed. Despite it all, I found you a worthy foe, yet this is what you are? You merely sit up high and hold us all in silent judgement? It is despicable."

"Unfortunately, I have a troublesome personality," Liu Jin says. He cannot even find the strength to deny it. The more he tried to hold onto the world, the more his soul found things it rejected. "It is the reason this is all happening. It could never be any other way."

He starts walking. Chen Guo feels a shiver run through his body, but he stands tall.

"To be honest, I am a little happy it is you I am facing," Liu Jin says. "You are strong enough that I won't have to worry."

He is not like Xiao Fang, who recklessly bared everything he was.

He is not like Feng Zhi, whose Dao was too frail.

"You will not find me an easy foe," Chen Guo says, his Qi rising. "I stand undaunted before you. I shall remain so after you. Your judgement shall not be what fells me."

"You are brave, loyal, and strong. In every sense of the word, you are a monument to the Infinite Mountain Sect," Liu Jin says. "However, all that makes you is an empty monument. You have chosen to represent something I have no need for."

"In this empty world of yours, is there anything you need?"

"Your fall will do."

They charge.

Chen Guo brings his shield up in a shield bash, yet that is all the attack is. The area occupied by Chen Guo's blow is exactly what it should be and no more. Liu Jin dodges around it and strikes his back with lightning.

Chen Guo stomps, but his weight does not fall over the earth. It merely echoes throughout the void as Liu Jin's purple lightning flashes and cracks his armored form. The shield is swung sideways. Liu Jin dodges once more, and Chen Guo does not appear behind him. Instead, Liu Jin's kick strikes the back of Chen Guo's head. A snake construct surges from his hand and wraps around Chen Guo's ankle. With a grunt of effort, Liu Jin pulls on it and swings Chen Guo around, sending him sailing off into the void.

Chen Guo immediately twists in midair, controlling his weight to force himself to land early. Liu Jin's knee is already in front of his face.

So Chen Guo headbutts it.

The impact rings across the void world. Immediately, Liu Jin summons a snake construct around himself and wraps it in lightning before ramming it into Chen Guo. Final Sight comes up again, but this time, Liu Jin's attack pushes Chen Guo back several miles in the blink of an eye, lightning blazing around them.

And yet, Chen Guo refuses to falter. His shield glows with mighty power, standing tall even as Liu Jin's construct grows in size. Nine heads attack in perfect coordination, poison flowing from their mouths.

Chen Guo throws the shield. It spins through the air, cutting off one head before returning to Chen Guo's hand just in time to block an attack. The fangs of the snakes cannot pierce it.

As one of them opens its mouth, Chen Guo dives right in.

Through the lightning. Through the poison. Liu Jin's eyes widen as Chen Guo makes his way inside the construct to reach him. His armor peels away little by little, yet Chen Guo does not stop.

What can Liu Jin do but match him?

Lightning roars in Liu Jin's hand as he brings it against Chen Guo's shield. The ancient relic stands stalwart, yet the toxicity within the construct grows, damaging Chen Guo regardless. Pushing through the pain, Chen Guo slams the shield into Liu Jin. The force of the impact bursts the construct from the inside.

Gravity surges as the two fall. Even in the hollow world, Chen Guo manages to direct the pull of the Earth Realm towards Liu Jin, pulling him close. Another shield strike breaks one of Liu Jin's ribs, yet a snake bites into Chen Guo's side, and another one sends a jolt of lightning through his ankle. Using them as a distraction, Liu Jin leaps over Chen Guo's shield, the relic wounding him the instant he touches it, and hits Chen Guo's face.

Chen Guo staggers back but uses the weight of the shield to pull himself forward. Liu Jin's and Chen Guo's eyes meet. A conversation passes without words. Their Qi rises to the utmost. They cannot lose. They will not lose.

[White Venom Fist - Hollow Branch]

[Final Sight - Last Star]

Lightning and poison fuse to meet collapsing gravity in sound and fury. The ensuing quake rocks the world for miles and brings light into the dark void. The Crimson Cloud Arena and its thousands of voices come rushing back. Liu Jin breathes heavily. His robes are torn and bloody. His arms are bruised and bleeding.

Chen Guo stands tall.

His shield is held high.

And yet, despite it all, Guo is undeniably unconscious.

Liu Jin shakes his head with a smile. What an unbelievable person.

"The Winner! Qing Jin of the Eternal Flame Clan!"

~~~

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