Training Arena

Training arena sounded pretty exciting.

My imagination ran wild.

~Large, imposing marble pillars with smooth floors and a magical formation levitating above a mysterious fire in the middle within a grand building surrounded by carved statues of deities. ~

F**k… no, it was in a large forest clearing on Mount Bei.

Surrounded by towering primeval trees, the training arena was just a pathetic, barren, dusty clearing with dried yellow soil.

The size of two football fields together.

Nothing levitating.

Nothing much to see.

I just stood there with my black leather boots now soiled in a light yellow.

At least, the most comforting fact is nobody can fly in because of the defensive spells placed around the area.

Before you can fight in style, your physical stamina had to take a beating first from the exhaustive long walk upwards.

And Ji Feng's body was weaker than my previous older body. Panting was the result.

Some of the class had gathered there, according to the three annoying girls, trying to comfort me. Instead of Lianfeng, who was walking stoically in front of me.

Funny how Wenyi's affections once again switched faster than the blink of my eyes.

The girl did not realise that if married to me, she will be a childless widow in no time. If I even survive the engagement.

Bloodlust, the stench, was in the atmosphere.

Something sparked on my finger. I took a quick look to check if it was just good old static.

Weird.

A small, blackish, purplish glow was emanating from it. My hand turned into a fist to hide that minor issue.

What am I talking about?

Major issue.

Please, killing aura don't appear. Last thing I want is to be known as a genocidal vegetable when I never even killed before.

"Hola, here comes Lianfeng," Liyu yelled out as the heads turned.

Cangtian was there with a damn smug look. Arms folded. Waiting to see his cousin trashed, guessing from the way he looked at Lianfeng.

Murmurs among the growing crowd now. Seemed like other classes got wind of the duel. Over 50 gathered. And some were still trailing behind like ants on a scent. Older ones, around twenty years or older. Younger ones looked around my age. Just not the elders.

"Glad to see that you came." Wugang was there, standing with his arms behind his back.

"Rules," a twenty-year-old man walked out. "To whom was the challenge made?"

That must be the referee. The crowd was saying something about being unable to secure anyone older than twenty. It is a dumb fight between teenagers - why would an adult male step in?

"Lianfeng," Wugang said.

"Me," Lianfeng answered.

"Actually, not to you, but to me...," I interrupted. Lianfeng's face changed into the biggest 'WHAT THE F**K' look. Sorry, no way of describing that look other than it is the funniest yet scariest look.

"Eh?" Wugang approached me. "You know that if you say this, you have to enter the arena and watch him go down? Plus risk injury. Better for you to stay out. You are in no state to be in there."

Subtle hint about me being the useless vegetable.

G**F**K, I don't need to be reminded about my weak newfound 'male' hood.

Lianfeng nodded in agreement. "This isn't for you to enter. I can take it."

"Who to who?" The makeshift referee asked again.

"Me to Lianfeng," replied Wugang.

"YOU CHALLENGED ME. NOT LIANFENG. YOU JUST TOLD ME TO BRING LIANFENG!"

Huh? That came out of my mouth. WHAT THE F**k!

I I wasn't thinking about that to do an outburst. Is my body in control? Damn it, the po of Ji Feng. Wasn't it supposed to contain just memories? What's with that violent reaction? Is it the po or something else?

"Eh, everyone knows your condition," the referee said in a hushed tone, "don't make it difficult."

Maybe withdrawal is better now. I opened my mouth to say something.

"I AM GOING IN."

Oh FOR THE LOVE OF F**KING HELL. Nothing right is coming out of my mouth.

Look buddy body, I want to STAY F**KING alive.

"Fine, I can't stop you," the referee said. "Wugang vs Third Prince's choice for duel."

AH F**K me DEAD.

Wugang smacked himself in the forehead, accompanied by the horrified look on Lianfeng's face. The crowd was now getting loud. Even Cangtian had a look of surprise.

"Isn't he a vegetable?"

"Ah shit, if he is injured, sect leader is going to kill one of them."

Great, the crowd knows it. Those murmurs are NOT helping!

I know my limits, but something is in control of my mouth.

Not my fault.

Might as well see if Zaixing can rescue me later or place me in another body. I give up.

This is a disaster.

Nice to know you Ji Feng or rather your corpse. Was nice playing the one of best looking guys around.

"Formation up or down."

"Up," Wugang and Lianfeng replied in unison.

"Clever. Just be careful..." the referee warned and the force-field just appeared, like a dome, while the referee disappeared. Must be one of the spells placed in the forest.

"Question, why are they here when they can't see..."

"The formation will light up with either his color or mine during the duel. If we use our beasts to cast offensive spells, they will feel some of the collateral effects but not be harmed," Wugang said. "You better stay here at the side. We will try to avoid you."

Box seat with the possibility of dangerous audience participation.

This world needs internet entertainment if they find such gladiatorial arena entertaining.

Hold up, modern day Earth had such nonsensical matches too.

Where men smashed the shit out of other men to a cheering audience of women, children and lots of beer drinking pot bellied men.

The two walked towards the middle of the large circle. I walked backwards to the force-field which acted like a solid wall.

An uncanny thing happened.

They were started to chant with their eyes closed.

So that explains why Lianfeng said that his dragon would not appear in time the last time on the mountain. I hoped that both beasts will just appear instantaneously like canned drinks from a vending machine.

This was taking longer than three minute ramen noodles.

A sharp screech pierced my ear drum... and a large, impressive, flaming Phoenix emerged out of Wugang.

Raging fire along with the heat.

I need an air con.

The size of a four storey building with the wingspan of at least 10 meters each.

Lianfeng was still in the chant mode.

Slow.

Wugang opened his eyes already.

In a blink of an eye, his flaming Phoenix came swooping down at Lianfeng at a rapid speed.

WHOOOOSSSH!

Hurry, Lianfeng!

Emerging out of Lianfeng's body was a large golden dragon.

It shot upwards in blinding velocity.

Blinding whitish fireworks exploded above air.

The Phoenix and Dragon were clashing with each other.

And a deafening, I could hear ferocious roar.

The ground shuddered from the shock waves.

The Phoenix broke away and tumbled over towards its summoner.

Wugang chanted something.

Right before impact, the powerful body of Phoenix flipped upwards as it soared above Wugang.

The enormous dragon was circling over Lianfeng protectively. Long claws while baring its sharp fangs. Growling.

So these are the ling beasts.