I’ll Have to Disappoint You

I'll Have to Disappoint You

The Sacred Battle Platform fell into a hushed stillness, a moment of collective anticipation as the four remaining combatants meditated, each lost in their own thoughts.

After a calculated period of contemplation, the crown prince of Radiant Gold finally made his move, challenging Fan Miaoyu. A nod of agreement from her marked the start of their battle, their stone platforms converging toward the platform's center.

A dazzling spectacle erupted as the skies filled with a resplendent golden glow. Its brilliance was sharp, piercing the eyes of all who watched. This luminous aura descended upon the crown prince, forming into radiant shards that slowly enveloped his entire form. In an instant, he stood clad in golden armor, holding a long spear crackling with incomparable sharpness.

The crowd gaped, stunned by the crown prince's transformation. His defense seemed impregnable, an impenetrable fortress that promised a formidable challenge to any assailant. Doubts surfaced among the spectators—had they underestimated the Radiant Gold crown prince's strength? Perhaps he was not the weakest among the remaining contenders after all.

Those who cultivated the Mandate of Gold excelled in both offense and defense. The audience had witnessed a formidable display of the latter.

The atmosphere suddenly filled with a sharp, piercing sound that resonated in the ears of the combatants. To the surprise of the onlookers, the golden fragments seemed to seal the crown prince's ears shut. His opponent, Fan Miaoyu, had mastered the true intent of Sound, a rare and potent Mandate. She could employ sound waves to disrupt her adversary's mental faculties and even inflict harm through sonic attacks.

Fan Miaoyu, however, remained composed, her presence unassuming. Observers noticed that the crown prince of Radiant Gold was growing increasingly uneasy. Although he had sealed his ears, the relentless onslaught of sound continued, grating on his senses. The harsh cacophony could drive even the most resolute individual to madness.

Sound waves, being formless and invisible, made it impossible for anyone to pinpoint Fan Miaoyu's attack. The crown prince, plagued by auditory torment, had no choice but to unleash a relentless barrage of attacks. If he didn't, the ceaseless sonic assault would surely drive him to madness.

Qin Wentian, who had been quietly observing the match, suddenly opened his eyes. The golden spear in the crown prince's hands thrust forward with unwavering force, aimed directly at Fan Miaoyu.

With graceful precision, Fan Miaoyu extended her arms, conjuring ethereal musical notes into existence. Each note quivered with intensity as they collided with the golden spear. The clash produced a symphony of sounds, accompanied by the resonating chime of bells. Moments later, the once-mighty golden spear shattered into a myriad of fragments.

Fan Miaoyu, unfazed, swept her hands forward, unleashing formless sound waves that enveloped the crown prince in an intricate, melodic web.

Qin Wentian's eyes flashed with keen insight. Sound-based energy, being formless and unseen, posed a formidable challenge to defend against.

The crown prince manifested another spear and thrust it repeatedly, managing to dispel a significant portion of the sound waves. Despite his efforts, he was ensnared within the melodic web that steadily closed in around him.

The platform resounded with a series of earth-shattering booms as the crown prince struggled to break free. His golden armor bore thousands of dents from the relentless sonic assault. While sound-based attacks might not have the brute force of some other abilities, they were undeniably devastating. Were it not for the crown prince's unparalleled defense, Fan Miaoyu's assault might well have proven fatal.

The arena had seen its share of remarkable battles, yet the contest between Fan Miaoyu and the Radiant Gold crown prince stood out as a testament to their strength. Even though neither had unleashed their full might, the inevitable outcome was clear. The crown prince intensified his attacks, but Fan Miaoyu artfully adjusted her power, leaving her opponent with little choice but to concede.

As the crowd processed this outcome, Qin Wentian couldn't help but ponder how he would fare against Fan Miaoyu. Her mastery of the Sound true intent was no less impressive than his command over the Force true intent. If pitted against her, he suspected he might meet the same fate as the crown prince.

With the Radiant Gold crown prince out of contention, only three combatants remained: Qin Wentian, Wu Teng, and Fan Miaoyu.

Turning to Wu Teng, Qin Wentian voiced his desire for a match between their true intents. The anticipation grew palpable, setting the stage for an extraordinary battle.

Wu Teng readily agreed, producing an ordinary axe. Their eyes locked as they approached each other, and in an instant, the battlefield erupted in action.

With a casual, seemingly ordinary swing, Wu Teng's axe held a quiet grandeur as though felling a tree with effortless ease. The impact of Qin Wentian's ancient halberd meeting the axe revealed a surge of energy from Wu Teng's weapon, threatening to split him in two. Swiftly, Qin Wentian let go of his halberd, witnessing it cleaved in twain even as Wu Teng's axe shattered in response.

Though the exchange appeared deceptively simple to onlookers, both combatants understood the peril within.

Impressed by Qin Wentian's prowess, Wu Teng applauded his opponent's skill. Having only recently mastered his true intent, Qin Wentian's remarkable proficiency was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

"Shall we continue?" Wu Teng proposed, creating an axe of astral energy as they readied themselves for another clash.

"True intent of martial mandates. Truth. Control!" Qin Wentian intoned, still gleaning insights from their skirmish. Yet, as they dueled with their true intents, victory eluded them both.

"Let's pause our contest for now. I'd like to test her true intent of Sound," Wu Teng suggested, an eager glint in his eyes. Preparing to face Fan Miaoyu, he donned a more serious demeanor.

"Agreed," Qin Wentian replied, returning to his stone platform. His eyes closed in deep contemplation once more.

The spectacle left the audience somewhat baffled. Wu Teng appeared as a martial enthusiast, eager to challenge various true intents solely for the thrill of battle, a free spirit much like Qin Wentian himself. However, when confronting Fan Miaoyu, his carefree nature vanished. The onslaught of her sound waves compelled him to unleash his full might, turning their contest into a perilous battle where survival was at stake.

This sudden shift in atmosphere rekindled the audience's excitement, their spirits ignited as they anticipated another thrilling clash on the Sacred Battle Platform.

In the arena's center, a clash of titans unfolded as Fan Miaoyu and Wu Teng, the contest's undeniable powerhouses, clashed in an intense battle. Fan Miaoyu's formidable strength was nothing short of breathtaking, while Wu Teng had exceeded all expectations. He not only comprehended a true intent but also wielded it with flawless integration into his innate techniques, unleashing terrifying might. Hour after hour passed, yet the battle showed no sign of abating.

The audience watched in awe. Wu Teng seemed to channel the very essence of a war god, his axe arts carrying enough power to rend the heavens themselves. A faint, divine silhouette loomed behind him, enhancing his already formidable strength.

As the fight raged on, spectators couldn't contain their excitement. Wu Teng's prowess against Fan Miaoyu was an unexpected revelation. It became clear that he hadn't employed his full strength when facing Qin Wentian. He had spared Qin Wentian, acknowledging the difference in their cultivation levels. Wu Teng's intention was never to bully a weaker opponent.

"Could Wu Teng emerge as the grand battle's victor? It's quite surprising, considering his relatively modest fame compared to the eight era-suppressing geniuses."

With a powerful strike, Wu Teng sent Fan Miaoyu tumbling, leaving the crowd astonished. He regarded her with a confident gaze. "You're incredibly strong, but there's still room for improvement. You should concede."

Fan Miaoyu, her voice unwavering, responded, "Wu Teng of War Country, the Royal Sacred Region has underestimated you. Yet, today, you will face defeat."

A perplexed expression crossed Wu Teng's face as he sensed another surge of potent energy. He stood momentarily dumbstruck, but his resolute character swiftly regained control. With a wry smile, he conceded, "You've indeed mastered two true intents, making it clear I can't compete. I admit defeat."

"Wu Teng, you possess incredible potential. Your steady growth and mastery of strength are remarkable. Once you break through to the Celestial Phenomenon realm, you'll surely manifest an extraordinary constellation." Fan Miaoyu then inquired, "Do you know Wu Mu?"

Wu Teng met her gaze with a smile. "Without Senior Wu Mu's guidance, I wouldn't have been able to defeat you earlier when we both wielded only one true intent."

With these words, Wu Teng exited the Sacred Battle Platform. After years of keeping a low profile and receiving guidance from the Immortal Martial Realm's Realmlord, his name was poised to rise to prominence. Despite his defeat, the audience understood that Wu Teng's reputation would soon echo throughout the Royal Sacred Region. After all, he had managed to suppress Fan Miaoyu in a battle where each combatant wielded only one true intent—an impressive feat.

"Among the nine contenders, Fan Miaoyu remains the strongest. She's already mastered two true intents," spectators murmured in awe. The grand battle had come to a close, solidifying Fan Miaoyu's well-deserved reputation as one of the eight era-suppressing geniuses.

Fan Miaoyu fixed her gaze on her final adversary, a man she truly admired. Their encounter in the Immortal Martial Realm, where he declared the era's shift as he defeated her, had left her feeling as though she had aged. Sensing Qin Wentian's gaze upon her, she smiled and made eye contact.

"Although the era may be changing, I'm in no hurry to step aside. Even if you aspire to rise above, that day isn't today. It's a future event. You've already earned your pride. Your battle achievements on the Sacred Battle Platform are truly remarkable," Fan Miaoyu reflected, her voice calm yet resolute. "But the pinnacle of honor and glory still belongs to me today."

Qin Wentian met her gaze, a subtle smile gracing his lips. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you."