Ling Fen's Might

Some geniuses took to the Sect's battle arenas to hone their arts and establish their dominance. 

These Martial Dao Exchanges were a time-honored tradition within the Blazing Sun Sect, a crucible in which disciples could temper their skills and vie for the resources and prestige that would propel them to new heights. 

To falter here was to become a laughingstock, one's inadequacies laid bare for all to see. To triumph was to take a step closer to the pinnacle of the martial path, earning the right to look down upon one's peers with haughty disdain.

One such arena played host to a captivated audience of hundreds, as two figures stood in opposition atop the stage, Sunfire Dao runes etched into its stone surface pulsing with barely restrained power. 

Blazing light cast their features in stark relief, painting them as titans poised for battle.

On one side was Tie Wentian, a proud son of the Tie Clan, his once-handsome face contorted in uncontrollable fury as he glared at his opponent with undisguised loathing. 

A low-grade spirit sword trembled violently in his white-knuckled grip, wreathed in roiling waves of searing flame - a manifestation of his cultivation in the Sun Billowing Cloud Skill, an exalted fire-element art that few beneath 7th stage Qi Establishment could hope to wield. Burning Qi rolled off his body in searing waves, each surge of power interwoven with killing intent.

He had challenged Ling Fen, hoping that crushing the upstart would re-establish his prestige and prove that no amount of sudden breakthroughs could eclipse noble blood and inborn talent. 

But to his disbelief and frustration, the battle had been anything but the easy victory he'd envisioned.

Whispers flowed throughout the crowds, filled with equal parts awe and disbelief. 

"This Ling Fen can't be underestimated in the slightest," one disciple murmured, his eyes wide. "A 4th stage beating a 7th stage... were the senior disciples this strong at this level?"

Another voice chimed in, tinged with curiosity. "I wonder how he compares to Miao Ying? The way those two are progressing, they'll be standing at the peak of the Earth Abode before long."

Indeed, despite being at the 7th Stage of Qi Establishment compared to Ling Fen's 4th stage, it was Tie Wentian who found himself on the back foot, outmaneuvered at every turn by his opponent's blinding speed and supernatural strength. 

Scalding blood dripped steadily from a dozen wounds, each a stark reminder of Ling Fen's skill, and his spirit sword now felt like a leaden weight in his hands, pushed to the very limits of its endurance.

Across from Tie Wentian, Ling Fen stood tall and unwounded, a study in icy composure. His eyes burned like glacial stars as he stared down his foe, Qi whirling around him in a vortex of scintillating power, wisps of white fire trailing from his limbs. 

With every breath, he drew upon his Core Art - the Spirit Phoenix Code - stoking the raging inferno within his dantian to ever-greater heights.

"Tie Wentian, you're nothing but an arrogant, mewling child flailing at his betters," he bit out, voice dripping with contempt. Each word was a barb, designed to worm its way under his opponent's skin and fester. "You aren't fit to lick the boots of a real genius."

"You're seeking death!" Tie Wentian snarled, eyes flashing red with humiliation and loathing. 

Forgetting his pain, forgetting the gap between their cultivations, forgetting everything but the need to shut Ling Fen's taunting mouth, he raised his sword high overhead, fire essence gathering to a blinding crescendo. 

This was the Sun Billowing Cloud Skill's ultimate technique, all his rage and wounded pride made manifest.

"DIE!" The bellow reverberated throughout the arena as Tie Wentian brought the sword slashing down with world-breaking force, a wave of incandescent flame roaring forth to consume his hated enemy. 

His aura underwent a tremendous upheaval, the fiery potency of his Qi rolling out in waves that made weaker disciples tremble. 5th and 6th stage experts clutched at their chests, struggling to breathe under the onslaught. 

All watched with bated breath as billowing clouds of flame engulfed Tie Wentian's blade, the heat of it searing their skin even from a distance.

"The Sun Billowing Cloud killing Skill! I've never seen another 7th stage properly defend against this attack!" a disciple murmured in shock. 

This was a powerful Spirit Tier martial skill, notoriously difficult to master. The slightest misstep could end in a shattered sword and crippled arms.

But at that moment, a violent wave of Qi essence blasted out from Ling Fen, eclipsing Tie Wentian's display. His 4th stage aura engulfed the atmosphere, directly suppressing the power of a 7th stage! 

Searing flames whirled around one leg, the heat of it far surpassing anything Tie Wentian could muster.

Ling Fen moved, exploding into motion with a fierce cry. "Blazing Talon Kick!"

The leg lashed out, dazzling streamers of fire trailing in its wake. It slammed into and straight through Tie Wentian's spirit sword at the height of its power, shattering the blade like spun glass and crushing into the young noble's chest with sickening force. 

An awful scream erupted from Tie Wentian's lips as he felt his organs rupture and his ribs crack, blood spraying from his lips as he flew back and bounced across the arena stage like a ragdoll, skidding to an inglorious stop at its edge.

Shock and awe rippled through the audience as Ling Fen touched down again, not a hair out of place. 

Tie Wentian's broken form twitched fitfully on the ground, his cultivation destabilized, his sword reduced to glittering shards.

The other disciples erupted in thunderous cheers, their voices blending into a cacophonous roar. 

"What a Martial Skill! Tie Wentian didn't stand a chance!" 

"Ling Fen's combat prowess really is that terrifying... and he's only at the 4th stage!" 

"Now he's risen to the 125th rank. He's catching up to Senior Brother Geng Jin!"

But amidst the chaos and revelry, a few figures watched the scene unfold with more calculating eyes.

Luan Fan observed from the stands, an almost imperceptible smile playing about her lips. As one of the Earth Abode's most dazzling talents, praised for both her beauty and strength, her approval carried weight, and many a young genius sought to catch her eye. That she only had eyes for Ling Fen at this moment spoke volumes.

"He really has changed," she murmured to herself, pride and something deeper warring in her gaze. "To have come so far, so quickly... the Heavens must be watching over him."

Further back, a trio of young prodigies clustered together, their own auras roiling with barely restrained power.

Geng Jin, 7th stage Qi Establishment, a rising dragon within the Earth Abode, glowered at Ling Fen's triumphant figure with undisguised anger. 

He couldn't accept it - this boy who was more dazzling than him in the Ranking War now stood on the verge of eclipsing him entirely. If he didn't act soon, his own position would be under threat.

Geng Jin couldn't just sit by idly. He stood up, his Qi essence swirling around his body in a tempestuous aura, the power of a 7th stage Qi Establishment expert firmly oozing out of his pores.

Chetian Yuhan, sensing Geng Jin's agitation, quickly interjected, his voice cold and leaving no room for failure. "Are you confident in winning? I don't want another pathetic embarrassment."

Geng Jin met Chetian Yuhan's gaze, his own eyes burning with determination. 

"Even if he's more troublesome than before, it is no problem," he declared, his voice steady and self-assured.

He turned his attention back to Ling Fen, his voice booming out over the crowd, his powerful Qi essence commanding silence from all present. "Ling Fen! Do you dare accept my Martial Duel?"

The crowd erupted in a frenzy of excited whispers and speculation. 

"Now Geng Jin wants to fight?" 

"His ranking position did increase to 110th after reaching the 7th stage. It'll be an exciting match!"

In the Blazing Sun Sect, combat potential was prized above all else. Disciples constantly sought to prove their worth, to climb the ranks and secure their place in the hierarchy. A Martial Duel between two rising stars like Geng Jin and Ling Fen was a spectacle not to be missed.

Ling Fen, still basking in the afterglow of his victory over Tie Wentian, calmly looked over at Geng Jin. 

A casual smile played about his lips as he replied, "If you want to fight, then so be it. But I can't be blamed for anything that may happen in this duel."

With that, he swiftly turned on his heel, leaving the battle stage with an air of nonchalance. Luan Fan, ever the devoted admirer, was quick to follow him out, her eyes shining with adoration and pride.