Final Showdown

At dawn, the atmosphere at the Yunxiao Sect's outer gate plaza was more intense than ever. Today was the day of the final match of the Outer Sect Tournament, drawing attention from all levels of the sect. Outer and inner disciples, and even some elders, had gathered to watch the much-anticipated battle.

The focus of today's match was undoubtedly Wang Quan and the mysterious black-robed disciple.

On the stage, Wang Quan and the black-robed disciple stood ready, their spiritual energy creating a palpable tension in the air, as if the very atmosphere was being compressed by their power.

Adding to the excitement, two Golden Core elders from the sect were present to observe the match — Elder White Brow and Swordmaster Qing.

White Brow wore a white robe, his eyebrows long and snow-white, falling past his shoulders. Despite his seemingly amiable appearance, his eyes sparkled with wisdom and depth. Swordmaster Qing, on the other hand, was a stern-looking middle-aged man with a tall, lean build. A finely crafted sword hung at his waist, radiating an intimidating sword aura.

Both elders sat side by side in the spectators' area, their gazes fixed on the two finalists. Their presence signaled the importance of the match, as they were here to identify disciples with the most potential — and both Wang Quan and the black-robed disciple were clearly their prime candidates.

"Wang Quan, I admire that you've made it this far, but in this final match, I won't be holding back."

The black-robed disciple's voice was cold and low, as if coming from the depths of darkness. He was slender, with sharp eyes like a hawk's. In his hand, he gripped a sinister-looking dark purple dagger that emitted an unsettling aura, as if it could devour spiritual energy.

Wang Quan's expression was grim, his guard fully raised. He knew the black-robed disciple was no ordinary cultivator, and that dagger in particular posed a deadly threat. A single mistake could spell disaster.

"Your dagger is indeed powerful, but I won't back down."

Wang Quan slowly unsheathed his longsword. The Five Elements Technique began to circulate rapidly within his body, channeling the energies of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. These five elemental forces merged seamlessly into his sword, causing it to glow with brilliant light.

The match began.

The black-robed disciple struck first. With a sharp flick of his dagger, several dark purple energy blades shot forth, whistling through the air straight toward Wang Quan's chest. These blades were like the scythes of death, carrying an eerie spiritual energy and moving with lightning speed.

"Bring it on!"

Wang Quan met the attack head-on. His sword rotated slightly, and the metal element from the Five Elements Technique poured into his blade, releasing a dazzling flash of golden light to meet the incoming blade energy.

Clang!

The energy blades collided with the sword light, producing a harsh metallic screech. Wang Quan felt the chilling and sinister power within the blades and immediately retreated, channeling his spiritual energy into a protective earth element shield to fend off the next wave of attacks.

But the black-robed disciple didn't give Wang Quan any breathing room. He moved swiftly, his dagger flickering like a ghost, enshrouded in a strange purple light with a unique penetrating force as it slashed toward Wang Quan's side.

"That Ghost Panther Fang Dagger is truly formidable!"

Wang Quan's heart raced as he recognized the danger. The dagger had been crafted from the tooth of a rare and fearsome beast known as the Ghost Panther, a creature notorious for its stealth and lethal ambushes. Its fangs were so sharp they could easily tear through spiritual energy shields.

Wang Quan quickly adjusted his Five Elements Technique, channeling water and wood energy into his sword. The blade softened, flowing like water, deftly avoiding the dagger's edge before slicing toward the black-robed disciple's shoulder.

The black-robed disciple shifted, blocking with his dagger. Coldly, he remarked, "The Five Elements Technique? It's nothing special."

He counterattacked swiftly, his dagger releasing several sharp energy waves with each strike, each carrying a deadly threat. Wang Quan, relying on the versatility and agility of his Five Elements Technique, evaded and parried continuously. Their clash was like a fierce storm, both sides fighting on equal footing.

The intensity of the battle captivated the audience. Many were amazed at how thrilling the final had turned out to be. Both Wang Quan's mastery of the Five Elements and the black-robed disciple's lethal assassination techniques were extraordinary.

"These two young men are truly remarkable,"

White Brow commented from the spectator's platform, nodding approvingly. He looked at Wang Quan and murmured, "Wang Quan's mastery of the Five Elements Technique is incredibly refined. The fluidity with which he controls the elements is impressive. To hold his own against the black-robed disciple is no small feat."

Swordmaster Qing, who had been closely watching Wang Quan's swordsmanship, frowned slightly and said, "Wang Quan's sword skills are indeed commendable, but his cultivation level is still lower by a considerable margin. It's unlikely he'll be able to win this fight."

White Brow glanced at the black-robed disciple and spoke slowly, "That black-robed disciple was found as an abandoned baby by the sect and was only ever assigned menial tasks. No one expected him to rise this far. His Ghost Panther Fang Dagger is a powerful spiritual treasure. Without it, his abilities wouldn't be as outstanding."

On the stage, the battle raged on.

The black-robed disciple's attacks grew fiercer, his dagger flickering in his hand like a series of ghostly shadows, exuding a suffocating pressure. Wang Quan, on the other hand, used the versatility of the Five Elements Technique to alternate between the earth and metal elements for defense, managing to hold off the fatal strikes.

However, Wang Quan knew deep down that the black-robed disciple's cultivation was two levels higher than his own. The prolonged battle was taking its toll, and he was starting to feel the strain. His spiritual energy reserves were depleting, while the black-robed disciple seemed to remain calm, as though he still had strength to spare.

"It's time to finish this,"

the black-robed disciple said coldly. His dagger suddenly flared with an even brighter purple light, his spiritual energy surging as the dagger transformed into a blade of death, aimed directly at Wang Quan's chest.

Wang Quan's expression darkened. He quickly activated the fire and earth elements of his Five Elements Technique. Flames erupted around him, followed by an earthen shield. But the black-robed disciple's dagger was razor-sharp, cutting through the shield with ease. The energy blade struck Wang Quan's shoulder.

Splurt!

Blood sprayed from Wang Quan's mouth as he staggered back several steps, his face pale.

"You've lost,"

the black-robed disciple declared coldly, his gaze filled with icy indifference.

Wang Quan struggled to steady himself, his sword still tightly gripped, but he knew he had reached his limit and could no longer continue the fight.

The referee announced the result: the black-robed disciple had claimed victory, while Wang Quan, though defeated, had earned the respect of many in the audience.

From the spectator platform, Swordmaster Qing smiled slightly, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"Defeated, but still honorable. Wang Quan's swordsmanship is impressive. With further cultivation, his future potential is limitless."