Defeat.

Xia Ruyan had achieved the rank of guild leader, a title reserved for a select few. This position not only gave her authority but also the privilege of leading elite teams within the organization.

With a slender yet athletic figure, her well-defined waist and firm thighs reflected years of training. Her long, black hair cascaded down, complementing her fair skin with a slight bronze tone.

Her white tunic with black details, fitted and short-sleeved, left her abdomen exposed—a rather unconventional design that highlighted both her confidence and unique character.

Her presence was commanding. The confidence in her gaze and posture spoke of a leader who knew exactly what she wanted. But what truly set her apart was her attitude.

Xia Ruyan did not adhere to typical formalities; she acted more like a comrade, with a carefree air and a direct way of speaking, almost as if she were in a tavern full of drunkards.

Despite this, no one doubted her authority. Xia Ruyan was not a traditional leader, but her charisma and boldness made her unmistakable.

—All right, kid. Since I'm generous, if you manage to injure me, you win. —Xia Ruyan let out a hearty laugh as she spun her sword over her shoulder. —Don't you all think I'm generous, guys?

—Of course, leader!

Someone shouted from the crowd.

—Don't be too hard on the rookie! —another exclaimed, followed by laughter and murmurs.

The atmosphere was filled with cheers and frantic bets.

—Begin!

Bai Xuebing didn't hesitate. He darted forward like lightning, his spear aiming directly at Xia Ruyan's face. The momentum of his attack stirred up a gust of wind that blew the leader's hair back. If an inexperienced cultivator or even a mortal had been in her place, they would have fallen instantly. But for Xia Ruyan, such attacks were as commonplace as breathing.

With a quick foot movement, she dodged the spear's tip by mere centimeters, her expression barely showing any effort.

Fights within a guild were different from those in sects or clans. Here, cultivation level, techniques used, or weapons wielded didn't matter. The only rule was simple: fight without restrictions. That was the essence of battles between guild members.

To an outsider, this form of fighting might seem chaotic, almost savage, as if watching demonic cultivators clashing. However, there was one line no one crossed: the fight ended when one admitted defeat or was incapacitated. Killing was off-limits. Otherwise, these warriors would be labeled as followers of the demonic path.

—My turn! —declared Xia Ruyan with a defiant smile.

She stopped abruptly and unsheathed her sword in one elegant motion. She stepped forward, gathering energy into the blade before unleashing a powerful wind slash.

The force of the attack swept across the field, kicking up dust and cutting through the air until it collided with the protective barriers surrounding the area. These barriers, specifically placed to contain attacks during training, vibrated intensely but held firm.

Bai Xuebing dodged the slash with an agile leap, his eyes fixed on Xia Ruyan. Wasting no time, he changed his stance and let blood flow from his hands, forming sharp blades that glowed with an intense red, like fangs ready to tear.

His decision was clear: switch to close combat. Xia Ruyan's long-range attack made it evident she could dominate that distance, so he adapted his strategy. Black Fangs wasn't a limited martial art; its versatility allowed it to transform any weapon or style, whether for long-range attacks or close-quarters combat.

With swift and fluid steps, Bai Xuebing advanced like a predator, closing the distance between them as his blades gleamed under the field's light.

—What a curious style… —Xia Ruyan commented, tilting her head with an amused smile. —Although that smell of blood is a bit... peculiar.

As soon as Bai Xuebing displayed his ability, Xia Ruyan quickly identified the source of his power. It was evident his main attribute was related to blood, a unique focus among cultivators.

On the other hand, Xia Ruyan was a master of wind manipulation, her main star belonging to this element. Thanks to this, her combat style was based on fast and precise attacks, like unpredictable gusts. Moreover, her cultivation level was nothing to scoff at: she was in the fourth realm, a rank that commanded respect even among the most experienced.

With precise and rapid movements, Bai Xuebing's blades seemed like a pair of sharp fangs ready to tear into their prey. Each slash in the air was accompanied by an echo of power, a constant threat that kept Xia Ruyan alert.

The clash between the two combatants electrified the atmosphere. Bai Xuebing advanced, his blood blades spinning around him like two wild beasts, while Xia Ruyan maintained a firm stance, her sword gleaming with a cutting brilliance.

—Interesting, kid —Xia Ruyan said, her lips curving into a defiant smile. —But you're still far from touching me.

—We'll see who ends up on the ground first —replied Bai Xuebing, his voice as cold as the edge of his blades.

Bai Xuebing launched forward, his movements agile like a predator stalking its prey. His blades crossed in an X-shaped attack, seeking to break through Xia Ruyan's defense. She responded by spinning on her axis, her sword creating an arc of wind that momentarily dispersed the blades and forced Bai to retreat.

—Is that all? —Xia asked with a light laugh as she stepped forward and unleashed a horizontal slash. A gust of wind shot from her blade, sweeping across the field and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Bai Xuebing dodged with a backward leap, but not without effort. His body ended up on the edge of the field's protective barriers, the gust leaving deep marks in the ground where he had just been.

—Don't get distracted, rookie! —someone from the crowd shouted amidst cheers and laughter.

Bai Xuebing used the momentum to counter. He bent his knees and propelled himself forward with impressive speed. Xia barely had time to react when one of his blood blades grazed her shoulder, cutting a fragment of her white tunic.

—Good attempt! —Xia exclaimed, with a spark of admiration, as she spun her sword in a quick motion, channeling wind into her blade.

Bai stepped back just in time, avoiding a strike that surely would have left its mark. However, Xia didn't stop. With an elegant spin, she executed a downward slash, releasing a wind blade aimed directly at Bai.

The young cultivator reacted quickly, crossing his blades in a defensive gesture. The blood weapons absorbed part of the impact, but the force of the wind pushed him back several meters, leaving marks in the ground with his boots as he came to a stop.

—Hmp! —Bai grunted, regaining his composure.

Xia Ruyan watched him with a satisfied smile, her sword resting on her shoulder, as if all of this was just a warm-up.

—Are you giving up, kid? I could end this now, but that would be boring.

Bai Xuebing took a deep breath, calming the furious pounding in his chest.

—Giving up isn't in my vocabulary —he replied, his gaze intense like a pool of liquid blood.

Suddenly, the energy around him changed. The blood blades vibrated and began to extend, forming whips that moved like hungry snakes. With a swift motion of his hands, the weapons surged toward Xia Ruyan in a barrage of serpentine attacks.

—Oh, now this is getting interesting! —commented Guo Tian from the audience with a laugh. —That kid's got guts.

Xia dodged gracefully, her feet gliding across the field as if she were dancing. Every whip that grazed her skin was deflected by a precise strike of her sword or a deft movement of her body.

—Too slow! —shouted Xia as she channeled wind energy into her sword, releasing an upward slash that split one of the whips in two.

But Bai didn't stop. He seized the moment when Xia was distracted by blocking his whips and closed the distance in the blink of an eye. In a surprising maneuver, his whips reverted to their original blade form, slashing in a cross attack aimed at Xia's abdomen.

Xia barely had time to react. Her sword blocked one blade, but the second managed to graze her arm, leaving a shallow cut.

The crowd held its breath.

—You…! —said Xia, touching her arm where blood stained her tunic. For a moment, her expression reflected surprise, but it quickly transformed into a smile of pure excitement—. Well done, rookie. Looks like I'll have to get serious.

Bai Xuebing smiled, though he was breathing heavily. The blood on his blades seemed to stir, as if responding to his will, ready for another assault.

—I hope so, leader —he replied, his voice laced with defiance—. I don't want you saying later that you held back.

The crowd roared with excitement. The two combatants were preparing for the next exchange, and the air vibrated with anticipation of a duel that promised to be even more spectacular.

Although Xia Ruyan had set a clear condition for her victory, Bai Xuebing wouldn't settle for a superficial wound. Beyond winning, he wanted to prove himself. His eyes filled with determination as he adjusted his stance, his blood blades spinning like extensions of his own body.

—Not bad, kid. But if that's all, you'll disappoint me. —Xia Ruyan smiled, but this time it wasn't a playful smile. There was seriousness in her eyes, the gleam of someone ready to fight with everything.

—Disappoint? —Bai replied, panting.

Xia Ruyan laughed, the sound resonating across the field like a bell.

—Fine. Then let me show you why I'm at this level.

The air around her shifted. Xia began releasing her wind energy, the ground beneath her feet cracking slightly as an invisible whirlwind swirled around her. Her sword shone with an intense glow, the wind wrapping around it like an extension of her own will.

Bai Xuebing didn't retreat. Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. His blood blades vibrated and elongated, creating a crimson energy net that pulsed like a living heart.

—Let's do this, then —said Bai, his voice calm but charged with defiance.

The next exchange was a spectacle of pure skill and power. Xia Ruyan moved like the wind, quick and precise, her sword unleashing gusts that cut through the air and kicked up clouds of dust. Bai Xuebing, for his part, was no less impressive. His blood blades danced around him like living creatures, blocking attacks and counterattacking with a speed that made it hard to follow his movements.

—Incredible! That kid's no ordinary rookie! —shouted someone from the crowd.

—But he's still no match for the leader! —another replied, though even they seemed to hesitate a bit as they said it.

Bai was wearing out. Every movement drained his energy, and his muscles began to ache. But instead of retreating, his resolve only grew stronger. He remembered those three years of training, the long nights and days of relentless effort. He couldn't lose here, not after everything he had endured.

—Don't stop now, kid! —shouted Xia Ruyan, advancing with a strike that unleashed a gust of wind so strong it nearly knocked Bai off balance.

—I won't! —Bai shouted, channeling everything he had left into a final attack.

His blood blades fused into a single long, twisted blade, its dark red color glowing with an almost blinding intensity. With a cry, Bai lunged at Xia Ruyan, his attack direct and filled with killing intent.

Xia Ruyan didn't back down. She raised her sword with both hands, the wind around her roaring like a storm. In an instant, she unleashed a downward slash that met Bai's attack in the center of the field.

The impact was deafening. The barrier around the field vibrated violently, as if on the verge of breaking. An explosion of energy engulfed the area, momentarily blinding everyone. When the dust settled, both combatants were still standing, but only one had their weapon pointed at the other.

Xia Ruyan, her tunic torn and a slight cut on her arm, had her sword pointed at Bai Xuebing's neck. He, exhausted, was breathing heavily, his blood weapon fading away as he fell to his knees.

Bai Xuebing remained kneeling, gasping as the energy in his limbs seemed to vanish. His hands trembled slightly, no longer holding the blood blades that had been his pride in this fight. He clenched his fists against the dusty ground, his head bowed as his disheveled hair fell over his face.

He had trained tirelessly for years, cultivating with a single goal in mind: to become strong enough to claim his vengeance and face any obstacle. But now, in this combat field, all that effort seemed insignificant. He had lost. Not to a mortal enemy, but to a leader whose mastery and experience eclipsed his progress.

—I'm still weak... —he murmured to himself, the weight of defeat pressing on his chest like a slab.

The crowd, once noisy, had fallen silent after the explosive finale. Only a few scattered whispers and laughter filled the air as Xia Ruyan sheathed her sword with an elegant motion. She took a few steps toward Bai, her expression relaxed but with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

—Do you really think you're weak, kid? —she suddenly said, her clear voice resonating across the field.

Bai slowly raised his gaze, meeting Xia's eyes. Before he could respond, she continued.

—You just had the bad luck of facing me —she declared with a laugh, looking at the crowd that quickly regained its energy with cheers and laughter. She pointed at Bai with her sheathed sword—. Isn't that right, folks?

—Of course, leader! —someone shouted, followed by an eruption of laughter and cheers of approval.

—You've got guts, kid, more than I've seen in a long time! —Xia added, her wide smile directed at her team—. And now, look at our new team member. Let's celebrate! Hahaha!

The guild's cheers and applause echoed loudly, but Bai could barely process them. The weight of defeat still clung to him, even as Xia leaned slightly toward him.

—Don't forget our bet, handsome —she whispered near his ear, her tone playful but with a hint of seriousness.

Before Bai could react, Xia Ruyan was already walking away from the field, waving casually as the crowd continued to cheer her on.

Bai could only chuckle wryly, rising slowly with the help of his spear. This experience had shown him more than just Xia's strength: it reminded him that he was still far from reaching the level he desired.

His fist tightened around his weapon as his gaze hardened.

—I'm still weak... —he admitted to himself, this time with a spark of determination.

The pain in his muscles and the humiliation of defeat were clear evidence of his progress, but also a reminder of how much he lacked. Although Xia was right, and his current strength was not insignificant, Bai knew he needed more—not just strength, but experience. This defeat would become a turning point.

—Sigh... at least I got what I wanted, but... now I'll have to deal with that pervert —muttered Bai Xuebing as he left the field with heavy steps.

Despite the buzz of voices and laughter around him, his mind was torn between relief and exhaustion. He had managed to join Xia's team, but the price... oh, the price. Remembering Xia Ruyan's playful tone and her closeness when she whispered made a shiver run down his spine.

Looking up at the sky, he let out a second sigh, longer and more resigned.

—Why are things never simple? —he muttered to himself.

The weight of the bet he had made with Xia Ruyan felt like a rock in his stomach. Although he didn't know exactly what that woman had planned, something told him it wouldn't be easy to ignore.

He clenched his fist, feeling a spark of warmth return some energy to him.

"It doesn't matter..." he thought as an ironic smile appeared on his face. "This will also be another lesson. If I can't face a pervert, how can I face the true path of cultivation?"

Bai knew the key was not only becoming physically strong but also learning to deal with unexpected obstacles, even those that came in the form of dangerous bets or dominant personalities like Xia's.

—First victory, then vengeance. One step at a time...

Adjusting his clothes, his gaze hardened again as he continued walking forward.