Chapter 22: "Domination Over Core Discipel II."

The Heavenly Flame Arena fell into complete silence after Ye Xiaotian's incredible display of power. The only sounds were the ragged breaths of the defeated core disciples and the quiet whispers of the spectators. The silence was heavy, filled with shock, awe, and a growing sense of fear.

Ye Xiaotian stood calmly at the center of the platform, his white robes spotless despite the chaos around him. His presence was commanding, his expression steady as he looked over the defeated core disciples. He had faced an attack from some of the sect's strongest disciples and had emerged not only victorious but completely unharmed.

Liu Feng, pale and trembling, struggled to stand. He clutched his chest, still feeling the dull pain from Ye Xiaotian's strike. His confidence was gone, replaced by fear. In all his battles, he had never faced someone like this. Ye Xiaotian wasn't just strong he was like a storm, overwhelming and unstoppable.

The other core disciples exchanged uneasy glances. Their earlier confidence had vanished, replaced by the harsh reality that they had underestimated him badly.

In the spectator stands, murmurs rippled through the crowd, each voice laced with disbelief.

"Did you see that? He didn't even break a sweat!"

"He blocked their attacks like it was nothing!"

"Who is this guy? Where did he come from?"

Above the arena, Qin Lian leaned back in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. She glanced at her sister Qin Mei, who was still staring at the platform in shock.

"Didn't I tell you?" Qin Lian said, her voice calm but amused. "He's not just strong; he's on a completely different level."

Qin Mei could only nod, still trying to process what she had just seen. Ye Xiaotian had shattered every assumption they had about him. He wasn't just strong; he was a rising force that could outshine even the most talented disciples of the sect.

The Grand Elder sat in silent contemplation, stroking his long white beard as he observed the aftermath of Ye Xiaotian's display of power. The shockwaves of the battle had not only shaken the disciples but had also stirred something deep within him.

"This boy…" the Grand Elder muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a rare mix of awe and hope. "He's not just strong; he's a monster. If we nurture him properly, he will be the greatest strength of the Vermillion Flame Sect. It is our good fortune that the Sect Master brought him to us."

He looked out over the arena, the excitement and murmurs of the crowd still buzzing. The Grand Elder's eyes gleamed with a newfound determination as he whispered with sentiment, "Finally, our Vermillion Flame Sect can open its wings and rise to the heavens."

On the platform, Ye Xiaotian stood tall, his calm demeanor unchanged despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling around him. His gaze swept over the remaining core disciples, many of whom still gripped their weapons but made no move forward. Their earlier confidence had crumbled, replaced by hesitation and fear.

Ye Xiaotian broke the tense silence with a single question, his voice clear and steady, cutting through the murmurs like a blade.

"Is no one else coming?"

His words carried no hostility, only a quiet impatience. He stood firm, waiting.

The core disciples stiffened, exchanging nervous glances. A few instinctively took a step back, their courage wavering under the weight of his presence.

In the stands, the crowd was on edge, their excitement mingling with disbelief.

"Who would dare after what he just did?" one disciple whispered.

"He's untouchable," another replied, shaking his head in awe.

But then, a movement from the side stands drew all eyes.

Mu Qinglan, the first-ranked core disciple and the sect's pride, rose to her feet. Her amber eyes locked onto Ye Xiaotian with a mixture of determination and intrigue. She looked down at the platform where her fellow disciples stood in defeat. Then, she took a step forward, her flowing robes catching the light as she moved gracefully.

"I will fight you," she declared, her voice firm and resolute.

The arena erupted into a roar of excitement.

"It's happening!" someone shouted.

"Senior Sister Mu Qinglan is stepping in!" another yelled.

The atmosphere in the arena reached a fever pitch. The sight of the Vermillion Flame Sect's most powerful disciple stepping forward reignited the crowd's energy.

On the platform, Ye Xiaotian turned his gaze toward her, his expression still calm but his eyes sharpening slightly. Mu Qinglan, the pride of the sect and the strongest of the core disciples, had finally decided to face him.

As she descended the steps from the stands and approached the platform, the crowd's cheers swelled, filling the air with electrifying energy. Even the defeated core disciples, now standing at the edges of the platform, turned their attention to her, their expressions a mixture of relief and anticipation.

Mu Qinglan stepped onto the platform, her movements fluid and confident. She exuded an aura of power and grace that demanded respect, her reputation as a prodigy evident in every step.

She stopped a few paces away from Ye Xiaotian, her piercing gaze meeting his calm one. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension.

"I've seen enough," she said, her voice steady. "You're strong, far stronger than anyone here expected. But don't think for a second that I'll back down."

Ye Xiaotian inclined his head slightly, acknowledging her resolve. "Good," he said simply.

The crowd, now utterly enthralled, waited with bated breath for what promised to be the most thrilling battle of the day.

High above the arena, Qin Lian leaned forward in her seat, her amber eyes gleaming with interest. A faint smile played on her lips as she watched the scene unfold.

"Now this," she murmured softly, "Is going to be interesting."

The arena buzzed with anticipation as Mu Qinglan, the Vermillion Flame Sect's most respected core disciple, stepped forward to face Ye Xiaotian. Her Crimson Red Sword shimmered in the sunlight, its blade adorned with intricate patterns and there was a Vermillion Bird on the hilt that seemed to pulse with life. A faint aura of fiery energy surrounded her, the mark of a master fire cultivator. The crowd leaned in, their eyes glued to the unfolding spectacle.

Ye Xiaotian stood calmly, his hands at his sides, his expression serene. Unlike his opponent, he carried no weapon, relying instead on his fists and raw power. The contrast between the two was striking a seasoned disciple wielding a treasure sword against a seemingly weaponless challenger.

The crowd leaned forward in anticipation, their murmurs filling the arena like a rising tide.

"She's using the Vermillion Star Sword," one disciple whispered.

"That's a treasure sword! The match is going to be incredible!" another added.

Mu Qinglan raised her sword, its edge glowing with the vibrant orange of Vermillion Flames. "Ye Xiaotian," she said, her voice steady yet firm. "I recognize your strength, but this time, I won't hold back. Prepare yourself."

Ye Xiaotian nodded, his tone calm. "Show me your best."

Mu Qinglan made the first move, dashing forward in a burst of speed. Her sword blazed as it cut through the air, leaving a trail of burning energy in its wake. She struck with precision, her attacks a masterclass in the Vermillion Flame Sword Techniques.

Ye Xiaotian, however, moved with equal speed, dodging her strikes with fluid grace. Despite never having learned formal techniques, his instincts and combat experience allowed him to read her movements effortlessly. He deflected her blade with his bare hands, his fists glowing faintly with a green energy that neutralized the flames.

The platform echoed with the sound of their clash Mu Qinglan's fiery strikes against Ye Xiaotian's unarmed counters. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't land a decisive blow.

"You're not bad," Mu Qinglan admitted, stepping back and adjusting her stance. "But let's see how you handle this!"

She thrust her sword into the ground, and the entire platform erupted in flames. The Vermillion Flame Sect's signature technique, Blazing Lotus Formation, encircled Ye Xiaotian. Fiery lotus petals formed from spiritual energy appeared around him, closing in with searing heat.

Ye Xiaotian didn't flinch. He leapt into the air, his movements swift and precise, evading the petals as they erupted into flames. His figure blurred as he reappeared behind Mu Qinglan, his fist aimed at her back.

Mu Qinglan spun around just in time, her sword meeting his fist in a fiery clash. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the arena, the force of their collision cracking the stone platform beneath them.

Their clash was a spectacle of skill and strategy. The treasure sword clashed against Ye Xiaotian's raw strength, sending sparks flying across the platform. Mu Qinglan's strikes were sharp and relentless, her spiritual energy amplifying each blow, but Ye Xiaotian's evasive maneuvers and powerful counters kept her at bay.

The crowd watched in awe, their excitement growing with every passing second.

"Look at them go!" one disciple exclaimed.

"Mu Qinglan's using the advanced techniques of the Vermillion Star Sword Art!"

"And Ye Xiaotian… He's fighting without any techniques at all!"

Mu Qinglan's frustration began to mount as Ye Xiaotian countered her every move. Despite her best efforts, he seemed to anticipate her attacks, sidestepping her strikes with effortless grace.

"You're impressive," she admitted, her breath quickening as she drew back. "But this isn't over."

Ye Xiaotian's gaze remained steady. "Show me everything you've got."

With a determined cry, Mu Qinglan unleashed a powerful technique. The blade of her sword emitted a brilliant light as she swung it in a wide arc, creating a wave of starlight that surged toward Ye Xiaotian like a tidal wave. The spiritual energy emanating from the attack was overwhelming, causing the spectators to gasp in astonishment.

Ye Xiaotian planted his feet firmly and met the attack head-on. He raised his fist, green energy swirling around it, and punched forward with immense force. The wave of starlight shattered upon impact, fragments of light scattering into the air like shattered glass.

Mu Qinglan stumbled back, her eyes widening in shock. But instead of despair, a spark of determination ignited within her. She gripped her sword tighter, and the air around her began to change.

The spiritual energy in her body surged wildly, her aura growing stronger. The pressure she emitted increased, causing the platform beneath her feet to crack. She had broken through a barrier in her cultivation technique, advancing in the midst of battle.

"She's advancing!" someone in the crowd shouted.

"Mu Qinglan is growing stronger right before our eyes!"

Mu Qinglan's swordplay became even more formidable. Her movements were faster, her strikes sharper, and her spiritual energy radiated with newfound intensity. The platform became a blur of motion as the two combatants clashed, their fight reaching a new level of intensity.

The flames around her burned brighter and hotter, their intensity reaching a new level. The crowd gasped as they felt the heat radiating from her body. She had broken through a bottleneck in her cultivation technique, advancing in the midst of battle.

Her strikes grew faster and more powerful. The fiery energy from her sword now took on the form of phoenix-like flames that danced with a life of their own. The platform became a blazing inferno, the air shimmering with heat.

Ye Xiaotian smiled faintly. "You've improved," he said, his tone genuinely appreciative.

Mu Qinglan's eyes narrowed. She unleashed her ultimate technique, Vermillion Phoenix Strike, a blazing arc of fire shaped like a phoenix that hurtled toward Ye Xiaotian with terrifying speed.

As the flaming phoenix bore down on him, Ye Xiaotian remained calm. He stepped forward, his aura shifting. The faint green glow surrounding him intensified, forming a barrier that nullified the oppressive heat.

With a single punch, Ye Xiaotian shattered the flaming phoenix, dispersing its fiery energy into harmless sparks. The sheer force of his strike sent a shockwave through the arena, extinguishing the flames and leaving only silence in its wake.

Mu Qinglan, her breath ragged, stared at him in disbelief. Despite her breakthrough and her most powerful technique, she had been unable to overcome him.

Ye Xiaotian stepped closer, his voice calm but firm. "You've fought well. But this is where it ends."

With a swift motion, he delivered a light strike to her wrist, disarming her. The treasure sword fell to the ground, its flames extinguished. Mu Qinglan stumbled back but caught herself, her chest heaving from exhaustion.

She looked at Ye Xiaotian for a long moment before finally bowing her head. "I concede," she said, her voice steady despite her defeat. "You are stronger. I acknowledge your victory."

The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing across the arena. Mu Qinglan stepped back, retrieving her sword and sheathing it with dignity. She turned to the Grand Elder and bowed deeply.

"I yield my position as the first core disciple to Ye Xiaotian," she announced

The Grand Elder rose from his seat, his voice booming across the arena. "Today, we have witnessed the emergence of a new star in the Vermillion Flame Sect. Ye Xiaotian has proven himself not only through strength but also through resilience and composure. From this moment forth, Ye Xiaotian is officially recognized as the first core disciple of our sect!"

The crowd erupted into applause, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. Disciples from all corners of the sect cheered for the newcomer who had taken the sect by storm.

Mu Qinglan retrieved her sword and bowed to Ye Xiaotian. "Don't get too comfortable," she said with a playful smirk. "I'll be coming for that title again."

Ye Xiaotian chuckled softly. "I'll look forward to it."

As the crowd continued to cheer, Ye Xiaotian stood at the center of the platform, his calm demeanor unbroken. He had earned their respect, but he knew this was only the beginning. The road ahead was long, and greater challenges awaited him.

For now, though, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. He had proven himself, not just to the sect, but to himself. The title of first core disciple was his, and with it came a new chapter in his journey.

End of Chapter 22