Blazing Phoniex Ascend

Lu Zhe raised his sword high, and a massive spiraling tornado erupted before him, roaring like a vengeful beast. The wind twisted with immense force, tearing apart debris, uprooting the shattered platform stones, and forming a towering storm capable of leveling mountains. He poured every ounce of his remaining ki into the attack, his reserves nearly drained—but he was determined to obliterate Ye Qianying in a single blow.

Yet, Ye Qianying remained calm, her gaze sharp as a blade. Taking a deep breath, she raised both hands. Crimson flames erupted from her body, forming the shape of a majestic phoenix. As it soared into the sky, its body expanded to over 40 meters, its fiery wings illuminating the battlefield. The sheer heat twisted the air, forcing even distant spectators to step back.

Her face turned pale, knowing that this attack demanded an enormous toll on her ki reserves. But she couldn't afford to hold back.

"Blazing Phoenix Ascend!"

The firebird let out a piercing screech, then dove straight into the approaching tornado. The moment the two forces collided, a cataclysmic explosion erupted. A shockwave tore across the battlefield, sending students and onlookers tumbling backward. The already ruined platform cracked apart, collapsing into a massive crater.

Fire and wind raged against each other, locked in a violent struggle—but soon, the phoenix's scorching flames devoured the weakening tempest, overpowering Lu Zhe's technique.

The winds dissipated, and Lu Zhe stumbled back, blood spraying from his lips. His face turned pale and body was scorched, his robes burned in several places. He barely had time to react when—

BOOM!

Ye Qianying flashed before him in an instant, her palm wreathed in searing crimson flames.

With an unstoppable force, she struck his chest. The impact sent him hurtling through the air. Blood spewed from his mouth as his half-melted sword clattered uselessly beside him.

Lu Zhe crashed a dozen meters away, smoke rising from his charred body. His limbs trembled as he attempted to lift himself, but his ribs were cracked, his organs shifted, and his strength was failing. Disbelief clouded his face.

"How… how did I lose? Beaten by someone half my age… and with a cultivation gap on top of that?"

Ye Qianying, unfazed, stepped gracefully out of the crater—the same stone platform that once spanned 50 meters in radius, now reduced to nothing but ruins.

She came to a halt before Lu Zhe, who gasped for air, his body trembling from pain. His robes were scorched, dyed in blood, barely holding together.

A flaming-hot saber was placed before his throat.

Lu Zhe's face turned deathly pale. His breath hitched as cold sweat trickled down his back. The sheer heat from the blade singed his skin, making him flinch.

"Y-You… back off your weapon!" he stammered, panic lacing his voice. "If you do anything further… heavy punishment will await you!"

Ye Qianying scoffed, her gaze colder than the steel of her blade.

"Finishing off a despicable, inhumane wretch like you is worth it. But first, it's time for you to pay for what you did to Ye Xian."

Her saber flared with crimson flames as she raised it high, ready to strike the final blow. Lu Zhe's eyes widened in horror. He struggled to move, but his broken body betrayed him. His ki was depleted, his injuries severe. He could do nothing but watch as death approached.

Then—

"Halt."

A sharp yet elegant voice cut through the air like a blade.

Ye Qianying's saber stopped mere inches from Lu Zhe's throat. The searing heat burned his skin, making him clench his jaw in agony.

A woman arrived beside them, her presence as sudden as a ghost's. Ye Qianying hadn't even sensed her approach.

She turned, her sharp eyes narrowing.

Standing before her was Shea Viridessa, the Principal of Azure Sky Academy.

Shea exuded an aura of unshakable authority. Dressed in a flowing green and white robe, she appeared as if she had stepped out of the wind itself. Her long, slender legs moved with effortless grace, her slim waist accentuating her figure. Her emerald-green hair cascaded down like silk waterfalls, and her jade-like eyes gleamed with intelligence. The distinct leaf-shaped ears marked her elven heritage, adding to her ethereal beauty.

Shea eyed the battlefield—the shattered platform, the swirling embers, and the broken body of Lu Zhe.

"Looks like you two have made quite a mess," she remarked, her voice smooth but firm.

Lu Zhe, despite his pain, found hope in her arrival. He forced a weak smirk and turned to her.

"Principal! Ye Xian cheated during his duel and viciously harmed another student!" he quickly accused, his voice desperate. "Ye Qianying sided with him and attacked me—the Head of Law Enforcement! They must be punished!"

Shea Viridessa raised an eyebrow. "Punished?"

Lu Zhe nodded furiously. "Yes! They broke the academy's rules! You must uphold justice!"

Shea let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "No, they do not need to be punished."

Lu Zhe's breath hitched. "What?!"

"I personally inspected the fight," Shea continued, "and I found no evidence of Ye Xian cheating. Everything was within the rules."

Both Lu Zhe and Ye Qianying widened their eyes in shock.

"B-But—!" Lu Zhe stammered, only for Shea's gaze to sharpen.

"Are you saying that my judgment is wrong?" she asked, her tone deceptively calm.

Lu Zhe's body tensed. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Could he challenge the verdict of Azure Sky Academy's most powerful figure?

He gulped. "N-No, Principal… I would never doubt you." He coughed violently, his injuries worsening.

Suddenly, a vine sprouted from the ground, encircling him before lifting him effortlessly into the air.

"Enough," Shea said. She turned to Ye Qianying.

"You go to the infirmary. Ye Xian is already there. He'll need someone to watch over him."

Ye Qianying nodded. "Yes, Principal."

With a final glance at Lu Zhe's defeated form, she turned and hurried away, leaving behind the ruined battlefield.

Ye Qianying entered the infirmary, her sharp eyes immediately locking onto the lone occupied bed. To her surprise, Ye Xian was already awake, reclining against the headrest with a relaxed demeanor.

His robes had been changed into a clean white set, and he appeared far more composed than she had expected. The last time she had seen him, he had been on the brink of death, his body battered and broken beyond recognition. Yet now, he sat there as if nothing had happened, exuding an air of nonchalance.

Beside him stood Riener, who had been chatting with him just moments ago. Ye Qianying's eyes widened in disbelief.

"You're awake?!" she blurted out, unable to hide her shock.

Ye Xian turned his gaze toward her, his usual mischievous glint flashing in his gray eyes.

Upon noticing Ye Qianying's arrival, Riener flashed a knowing smirk before swiftly making an excuse.

"I just remembered—I have urgent matters to attend to. I'll leave you two to talk," Riener said, his voice laced with playful amusement as he turned to leave.

Ye Xian arched an eyebrow at Riener's obvious ploy but didn't call him out on it. Instead, he shifted his focus to Ye Qianying, who was still standing near the doorway with her arms crossed, assessing him with a mix of skepticism and something else—concern, perhaps?

"What, were you expecting me to stay asleep forever?" he teased, flashing a grin.

Ye Qianying's shock turned into relief—but only for a moment. Her expression quickly hardened, and she clenched her fists, taking a deep breath.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused?" she demanded.

Ye Xian tilted his head. "Trouble? Me? I was nearly killed, remember?"

She sighed, rubbing her temple in frustration. "You're impossible."

"You've been standing there for a while," Ye Xian remarked with a chuckle, patting the chair beside his bed. "Come, sit here."

Ye Qianying glanced at the chair, noting the specks of dust on it. A flicker of hesitation crossed her expression before she shook her head.

"No thanks," she replied coolly. Instead, she moved closer and, without another word, sat on the edge of his bed, maintaining a slight distance from him.

Ye Xian smirked. "Oh? Are you afraid of getting too close to me?"

His voice was teasing, filled with playful mischief.

Ye Qianying shot him a sharp look, but there was no real hostility behind it.

"I just don't want to sit on a dirty chair," she retorted, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness.

"Yet you're willing to sit on my bed?" Ye Xian leaned in slightly, his gray eyes gleaming with amusement. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were looking for an excuse to be closer to me."

Ye Qianying's expression remained unchanged, but a faint hint of color dusted her cheeks. Ignoring his words, she reached out and took his wrist, her fingers cool against his skin as she checked his condition.

Her brows furrowed in disbelief. "You… Your injuries—they're already healing? But your condition was critical! You were barely clinging to life."