Chapter 9: Tournament Grounds (1)

The tournament grounds of Frost Valley Academy were alive with energy, the cool mountain air charged with anticipation. Disciples from across the academy, as well as visitors from the Cloud Peak Sect, filled the stands. The arena itself was a marvel of cultivation architecture, with formation arrays embedded in the stone to measure and record every match.

Lin Kai stood at the edge of the arena, taking in the scene. Today was the start of the tournament, and after a somewhat monotonous schedule of taking formation classes, It was finally an opportunity to let loose.

The past tensions with Cloud Peak Sect added an undercurrent of rivalry to the day's events. Their disciples, clad in white and silver, exuded confidence, their gazes assessing the competition.

"Did you hear?" Chen Feng sidled up to Lin Kai, eyes wide with excitement. "Cloud Peak's elites are here. First time in three years they've joined our tournament."

The crowd's chatter reflected a mix of excitement and tension. Three years ago, a dispute over ancient formation grounds had led to a serious conflict between Frost Valley Academy and Cloud Peak Sect. The wounds from that incident had yet to heal.

Yu Mei, waiting near the competitor's area, leaned in to speak quietly. "Their young master, Zhao Ren, is supposedly a genius even by their standards. Ninth level of Qi Gathering at fifteen. He's not someone to take lightly."

Lin Kai nodded, his gaze drifting to where Zhao Ren stood among his peers. Despite being really short, the young master's presence was commanding, each movement calculated and precise. There was a coldness to his demeanor, and a calm arrogance that seemed ingrained in his bones.

"The political implications are interesting," Yu Ming remarked as she joined them, her silver-streaked hair gleaming in the morning light. "Cloud Peak wouldn't send their elites without a reason. Especially not after the Border Formation Grounds incident."

Lin Kai recalled the academy records. The conflict had been over ancient formation grounds, with both sides carrying grudges ever since. Today was not just about personal victories, but about the reputation of their respective sects.

"First round begins in fifteen minutes!" an elder announced, his voice carrying over the crowd. "All participants to their designated areas!"

"With Cloud Peak here, the tournament layout has probably changed" Chen Feng reminded. "We can expect a more brutal assessment this year".

Lin Kai took a deep breath, centering himself. The matches ahead would be interesting.

The arena buzzed with excitement as the first matches began. Disciples from Frost Valley and Cloud Peak took to the stage, showcasing the fruits of their training. Each clash of qi sent the crowd abuzz, the air thick with spiritual energy.

Lin Kai observed intently, using his divine sense to pick up on the subtle nuances of each battle. The interactions between spirit roots and techniques, the flow of qi through meridians, and the strategic decisions made in the heat of combat. No detail missed his senses, taking it all in with a calm calculated gaze.

The crowd's attention shifted to a match between two Frost Valley disciples. They demonstrated the Spiraling Dragon Heart technique, their strikes leaving trails of compressed energy in the air. The audience reacted with a mix of excitement and apprehension, the raw power on display quaking the air brutally.

"Next bout," an elder called out, "Chen Feng of Frost Valley Academy versus Xiao Liang of Cloud Peak Sect."

A murmur rippled through the spectators. Xiao Liang was known for his aggressive style, leveraging his earth and metal spirit roots to overpower opponents with sheer force.

Chen Feng and Xiao Liang stepped into the ring, the tension palpable. The crowd looking to their respective sect disciple, the desire to have them bring honor to their name palpable in the air. 

Lin Kai watched closely as the match began. Xiao Liang charged forward, his fists encased in earth qi. Chen Feng responded with the Azure Sky Steps, his movements fluid and evasive, sidestepping the onslaught with practiced agility.

"Running right off the bat?" taunted Xiao Liang with a sneer of contempt on his face.

Chen Feng paid it no mind. He could see what the opponent wanted to do, so he cleverly used his only advantage-his agility-to press him by placing him in awkward angles.

The ground shook with each of Xiao Liang's attacks, dust rising from the arena floor, the ground cracked for tens of meters.

'What are his fists made of?' cold sweat ran down Chen Feng's back. Forcefully pushing these thoughts to the back of his mind, he found an opportunity in the opponent's body positioning. He countered with Mountain Pressing Palm, his fists glowing with energy as he aimed to disrupt his opponent's balance. 

Quick to take notice, Xiao Liang stomped heavily and used earth qi to tilt the ground, using it as an opportunity to quickly make distance.

The crowd watched with bated breath, witnessing the brutal short exchange.

Being forced to retreat, Xiao Long gritted his teeth in anger. With a roar, he summoned a wave of earth qi, sending a shockwave across the arena. The force knocked Chen Feng back, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Undeterred, Chen Feng regained his footing, his divine sense allowing him to anticipate Xiao Liang's next move. With a calculated strike, he redirected Xiao Liang's energy, turning the tide once more.

The match continued, both fighters pushing their limits. Xiao Liang's stamina waned, his relentless assault taking its toll. Chen Feng seized the moment, delivering a decisive blow that sent his opponent to the ground.

The elder declared Chen Feng the winner, and the audience erupted in applause. Cloud Peak disciples sat with heavy expressions, some silent, others ready to duke it out with the nearest Frost Valley disciple.

"The tournament has just begun. Better not celebrate early"

"Hahahaha! Keep crying"

Jabs were flying left and right, the competition between the two sects obvious even in the stands.

As the next match was announced, Lin Kai felt the crowd's attention shift. Zhao Ren, the Cloud Peak prodigy, was about to step into the ring. His opponent was another Frost Valley disciple, well-regarded but clearly outmatched.

Lin Kai's focus sharpened, curious to see Zhao Ren's techniques firsthand. This match would reveal much about the young master's capabilities.

The arena fell silent as Zhao Ren entered the ring, his every movement exuding confidence. His opponent, Mei Ling, was a seventh-level Qi Gathering disciple known for her agility and swift strikes. While skilled, the gap between their cultivation levels was significant. Even her own fellow disciples were feeling disheartened.

"Stay strong senior sister!" 

"He is just a midget!!!"

"Wipe that arrogance off his face"

Some Frost Valley disciples shouted, but the uncertainty and wavering confidence can be clearly heard in their voice.

"Hmph! You people are way in over your heads."

"A bunch of fools!"

"Your senior sister is done for."

Sneers and snickering were heard from the Cloud Peak disciples. They, more than anyone, knew the terror of the most recent prodigy of their sect.

The match began with Mei Ling launching a series of rapid attacks, her fists crackling with lightning qi as she attempted to overwhelm Zhao Ren with speed. Her strategy was clear—strike fast, avoid direct confrontation, and exploit any openings.

Zhao Ren stood firm, his expression unreadable. As Mei Ling's attacks closed in, he raised a hand, and a wave of corrosive qi erupted from his palm. The energy met Mei Ling's strikes head-on, dissolving the lightning qi with a sizzle.

Mei Ling's eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't falter. She adjusted her approach, weaving around Zhao Ren and probing for weaknesses. 

'He is clearly toying with me.' Mei Ling grimaced, keeping her distance.

Zhao Ren was unfazed and hadn't moved a single step from his original position. Looking at him, he seemed to be in deep thought.

As if deciding something, he moved his calm gaze across the crowd, eyeing them, before looking towards the stand where the elders of the Frost Valley were sitting. He paused for a moment. *grin*

"Corrosive Dragon Descent"

Suddenly corrosive Qi burst from every pore of his body, smashing through the entire arena like the descent of a dragon. The air quaked as if it were solid ground, the earth drying and cracking as if poisoned for hundreds of meters. 

The Qi wave hit Mei Ling before she could even register what was happening, flinging her across the arena before smashing into the walls. The corrosive Qi invading her body like vile snakes, leaving their poison everywhere they touched. Her body quickly blackened, her qi flow stopping.

"wha-wha-what is that!?!?"

*ROAR*

The crowd could see the faint outline of a dragon made from corrosive qi, clawing its way to the sky, looking down with a ferociousness that caused even the toughest to quiver. It suddenly flew towards the arena at a blistering speed, creating storm winds that could be felt kilometers away.

Right before hitting the center of the arena, a light chuckle resounded that overshadowed everything-the screams and the thunderous winds.

"Ho ho! Quite a lively one" *snap*

A snap was the only thing that people heard before the entire world went still. The winds stopped blowing, the ground stopped rotting, the walls of the arena stopped crumbling and the poison inside Mei Ling stopped spreading.

The dragon, only a hair breath away from hitting the ground, jerked to a stop. Starting from the head, it slowly started dissolving till its tail. It was slow, as if it were the natural course of the world, with nothing being able to stop it.

Finally, the world started moving again.

"...what just happened?"

"Was I dreaming?"

The crowd woke up from their daze and looked around, lost. There was awe and dread in their voice as they looked at the arena-

Destruction. Ravines hundreds of meters long and tens of meters wide marring it like slithering snakes. It reeked of poison and corruption.

A voice suddenly sounded, steady and calm,

"Perhaps a little too lively"