Rise of the Young Overlord
On the arena stage, Yang Tai stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of indifference. It was as if he didn't even consider his opponent worthy of attention.
Across from him, Su Nümei had a soft smile curling at her lips. Despite facing the formidable fifth-ranked warrior among the top ten of Cloud State, she showed no sign of nervousness.
"Begin!"
At the referee's command, a flash of light erupted from Yang Tai's storage ring, revealing a longsword gleaming with an eerie red glow.
"That's the Sunfire Sword!"
A wave of excitement surged through the crowd. This was Yang Tai's signature weapon, a rare-grade spirit weapon making its first appearance in this tournament.
"Careful now," he warned, his voice low.
In the blink of an eye, his figure flickered and vanished—only to reappear behind Su Nümei, his sword slicing down in a lethal arc.
Slash!
A clean hit.
The audience gasped.
"Did he just one-shot her?!"
A cheer was about to erupt—until the next moment, when something bizarre happened.
The blade passed through her like mist.
The figure of Su Nümei wavered and then dissipated like a mirage.
"An afterimage?!"
Yang Tai's eyes widened in shock.
A sharp gust of wind surged from behind him. Instincts kicking in, he twisted his body, retreating just in time.
Yet, despite his quick reaction, his robe now bore three clean slashes across the back.
"What just happened?!"
No one had seen her move, yet she had already struck.
Holding a torn piece of Yang Tai's robe between her slender fingers, Su Nümei let out a soft chuckle.
"The so-called Twin Jewels of the Elves… is this all?"
Yang Tai's expression darkened. Without hesitation, he lunged forward once more.
What followed left the entire audience speechless.
Su Nümei—an unknown, unranked fighter—was overwhelming Yang Tai.
No matter how many techniques he unleashed, no matter how swiftly he wielded his bow or blade, none could touch her.
"Damn it… I just lost 50,000 gold!"
Ronald clutched his forehead, feeling a deep sense of betrayal.
The outcome was obvious now.
Yang Tai was finished.
Ordinarily, in a normal martial duel, a loss was just a loss. But for one of the top ten, a public defeat wasn't just about personal pride—it was about his race's honor.
As the battle grew desperate, Yang Tai did something unexpected.
A crimson gem appeared in his hand, pulsing with an ominous glow.
A scorching wave of heat swept across the arena.
"That's… the Blazing Fire Pearl!"
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
A treasure of the Elven Clan—a gem infused with devastating fire energy.
Even Mo Yu, the silent Dark Elf sitting in the stands, furrowed his brows for the first time.
Yang Tai, bloodied and disheveled, spoke coldly:
"Su Nümei, I admit you're strong… but surrender now. No one can withstand the Fire Pearl."
Su Nümei merely smiled.
She didn't move. She didn't speak.
Her eyes remained locked on the burning gem in his hand.
"Since you refuse to surrender…"
Yang Tai's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Then perish."
With a furious cry, he hurled the Fire Pearl forward.
The fiery orb shot through the air, leaving a scorching red trail in its wake.
Then, Su Nümei did something truly insane.
She reached out—
—and caught it.
Barehanded.
A deafening boom shook the entire arena. Flames erupted, swallowing her whole.
A wave of searing heat forced the crowd to shield their eyes.
"It's over!"
Ronald grinned, feeling relief wash over him.
…Until his smile froze.
Through the flickering flames, a figure emerged.
Snow-white hair billowed in the wind.
Her sleeves fluttered, untouched by the inferno.
A single white fox tail swayed gracefully behind her.
And in her delicate fingers…
The Fire Pearl remained clenched, its flames completely extinguished.
The crowd fell into dead silence.
Then, the first scream of realization rang out:
"She—she's floating!"
"Oh my gods, she's in the Spirit Realm!"
Yang Tai froze.
Then, in a trembling voice, he whispered:
"S-Su Xiaomei…?!"
A collective gasp swept through the arena.
"Su Xiaomei… the number one young expert of Cloud State?!"
Cloud State's most mysterious and unrivaled genius.
A Heavenly Fox Clan prodigy with a peerless blend of beauty and power.
A woman who had repeatedly sought the Blazing Fire Pearl from the Elves—only to be refused.
And now, she had taken it by force.
She laughed, her voice as clear as silver bells.
"Yang Tai, dear, we meet again. Oh, and this little gem?" She twirled the Fire Pearl between her fingers. "It's mine now."
Before he could utter a word—
She vanished in a streak of crimson light.
Gone.
Leaving only a dumbstruck Yang Tai in her wake.
"M-My Fire Pearl!"
Yang Tai's scream shattered the silence.
At last, the truth dawned upon him.
She never came for the tournament.
She came for the treasure.
The arena master, Li Feiyun, could only rub his temples in frustration before sighing:
"Yang Tai and Su Xiaomei… both disqualified."
The entire audience was dumbfounded.
And then—
Chaos.
The gamblers among the crowd wailed in despair.
A double disqualification meant…
The house won everything.
"Yang Tai, you absolute failure!"
Ronald howled in agony.
His 50,000 gold coins?
Gone.