Under the Night Sky
In the deep darkness, Li Yan took a deep breath and fixed his somber gaze on the crystal screen. He knew that at this stage only the top fighters remained. He recalled the number "405" very clearly—on Four Xiang Peak, a fighter who had reached the pinnacle of consolidation at the tenth level of Qi Condensation (the "Great Round-Perfection") had been encountered three times since his own battle began. Li Yan had deliberately withstood one opponent single‐handedly, mainly to test how long he could last against someone who had attained the zenith of the tenth level before finally succumbing from exhaustion. The other two, he remembered, had surrendered within less than fifteen minutes.
Now, facing his current opponent—a man named Du Sanjiang—Li Yan noted with dread that although Du Sanjiang too held the title "Tenth-Level Great Round-Perfection," his reputation far surpassed that of the three previous challengers. Du Sanjiang had remained at the tenth level for five years. Originally he had planned to soon attempt a breakthrough into the Foundation stage, but news of the "Cycle of Life and Death"had forced him to postpone his advance. Instead, he intended to head into the "Life Wheel" to acquire a treasured artifact before finally launching into Foundation.
Li Yan, after weighing the situation, determined that he must fight with everything he had. For now, nearly all the remaining opponents were top fighters, and in the next round he might again chance upon a tenth-level Great Round-Perfection adversary—leaving him no proper time to retreat.
While Li Yan simultaneously monitored other matches, he observed that most of Du Sanjiang's fights revealed a man whose array formation was already taking shape. Rumor had it that Du Sanjiang was the most promising postera of Four Xiang Peak following Chu Wei Xiong and his brother Chu Weili—one whom the peak regarded as a later-stage talent. Although he was not yet capable of "entering the Dao with arrays," he could at least let his magical power follow his arrays. It was also said that he had meticulously refined nearly a hundred different formations of all sizes. Previously, Du Sanjiang had lost only a single bout against an Old Lord Peak cultivator.
"Little Junior Brother, this battle is exceedingly difficult. You must raise your spirit to its highest level. In this final round—after a win and a loss—if you overcome this match, many more chances will be yours," said Wei Chituo in a grave tone.
"Little Junior Brother, be cautious but let your mind relax. This opponent is formidable. If you win now and later do not draw another tenth-level Great Round-Perfection, that will be about the best outcome," added Lin Daqiao with a friendly chuckle.
Yun Chunqu, without a word, nodded in silent agreement.
"Watch out for his protective techniques. I reckon he won't send forth a body-shielding spiritual light to sap your energy. Rather, he will rely on his formation to guard himself. After all, he has trained his body to let his magic follow his arrays," explained Gong Chenying as she stood gracefully while gazing at Li Yan.
After thanking his senior brothers and sisters, Li Yan's own spiritual radiance flared brilliantly as he soared into the air. In the black night, his figure streaked beneath a huge full moon.
The Battle on the Seventeenth Platform
Arriving at the battle platform designated "No. 17," Li Yan flashed in blue light as he entered the platform's protective formation. But just as he stepped in, his body hesitated and his mind caught a gentle, assuring voice in his ear:
"Little Junior Brother, your opponent has activated his 'Magic-Follow-Formation' ability. You must give it your all."
It was the voice of his senior brother—someone Li Yan had long hoped to hear for the first time since the battle began. Li Yan had also secretly hoped that Li Wu Yi's overseeing presence might appear, but the voice, calm and clear, continued: "I will not interfere in any way," and then fell silent.
Li Yan felt a warm surge in his heart and resumed flying toward the center of the platform.
When he reached the center, he saw a man already standing on the ground opposite him. The man, of moderate build and about twenty-something—with a square, defined face, a shaved beard, and a calm, smiling expression—was scrutinizing Li Yan closely.
"Meeting in person is better than hearing tales. Li Junior Brother, you are indeed young," the man stated warmly. His voice was steady and honorable, giving the impression of a man rooted in integrity and loyalty. Li Yan recognized him as Du Sanjiang. He knew that Du Sanjiang, too, had been admitted to Four Xiang Peak by a Golden Core elder of the Tian Ling Sect, and was regarded as a coveted junior disciple. It was not unusual then for Li Yan to address him as "Junior Brother."
Having seen Du Sanjiang's previous fights, Li Yan understood that although he looked similar in appearance, his character was both honest and measured. Most opponents admitted defeat rather abruptly without serious injury when faced with him. This very fact attested to Du Sanjiang's overwhelming strength—forcing arrogant fighters to concede without having to suffer grievous harm.
Other opponents courteously bowed; Li Yan, in turn, respectfully performed a bow and said, "Greetings, Master Du. Please, spare me some mercy in our battle."
Du Sanjiang merely chuckled and said, "Hehe, Li Junior Brother, you flatter me. I have seen your previous fights—they are truly mysterious." Du Sanjiang stood steadily, never expending any protective spiritual light. He simply smiled.
Li Yan scratched his head awkwardly; unsure how to respond.
"Let us begin, then," Du Sanjiang said in a deep, magnetic tone.
Realizing that his opponent was inviting him to attack first, Li Yan did not hesitate. He waved his hand, and suddenly a swirling cloud of yellow sand erupted, enveloping Du Sanjiang, while Li Yan himself immediately flew backwards to put distance between them. He knew all too well that Du Sanjiang was a master of formations—so he hoped his initial salvo would allow him time to search for an opening. Li Yan harbored no illusions that one strike would win the fight; his plan was simply to create distance, for he had no intention of meeting such a formidable foe head-on.
Observing Li Yan's caution, Du Sanjiang smiled faintly. With a sudden burst, his body shimmered with a yellow light as he marched forward. In the next moment, a vast cascade of yellow sand fell, and the yellow light on Du Sanjiang gradually formed a glowing halo, encircling his body. As the sand rained down in a continuous clatter—like a dense, pelting shower—Du Sanjiang maintained a leisurely pace, nonchalantly advancing in pursuit of Li Yan.
For a mere glance, Li Yan was deeply alarmed. Earlier, when the yellow sand erupted, even though he hadn't expected that strike to have any lasting effect, he had nonetheless attempted to join in with one variety of "poison" technique from a style known as "Scattered Twelve." This particular attack was imbued with a burning, corrosive toxicity—but to his disappointment, it produced no effect. Li Yan discerned that the yellow aura around Du Sanjiang was not his protective spiritual light—for protective light usually doesn't manifest until one reaches the Yuan Ying stage, often remaining almost invisible.
Moreover, Li Yan recalled that he had seen Du Sanjiang use this very technique in battle before: a small formation that demanded only a negligible amount of spiritual energy to control. Its power, however, derived from the inscriptions within the formation, which connected with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to achieve offense and defense.
Seeing Du Sanjiang steadily close the distance, Li Yan had no choice but to continually retreat and circle, attacking intermittently while rapidly moving. He knew Du Sanjiang's intention was likely to set up his formation; perhaps even already laying out his arrays as he advanced—though Li Yan could not detect them. He dared not allow Du Sanjiang to come too close, for that would render him even more vulnerable.
Notably, Du Sanjiang pressed on without haste, matching Li Yan step for step. Everywhere Li Yan moved, Du Sanjiang shadowed him. He did not seem overly concerned that Li Yan's mind might have laid traps—the subtle attacks were constant. In fact, Du Sanjiang possessed an arsenal of earth-based celestial techniques: his sweeping "Sandstorm Art," his "Giant Stone Technique," and the mysterious "Dust Sealing Art" far eclipsed Li Yan's offerings. Truly, Du Sanjiang was a master of earth techniques—so much so that he occasionally employed a "Wall of Earth" technique to encircle Li Yan, steadily narrowing the space for Li Yan's movement. In each exchange, most of Li Yan's attacks were forcefully parried by Du Sanjiang.
From the stands below, the spectators murmured among themselves, "That Li Junior Brother isn't doing well—he's about to be trapped." "One might say he was unfortunate to face Master Du. Previously, his victories were mere luck; if he were to draw two more opponents of the caliber of Du, he'd have fallen long ago. After all, relying solely on evasive traps is insufficient against a truly powerful foe." "True enough—Master Du, though many such masters exist, few can defy an opponent's magic-shielding spirit light without exposing themselves." "You're not wrong; earlier, Li Junior Brother faced some Fourth Xiang Peak disciples, but he lacked the refined technique to invoke even a minor protective formation, and his raw spiritual energy could not endure much longer. However, today Master Du's appearance gives him an overwhelming edge…"
Meanwhile, Gong Chenying, arms folded and with an imposing presence, noted that although she had previously helped Li Yan set up some tactics, she now realized that Li Yan clearly had not given his absolute all. In that previous bout, he had likely been merely honing his ability to adapt rather than unleashing his most devastating hidden techniques. For that reason, Gong Chenying had not expected him to prevail—but over these past few days and nights, Li Yan's mysterious resilience had begun to evoke a grudging admiration in her. Although his spiritual energy at the mid-seventh level of Qi Condensation was not high, he was somehow managing to withstand assaults even from those at mid-ninth level without falling far behind. Yet when pitted against a tenth-level opponent, his evasive tactics could only go on for so long. Moreover, his body was already tainted by poison, an affliction rarely seen. Many had remarked then, "How could his poison break through a formation? Even if it could, how would it overcome Master Du's small yet robust protective array?"
"Just wait a bit longer," someone murmured from the crowd. "I suspect his remaining spiritual power is already quite low. Look at his weakening protective light—it's showing signs of instability."
…
But on stage, Master Du was no longer willing to wait. After several breaths, having determined that Li Yan's spiritual power was nearly spent and that he could no longer withstand the formation's assault, Du launched another incantation. His hands flew through a series of intricate gestures. Instantly, the area around him began to throb with brilliant spiritual light and a low, resonant hum.
At that moment, Li Yan, struggling to fend off the overwhelming suction of a colossal tornado-like vortex, saw part of his body start to be drawn into it. Observing this, Master Du smiled and, with a sharp motion of his hands, caused the cyclone's roar to intensify nearly twofold. Li Yan managed only a single breath of resistance before being sucked into the vortex. With Du's control, the swirling column gradually shifted toward an irregular area on the battleground. Within a dozen or so intakes of breath, the area appeared to stabilize.
Inside this zone, Li Yan found himself in a golden-hued world whose boundaries were indistinct. He carefully took a few steps, and though nothing immediately alarming occurred, he maintained a protective barrier using only about twenty percent of his spiritual energy.
Master Du, surveying the area, noted that he had since withdrawn his tornado—a technique too draining at his current stage—and observed that Li Yan's protective light was winking weakly. Clearly, Du suspected that Li Yan was unwillingly to continue a prolonged fight. Meanwhile, the audience below remarked that Li Yan was aimlessly circling the irregular area as if hoping for a miraculous escape. Some even commented bitterly, "There is no hope for him—he should just surrender. How could his poison ever pierce through an array? Even if it did, it could not break through Master Du's protective mini-formation." Others argued, "Well, let him wait a bit longer. His spiritual energy is dwindling, and his weak protective light is already unstable."
At length, Master Du could wait no longer. After observing Li Yan for a few more heartbeats, he was convinced that Li Yan's spiritual reserves were nearly depleted and that he would soon be unable to hold off the formation's assault. Then, with decisive gestures, Master Du unleashed another incantation. The irregular area burst forth with intensified spiritual light and a building humming sound.
In that moment, Li Yan—who had been cautiously probing the area—suddenly sensed the sky warp and contort. Countless golden, spear-like forms appeared to streak in every direction, howling as they came.
[End of Battle Excerpt]
Note: This passage, set in a world where cultivation, powerful formations, and spiritual treasures decide fate, describes the intense battle on the night-time arena. Li Yan, fighting with every last shred of energy against the formidable Du Sanjiang, grapples with dwindling spiritual power while the audience watches in awe and pity. Master Du's relentless assault—using techniques that combine natural elements with perfected array formations—gradually overwhelms Li Yan as he is forced to retreat and evade the mounting attacks. The vivid imagery, from the swirling tornado column to the delicate interplay of protective light and corrosive poison, highlights not only the danger and drama of high-level combat but also the subtle strategies and stoic resolve of the combatants. Although the fight is still in progress when the passage ends, it is clear that Li Yan's tenuous survival hangs in the balance as the overwhelming might of Du Sanjiang's formations presses in from all sides.