Rhee waited patiently in one of the antechambers that lined the outer edge of the Golden Arena’s ground floor. The Righteous Mantle Sect had moved all competitors into these hidden rooms, where they would remain until their names were announced. A servant posted at the door would notify her when it was time. Until then, all Rhee could do was wait for her cue to begin the battle that would largely determine her future.

  Inside the chamber with her were only Ishin and her grandfather. Bo, mended from his engagement yesterday, and Lei, were located in their school’s private balcony, along with her parents. Within the room, Ishin leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression taut with nerves. Still, his anxious energy paled in comparison to what Rhee felt. She was doing everything she could to maintain the appearance of calm. Her grandfather’s presence wasn’t helping.

  “As long as you can avoid his spear, you’ll win,” he lectured.

  “Yes, Grand Master.”

  “Use your Twisting Shadow Snare to immobilize him first. Then strike with your Shadow Fist Echo from a distance.”

  “Yes, Grand Master.” That was already her plan, but she wouldn’t interrupt him.

  Grand Master Yusheng scratched his chin thoughtfully. “He shouldn’t have any ranged techniques. Your victory is assured as long as you keep your distance.”

  Rhee caught Ishin lift his head slightly at that comment.

  He doesn’t need ranged attacks to be a threat.

  She had seen Dong Jing combine his movement techniques with bursts of speed that exceeded what she thought was possible for metal-aspected cultivators—especially in the early rounds.

  But Grandfather is right. Keeping my distance is the best option.

  “It is time, Competitor Zhu Rhee,” the sect servant announced from the door.

  Rhee tightened her fists and turned toward the exit.

  “Make us proud, Disciple Rhee,” Grand Master Yusheng called after her. “Your clan and school are counting on you.”

  Before she could leave, Ishin quickly stepped to her side.

  “You’ll win,” he said.

  Rhee frowned. “How can you be sure?”

  Ishin offered her a confident smile. “Because you still need to meet me in the finals.”

  Despite herself, Rhee felt a smile forming on her lips.

  As she stepped out of the antechamber, she was greeted by the deafening roar of the crowd.

  *  * *

  Dong Jing watched as Zhu Rhee stepped onto the stage, her entrance perfectly timed with Elder Song’s pronouncement.

  Is she smiling?

  He studied the prodigy of the Eight Oaths Resolve School with a sharper eye.

  Her confidence is impressive.

  Activating his third eye, Jing examined Zhu Rhee more thoroughly—and immediately understood why.

  She reached the fifth layer too!

  It was a possibility he had considered. Unlike his own clan, the Zhu Clan was far wealthier and controlled the Eight Oaths Resolve School itself. Her grandfather must have provided her with the resources to accelerate her cultivation.

  That was a complication—but ultimately, it changed nothing.

  This was one of Jing’s final two obstacles before he could marry Lan. It didn’t matter if his opponent was at the fourth, fifth, or even sixth layer of the Initial Realm. With a sharp motion, Jing slammed the butt of his spear onto the tiled floor. He was the strongest of the younger generation in the city. Not even Zhu Rhee or Chu Winxi could match him—and soon, he would prove that before the entire city.

  His gaze drifted upward to the balcony, where Kurai Xue, the City Lady—and more importantly, Matriarch of the Kurai Clan—sat watching in silence.

  He would prove that a commoner like him was worthy of joining their clan.

  And Heavens help anyone who stood in his way.

  *  *  *

  He’ll no doubt try to close the distance immediately, Zhu Rhee thought. Her eyes traced Dong Jing’s path across the platform. There’s fifty feet between us. Based on what I’ve seen, it’ll only take him three, maybe four seconds to close that with his movement technique. But I’ll be able to attack him with my Shadow Echo Fist when he’s thirty feet away.

  Her current limit was six fists at once, but with each one conjured, her control weakened. Perhaps he won’t be able to dodge all of them.

  Rhee’s inner thoughts were interrupted by the resounding declaration from Elder Song, who sat high upon her golden dais. “Let the first match of the semifinals begin!”

  As expected, Dong Jing surged forward with incredible speed.

  He’s fast!

  It was one thing to know of her opponent’s speed—it was another to experience it in the heat of battle.

  Rhee immediately launched four fists of darkness at the advancing cultivator. Given Dong Jing’s frightening momentum, there was no hope of binding him with her Twisting Shadow Snare—not yet. She’d save that technique for a better opportunity.

  Having conjured only four fists, she guided them precisely toward him. Each construct packed the same strength as one of her own punches. A single fist couldn’t match the overwhelming force of Lei Yun’s blows, but four in unison would leave anyone in the same realm battered.

  Dong Jing suddenly slid to a halt and, without hesitation, batted all four away with sweeping motions of his spear—now wrapped in a prominent gray aura.

  The crowd erupted with thunderous applause at the display of martial prowess. Even Rhee had to admit—it was impressive.

  But her technique had accomplished its goal: it forced Dong Jing to stop twenty feet away.

  In that moment, Rhee activated her Twisting Shadow Snare. Eight tendrils erupted from Dong Jing’s own shadow, lashing out to bind him in place.

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  He’s done.

  But it wasn’t that simple.

  Dong Jing spun in a rapid 360-degree rotation, pivoting cleanly on one heel, and slashed outward in a wide arc. His spear severed all eight tendrils in a blur before they could close around him. The technique had failed.

  No way! Rhee’s heart pounded. No one has ever escaped my Twisting Shadow Snare before!

  But there was no time to reflect.

  Dong Jing resumed his assault—and the swirling gray aura on his spear had not diminished. He was preparing a technique.

  Rhee changed tactics immediately. With a flick of her arms, she conjured two overlapping arm shields through her Shadow Forge technique. She managed to bring the first up just in time as Dong Jing lunged forward, thrusting his spear toward her chest.

  The spear struck with a sharp clang, colliding with the first shield. For a breath, the momentum held—and then, with horrifying ease, the spearhead pierced through the darkness, shredding the construct like paper.

  Rhee gasped and shoved the second shield behind the first, desperate to halt the attack. Even with the added layer, it didn’t matter. The empowered spear shattered that one too, its gleaming tip breaking through with a sickening thrust.

  This isn’t working!

  Rhee twisted her arms, forcing the trajectory of the strike to shift. She dismissed both punctured shields and stepped back, causing the spear’s thrust to veer left and narrowly miss her core. But the movement left her off balance.

  She pivoted into a staggered run, scrambling to the right to put distance between them. Her breath came sharp, adrenaline crashing into her chest.

  Dong Jing, relentless, reversed his grip. He flipped the spear so its point now faced behind him—and stabbed backward without even turning.

  Rhee’s eyes widened. She had barely registered the motion. Her footing was still unsteady, and she twisted mid-run, turning what could’ve been a gut-piercing blow into a painful graze along the left side of her torso.

  “Ah!” she growled through clenched teeth.

  She stumbled forward but didn’t stop. Her side burned, a sharp sting of pain flaring with every step. She pressed her palm against the tear along her ribs, feeling the sticky warmth of blood soak through her robes.

  It wasn’t a debilitating wound, but it was bad. Very bad.

  *  *  *

  This was good. Zhu Rhee was wounded and clearly on the defensive. Dong Jing flicked his spear, scattering the thin traces of blood from its tip.

  He had been caught off guard when those darkness tendrils emerged from his shadow, but he’d practiced how to handle them over the past few days with Lan. Even Zhu Rhee’s conjured darkness shields hadn’t held up against his Folded Silver Star technique. And that was with only two applications.

  Jing cycled his metal qi in the necessary technique pattern. The gray metal qi enveloped the tip of his spear. Each usage of the technique required a fair amount of qi, but thanks to his advancement to the fifth layer, he could use it a dozen times before exhausting his chakra.

  This close, I don’t need to waste any more qi with my Steel Streak technique.

  He surged forward, channeling qi to his legs for basic speed enhancement and closing in on Zhu Rhee, spear pointed at her heart.

  Zhu Rhee glanced over her shoulder, and their eyes locked. Just as Jing was nearly within reach, she spun and clapped her hands together.

  Darkness burst from her shadow and rapidly surrounded him.

  Everything vanished in an instant—he was completely encased in shadow.

  I have to get out of here.

  Jing didn’t know if the technique was purely sensory or had offensive properties, but he wasn’t about to stick around and find out. Without hesitation, he activated his Steel Streak technique and slid backward forty feet as fast as he could.

  When he burst free from the shell of darkness, his vision reeled from the sudden shift. The light was disorienting, and his eyes struggled to adjust. Jing blinked rapidly, trying to hasten the recovery.

  A powerful impact slammed into his right side, knocking him to the ground. It felt like he’d been struck in his thigh, gut, shoulder, and head—everywhere at once. Only his extensive training kept him from losing hold of his spear.

  Jing braced his hand against the floor and pulled himself to a stop. Gritting his teeth, he got to one knee and raised his spear toward the direction of the attack, prepared for a follow-up.

  Two more fists of darkness shot toward him. He was ready. With a quick motion, he destroyed one—only to be struck directly in the face by the other.

  Pain flared through his jaw, and he felt a tooth come loose. The taste of blood spread through his mouth. Jing spat the freed tooth and blood onto the floor, then rose to his feet with a snarl, cracking his jaw in the process.

  Across from him, Zhu Rhee was breathing heavily. One hand clutched the gash on her side, and her back was slightly hunched. She looked exhausted.

  I can’t believe how many techniques she knows. She must have burned through a lot of qi using all of them.

  It was an impressive display of skill, and Jing doubted she could’ve managed it without the additional reserves granted by the fifth layer. He adjusted his stance, shifting to wield his spear solely with his dominant left hand while raising the weapon parallel to his shoulder.

  Metal qi engulfed the tip once—twice—three times. It radiated power.

  It’s time to end this.

  Using this much qi would leave him nearly spent, but it guaranteed destruction. No defense Zhu Rhee could summon would withstand this. It was the same technique he’d used to destroy his team’s golem in a single blow during the first round. It would work again.

  The key was not killing her.

  Jing saw comprehension spread across Zhu Rhee’s face. She knew. There was no blocking this—not with that much qi concentrated in one attack. And given her current condition, Jing doubted she had the speed or strength to dodge it either.

  The stomach. I’ll aim there.

  While still a vital area, a wound to the stomach took far longer to kill than one to the heart or lungs. He was counting on the healers from the Righteous Mantle Sect to save her in time.

  When he thought of his future with Lan, Jing decided it was worth the risk.

  He cycled most of his remaining qi and activated his Steel Streak technique. In an instant, he was in front of Zhu Rhee—who still hadn’t moved. His right hand shot up to grip the upper shaft of his spear, and with all the strength he had left, he thrust it downward at his wounded opponent.

  The strike came so fast, Zhu Rhee had no time to react. She could only watch helplessly as the spear descended toward her.

  I win.

  The spear stopped an inch from her chest. Her eyes remained fixed on it, unmoving.

  What?

  Jing tried to thrust again, but the spear wouldn’t budge. It just trembled in place, as if held back by invisible chains.

  “I wasn’t sure it would work,” Zhu Rhee whispered weakly.

  Jing’s eyes snapped to her face. A faint grin crept across it despite her labored breaths.

  He looked down at his weapon.

  Three hands of darkness had wrapped around his arm, gripping the shaft of his spear and holding it back.

  “Impossible.”

  The three layers of qi on his Folded Silver Star technique flickered and vanished, their energy spent.

  Suddenly, four tendrils emerged from beneath him and wrapped tightly around his limbs, anchoring him in place. He was trapped.

  With new clarity, Jing stared at the girl before him.

  She risked everything on grabbing the end of my spear. Just to lure me in and trap me with her tendrils.

  It was an insane gamble—one that should never have worked. Not unless she had complete control over her darkness techniques. Jing had never believed anyone so young could possess such precision.

  Impossible.

  His arms were pulled tight against his sides, pinned completely. His spear, now released by the shadow hands, remained clutched uselessly in his left hand.

  With a trembling breath, Zhu Rhee conjured a single rod of darkness and raised it to Jing’s head.

  “Surrender,” she demanded. “Or I’ll smash this against your head until you fall unconscious.”

  Jing clenched his teeth. He had lost.

  How? How had this happened?

  “I surrender,” he growled.

  Zhu Rhee’s darkness constructs vanished instantly, and she collapsed forward onto her knees, her weight supported only by her hands.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Elder Song announced from her dais, her voice booming across the arena, “the victor and our first finalist is Zhu Rhee of the Eight Oaths Resolve School!”

  *  *  *

  Zhu Rhee managed a strained smile as the crowd erupted at her victory. Her chakra was drained, her side ached, and she was at her limits.

  Thank goodness that trick worked.

  She’d practiced catching moving objects over the last few days in anticipation of this very moment. Evidently, her hard work had paid off.

  Exhausted, she tilted her head toward where Ishin and her grandfather watched from the arch of the antechamber.

  I did my part, Ishin. Now it’s your turn.