From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 41 The Peak of Glory

The moment I pushed open the door, a deafening roar of cheers nearly lifted my head off. Looking around, the arena was packed with people, flags from various schools and sects fluttering in the wind, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Sun Yue accompanied me, weaving through the bustling crowd to the competition stage. She gently patted my shoulder and encouraged me, "Xiao Yao, show me what you're capable of! I'll be here cheering you on!"

I nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the ring.

My opponent had been waiting for a long time; his black attire made him appear even more imposing and aloof. Although I couldn't see his face clearly, I could feel the powerful aura emanating from him, like a towering mountain, giving me a heavy sense of oppression.

"Please give me your guidance." I bowed with my hands clasped, my tone neither humble nor arrogant.

The man in black nodded slightly in response.

As the referee announced the start of the match, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the entire arena. I dared not be negligent, and quickly circulated my spiritual power, summoning my natal magic weapon—the Crimson Flame Sword.

As soon as the Crimson Flame Sword was drawn, flames shot into the air, illuminating my face and my opponent's unfathomable eyes.

Almost simultaneously, the man in black moved. He moved with lightning speed, his long sword flashing with sharp sword energy, heading straight for me.

I was prepared, wielding my Crimson Flame Sword, the flames forming a barrier that blocked all the sword energy. However, the opponent's attacks were as fierce as a storm, one wave after another, leaving me exhausted and with almost no chance to catch my breath.

"Is this the strength of the finals?" I was secretly surprised, but I dared not relax in the slightest.

Through repeated clashes, I gradually figured out my opponent's style. His swordsmanship was expansive and powerful, yet also contained hidden secrets, clearly indicating that he came from a prestigious school and had reached such a level through years of arduous training.

I parried his attacks while trying to find an opening. However, his offensive was relentless, and I couldn't find any chance at all.

Time ticked by, and my physical and spiritual energy were rapidly depleting. In contrast, my opponent remained calm and composed, as if he never knew fatigue.

"This can't go on, I have to find a way to turn things around!" I was extremely anxious, but I had no solution.

Just then, the man in black suddenly changed his move, his longsword becoming a blur as it pointed straight at my chest. I was startled and quickly dodged to the side, but it was too late.

"laugh--"

The sound of sword energy tearing through my clothes rang out, and a bloody gash appeared on my left arm, from which blood gushed out instantly...

I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain, my eyes fixed on my opponent. Suddenly, the words my master had once spoken flashed through my mind…

"Yao'er, calm your mind and focus your spirit, feel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, neutralize the sharpness in the moves, and use softness to overcome hardness..." My master's words were like a wake-up call, instantly enlightening me.

Yes, my Crimson Flame Sword Technique is powerful, but if I only attack head-on, I will only put myself on the defensive. I should use stillness to control movement, and softness to overcome hardness, taking advantage of my opponent's strength to neutralize his attacks.

With that thought in mind, I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. Instead of blindly confronting my opponent, I began to try to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth around me and integrate it into my swordsmanship.

"Xiao Yao, keep going! I believe in you!" Sun Yue's voice came from below the stage, filled with concern and encouragement.

I turned to look at her and saw her waving her arms, cheering me on. Around her were many familiar faces—my friends, my fellow students—all of them cheering me on and praying for me.

A warm feeling welled up inside me, and I felt full of energy.

"I can do it!" I said silently to myself.

I closed my eyes and focused all my attention on sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Gradually, I felt a cool current of energy flow into my head, through my whole body, and finally converge in my dantian.

This current of air was so powerful, yet so gentle; it was like spring rain, nourishing my body and my soul.

I opened my eyes, my gaze now more resolute than ever before. I wielded the Crimson Flame Sword, and this time, my swordsmanship was no longer as fierce as before, but much lighter and more agile, like a gentle breeze, yet carrying an invincible power.

The man in black clearly hadn't expected me to suddenly change my tactics. He paused for a moment, but quickly recovered. He snorted coldly, flicked his longsword, and attacked me again.

This time, I did not choose to dodge, but instead went to meet his sword head-on.

"Chong-"

The two swords clashed together, producing a piercing metallic clang.

I felt a powerful force emanating from the sword, almost knocking me away. However, I gripped the hilt tightly and didn't retreat an inch.

Just then, I felt a warm sensation in my dantian, and an even more powerful force surged from my body, rapidly flowing to every part of my body... I suddenly opened my eyes, looked at my opponent, and a confident smile appeared on my lips: "Now, it's my turn to counterattack!"

An unprecedented power surged within me, as if a slumbering dragon had finally awakened. The Crimson Flame Sword in my hand emitted a dazzling red light, and the air around its blade became scorching hot. At the same time, I felt the jade bracelet on my wrist slightly warm, and a powerful spiritual energy flowed into my body, merging with my own.

"This is..." I was shocked. This power far exceeded my current cultivation level. Could it be the jade bracelet that my master gave me? Before I could think any further, I poured this power into the Crimson Flame Sword.

"boom!"

The Crimson Flame Sword erupted with a blinding red light, its powerful sword energy completely neutralizing the black-clad man's attacks. The immense impact forced me back several steps, while the black-clad man was jolted back, his face turning pale.

"You...you actually hid your strength?!" The man in black looked at me in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock and fear.

I gave a cold laugh: "To deal with you, I don't need to hide my strength."

Before I finished speaking, I brandished the Crimson Flame Sword and launched a fierce attack on the man in black. In my hand, the Crimson Flame Sword seemed to transform into a fire dragon, carrying scorching sword energy, attacking the man in black again and again.

The man in black was clearly caught off guard by my sudden burst of power. He frantically swung his sword to defend himself, but my attacks were like a storm, giving him no chance to catch his breath.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of clanging sounds echoed across the arena, sparks flew, and sword energy crisscrossed.

The man in black began to breathe rapidly, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his hand holding the sword began to tremble slightly.

I knew in my heart that this was the best time for me to win.

"Crimson Flame - Nine Heavens!"

I roared and poured all my spiritual power into the Crimson Flame Sword, unleashing the final move of the Crimson Flame Sword Technique.

The Crimson Flame Sword transformed into a gigantic fire dragon, roaring as it charged towards the man in black...

"Stop! I surrender!" the man in black shouted in terror, but it was too late...

"boom--"

Just as the fire dragon was about to strike the man in black, a black crack suddenly appeared in the sky above the arena...

The scorching heat felt like it was melting me, and the immense pressure made it almost impossible to breathe. I saw terrifying energy surging from the black crack, the surrounding air began to distort, and the entire arena trembled violently.

The black-clad man's initial terror was replaced by a glint of madness. His voice, hoarse and like a wail from the depths of hell, cried out, "You...forced me to this! Die!"

Alarm bells rang in my head, and before I could react, a powerful suction force pulled me toward the black crack. I desperately tried to steady myself, but found myself powerless, forced to watch helplessly as I was swallowed up by that force.

"Xiao Yao!" Sun Yue's heart-wrenching cry reached my ears from the stands. I tried to turn my head, wanting to give her a comforting look, but found that I could no longer see anything; all that remained was endless darkness.

My consciousness began to blur, and my body ached as if it were being torn apart. Was this... how it was going to end? I refused to accept it! I hadn't found my way home, I hadn't reached the pinnacle of the cultivation world, I hadn't...

No, I can't give up! I still have a chance!

I gritted my teeth, trying to maintain the last shred of clarity. My master once said that everyone has enormous potential within them, and as long as you find the right method, you can unleash it.

But what should I do now?

I tried to mobilize the spiritual energy within my body, but found it was all suppressed by that black power, completely unable to move. I closed my eyes in despair. Was I really going to die here?

Wait, that power... seems somewhat familiar?

I suddenly opened my eyes, carefully sensing the flow of that black power. An absurd thought gradually surfaced in my mind. This power... it's somewhat similar to the power in the jade bracelet my master gave me?

No, impossible! How could the jade bracelet my master gave me be...?

My mind was in chaos, a jumble of thoughts that made it impossible for me to think.

Just then, I felt the jade bracelet on my wrist suddenly become scalding hot, and a powerful force surged out from it, colliding with the black force and producing a deafening roar.

The force of the impact sent me flying backward, crashing heavily to the edge of the arena. I struggled to get up, only to find my body numb and unable to move even a finger.

I looked up and gazed at the center of the field.

The man in black stood before the black crack, his body trembling violently, his face as pale as paper, and blood constantly trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"Who...who exactly are you..." He looked at me, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

I slowly stood up, looked at him, and a cold smile curled at the corner of my lips.

"you do not need to know."