Disciple Ouyang Xue surveyed the Combat Platform in search of the pair’s next target. To her surprise, there appeared to be only a single contender left. Xue furrowed her brow as she considered the other disciple. Three scars ran diagonally across his face, and a spear rested easily over his shoulder. Looking closer, she noticed that his hair appeared to be a dark shade of brown—also unusual.

  “Do you recognize him?” Nie Hai asked from beside her, his heavy hammer pressed against the floor.

  Xue shook her head. “No. Which surprises me.” With a quick glance from her third eye, she confirmed that the scarred disciple was only at the second layer of the Initial Realm. His chakra is a strange hue of blue.

  A moment later, Xue put the clues together. “Wait, I’ve heard of him.”

  That drew Nie Hai’s attention. “You have?”

  “My master mentioned a recent assignment that took him to the Howling Scape Forest around two weeks ago. Master Guoqiang told me that he encountered a new disciple who impressed him. One that wielded a spear and cultivated lightning qi.”

  “So that’s him.” Nie Hai unconsciously rotated the handle of his hammer. “I heard that Hou Lei was spending a lot of time recently with someone from the Nine Striped Hills. A barbarian with scars. Rumors had it that Zhu Rhee herself spent three days with him alone in the woods.”

  “Master Guoqiang observed them the whole time,” Xue interjected. She had no interest in fueling disparaging rumors that she knew were false. “He told me they spent the time hunting spirit beasts.”

  Nie Hai tapped a finger against the pommel of his hammer. “If you say so.” He looked around the rest of the platform, finding only unconscious forms. “I expected Disciple Long Coi to be the last one up here.” Shaking his head, Nie Hai added, “I’m a little disappointed.”

  Xue kept her eyes on the outsider, watching as he began to casually approach the pair. “We better not underestimate him.”

  When the duo had arrived for the selection process, she had been pleased to find that Disciple Long Coi was the only other third-layer cultivator present. Word of their participation in this year’s selection process had spread to their peers, with many deciding it wasn’t worth it to participate. Xue didn’t blame them. After Hou Lei, she and Nie Hai were widely considered the strongest third-layer disciples within the school that met the age requirements. Upon seeing Disciple Long Coi’s presence, she had silently applauded his determination. Ultimately though, his missing presence at this point in the contest proved he wasn’t yet ready.

  Nie Hai lifted his hammer single-handedly and stepped forward. “If you’re concerned, I can dispatch him. You took care of the last group, after all.”

  Xue wasn’t going to stop her partner. They had agreed to an alliance until they were the last disciples present. But once they were alone, that agreement would end. If this man who had caught her master’s attention could injure Nie Hai at all, it would only improve her chances of victory.

  What was his name? I know Master Guoqiang mentioned it.

  The unknown foreign disciple stopped his approach when he was halfway across the platform.

  “How would you like to do this? I can tell you two are working together, so do you want me to fight you both at once or one at a time?”

  Bold of him.

  “You’re awfully confident for a disciple only at the second layer,” Nie Hai said, twirling his hammer around effortlessly. Xue knew that hammer weighed fifty pounds. A single direct hit from it would break bone. Maybe worse.

  Nie Hai brought his hammer down against the marble floor with a loud thud. “I think I can take you alone.”

  The scarred disciple nodded. “Very well.”

  Xue watched as the man pointed two fingers at Nie Hai.

  “Are you calling me forth?” Nie Hai joked.

  An indigo spark of lightning briefly appeared at the tips of his enemy’s fingers before shooting across the platform. Before Nie Hai could react, it collided squarely with his chest, striking his heart. The enlarged cultivator was rocked back and then fell forward onto one knee, his body supported by his hammer. A moment later, Nie Hai coughed blood onto the platform floor.

  Xue’s jaw dropped. Was that lightning qi?

  Another mouthful of blood splattered the ground. “Damn you,” Nie Hai cursed, chest rising with the effort of speaking.

  “Your strength and size are impressive,” the lightning cultivator complimented. He pointed his fingers at Nie Hai again, and Xue realized what was about to happen. “But it makes you an easy target.”

  Another bolt of indigo lightning flew at Nie Hai, this time hitting him in the right shoulder and eliciting a cry of pain. Like before, the force of the impact pushed Nie Hai back, but his enlarged frame prevented him from being knocked over. Instead, his right arm went limp.

  Xue could see that her partner was barely managing to remain upright.

  This fight is over.

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  With his spear still resting over his shoulder, the daring new disciple approached Nie Hai. Xue noticed his fingers twitching as he walked.

  Perhaps a side effect of his technique?

  “Do you surrender?”

  “Never!” Nie Hai growled, forcing himself up. With his functioning arm, he hoisted his hammer into the air and charged.

  Nie Hai moved with greater speed than expected for someone of his stature. Xue knew it was thanks to his expert qi cycling. Within moments, Nie Hai appeared right in front of the scarred disciple. He brought his hammer down in an impressive swing. Xue heard the sound of breaking stone as debris shot up from the center of the impact, clouding her view.

  Did he get him?

  Seconds later, she saw another flash of indigo light from within the cloud of debris. Shortly afterward, she heard a heavy thud. When the dust cleared, she wasn’t surprised to find Nie Hai—his body returned to normal proportions—unconscious on the floor. His adversary stood over his fallen form, seemingly unharmed.

  His lightning technique is dangerous.

  Xue stared warily at her opponent, now understanding why Master Guoqiang revered him.

  I can’t risk getting hit by his lightning.

  She manifested two water whips in her hands and prepared herself for battle.

  I can’t believe lightning qi is this powerful. Why don’t more Initial Realm cultivators cultivate it?

  *                 *                *

  Ro Ishin shook his hand in a desperate attempt to retain feeling. He’d used his Indigo Sky Bolt technique half a dozen times in under ten minutes, and the consequences were starting to catch up with him.

  I guess I can’t use the technique this many times in a row.

  During his training, he’d managed to use the technique a dozen times in the span of an hour—but he’d taken breaks in between every two or three successive attempts. Now Ishin realized what a fool he’d been not to test the absolute limits of the technique beforehand.

  I probably only have two uses left before I lose all feeling in my arm.

  He watched as his final opponent conjured two water whips, their fluid shape swirling with energy.

  Her technique reminds me of Master Guoqiang.

  Ishin assumed a crouched, battle-ready stance.

  Her whips have a greater reach than my spear. If I can get within her guard, I can win.

  Before he had the chance to act, Ouyang Xue began rapidly thrashing her water whips, the arcs blurring together until they became a destructive hurricane.

  It’s effectively a wall!

  Ishin tried his best to track the individual movements, but failed.

  I can’t find an opening.

  Ouyang Xue took a step forward, advancing the hurricane. When she took another, Ishin’s eyes widened in realization.

  He darted to the side, hoping to outflank her, but she pivoted smoothly to match his movement. Worse, she advanced several feet in a single stride, forcing Ishin to reassess.

  She’s faster than I thought. She’s going to force me off the platform at this rate.

  He was forced backward again and again, his options shrinking by the second.

  I have to try something or I’ll lose! His soul growled in agreement. After everything I’ve done, I refuse to lose here. Not when I’m so close.

  Ishin decided on a daring course of action.

  He ran directly at Ouyang Xue’s impervious hurricane of destruction.

  Closing the distance quickly, he threw his spear the instant he arrived at the edge of Ouyang Xue’s reach, aiming to break her focus. One of the whips lashed out, striking the weapon aside with a loud crack.

  But Ishin had anticipated that.

  In the very same moment, he propelled himself into the air with a burst of qi, his legs surging with energy. As he soared high above her, he pointed his fingers downward. Ouyang Xue’s eyes went wide, realizing what he was attempting. One of her whips was out of position. From this new angle, she was now vulnerable.

  An indigo spark danced to life at the tips of Ishin’s fingers.

  He launched the technique downward.

  As he flew overhead, he twisted midair to track her reaction. Ouyang Xue somehow brought up her second whip just in time. It intercepted the bolt of lightning with a crackling splash.

  I can’t believe she reacted in time!

  Then—lightning met water.

  The moment the current passed into the whip, a burst of crackling energy spread like a net, surging through the liquid conduit until it reached her.

  “AAAAAAAH!”

  Ouyang Xue screamed as her body seized violently, electricity rippling through her limbs. Ishin landed roughly behind her, stunned, unable to look away from the unintentional horror he had just unleashed.

  What’s happening!?

  Both of her water whips collapsed, splashing uselessly to the floor. Her body began to blister. Wisps of smoke curled from her robes. Seconds later, her outer layer combusted.

  Still, the screaming continued.

  A wave of golden water shot across the air, dousing her in a sweeping torrent. The fire was extinguished and Ouyang Xue finally fell unconscious, her charred form collapsing onto the stone.

  Ishin turned.

  Master Guoqiang stood near the edge of the Combat Platform, one arm still extended. His usually calm expression was hardened with concern.

  Ishin looked back at the unconscious girl. Her hair was frizzled even after being splashed, her once flawless skin now red and blistered.

  No doubt he had won—but it hadn’t been the way he wanted.

  I didn’t think it would do that...

  With trepidation, he looked down at his own hands. Just like when he had killed Qu Ming, he had underestimated the destructive potential of his lightning qi.

  He heard someone clear their throat.

  Turning, he saw Zhu Rhee approaching from the edge of the platform, eyes locked on him. Her expression was unreadable.

  She stopped at the center of the stage and turned to face the observing masters.

  “The Selection Process is now over. The fourth member of our team for this year’s Exhibition Tournament is Disciple Ro Ishin!”

  A mixed applause rippled through the crowd.