Chapter 53

  Adam slumped into his seat in the contestants’ stand, letting out a long breath.

  “Man… I’m beat.”

  The gamecaster’s voice boomed across the arena.

  “We’ll be taking a one-hour break so contestants can recover to their peak condition. In the meantime, the audience will vote for the finale match order—who fights who first! Remember, only those not belonging to a contestant’s sect may cast votes.”

  The crowd erupted with excitement. Whispers and chatter spread like wildfire, but most seemed to lean toward a single idea—Adam should go first, no matter what.

  A worker approached Adam carrying a healer’s badge.

  “I’ll treat your burn scars.”

  Adam nodded, too tired to refuse. A soft glow spread across his body as the worker poured healing energy into him. The process took several minutes, soothing away the charred remnants of battle.

  When it was done, the worker gave a small, almost wistful sigh.

  “He wasn’t wrong… your recovery is too fast, even compared to others in the same realm. What’s your… special ingredient?”

  Adam’s smile tightened, though his eyes said plainly what he thought—[blatantly asking for my secrets, huh].

  The worker flinched under the look.

  “Ah—f-forgive me. It’s just envy speaking. I can’t help but admire your healing ability.”

  Adam leaned back casually.

  “As long as you learn from your mistakes. Others might not give you a second chance for being so brazen.”

  The worker bowed quickly and retreated.

  Adam glanced around the contestants’ stand. Both of his opponents—Jin Zixuan and Qin Hailan—were actively preparing for the coming clash. One was busy inscribing talismans with sharp precision, while the other cycled through breathing techniques, refining her Qi. Warm-ups, stretching, mental preparation—each was sharpening themselves to a blade’s edge.

  Adam, by contrast, simply crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and let his mind drift into meditation. His way of preparation wasn’t frenzy, but stillness.

  ---

  Meanwhile, in the observation pavilion, the royal siblings and Zhou Yanyue were watching with quiet interest.

  “So—who do you think is going to win?”

  “Do you really have to ask such an obvious question?”

  The prince grinned.

  “Hey, you never know. Maybe Jin Zixuan will snatch first place. How about a wager?”

  The princess gave him a flat look.

  “And what do you even have that’s worth my attention?”

  “How about the heartcore of a geode fiend?”

  Her eyes flickered briefly in surprise.

  “And where did you even find something like that?”

  “Demon hunting was a hobby of mine… until I became crown prince. After that, they banned me from going out on hunts. Shame, really.”

  “You realize I could simply ask mother to obtain that for me.”

  “Where’s the fun in that? Things earned by your own hands feel more thrilling—more fulfilling.”

  “My thought process is nothing like yours. Whether I ask mother or win it from you, the result is the same. The only difference is—if I lose to you, I get nothing, while mother would certainly give it to me.”

  Zhou Yanyue chuckled from her seat.

  “Don’t be so rigid, princess. Why not play along with your brother a little?”

  The princess let out a small sigh, then finally relented.

  “Fine. Ten years of my allowance—that’s the only thing of value I’m willing to stake.”

  “Alrighty then! More than enough.”

  Back in the arena, the atmosphere grew taut.

  The gamecaster raised his voice, echoing across the stands.

  “The first match of the finale—Adam versus Qin Hailan!”

  Cheers erupted.

  “And since this is the grand stage, no gimmicks this time. The arena will remain basic. Let the spotlight fall on the combatants alone.”

  Adam rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms in lazy warm-ups. Across from him, Qin Hailan stood unnervingly still, deep in thought.

  “As this is the final round, I will ask: contestants, do you have anything you wish to say to each other before we begin?”

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Adam shook his head casually.

  But Qin lifted his gaze, eyes sharp.

  “I do. I need clarification on something.”

  Adam tilted his head, curiosity flickering.

  [Oh?]

  “What is it you wish to know, disciple?”

  “If one were to kill their opponent here… whose hands does the prize fall into? The sect? Or the killer?”

  A hush swept through the audience.

  Adam blinked, lips twitching.

  [That… huh. Good question. Didn’t even think about that in all this.]

  The gamecaster frowned thoughtfully, fingers stroking his chin. He turned toward the observation pavilion.

  “An important question indeed…”

  Even among the pavilion’s lofty figures, most seemed caught off guard. It was clear few had ever bothered to consider such a scenario.

  Zhou Yanyue opened her mouth to speak—only to pause when the princess beside her tugged at her sleeve, eyes glinting with mischief.

  The princess said softly, “Aunt, let me.”

  Zhou Yanyue studied her niece. That smile was pure trouble. But she had given her word to let the girl handle some matters. With a faint sigh of defeat, Zhou leaned back in her chair.

  The princess rose gracefully, walking to the pavilion’s edge. Her voice rang out, clear and commanding:

  “Of course—IF an unfortunate scenario such as death were to occur… the winner shall claim everything. Titles, rewards, recognition—all of it belongs solely to the victor.”

  The crowd erupted in shouts and whistles, thrilled by the ruthless edge this ruling brought.

  Adam narrowed his eyes.

  [How vicious.]

  Qin’s lips curled into a sharp smirk as he met Adam’s gaze.

  “Then I’ll end this instantly—with a bang.”

  Adam’s expression hardened.

  [What does he mean by that…?]

  The gamecaster raised his hand.

  “Begin!”

  In an instant, Qin Hailan’s sleeves flared open. Hundreds of talismans shot into the air, circling him like a storm of fluttering paper blades.

  The audience gasped. Even Adam’s brows lifted in surprise.

  [Hundreds already prepared? This guy isn’t playing around.]

  Qin’s voice rang out, sharp and resolute.

  “As he said—your healing is far too broken! Which is why I must end it all at once—with a bang!”

  Adam’s lips curved into a grin of amusement, though his eyes sharpened.

  “Then let’s see whose power devours whose.”

  Behind him, two spell diagrams snapped into being, complex runes weaving into ominous formation circles.

  Up in the formation tower, the masters monitoring the arena paled. They knew exactly what was coming, and their shoulders tensed with irritation.

  Formation Master gritted their teeth “These lunatics…!”

  The clash began.

  Qin’s talismans ignited as one, unleashing a raging tide of Cryo Qi, a flood of glacial waves that hammered against the arena’s barrier. Frost crawled across the transparent walls, turning the dome into an icy coffin.

  But opposite it, Adam’s death mists seeped forth—thick, suffocating, absolute. The black haze spread like ink in water, consuming every inch of space.

  The formation masters groaned under the strain, forcing the barrier to hold as it buckled under two extremes tearing at its limits.

  To the audience, it was as if a frozen ocean was rising to drown them—only to be swallowed whole by a darkness that devoured light itself.

  Within moments, the icy flood vanished beneath the creeping abyss. The entire arena became nothing but a shrouded void of deathly mist.

  Time crawled. Seconds felt like minutes. Minutes like hours. The tension stretched until the audience held their breath in silence.

  At last, the mists receded.

  When the darkness cleared, only Adam remained standing. His chest rose and fell steadily, though his eyes were cold, scanning.

  Qin Hailan was nowhere to be seen. Not a trace of him remained.

  The gamecaster swallowed, his voice quivering slightly before he amplified it for the crowd.

  “...Victor—Adam of the Grand Harmony Sect!”

  Cheers erupted like thunder, though beneath the applause, many in the audience exchanged uneasy glances.

  Adam walked back to the contestants’ stand, stretching his arms as if he’d just finished a warm-up rather than a battle that nearly tore the arena apart.

  The gamecaster’s voice echoed after him.

  “We will take another short break before the final match. And, disciple Adam—” his eyes narrowed, “—you are not permitted to use that spell again.”

  Adam froze mid-step, turned, and scowled.

  “That’s unfair. Why am I the only one getting shackled? It’s my power, not some artifact cheat.”

  “We have already spoken with your sect leader. He agreed.”

  Adam clicked his tongue and dropped back into his seat with exaggerated irritation.

  “Damn!”

  [He told me he wasn’t going to interfere. What the hell is he playing at now?]

  Leaning back, he let his gaze wander. Across the stand, Jin Zixuan sat rigid, speaking through mind transmission with one of his sect’s elders. Though Jin’s face was composed, his shoulders, his fingers, even the angle of his breath betrayed him.

  A long exchange. Tension built, then broke. Finally, Jin Zixuan slumped, his expression calm yet hollow—the look of a man who had accepted inevitable defeat.

  Adam smirked faintly to himself.

  [Yeah… he knows he’s screwed. But he doesn’t have to worry too much. I was already planning to lose this match anyway.]

  After the short break, Adam and Jin Zixuan stepped onto the arena.

  The gamecaster’s voice rang out across the stands.

  “Now begins the final match of the tournament—Adam of the Grand Harmony Sect versus Jin Zixuan of the Void Pillar Sect!”

  The cheers swelled, anticipation rippling through the crowd.

  “Before we begin, do either of the contestants have any words for one another?”

  Adam merely shook his head, his expression calm, detached.

  Jin Zixuan, however, straightened his posture.

  “Even if my odds of victory against you are low, I will still give it my all.”

  Adam’s lips curved slightly.

  “That sounds a bit like hypocrisy, doesn’t it? You dismissed Lei’s chances of winning against you not too long ago.”

  Jin Zixuan’s gaze didn’t waver.

  “The difference is simple. Your chances sit around fifty–fifty, maybe a bit higher. Lei’s, on the other hand…” He exhaled softly. “…were nowhere near uncertain.”

  A faint hum passed through the crowd at his calm but cutting statement.

  Adam’s eyes glinted with amusement.

  “Fair enough.”

  Adam raised his hand before the match could begin.

  “Wait, quick question—Is there any option to concede before the fight starts?”

  The gamecaster blinked, caught off guard.

  “There is… but if you concede, you’ll be disqualified from this match entirely.”

  Adam’s expression didn’t change, but inside—

  [I was hoping I could just concede and end this easily. Since that’s not gonna happen… I’ll just have to purposely lose.]

  With that thought, he turned to Jin Zixuan and gave him a friendly smile—calm, maybe a bit too calm.

  Jin’s brow furrowed. He mistook the gesture entirely.

  “Don’t even think about asking me to concede. That’s not happening!”

  Adam blinked, then sighed inwardly.

  [I wasn’t even going to say that… but sure, whatever helps your pride, buddy.]

  The crowd murmured with anticipation as both of them took their stances, the tension between them beginning to build.

  The gamecaster raised his hand.

  “Final match—begin!”

  In an instant, Jin Zixuan activated his technique. The entire arena was swallowed in darkness—an oppressive, suffocating void.

  Adam immediately felt it—his Qi leaking out of all three dantians like a slow bleed.

  [This guy is hell-bent on winning, huh?]

  Adam clenched his jaw and activated his Death Aura, halting the drain.

  From within the darkness came Jin’s voice—steady, echoing.

  Jin: “How long do you think you can last?”

  “Long enough to beat you.”

  He borrowed a fragment of Red’s power, channeling light into his hands before unleashing it. The arena exploded in blinding white radiance, shredding away the darkness for a heartbeat.

  In that instant of exposure, Adam saw Jin’s silhouette—and lunged.

  Their swords clashed with a sharp metallic ring. Jin parried and countered with a lightning-charged kick.

  Adam’s body shimmered silver—Metal Skin. The kick struck, thunder cracking, but Adam barely moved, the impact muffled by his death aura’s decay field.

  Darkness reclaimed the arena.

  A spark flickered behind Adam—Jin was there. Adam swung back, but Jin ducked and launched a lightning kick that sent Adam flying high through the black haze.

  As Adam spun midair—

  [How the hell do I purposely lose this without looking pathetic?]

  Before he could land, Jin was already there, a blur of motion. Another crack of lightning—and another kick launched Adam even higher.

  [This guy! He’s trying to ring me out!]

  Adam retaliated, casting Grave Nails midair, the spectral spikes ripping through the dark. Jin zigzagged effortlessly through them, rushing forward without pause.

  [Alright, gotta sell it now. He’s smart—not giving me a chance to use Flash Step. The boundary’s close. One more kick should do it.]

  Jin darted forward for the finishing blow.

  Adam reacted on instinct—grabbing Jin’s leg mid-kick with an iron grip.

  But Jin didn’t falter. Balancing on one leg, he dragged Adam toward the edge of the arena with raw determination.

  [What’s he gonna do now, hop me out?]

  Then Jin jumped—eyes blazing with resolve.

  Adam caught that look and almost laughed.

  [This madlad…]

  Midair, Jin cut off his own leg, using his blade in a flash of crimson.

  He spun and kicked the severed limb with all his strength—sending both the leg and Adam flying toward the arena’s boundary.

  Adam hit the ground hard, sliding across the edge—his body flipping just over the line.

  Dust filled the air.

  When it cleared, Adam lay outside the boundary, chuckling weakly.

  “You madlad…”

  Across the field, Jin stood trembling, one leg gone but still upright, blood steaming in the cold air.

  “Rejoice… you’ve won!”

  The crowd erupted. The barrier flickered back to its normal hue as the gamecaster’s voice thundered across the arena—

  “The final winner of the tournament—Jin Zixuan of the Void Pillar Sect!”

  The audience roared in unanimous celebration, chanting Jin’s name as he stood, bloodied but unbroken, while Adam simply smiled from the sidelines.

  Jin Zixuan stood still, blood seeping from the stump of his leg as the healers rushed in.

  He wasn’t smiling. His eyes were fixed on Adam—who sat casually on the ground outside the arena, hands resting on his knees, wearing that same infuriatingly calm smile.

  [Why… did he hold back?]

  The question echoed in his mind as the healers dragged him away. He knew—he felt—that Adam could’ve ended it differently. That wasn’t a fight lost; that was a fight given.

  Meanwhile, Adam stretched his arms, wincing slightly at his bruised shoulder.

  [With this, I’ll be in second place. And since Qin decided to blow himself up and lose, I’ll end up with both the second and third place prizes. Xiaoyan’s reward too… I’ll just give it to him later.]

  He gave a small smirk, shaking his head.

  [Not a bad day’s work.]

  ---

  Up in the Observation Pavilion, the royal siblings were having their own battle.

  The Crown Prince was grinning ear to ear, leaning smugly toward his sister.

  “So, dear sister, you lost.”

  The Princess looked calm—too calm. A faint vein pulsed on her temple, betraying her inner fury. Both the Prince and Zhou Yanyue could feel the suppressed killing intent radiating off her.

  “...What’s wrong?”

  Princess flatly said “It’s one thing if he lost fairly. But to purposely lose? That’s an entirely different matter. And now I’m losing ten

  years’ worth of allowance because of it.”

  The Prince raised a hand in mock surrender.

  “You don’t have to worry, I won’t ta—”

  “A bet is a bet. I lost.”

  Her words were calm, but the icy tone made even Zhou Yanyue glance away, hiding a smile behind her hand.

  [Adam’s gone and riled her up. Now I’m curious… what’s he going to do next?]