After escaping the attack of the leaves spinning around him, Chang Mo Chou let out a sigh of relief. He paused for a moment, feeling the exhaustion that had accumulated in his body. Not long after, he readied himself again as the girl moved in swiftly to attack him.
The young girl opposite him moved with agility, like an endless breeze. Chang Mo Chou darted out of the way in a split second, his eyes locked on the sharp blade coming toward him. In that instant, his hand moved swiftly, using the short blade he held to block the girl's strike just in time.
The clashing of metal echoed as their blades collided amid the silence of the arena. Chang Mo Chou furrowed his brow slightly, clearly perceiving the speed of his opponent's movements. Yet he continued to resist, despite the increasing pressure.
Outwardly, he appeared calm, but inwardly, he was filled with caution. His grip on the short blade tightened, his body ready to counter every movement the girl made.
Princess Bao Kheoxing, who had just stepped back a few paces, halted when she heard his words. His voice was hoarse, cold, and piercing to the heart. She felt the chill from his words so much so that the blade she had been holding firmly slipped from her hand without her realizing it.
"You're the closest friend of Prince Wei Xue, aren't you?" she asked in a sharp voice, with a mocking smile. Her gaze at the boy was sharp and filled with anger. She felt insulted, and his words had ignited her fury.
"Your dear friend is truly handsome," she continued with a smirk. Though angry, she tried to maintain a composed expression. "Do me a favor and tell him he's the one I've set my sights on!"
Even before she finished speaking, her hand lifted the green short blade and slashed confidently toward the front. But the attack was deflected with a speed she couldn't anticipate, and the blade once again fell to the ground.
The young man stared at her with a cold gaze before responding with a firm, emotionless voice:
"My friend still has a long future ahead of him. Even if you set your sights on him, he would never look back at a plain-faced girl like you. Many women are fond of him too many to count. He would never choose you. Don't aim so high."
After speaking, he kicked the fallen blade away in one direction. At the same time, his body readied itself for any counterattack from her.
"You don't know the future! Don't act like you do!" Bao Kheoxing's voice was filled with fury and spite, her inner energy surging violently. Her face was tense, as if she could destroy everything in her path. She clenched her fist so tightly that veins bulged along her palm, then turned toward where her blade had fallen. Closing her eyes to gather her focus, she grasped the green blade tightly and lightly tapped her wrist before spinning and launching the blade toward the young man once more.
However, Chang Mo Chou gave her no chance. He quickly lowered his stance and dodged with precision, his eyes calculating her every move. He saw that her strike lacked accuracy, so he swept his silver blade swiftly to release a wave of energy toward her direction.
His strike caught Bao Kheoxing off guard, disrupting her movements instantly. The energy from the silver blade struck relentlessly. She tried to resist, but couldn't evade it in time. Her vision blurred and spun before her body slammed into the ground with such force that the entire arena trembled.
She lay on her back, unable to move, overwhelmed by pain and weakness. A mouthful of blood spilled from her lips, and before her consciousness slipped away, darkness consumed her entirely rendering her unconscious.
"The victor is Prince Chang Mo Chou!" announced the middle-aged man standing at the edge of the arena. Seeing that Bao Kheoxing had fainted and couldn't rise again, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause. Chang Mo Chou stood amidst the cheers of spectators who gazed at him with admiration and pride.
Amidst the thunderous applause, Emperor Chun Fei Long, seated among the other emperors, spoke with a smile full of appreciation:
"Prince Chang Mo Chou is truly skilled. At such a young age, his abilities are exceptional. I believe it won't be long before he becomes another prodigy within his dynasty."
The emperor's praise further heightened the excitement in the arena. People began speaking highly of Chang Mo Chou's unexpectedly superior abilities. Though still youthful, he had proven himself impressively in this battle.
Emperor Xiang Ren Ti turned to look at Emperor Chun Fei Long. His eyes were calm, but pride flickered within them.
"Prince Chang Mo Chou is a close friend of Prince Wei Xue. Both of them are equally talented, in martial prowess and intellect. I am confident that in the future, they will reach the highest of levels."
A faint smile curved the lips of Emperor Xiang Ren Ti, as though he could already see the future of these gifted youths.
Emperor Chun Fei Long nodded slightly, his eyes deep and thoughtful. He then spoke in a calm but firm tone:
"Even so… they still cannot compare to Prince Xiang Tian Cai your son."
He paused briefly before glancing at Emperor Xiang Ren Ti before him. His expression held not only admiration but also a glimmer of expectation.
"I see something different in him. His power is not something one commonly encounters. In the future, he will certainly stand far above where we are now."
Emperor Xiang Ren Ti gave a small smile, though his eyes remained unreadably deep.
"Thank you, Emperor Chun Fei Long, for your kind words about my son," he replied coolly before gazing into the distance and continuing.
"The future is unpredictable. We simply provide opportunities for them. How far they go depends on fate and on themselves."
With that, he stood up gracefully. His dark cloak swayed lightly with the motion, and he glanced toward Elder You Yi Chen, who seemed to sense his gaze and turned to look back.
"I'll escort Elder You Yi Chen for now. When I return, let us continue this conversation."
Emperor Chun Fei Long nodded gently, his expression calm but understanding. "Mm."
At that moment, Elder You Yi Chen suddenly appeared before the emperors. His white robes fluttered with his movement as he gave a faint smile to them and spoke calmly:
"Emperors, since the youth's contest has concluded, I must take my leave for now. Until we meet again."
As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished in the blink of an eye, as though he had never been there. Upon seeing this, all the emperors stood simultaneously and bowed in deep respect. Their eyes reflected admiration for Elder You Yi Chen.
When Emperor Xiang Ren Ti saw the elder's figure disappear, he did not hesitate. He summoned his great power and disappeared quickly after like a wind passing by leaving behind only silence and the lingering presence of awe-inspiring power...
Amidst the vastness of the universe, countless stars sparkled like gemstones scattered across black velvet. Two silhouettes appeared in the midst of this silence Emperor Xiang Ren Ti and Elder You Yi Chen.
Emperor Xiang Ren Ti stepped forward to stand beside Elder You Yi Chen. His breath was steady, and his bearing remained noble and grand, even in the endless cosmos.
He turned to look at the elder, his eyes long and reflective, as though something still lingered in his heart.
"Thank you very much for attending today's youth tournament."
His voice was calm but laced with respect and gratitude. His eyes shimmered with reverence not just for the elder's formidable power, but also for his elevated status, vast experience, and deep wisdom.
Elder You Yi Chen merely returned the gaze with a slight smile. His eyes conveyed serenity and a deep understanding of all things.
"Contests between the youngsters may not be of great interest to many, but I found them quite engaging," he said, his voice soft yet imbued with a subtle power that seemed to quiet the universe for a moment.
"Thank you for inviting me today."
An invisible breeze of energy swept by in the silence, as if echoing the hidden meaning behind his words.
Elder You Yi Chen gazed out at the stars ahead, as though contemplating something far beyond anyone's reach.
"I must be off now. There are important matters I must attend to."
As his words ended, his white robes fluttered lightly, and his form slowly began to fade as though he were merely an illusion in the vast cosmos.
Emperor Xiang Ren Ti stood still, saying nothing more. He knew well that the elder had crucial duties, and he too had much to contemplate. So he simply came to send the elder off for now.