Chapter 114: Master Jinghai Has Departed

Seeing that the Sikong Team had only three members stepping onto the stage, a small group of demons began to whisper among themselves. However, the rest of the arena seemed unaffected, and the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers for the three Sikong fighters.

Stepping onto the competition platform, Sikong Ming explained to the five members of the Dark Elf team opposite them, "My younger brother had something to come up and left, so the three of us will be your opponents for this match."

Although the tournament had prepared a sumptuous lunch for the teams that had made it to the semi-finals, as soon as the morning matches concluded, Bai Ying, Fei Yan, Zhang Yang, and Master Jinghai carried Qin Xiaochuan back to their hotel room. After laying him on the bed, Zhang Yang looked at the soundly sleeping Qin Xiaochuan with a sense of bewilderment. "How is this guy still asleep? And he’s sleeping even more deeply than last time. What on earth happened? Granny won’t say a word, and the finals are the day after tomorrow. Is it really okay for him to be sleeping like this?"

Hearing Zhang Yang’s worried tone, Ling Ju, who had returned with them, giggled while cradling the back of his head. "Instead of worrying about Qin Xiaochuan, you should be worrying about yourself! Hehe."

"You bastard! Watch out, or I’ll gut you!" Hearing Ling Ju’s voice, Zhang Yang’s temper flared. He had lost his first match against the Liuyou Monster Team to this very runt. If he hadn't been immobilized and delayed in returning to the stage, he would never have lost to such a guy. He vowed that if he ever got the chance, he would beat this little brat to a pulp. That had been his debut in this tournament, and to have it ruined by this guy was utterly humiliating.

"Let him sleep." Standing up from the floor, Master Jinghai walked over to the bedside. Looking down at Qin Xiaochuan, she said thoughtfully, "When he wakes up, he will face a battle of life and death that exceeds anything he can imagine. He is currently working hard to recover his strength." Pulling the quilt up over Qin Xiaochuan, Master Jinghai’s eyes filled with reluctance and affection as she watched him slumber.

He was her first disciple, and he would be her last. The pain of inheritance was something ordinary people could hardly imagine. She had never expected Qin Xiaochuan to be able to bear the power of the Spirit Light Jade—the vast spiritual energy that twenty-five spirit masters had spent their entire lives cultivating. It was truly a trial for this child. She remembered her own experience: it had taken years of rigorous training before her own master helped her inherit the power of the Jade. Even then, without her master's assistance, she would have struggled to withstand the agony. If she were forced to go through that inheritance again, she would rather die than suffer that torment a second time. For anyone, that experience could be described as nothing less than the excruciating pain of a thousand cuts.

It was a pity that her time with this child was so short. Looking at Qin Xiaochuan’s adorable face in his sleep, Master Jinghai sighed internally. The time was just too short; she had only taught him the basics over the past three months, and there was still so much left to impart. Yet, she believed that Xiaochuan would surely carry on her legacy and bring glory to the Spirit Light School. With this thought, she patted Qin Xiaochuan’s hand, appearing ready to depart.

"Don't go... don't go..."

In his sleep, Qin Xiaochuan suddenly reached out and grabbed Master Jinghai’s thin, wrinkled hand. He seemed to sense that she was about to leave him, perhaps forever, and in his semi-conscious state, he subconsciously clung to the little old lady who had once made him grind his teeth in frustration, as if wanting her to stay by his side for just a moment longer—even if only for a second.

Gently patting his hand, Master Jinghai seemed to understand his intent. She did not leave immediately but stood there quietly, watching the only disciple who now occupied her heart. *I wish I could stay with you a little longer, Xiaochuan. I wish I could. Although I have only known you for a short time, this connection feels like a gift from the heavens. Heaven has truly been kind to me; to find you before my time is up and pass on my mantle to you—I am satisfied with my life.*

*There are so many things you will need to do in the future, and Granny cannot be there with you. I only hope you can make the Spirit Light School flourish and not fail the expectations of our ancestors. Then, when I reach that other world, I can report to them with a clear conscience. Everything is in your hands now, Xiaochuan!*

Taking one last look at the sleeping boy, Master Jinghai tucked his hand back under the quilt. She patted him once more and finally stood up.

Partings are always the most painful, yet without parting, there is no joy in reunion. Even if they could only meet again in that other world, for Qin Xiaochuan’s sake—and perhaps to settle the only lingering regret she had carried for so many years—she had to attend to the appointment this afternoon.

"Granny, where are you going?" Seeing her move to leave, Zhang Yang couldn't help but ask. "You just fought two matches this morning; you should be getting some rest!"

"...I have important matters to attend to." Seeming preoccupied, Master Jinghai didn't explain further. She walked to the door and opened it. Before leaving, she looked back at Zhang Yang, held up her thumb, and said, "Zhang Yang, don't you dare lose!" With that, she stepped out and closed the door.

Hearing her words, Zhang Yang felt confused. *Don't you dare lose?* What did that mean? The matches didn't start again until the day after tomorrow. Why would she say that now?

Meanwhile, the other semi-final match in the arena had already begun. The Dark Elf fighter on stage now had both hands missing, and his body was covered in marks that looked as if they had been hit by small explosions.

"Woo... woo..."

"Alright, quit the whining. Where should I blow up next?"

Waving his arms through the air, the feminine, long-haired man from the Sikong Team walked slowly toward his opponent. It was he who had effortlessly made the man’s arms disappear.

"Please... please spare me!"

Seeing the "Reaper" walking toward him, the Dark Elf gave up on the match entirely. He turned and ran desperately toward the edge of the stage. As long as he jumped off the platform, the attacks would stop and his life would be spared. Compared to his life, losing two arms was nothing. This guy was terrifying; with a mere wave of his hand, his arms had vanished as if struck by something invisible. He hadn't seen a single attack. What kind of technique was this? It was horrifying.

"I suppose it's time for the head," the long-haired man murmured. Seeing his opponent fleeing, he didn't intend to let him go so easily. He leaped into the air above the man and lightly brushed his hand. With a *pop*, the man’s head exploded and vanished as if struck by an invisible blast. The headless body continued to run forward for a few steps on momentum before collapsing onto the ground, blood spraying from the neck and staining the floor crimson.

"Sikong Team’s Hao is the winner! That was truly shocking—with just a light touch, the opponent’s body exploded. A truly marvelous and terrifying technique!"

"..." Staring at Hao on the stage, Bai Ying pondered. *He must be injecting spiritual energy into his opponent’s body and destroying them from the inside. I can't even see his energy—this is strange. But if he is indeed using energy to attack, and I can't see it, that means his energy level is several tiers above mine. This is going to be difficult.*

Seeming to notice Bai Ying observing him from the stands, Hao glanced in his direction. Whether it was a provocation or a tease, Hao winked at Bai Ying, said nothing, and shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked off the stage. It appeared he had known all along that Bai Ying was watching him, and the display on the platform had been for his benefit.

"The second semi-final match: Sikong Team’s Wushen versus the Dark Elf Team’s Gui Lianxie. Will both fighters please take the stage?"

Hearing the referee’s voice, Gui Lianxie of the Dark Elf team marched onto the stage carrying a massive broadsword. Though he was a hulking figure, the most striking thing was the blade on his shoulder. Just by the look of it, the sword weighed well over three hundred pounds. He carried the giant blade, which looked like half a door, with ease. Hearing the gasps of the surrounding audience, Gui Lianxie smirked triumphantly. "Hehehe, scared now? I was saving this blade for the finals! Behold, the Great Spirit Sword! Watch as I cleave both you and your armor in two!"

"What...!!!"

However, when he saw the massive axe Wushen was holding as he walked onto the stage, Gui Lianxie’s single eye nearly popped out of his skull. Was this guy even human? He had never seen such a massive axe in his life. Judging by its appearance, it weighed at least several thousand pounds, if not ten thousand. Just looking at it was enough to make one dizzy, let alone wielding it. How could he hold such a heavy weapon with one hand as if it were nothing? The guy was a monster.

But then, Gui Lianxie calmed himself. *The heavier the weapon, the slower the swing. As long as I close the distance, I can leverage the advantage of my blade.* Thinking this, he relaxed his grip on his sword handle slightly.

"The match begins!"