Chapter Ninety-Five: The Words of the Masked Competitor

Staring at Sikong Lang’s gesture across from him, Qin Xiaochuan refused to show weakness. He locked eyes with Sikong Lang, raised his thumb, and drew it lightly across his throat in a silent, cutting motion—a clear response to Sikong Lang’s earlier sign. The message was unmistakable: I’ll take you down! Just wait!

With a disdainful snort, Sikong Lang seemed thoroughly unimpressed by Qin Xiaochuan’s juvenile act. He dismissed it with a cold huff, turned his back on the arena, and strode away. The two enigmatic teammates who had accompanied him had already vanished, as if they’d slipped out long before.

Watching Sikong Lang’s retreating figure, Zhang Yang couldn’t keep his body from trembling. “That guy! ...Could it be true? ...I never noticed before!” The demonic aura emanating from Sikong Lang was terrifying—far more than Zhang Yang had realized, even though he’d fought this man once before while rescuing Feixue. “But back then, he must’ve suppressed his demonic energy. To think... he’s this terrifying now. Was I really battling someone like that?”

“Being able to sense your opponent’s strength just shows you’re stronger now, Zhang Yang.” Qin Xiaochuan clapped him on the shoulder with a calm smile. “Just quoting someone else here, but don’t worry. I’ve got your back...”

“Did you all forget about us?” a voice called out.

A group of five approached: the very team that had just secured their place in the semifinals—and Qin Xiaochuan’s team’s next opponents. They were the New World squad: Tyrant, Black Demon, Deathblade, Monkey King, and Tiny.

“Pah!”

Monkey King chewed his gum noisily as he swaggered up to Qin Xiaochuan, then spat it out with an air of blatant provocation, clearly displeased that his thunder had been stolen earlier.

“Huh?!”

As for picking fights, Zhang Yang was no stranger to it. He turned to glare ferociously at the newcomers; even though this was a tournament, if they kept pushing their luck, he wouldn’t mind knocking them out before the match.

But the five seemed unimpressed by Zhang Yang’s aggressive glare. After brushing past Qin Xiaochuan, they didn’t stop. As they passed, Deathblade turned, his face pale and cold, and sneered, “You’d best prepare yourselves for death. You’re nothing but stepping stones on our path to fame!”

“Oh please! You’re not even worth my notice.” Qin Xiaochuan folded his arms, eyeing Deathblade’s ashen face. “If you want to make a living off your looks, go to a TV station. There are plenty of corpses there.”

Deathblade’s face twisted with rage at the venom in Qin Xiaochuan’s retort. He glared back, pointing a finger. “I’ll remember your words, Qin Xiaochuan!”

“Any time, I’m ready.” Qin Xiaochuan raised both middle fingers at their retreating backs. He genuinely didn’t think much of them. Whatever their true strength, they clearly weren’t on the same level as the demonic aura Sikong Lang had just displayed.

“Xiaochuan, I need to talk to you.”

As Qin Xiaochuan was still sending off the five with a double gesture, the masked contestant beside him suddenly spoke. That voice—so familiar it made Qin Xiaochuan’s heart skip a beat. It was...

He followed the masked contestant to a secluded grove beside the arena. The contestant removed her headscarf, revealing her true face.

“So it really is you, Granny.” Looking at Master Jinghai before him, Qin Xiaochuan realized he’d guessed correctly. That familiar voice belonged to none other than Master Jinghai. But then—who was that young woman he’d seen earlier? Where had she gone? Had they switched places so quickly? Qin Xiaochuan was utterly baffled. Turning to Master Jinghai, he asked, “But what about that young girl? When did you two swap?”

“That was me as well.”

“What? That was you too? What does that mean, Granny? I’m so confused—what’s going on?”

Pointing to a rock about a meter high ahead of them, Master Jinghai said, “Since your head isn’t exactly quick, I’ll have to show rather than tell. Look at that rock.”

“What about it? Isn’t it just an ordinary rock?”

“Try hitting it with a Spirit Bullet. Use your full strength.”

“Answer my question first, Granny.” Growing impatient with her evasiveness, Qin Xiaochuan pressed her for an answer.

“Just do as I say first!”

“Alright, Granny.” Sensing her irritation, Qin Xiaochuan aimed his Spirit Bullet at the rock. “I’ll shoot with everything I’ve got.” He fired—the Spirit Bullet blasted through the boulder, sending shards scattering across the ground. Pleased with his own power, Qin Xiaochuan blew on his finger. “So easy! Hehe.”

“Such a frog at the bottom of a well—proud of smashing a pebble. That’s so like you, Qin Xiaochuan.”

“What, Granny? You can do better? Go ahead, show me something bigger.”

Irritated by her dismissal, Qin Xiaochuan watched as Master Jinghai walked to a small hillock at least ten times the size of the rock he’d just obliterated—solid and formidable.

She raised her right hand, mimicking his Spirit Bullet stance, half-squatting. “At this level, forget Sikong Lang—even I outclass you now.”

As Qin Xiaochuan wondered what she was up to, Master Jinghai’s elderly features began to transform. Wrinkled skin tightened and glowed with youthful vigor, until before his eyes stood the very young woman he’d seen in the arena. Stunned, Qin Xiaochuan realized what was happening.

With a thunderous roar, a massive Spirit Light Shot burst from her fingertip, smashing the enormous rock into dust. The remainder of its power shot out toward the sea, leaving a brilliant trail in its wake.

Qin Xiaochuan stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded. No wonder Master Jinghai had called him a frog in a well—her Spirit Bullet’s power was simply incomparable. If she hit him with it, not even Sikong Lang’s iron muscles would withstand it. She was simply too powerful.

“When your entire body’s spiritual energy reaches its peak, every cell is activated. For a time, the body regains its youth—my body returns to about twenty, when I was at my physical peak.” As she spoke, Master Jinghai’s features slowly reverted to their current gaunt, aged form, beads of sweat appearing on her brow. Clearly, the shot had drained her. She regarded Qin Xiaochuan sternly. “Now, for your next trial—this will be your final test.”

“The final trial? What is it?”

Hands clasped behind her back, Master Jinghai began to pace. “I was born into a family of martial artists. Centuries of tradition have laid the foundation for our school’s martial arts. As the successor, I endured many trials and hardships, but for a family with such a legacy, it is inevitable. Just as I did in the past, enduring the passage of time has only enriched my experience—and I see this as a blessing. To be born, to grow, to train, to mature, and finally to age—these are all part of the natural order. For me, entrusting hope to the next generation is what I must do now. And you—have you truly decided? Do you really wish to become stronger?”

“Yes, Granny, I’ve made up my mind. More than ever, I want to become stronger!” Qin Xiaochuan’s expression grew resolute as he clenched his fist.

“In that case, are you ready to endure anything?”

“Anything!”

“Then—could you even go so far as to kill me?”

“What?”

“If you don’t kill me, you cannot pass this trial. Think carefully. There’s a cave up ahead. I’ll be waiting for you there. Enter only when you’re ready to face the decision to kill me.”

Without another word, Master Jinghai turned and walked into the cave, hands clasped behind her back.

Above, dark clouds churned across the sky, echoing the turmoil in Qin Xiaochuan’s heart. Lightning flashed, and rain poured down in sheets. Not fond of getting wet, Abu fluttered to a nearby tree for shelter. Watching Qin Xiaochuan stand motionless in the downpour, Abu, too, grew silent. As if their spirits were linked, Abu sensed the stormy struggle within Qin Xiaochuan, and waited quietly, just as Master Jinghai was waiting, for his final decision.

“Man, it’s pouring out there, White Shadow. Pair of twos.” Looking out at the rain, Zhang Yang played a pair of twos from his hand. “Where’s that kid Qin Xiaochuan run off to now? After we left the arena, that masked contestant called him away, and he still hasn’t come back.”