Seven days after the battle of Cloud-Break Ridge, the four Spirit-Timber Carriages of Canglan Academy crested the final rise of the Vermilion Bird Highway.Before them rose Heavenly Phoenix City.Even for disciples accustomed to the grand peaks of the borderlands, the imperial capital of the Great Yan Prefecture was a sight that overwhelmed the mortal senses. An outer rampart constructed from polished obsidian and iron-veined basalt stretched across the horizon for over eighty miles, standing three hundred feet tall like a cliff face raised by gods. Above the sprawling urban rings, artificial spirit-moons and golden formation-orbs hovered in the azure sky, casting a warm, immortal luminescence over thousands of gilded palace spires, pagodas, and hanging gardens.Colossal flying spirit-barges with crimson sails glided through the upper cloud layer, while streams of armored imperial gryphon-riders patrolled the perimeter airspace."Heavens abov

The moment the referee's arm swept down, the air above the third battle platform turned rancid with the scent of stagnant blood."Die, border mongrel!"Nineteen-year-old Zhao Gang shrieked like a raven from the underworld. His Eighth Layer Qi Condensation spiritual energy ignited into greasy crimson flames, his body blurring into four overlapping crimson afterimages as he executed the Ghost-Wolf Sinking Step. His twin hooked cleavers spun into two whirling arcs of rusted steel, aimed directly at Kuang Yan's knees and throat!In the stands, tens of thousands of spectators held their breath."So fast! Zhao Gang's wolf step is practically imperceptible to the naked eye!""The big fellow from Canglan Academy doesn't even have his guard up!"Yet down on the sand, eighteen-year-old Kuang Yan did not retreat half an inch. Standing like a rooted bronze pagoda, his dark eyes calmly tracked the crimson blurs. In his mind, Lu Chen’s cl

Behind the crimson silk curtains of the Royal Pavilion, the scent of sandalwood could not hide the bitter stench of blood.Prince Yan Ce sat upon a carved ebony throne, a silk cloth wrapped around his palm where the shattered jade cup had bitten deep. Before him, Vice-Director Wei Cang knelt with his forehead pressed against cold marble, trembling so violently that his belt jade clattered against stone."You guaranteed me that the Iron Blood Sect would tear them apart," Yan Ce spoke, his voice dangerously low. "You assured me that Tie Kui's slaughter Qi would permanently cripple Gu Cangtian's prized inner disciples. And now?""Your... Your Highness, have mercy!" Wei Cang choked out, sweat dripping from his nose. "Tie Kui is an arena veteran of four dozen blood matches! No one could have foreseen that the youth possessed a sovereign-grade technique! To catch an eight-foot cleaver with a tree branch... that is not martial arts. That is witchcraft!"

The sky above Heavenly Phoenix City was bruised with thunderheads, mirror-flat and heavy with the scent of ozone.In the southern quarter of the capital, the Golden Phoenix Gambling Pavilion was engulfed in pandemonium. Clamoring crowds of wealthy merchants, clan elders, and royal guardsmen shoved gold ingots and spirit-stone vouchers across the counters. The odds board, carved from glowing spirit-jade, flickered constantly as fortunes shifted hands."Canglan Academy versus the Thunder-Cloud Sect! One hundred to one on a Thunder-Cloud sweep!" the pavilion master bellowed, his voice amplified by an echo talisman. "The frontier prodigy Lu Chen suffered a complete meridian collapse from overexertion! Half his blood is dry! Put your silver on the lightning spears of Thunder-Cloud!"In the high private balcony above the betting floor, Prince Yan Ce’s confidential ledger-keeper watched the river of silver pouring into the vaults with greedy delight."Your Highness, by the time the gong soun

The Hall of Martial Clarity stood beneath the shadow of the imperial citadel, its black basalt pillars carved with the stern likenesses of ancient judges.Inside, the air was chilled by suppression arrays that clamped down on spiritual Qi, reducing even high-realm experts to mortal heaviness. High atop the dais sat five judges of the Tournament Arbitration Committee, flanked by scribes and armored bailiffs bearing executioner axes.At the center of the dais sat Vice-Director Wei Cang, his robes embroidered with imperial cranes. To his left sat two elders from the Southern Martial Alliance, and to his right, representatives of the Ministry of Rites.Down on the flagstones below, Lu Chen stood alone.He wore no chains, though four bailiffs stood behind him with drawn halberds. In his right hand, resting casually against his thigh, was the green willow branch. Headmaster Gu and Elder Tie stood near the public gallery behind an iron partition, their expressions impassive, while Crown Prin