Chapter 118: Odd

Yu Xuan gave his opponent no time to breathe.

He closed the distance once again, pressing the attack with relentless precision. His strikes came in a swift, calculated rhythm slash, thrust, sweep, forcing Gu Yifan onto the defensive.

And yet... his opponent didn’t seem flustered.

Too composed, Yu Xuan noted, his eyes narrowing. His opponent was defending like he doesn’t even intend to win.

It was odd. Gu Yifan parried and blocked efficiently, conserving energy, but showed no signs of aggression. As if this match was merely a formality to him.

Yu Xuan tested him, intentionally left an opening in his stance.

Gu Yifan noticed it... but didn’t capitalize.

’He’s holding back.’ Yu Xuan’s frown deepened. Why? What was he planning?

Disappointed, he decided it was time to end this match.

But before he could move in, Gu Yifan’s golden dragon fists suddenly flared with renewed brilliance.

Then, an invisible roar echoed across the stage, not a sound, but a pressure a wave of will that rippled through the arena like a beast announcing its dominance.

Gu Yifan shot forward, finally attacking with full force.

Their weapons clashed — red sword against golden dragon fist and this time the impact shook the stage.

The runes on the arena flared brightly, absorbing the brunt of the collision. But Yu Xuan’s sword trembled violently in his grip.

That power... he was really holding back until now.

The sword a Profound Grade weapon — had already taken a hit earlier from the goblin’s beam. It was strained, hairline fractures crawling silently across its surface.

Now, under the sheer pressure of Gu Yifan’s fully unleashed technique, those cracks began to grow.

’If this were an ordinary duel, the sword would’ve held...’ Yu Xuan thought. ’But this isn’t ordinary. This is the Heaven Immortal Sect.’

He had other weapons in his storage ring, stronger ones even. But he wasn’t shameless enough to swap weapons mid fight, especially not against a fellow challenger in a public match.

The sword groaned.

A final crack split down its center.

Yu Xuan looking at the cracks simply thought. ’Time to end this quickly.’

With a sudden shift in footwork, he ducked low and swept his blade toward Gu Yifan’s legs.

Gu Yifan reacted, leaping to avoid it — but that was the mistake Yu Xuan had baited him into.

In a flash, Yu Xuan reappeared mid air above him and kicked him mid jump, sending him crashing down to the arena floor.

The crowd gasped.

In the same motion, Yu Xuan descended like a thunderclap and drove his sword down beside Gu Yifan’s head. The blade embedded into the stage with a sharp boom, then shattered, fracturing into gleaming fragments.

But even shattered—

The sword intent remained.

A phantom red blade, made purely of Sword Intent, hovered in the air where the weapon had once been.

Because intent doesn’t need a weapon to exist.

But a weapon, when present, amplifies it.

And Yu Xuan’s Sword Intent now roared, silent yet undeniable, pulsing through the air like a sovereign declaring dominion. Its presence wasn’t loud, but it demanded recognition.

Gu Yifan looked up from where he lay, eyes calm, and sighed.

"I forfeit," he said simply.

The crowd erupted in cheers. A new number one had been crowned and the match had been nothing short of thrilling.

In a shadowed corner of the arena, an anxious disciple clenched his medallion, murmuring frantic thanks to his ancestors once again.

***

Later, Yu Xuan sat quietly in the challenger’s area, observing the ongoing matches with a relaxed but thoughtful gaze.

He had secured the top spot in the Foundation Establishment bracket... yet something about the previous fight lingered in his mind.

Gu Yifan didn’t use his full strength.

It wasn’t arrogance or denial — just a quiet, unsettling certainty. From the way Gu Yifan fought, the subtle restraint in his movements, even the way he forfeited just before the tide truly turned... it all left an impression.

’That surname again... Gu.’ Yu Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.

’They’re always hiding something.’

Still, he’d won. That was enough for now.

After a few minutes, he headed down to the administrative counter to collect his accumulated sect points from the fight. The clerk scanned his medallion and handed it back with a respectful nod. Yu Xuan’s balance had swelled once again, another solid haul.

He didn’t linger.

"I’d like to apply for advancement to the Core Formation bracket," Yu Xuan said calmly.

The clerk froze mid work, then looked up at him with visible concern.

"Junior brother... you sure about that? The Core Formation bracket is a completely different battlefield. You are still in Qi Condensation realm, while most participants there are already in the middle or late stages of Core Formation."

"I’m sure," Yu Xuan replied with a small smile. "Please proceed."

The clerk hesitated, then gave a resigned nod. "Very well... it’s your decision."

A few moments later, Yu Xuan’s name was removed from the top of the Foundation Establishment bracket.

’I’ve got nothing left to do in this town,’ he thought, stretching slightly.

He’d paid for a full week of lodging, but he decided, he’d leave tomorrow. There was no reason to linger.

Time blurred in the underground arena, but by the feel of the air and the tired lull in his bones, he guessed it was already evening.

Lately, he’d noticed something odd, he’d been sleeping more than usual. Maybe it was just the accumulation of intense battles, or something else entirely.

Still, he hadn’t eaten yet.

Exiting the arena, the first breeze of dusk brushed against him. The sky was painted in hues of fading gold and lavender. Lanterns were beginning to flicker to life across the town. His stomach grumbled loudly.

Eventually, he found a modest little restaurant run by three female disciples.

The scent of fried buns and spicy broth lured him in like a spell. He ate in quiet satisfaction, ignoring the curious glances sent his way. He was beautiful... NO Handsome!!

Once done, he made his way back to his temporary residence, his pace unhurried.

The town streets were quieter now. Peaceful.

But Yu Xuan remained unaware of one simple fact.

A shadow followed him from a distance — silent, patient, watching.