Chapter 4: The Final Match – And A Surprise Visitor

  The sun climbed higher above Cloudpetal Sect’s dusty arena, shining down on the grand event… that wasn’t very grand.

  The benches were half-empty.

  The cheering sounded like a zy afternoon nap.

  Elder Hao was snoring loudly from his wooden chair, clutching a half-eaten melon.

  Still, the tension was real.

  Lin Xian stood casually in the middle of the arena, flicking a pebble into the air with one finger, catching it with the other, over and over.

  The Void Tiger Cub on his head was using his hair as a bnket.

  Across from him, his final opponent entered:

  Name: Xu Long

  Cultivation: Foundation Bloom – Middle Stage

  Specialty: Furious Dragon Fist (mostly shouting and waving arms)

  Xu Long was twice Lin Xian’s size, muscles bulging out of his robe like overcooked buns.

  “Lin Xian!” Xu Long roared, veins popping on his forehead. “Today, I’ll crush your arrogance into dust!”

  Lin Xian stopped tossing his pebble.

  He tilted his head thoughtfully.

  “Arrogance? I just came for the free dumplings after this.”

  Xu Long’s face darkened.

  The Fight (If You Can Call It That)

  Elder Hao stirred from his nap, blew his nose loudly, and waved his hand.

  “Begin!”

  Xu Long exploded forward like a wild boar.

  His fists howled through the air.

  The ground cracked beneath each step.

  Lin Xian… took one step sideways.

  Xu Long missed so badly he almost punched the referee.

  Gasps echoed from the stands.

  “How did he dodge without moving!?”

  “He did move, you idiot!”

  “But it was so small I blinked and missed it!”

  Xu Long bellowed in rage.

  He charged again, swinging a giant fist overhead.

  This time, Lin Xian sighed, reached into his sleeve, and pulled out a stick of meat jerky.

  He bit into it while casually kicking a loose rock.

  Ping!

  The rock shot straight into Xu Long’s knee.

  “ACK!”

  The big guy stumbled forward, tripped over his own foot, and did a perfect somersault.

  BOOM!

  He crashed face-first into the ground, causing a mini earthquake.

  Dust filled the air.

  Silence.

  Someone coughed awkwardly in the crowd.

  Lin Xian finished his jerky, dusted his hands, and decred calmly:

  “Victory belongs to those who have snacks.”

  The referee gulped. “Uhh… Winner: Lin Xian!”

  Aftermath

  Elder Hao somehow woke up long enough to drag himself to the center.

  He handed Lin Xian a small box wrapped in dusty silk.

  Inside was a golden egg the size of a melon, radiating faint spiritual energy.

  [Spirit Beast Egg Acquired!]

  Lin Xian raised it high, grinning like a kid who just won a candy-eating contest.

  The entire sect cheered.

  Even the goat who had chewed his sleeve the first day bleated proudly.

  And Then… Chaos Descended

  Just as Lin Xian was about to go celebrate (mostly by eating everything in sight), a loud voice echoed from the sky:

  “—Move aside, peasants! The Azure Flower Sect has arrived!—”

  Whoosh!

  A flying treasure boat shaped like a giant lotus nded with a dramatic fre that sent everyone’s robes fluttering.

  Out stepped a group of disciples wearing shimmering blue robes and smug expressions.

  At the front stood a girl about Lin Xian’s age.

  She had bright eyes, two swords strapped to her back, and the confident aura of someone who could buy your whole sect and still compin about the service.

  She pointed at Lin Xian dramatically.

  “You there! The boy with the egg and the sleeping cat!”

  The Void Tiger Cub zily lifted its head, gave her a dead-eyed stare, and flopped back down.

  Lin Xian gnced left.

  Gnced right.

  Then pointed at himself.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you!” the girl decred. “I, Bai Jingyi of Azure Flower Sect, challenge you to a duel! Winner gets… uh… your spirit beast egg!”

  Everyone gasped.

  “Azure Flower Sect! One of the big six sects!”

  “Why are they picking on us?!”

  “Poor Lin Xian!”

  Lin Xian looked down at the egg.

  Looked up at her.

  Then raised his hand.

  “Excuse me. Question.”

  Bai Jingyi narrowed her eyes. “What?”

  Lin Xian asked seriously:

  “Can I just bribe you with two dumplings and we forget this ever happened?”

  The Entire Crowd:

  Dead.

  Silent.

  Dead silent.

  Then someone in the back couldn’t hold it.

  “PFFFT!”

  “HAHAHAHA!”

  Even Elder Hao dropped his melon in shock.

  Bai Jingyi’s face turned red.

  First from anger, then from trying not to ugh.

  Bai Jingyi, trying to hold back a giggle:

  “You dare! Face me properly, or I’ll… I’ll… confiscate your cute cat too!”

  Lin Xian narrowed his eyes.

  Threatening his food was one thing.

  Threatening his Void Tiger Cub? That was war.

  He cracked his knuckles zily.

  The Void Tiger Cub woke up, licked its paw… and the ground under Lin Xian’s feet cracked quietly.

  Lin Xian smiled.

  “Alright, princess. You want a duel?”

  He tossed the golden egg into the air, caught it without looking, and said smoothly:

  “Hope you’re ready to lose.”