From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 37: Battle of Glory

The training ground was packed with people, the atmosphere so intense it almost overwhelmed me. Sun Yue and I held hands, weaving through the crowd towards the contestants' area. Sun Yue's palms were slightly damp; I knew she was just as nervous as I was, but we both tried to remain calm. After all, neither of us were the type to give up easily.

"Yaoyao, good luck!" Sun Yue whispered in my ear at the last moment before I stepped onto the stage. Her voice was soft, but full of power.

I gave her a determined look, then took a deep breath and leaped onto the ring.

My opponent was already standing there, dressed in black, with a tall and straight posture. He wore a silver mask, obscuring his face and revealing only a pair of deep, night-sky-like eyes.

"I am Ye Lan from Tianxing Pavilion." His voice was deep and magnetic, yet it carried an aloofness that kept people at a distance.

I nodded slightly in return: "Qingyun Sect, Xiao Yao."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Lan's aura suddenly changed, and a sharp killing intent swept over the sky, as if the surrounding air had been frozen.

"It really is a forbidden technique..." I thought to myself, but on the surface I remained calm, my spiritual power surging in my hands, and I quickly set up a defensive barrier around myself.

The next second, Ye Lan moved. His speed was astonishing, almost turning into a blur, and he was in front of me in the blink of an eye, his fist, carrying a fierce killing intent, aimed straight at my face.

I was prepared and dodged his attack by sidestepping. At the same time, I drew my longsword, and the sword light pierced towards his chest like a silver snake.

With a crisp metallic clang, Ye Lan caught my sword blade between two fingers. His fingertips glowed with a faint golden light, clearly indicating that he had cultivated some kind of powerful protective technique.

"Interesting." For the first time, Ye Lan's voice carried a hint of emotion, but it was an even stronger fighting spirit.

With a flick of my wrist, the longsword coiled around his arm like a serpent, attempting to restrain him. However, Ye Lan reacted extremely quickly, transforming his other hand into a blade, slashing towards my chest with a fierce gale.

I had to abandon my attack, fly backward, and create distance.

Ye Lan didn't give chase. Instead, he stood still, coldly watching me with a dangerous glint in his eyes: "Is this all the strength you have? It seems I overestimated you."

I took a deep breath, suppressing the surging blood within me, and said in a low voice, "This is only the beginning; the outcome is still uncertain..."

Ye Lan's words were filled with contempt, as if I were a lamb to the slaughter. I took a deep breath, suppressing my surging anger. He was right; I had indeed underestimated him. The power of the forbidden technique far exceeded my imagination. That strange force, like a persistent leech, was relentlessly eroding my defensive barrier, and I could feel my spiritual energy rapidly draining away.

A gasp rippled through the audience. I saw Sun Yue looking at me anxiously, her eyes filled with worry, yet also with a hint of determination. I smiled slightly at her, indicating that I was alright. Sun Yue nodded vigorously, clasping her hands together as if praying for me.

I closed my eyes, casting aside all distracting thoughts, and focused entirely on sensing the flow of spiritual energy around me and the rhythm of Ye Lan's attacks. Gradually, I discovered that although he was extremely fast and his attacks were very powerful, he had a fatal weakness—his attack methods were too simplistic, and he never held back in any attack. This made his moves, while fierce, lack variety.

I began to consciously guide his attacks and use my movement skills to dodge them. Ye Lan's attacks missed again and again, and a hint of impatience began to appear on his face, making his attacks increasingly ferocious.

"Yaoyao, you can do it! You can definitely do it!" Sun Yue's voice came from below the stage. Although her voice was drowned out by the noise of the crowd, I could hear it clearly.

Sun Yue's encouragement gave me tremendous strength. I took another deep breath, a glint of light flashing in my eyes. I decided to take the risk!

I deliberately created an opening to lure Ye Lan into making a move. Sure enough, he fell for it! A glint of joy flashed in Ye Lan's eyes, and he charged at me without hesitation, his fist, filled with fierce killing intent, aimed straight for my chest.

"Now!" I shouted in my heart, and my figure flashed to the side like a ghost, barely dodging his attack.

Despite missing his target, Ye Lan showed no panic. He quickly adjusted his stance, preparing to launch another attack.

However, this time, I won't give him another chance! I gripped the longsword tightly, pouring all my spiritual power into it. The sword emitted a dazzling golden light, and a powerful force surged forth from my body...

Golden light, like the rising sun at dawn, instantly illuminated the entire dueling arena. The longsword in my hand emitted a crisp clang, as if cheering for me. An unprecedentedly powerful force surged from my body, converging at the tip of the sword to form a dazzling beam that pierced straight towards Ye Lan's chest.

Ye Lan was clearly not expected that I would unleash such powerful strength at this moment. His pupils shrank sharply, and he tried to dodge, but it was too late.

"boom!"

The sword's edge struck Ye Lan's protective spiritual energy with a deafening roar. The powerful impact sent Ye Lan staggering back several steps, nearly causing him to fall to the ground.

I didn't press my advantage, but stood still, quietly watching him. Ye Lan's face was pale, and a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, clearly indicating that he had suffered internal injuries.

"You..." Ye Lan looked at me in disbelief, her voice hoarse, "How could you..."

I didn't answer his question, but just stared at him coldly. I knew that I had exhausted all my spiritual power with that last attack, and if he continued fighting, I was afraid I would really lose.

However, Ye Lan did not continue his attack. He clutched his chest, coughed violently a few times, and looked at me with a complicated expression, as if he was struggling with something.

"Yaoyao, are you alright?" Sun Yue's voice came from below the stage. She looked at me anxiously, her eyes filled with worry.

I smiled slightly at her to indicate that I was alright. Then, I turned my head and my gaze fell on Ye Lan again.

"Do you want to continue?" I asked coldly.

Ye Lan was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head. He took a deep breath, as if making a decision, then looked up at me, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"I..." Ye Lan opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything. He lowered his head, a look of struggle flashing in his eyes.

I gripped my longsword tightly, ready to deliver the final blow. But just then, Ye Lan suddenly looked up at me, his eyes filled with…

...filled with guilt and regret. "Xiao Yao, I admit defeat." He took a deep breath, his tone tinged with bitterness. "The way I treated you before was all my fault. I don't deserve to be your opponent, nor do I deserve to win this match."

His words caused an uproar. No one expected that this mysterious master, who had been hiding his strength, would admit defeat at the last moment and even publicly admit his mistake.

I was slightly taken aback, and the longsword in my hand froze in mid-air. Ye Lan's words surprised me and touched me. I could tell that he truly regretted it, regretted targeting me like that before, and regretted using any means necessary to win.

I remained silent for a moment, my heart filled with mixed emotions. I could have seized the opportunity to defeat him and win the final victory, but in the end, I chose to let it go.

"The outcome is decided, there's no need to say more." I slowly sheathed my longsword and said calmly, "I hope you will behave yourself in the future."

Ye Lan raised his head, gave me a deep look, and then turned and walked off the dueling platform. His back looked somewhat lonely, yet also somewhat relieved, as if he had unloaded a heavy burden.

Standing on the dueling platform, watching his retreating figure, I felt no joy of victory, but rather a complex mix of emotions. Perhaps forgiveness is more powerful than revenge.

"Yaoyao! You won!" Sun Yue's voice pulled me back from my thoughts. She excitedly ran onto the dueling platform and gave me a big hug. "I knew you could do it! You're amazing!"

I smiled, patted her on the back, and then looked up at the audience. Some were excited, some were thrilled, some were filled with admiration... All eyes were on me, as if I were some kind of hero.

At this moment, I truly felt the joy of victory and an unprecedented sense of accomplishment. From a useless person without any spiritual roots, I have come step by step to where I am today, paying countless sweat and effort, and finally standing at the pinnacle of this world.

"Xiao Yao! Xiao Yao! Xiao Yao!" Suddenly someone in the crowd called out my name, and then more and more people joined in, and my name echoed throughout the entire square, deafeningly loud.

Looking at the enthusiastic faces below the stage, my heart was filled with emotion and gratitude. I know that my achievements today are not only due to my own efforts, but also inseparable from their support and encouragement.

Just then, an old man dressed in a blue robe slowly walked to the center of the arena. His gaze swept across the entire arena, carrying an imposing aura that silenced the entire place.

He looked at me with a kind smile on his face, "Congratulations, Xiao Yao, you have won the championship of this year's Immortal Sect Competition!"

His voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire square.

I stepped forward and took the golden token from his hand with both hands. The words "Champion" were engraved on it and shone brightly.

"Now, I announce..." The old man paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall, before loudly proclaiming, "The Immortal Sect is holding a grand celebration banquet for Xiao Yao..."