Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Chapter 50

In the preperation hall of the participants, a beautiful lady polish her staff in anticipation.

Her delicate fingers moved with the precision of someone who had mastered the art over years of practice. She had bright, captivating eyes that gleamed with a sharp intelligence, their hue reminiscent of the morning sky just after dawn. Her silky, curly hair cascaded in soft waves down to her waist, the tendrils shimmering like dark silk. The strands framed her face elegantly, with a few rebellious curls falling across her high cheekbones, further highlighting her striking beauty.

Her robes were of deep crimson, embroidered with intricate patterns of phoenixes, their wings spread wide, symbolizing grace and power. The delicate stitching seemed to dance in the light as she moved, her presence regal, yet filled with quiet strength. The air around her felt charged with the anticipation of something grand, as though the very fabric of her being resonated with an untold power waiting to be unleashed.

She was undoubtfully a beauty and her confidence on herself showing with the sligt tilt of her head.

"Do you know what you must do?" Someone asked behind her.

"Yes, father. I know" A spoiled and pampered tone sounded between her pouty lips.

"And the prince?" She asked her eyes turning eager and excited.

"Will be watching" The man dottingly petted her head. "If you impress him, there is no doubt that he will take you as his consort. We have been talking about you and your big sister. So, don’t dissapoint me."

"I know father. As if I would let that trash even gained a bit of a foothold on the family" She sneered.

"That’s my good girl" The man lovingly kissed her forehead.

The rankings moved and changed as duels upon duels commence.

Some left the board while others proceded in the next round.

"Next match! Feng Jiao Xue versus Feng Ming!!!" The anouncer stated in thrill and excitement getting the spirits of the viewers to rise higher!

"Feng Ming! Oh my gosh!"

"Is this even a match? Of course Feng Ming would win."

"Feng Haoyuan have always outshines Feng Haotian. Let’s see how the second generation fares"

"The result is not yet certain. I’m betting on Feng Jiao Xue."

The arena was buzzing with anticipation. The air seems to hum with the energy from crowd.

Feng Haoyang glared at Feng Haotian but didn’t say anything to give the b@stard satisfaction. Simply biting his lips as he leaned towards the arena, his fist grabbing on his thigh thightly.

Feng Jiao Xue walked to the arena calmly.

The enigmatic, up and rising figure who had shocked everyone by appearing for the duel against Feng Ming, her face as radiant as ever, like a flawless porcelain doll, her every movement graceful and measured, yet carrying the weight of a thousand expectations.

Feng Ming stood tall, her expression a delicate mix of indifference and thinly veiled mockery. Her long hair shimmered in the light, cascading down her back like a river of black silk. She was the embodiment of beauty and elegance, with an aura that screamed privilege and power. In the Feng Clan, she was treated like royalty, not just by birthright, but by the weight of her skill, and the high esteem everyone placed on her.

"Feng Jiao Xue," Feng Ming’s voice floated across the arena, dripping with condescension. "I must admit, I’m curious. How long do you intend to drag out this charade? Do you honestly think a ’trash’ like you can stand up to me?" She smiled, the curve of her lips as smooth as the moonlight. "I should have finished you when I had the chance" she lowered her voice so that only the two could hear.

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze remained cold, unfazed by the insult. She had heard worse. And the smile of her opponent, her self-righteous arrogance, only fueled the fire within her.

"I don’t need your approval," Feng Jiao Xue retorted, her voice steady, but beneath it lay a simmering intensity. "You may be the favored daughter of the Feng Clan, but don’t forget, we’re all cultivators here. Titles mean nothing."

"Sister Jiao Xue, let’s have a fair fight" Feng Ming just stated loudly for the crowd to hear but her eyes glimmered with mockery, lowering her voice again. "You still don’t understand your place, do you? I suppose that’s to be expected from someone who can barely even cultivate."

The gong sounded again signaling the start of the battle.

Feng Ming raised a hand, as if to dismiss her opponent’s presence entirely and in an instant, the ground beneath her feet crackled with the energy of her magic. "If you don’t know your place, allow me to teach you."

"ThalorZharmaNirath" Jade blast With a single graceful movement, she span her staff as she unleashed a barrage of jade like blasts, toward Feng Jiao Xue. They shot through the air like arrows, fast and precise, their speed and power a testament to her high-level cultivation.

Feng Jiao Xue narrowed her eyes and immediately crouched low, her feet shifting to the side as she avoided the first series of attacks. Her heart pounded in her chest, not from fear, but from the thrill of battle. She could already feel the pressure, the weight of being underestimated. But she would show them. She would show them all.

In one fluid motion, Feng Jiao Xue raised her arm, and a barrier of Qi flared to life around her, deflecting the incoming blasts, shimmering like the sun’s rays refracted through a storm cloud.

Feng Ming’s smile faltered, though it didn’t quite disappear. "Well, well, so the ’trash’ has a little more to her than we thought." She clicked her tongue, not an ounce of fear in her eyes. "But that’s all you have? Pathetic."

"Vaelthar Zharna vel dharen!" Piercing air, tear through my foe! With a snap raise of her staff, , the air around Feng Ming rippled with a powerful force. The ground trembled as the earth itself began to bend to her will. The very atmosphere thickened with her magic, the air compressing in a way that made it hard to breathe. Unlike the one cast before, this time the vortex didn’t just head towards Feng Jiao Xue. The powerful gust of wind whipped through the arena, sharp like a blade.

The barrier protecting the spectators crackled and zapped as the crowed watched in amazement.

Feng Jiao Xue barely had time to react. The winds became violent, a swirling vortex of energy that threatened to tear her apart. She gritted her teeth and gathered her Qi, slamming her feet into the ground as she summoned her own counterattack.

"Shantrae!" She whisphere the word, her voice firm, commanding, hoping the spell without much theory would work, simply envisioning her qi and magic merging to create a shield, with enough qi to mask the fact that it is magic.

A brilliant shield of light formed in front of her, expanding outward in a radiant explosion of power. The gusts slammed into it, shaking the very air around them, but the shield held firm, protecting her from Feng Ming’s attack. The ground beneath them cracked under the force of the wind, but Feng Jiao Xue stood tall, her golden Qi flaring like a beacon of defiance.

"Is that all?" Feng Jiao Xue’s voice rang out, her confidence growing with every moment of resistance. "You may have power, but you’re lacking something crucial."

Feng Ming’s eyes narrowed, her smile turning into a sneer. "And what would that be?"

"Skill," Feng Jiao Xue shot back. "You rely too much on brute force, thinking power alone will win you this fight. It won’t."

Without waiting for Feng Ming to respond, Feng Jiao Xue picked up her sword again and dashed forward, using her qi on her feet to pick up her speed, her movements a blur. She dashed across the arena, closing the distance between them in a flash. Feng Ming raised a hand, summoning a wave of magic to strike her, but Feng Jiao Xue was already there, her sword glowing with an intense yellow light.

"Phantom strike!" Feng Jiao Xue coldly called out, her hand flashing

Feng ming casted a shield qickly but feng Jiao Xue cut through it like a thin piece of paper, stapping her by the shoulder since fatal and death blows are not allowed. The sword collided with Feng Ming’s barrier, causing it to ripple and crack.

Feng Ming staggered back, barely managing to maintain her balance. Her eyes were wide with disbelief. Feng Jiao Xue’s power was greater than she had anticipated, and for the first time, a flicker of uncertainty flashed across her face.

But Feng Ming was quick to recover, her expression returning to one of ice-cold determination. She wasn’t about to let a "trash" like Feng Jiao Xue defeat her. With a growl, she raised her staff to the sky, channeling the magic in the air.

"You’re going to regret this," she hissed. "Feng Jiao Xue, just die already!"

Thalun velora, aeltherin vaelen, dhar vel vī, Thalor, tremireth dharen!

"Upon my call, heed my words, powers beyond myworld, tremble, greatearthandcrushmyenemy"

The ground trembled again, and a shockwave of energy pulsed outward from Feng Ming. It was an attack so powerful it threatened to level the entire arena. But Feng Jiao Xue wasn’t done yet. She wasn’t going to let Feng Ming have the final word.

Feng Jiao Xue’s Qi flared brighter than ever before. The yellow to golden light around her intensified, as if reacting to her emotions, to the fury burning within her. The golden barrier that had protected her earlier now expanded, glowing with an even more intense brilliance.

Her body surged with energy, and in that moment, she felt something snap into place inside her. She was no longer the helpless "trash" everyone had thought she was. No longer the discarded piece of her past.

Her yellow qi slowly turned into a yellow-green, whisp of jade shaded green slowly appearing.

"A break through?" Huang Jin De breathed excitedly, his eyes reflecting Feng Jiao Xue’s figure as if all he could see is her.

In a single movement, Feng Jiao Xue propelled herself forward, launching herself toward Feng Ming with a burst of speed that left the spectators breathless. Her fist, glowing with yellow-green qi, connected with the force of a thunderstrike. Feng Ming’s barrier shattered in an instant, the shockwave knocking her off balance.

Feng Ming’s eyes widened in disbelief as she tumbled back. She barely managed to stay on her feet, her breathing ragged, her clothes singed from the impact.

"Feng Jiao Xue..."

But before she could recover fully, Feng Jiao Xue was already on her again, her golden Qi crackling in the air.

The battle was far from over.