A massive wave of air, wrapped with flames, exploded with a rumble. In an instant, tables and chairs went flying.
The gathered diners cried out, stumbling back in fright.
A slender, jade-like leg wrapped in crimson Spirit Power broke out of the flames and kicked viciously at Bai Chenxiang, who had attacked Li Zhexian.
Bai Chenxiang flew backward like a kite with a broken string for more than ten meters. Her back slammed heavily against a pillar, shaking loose rustling dust.
As the flames slowly dispersed—
A tall, striking girl stepped forth amidst the fire,
her fiery, wavy crimson hair still crackling with sparks.
Her whole body reeked of liquor. She glanced back at Li Zhexian, burped with drunken dissatisfaction.
"I... I thought you'd run off, brat!"
"Got into a fight and didn't even say a word!"
As she spoke, she suddenly turned around and looked at Tang San's unpleasant face.
"So you lot think you can bully with numbers?!" Huo Wu suddenly raised her voice. Her voice resounded throughout the entire Shànxiāng Pavilion.
"Brothers!"
"Someone's trying to gang up on Sword Wine!"
The moment her words fell, one figure after another, wrapped with violent Spirit Power, descended, breaking through the window of a private room on the second floor and smashing down with a rumble behind Li Zhexian.
The floor cracked inch by inch. Wood chips mixed with dust and smoke surged open.
"Who?!"
"Who the hell dares lay a hand on Brother Zhexian?!"
As the dust and smoke gradually dispersed—
It revealed—
The full lineup of the Emperial Battle Team.
Along with Huo Wushuang, Feng Xiaotian, Yu Tianxin, Hu Yanli, and other geniuses from the preliminaries.
Adding in the vice-captains of the various teams, nearly twenty people stood behind Li Zhexian.
Their powerful auras, mixed with the stench of wine, swept across the entire hall.
The diners knew Sword Wine was here today with his friends.
But to witness so many geniuses standing behind that white-robed youth—
They were still stunned speechless.
Tang San and his companions' expressions changed completely.
Weren't they told Sword Wine was privately meeting Zhu Zhuqing?!
How had all these people appeared?!
The Emperial Battle Team was one thing—
But Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, Feng Xiaotian, Yu Tianxin, Hu Yanli…
These were all top-ranked geniuses of the Heaven Dou preliminaries—were they all Sword Wine's friends?!
"Sword Wine…" Tang San's throat went dry. His inner dread of Li Zhexian had reached its peak.
Oscar, staring at the white-robed youth surrounded by countless geniuses, suddenly felt the scene familiar. A spark of realization struck, his eyes widening.
"That time on the street… that was Sword Wine!"
That day, they were all wondering who had such a grand display, being held up like the moon by all the stars from several strong teams.
Today, they witnessed it with their own eyes.
Bai Chenxiang staggered back clutching her stomach.
Xiao Wu's pink eyes brimmed with sorrow.
She could not understand…
Why her Third Brother insisted on provoking someone like Li Zhexian?
Ning Rongrong's pretty face was pale.
The more dazzling Li Zhexian shone,
The deeper the crack of regret carved into her heart.
"If…"
"If I had never parted from Brother Zhexian back then…"
"Would I be the one standing by his side now…"
"Do I still have a chance?"
Feng Buyu was so drunk he was swaying as he stood. But in his eyes, a light of excitement burned.
Rolling up his sleeves, a wind-forged sword coalesced in his hand. He raised it, pointing straight at Tang San.
"So you're Tang San, huh?!"
"You're the one trying to gang up on my brother?!"
Feng Buyu's roar was like a battle horn. Huo Wushuang and the others, who were already tipsy and flushed from wine, cried and howled as they lunged forward.
Spirit Abilities of every kind poured down like a torrential storm.
The hall instantly turned into the center of a Spirit Power storm. Tables and chairs were torn to shreds by the fierce wind, and cracks appeared on the pillars.
Tang San pushed his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step to its utmost.
His form flickered like smoke.
Yet a blazing fist still grazed his shoulder.
His clothes charred and curled.
Tang San staggered back, blood welling on his brow, teeth clenched as he shouted:
"You guys are ganging up on the few?!"
"Aren't you afraid of being disqualified from the finals?!"
Feng Buyu sneered as he split one of his afterimages with his sword. "You are such a hypocrite!"
"And weren't you the one who wanted to gang up on the few just now?"
Yu Tianheng's dragon claws ripped through the air.
"As long as we don't kill you, it's fine!"
"With so many of our teams here, can they disqualify us all?!"
"You think your trash Shrek team alone can fight the other strong teams for the championship?!"
In the torrent of Spirit Abilities—
Tang San's protective Mysterious Heaven Skill cracked inch by inch.
He could hardly hold on.
Just then—
"Enough!"
A sharp shout pierced through the noise.
Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong stormed in with the three Board of Education members of Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.
A golden holy dragon's phantom coiled overhead,
Suppressing the rampaging currents of Spirit Power.
The outcome was already certain.
Under the glare of several icy gazes, Tang San and Dai Mubai could only swallow their pride and apologize.
Li Zhexian's lips curved in a smile.
His voice light as falling feathers—
Yet each word hammered into the hearts of Tang San and Dai Mubai.
"See you in the arena."
Dai Mubai's face was ashen, not wanting to linger another moment.
When he reached the doorstep, Tang San suddenly turned back. He clenched his hands until his knuckles cracked.
"Sword Wine—see you in the arena!"
...
There was no way they could drink anymore.
The first floor of Shànxiāng Pavilion was nearly wrecked.
As for the damages—
It certainly wasn't going to be paid for by Li Zhexian's group.
Before Shrek left, Flender trembled as he laid down several dozen gold coins.
The commotion had been too great.
Just as Li Zhexian's group prepared to leave and find noodles instead—
Xue Qinghe, though burdened with imperial affairs, came running in, face anxious.
"Li Zhexian! Are you alright?!"
Before her words finished—
Li Zhexian already had an arm slung over her shoulder.
"My good brother, you came just in time!"
Seeing he was unscathed, Xue Qinghe exhaled in relief.
She had long since grown used to his casual arm around her.
At his words, her fine brows arched.
"Keep the tab, shopkeeper."
"Heh."
...
Two days passed swiftly.
Tomorrow, the five qualifying teams would depart Heaven Dou to represent the Empire in Spirit City.
But before that—
Farewells came first.
Led by Li Zhexian, a group went outside the city to see off the disciples of the Wind Sword Sect.
"Brother Buyu." Li Zhexian frowned, handing over a wine flask. "Weren't we supposed to go to Spirit City together? Why are you leaving so suddenly?"
Feng Buyu tilted back the flask, took a swig, and wiped his lips.
"An urgent order from the sect. But…"
He lowered his voice.
"The disciple who delivered the message had a smile on his lips. It should be joy, not worry."
Li Zhexian nodded thoughtfully. "Then I wish you safe travels, Brother Buyu!"
"And I wish Brother Zhexian victory!" As Feng Buyu spoke, He cupped his hands toward Yu Tianheng, Feng Xiaotian, and the others behind Li Zhexian.
"To have met such friends on this journey has been my greatest fortune!"
"You're all welcome to visit my Wind Sword Sect when you have a chance. I'll surely give you a warm welcome!"
Yu Tianheng, Feng Xiaotian, and the rest replied with smiles.
Hooves clattered, dust rolled.
Feng Buyu suddenly reined in and looked back.
From his sleeve he drew a jade-green bamboo tube.
He tossed it through the air to Li Zhexian.
"I almost forgot!"
"When the Sect Master returned to the mountain, he specifically asked to give this to Brother Zhexian!"
Saying this, Feng Buyu turned and departed, his blue robe soon disappearing at the end of the winding official road.
Li Zhexian lowered his gaze to the bamboo tube in his hand.
Suddenly, he felt it tremble faintly.
As if a hidden sword cry echoed within.
His brows arched.
The instant his fingers flicked open the bamboo seal—
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
A wisp of clear wind coiled around his wrist.
In an instant, it became a spiraling current that enveloped him.
Within the wind came hearty laughter, resonant like clashing steel, ringing in his ears.
"Today, this old man attains the title of 'Wind Sword,' all thanks to the jar of Wandering Spirit Wind Essense gifted by young friend Zhexian!"
"Such joyous news—I could not wait for a messenger crane. So I send this bamboo tube of clear wind to celebrate with you!"
Li Zhexian suddenly lifted his head.
His eyes reflected the swirling wind vortex.
Smiling, he raised his robe sleeves and bowed deeply toward the direction of the Wind Sword Sect.
The wind filling his sleeves—
Carried his congratulatory words into the distant clouds.
"Congratulations, Senior, on attaining your Title—may your sword cry resound through the nine heavens!"