Bao Ren remained completely motionless in the center of the arena.
The air around him seemed to have solidified, transforming into an invisible wall of spiritual pressure. His feet were firmly planted on the cracked stone, his bare toes gripping the very fissures he had created moments earlier. His massive double-bladed axe was raised high above his head, his arms fully extended in a stance reminiscent of an ancient statue of a war god.
An enormous amount of Metal Qi began converging toward his weapon.
The process was slow at first, like dew droplets gathering upon a leaf. Golden particles of energy emerged from the surrounding air, drawn toward the blade like rust to a magnet. Each particle merged into the surface of the axe, increasing its spiritual density.
A golden light grew increasingly intense.
