blueteamnovel Chapter 9 – The Dueling Stage
Chapter 9 – The Dueling Stage
Chapter 9 – The Dueling Stage
Dawn broke over Azure Dragon Academy, streaks of crimson and gold stretching across the endless sky as the first rays of light illuminated the grand halls, towering pagodas, and vast courtyards where countless disciples trained day and night.
But today was different.
Today, the academy was not simply waking up to another day of cultivation and lectures.
Today, a battle was about to take place.
And it was no ordinary duel.
Xiao Lin versus Wei Tong.
A fight that should have been one-sided, yet had drawn more attention than any Outer Court battle in years.
By the time the sun had fully risen, the Outer Court’s Grand Dueling Stage was already surrounded by hundreds of disciples, all eager to witness the confrontation firsthand.
The platform itself was a massive, elevated stone structure, reinforced by layers of enchanted formations designed to withstand even the most violent clashes. At its center, two large pillars stood tall, each inscribed with the academy’s sacred combat laws—once the duel began, neither party could leave the stage unless they surrendered or were defeated.
Excitement buzzed through the air as disciples filled the surrounding stands, their voices overlapping in hurried whispers.
"Do you think Xiao Lin really has a chance?"
"He must be hiding something. No way he would accept if he knew he’d lose."
"I heard Wei Tong has been furious since yesterday. He’s planning to make an example out of him."
"Who cares? We finally get to see if this so-called return is real or just a fluke."
Betting pools had already been formed, with the majority placing their wagers on Wei Tong. His Seventh Level Qi Gathering Realm cultivation and reputation as one of the strongest Outer Court disciples made him the clear favorite.
But still—there were those who hesitated.
Because Xiao Lin’s calmness terrified them.@@@@
And that uncertainty was beginning to spread.
At the far end of the stands, seated in a private viewing section reserved for the academy’s highest-ranked disciples, a figure leaned forward slightly, resting his chin against his hand as he watched the dueling stage with quiet amusement.
Zhan Kanzi.
The man who had crippled Xiao Lin.
He had remained silent ever since the duel was announced, neither supporting nor opposing it. He had not interfered, nor had he called upon his faction to suppress Xiao Lin further.
And yet—he had come to watch.
That alone spoke volumes.
A junior disciple standing beside him hesitated before finally mustering the courage to speak. "Senior Zhan, do you... think Xiao Lin can actually win?"
Zhan Kanzi didn’t respond immediately.
His dark eyes, sharp and thoughtful, remained fixed on the empty dueling stage.
Then, after a long pause, he finally chuckled.
"Begin!"
Wei Tong moved instantly.
Lightning-fast, a burst of Qi erupting beneath his feet as he surged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His right fist lashed out, enhanced by the explosive force of his cultivation, aiming directly for Xiao Lin’s chest.
A single strike.
Strong. Precise. Brutal.
If it connected, it would send Xiao Lin flying across the stage, bones shattered, his entire body crumpling under the impact.
But—
The strike never landed.
Because just as Wei Tong’s fist was about to collide with his target, Xiao Lin vanished.
Not stepped aside. Not dodged.
Vanished.
Wei Tong’s pupils shrank.
Then—pain.
A fist slammed directly into his abdomen, the force of the impact so sudden, so overwhelming, that his entire body arched backward as a shockwave exploded outward.
CRACK.
Wei Tong was lifted off the ground, his body flung backward with terrifying speed, crashing into the stone floor at the opposite end of the stage with a deafening thud.
Silence.
For a moment, no one moved.
No one breathed.
Wei Tong—Seventh Level Qi Gathering Realm, one of the strongest Outer Court disciples—had been struck once.
And in that single strike, he had been sent flying across the stage like a broken doll.
Xiao Lin hadn’t even moved from his starting position.
The academy disciples watching from the stands could only stare, their minds struggling to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
And then—fear.
Because at that moment, as the dust settled, as Xiao Lin slowly lowered his fist, a terrifying truth became clear.
This wasn’t a battle.
This was an execution.
And it had only just begun.