LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Meeting of Light and Shadow.
The Spirit Hall's grand colosseum was packed. Every corner was occupied by spirit masters from various sects and academies, all gathered to witness the grand competition. It was an opportunity not only to demonstrate individual strength, but also to measure the power of future generations. The tension was palpable in the air.
Xu Tian entered the colosseum with a confident stride, accompanied by other disciples of the Eternal Sun Sect. His golden uniform glowed under the light, and his martial spirit, the Blazing Sun, seemed to manifest naturally around him, as if his aura radiated warmth. "Today is the day the Sun will illuminate this colosseum," he declared arrogantly.
On the other side of the colosseum, Yue Lian silently walked alongside the disciples of the Immaculate Moon Sect. Her movements were graceful, almost imperceptible, as if the light itself avoided touching her. The presence of the Silent Moon around them made the shadows seem deeper, his aura projecting an eerie calm.
"Is that Xu Tian?" a disciple of his sect murmured. "They say he defeated three rank 40 spirit masters when he was still rank 35."
"No matter how bright the Sun is," Yue Lian replied coldly. "Night always comes."
The first round of matches was quick. The less experienced participants were effortlessly eliminated by the prodigies of each sect. Xu Tian, with his area attack skill, Rising Solar Flame, dispatched his opponents with ease, while Yue Lian used her control skill, Entangling Shadows, to disorient and neutralize her rivals without even breaking a sweat.
Finally, the long-awaited matchup arrived: Xu Tian versus Yue Lian.
The audience erupted into murmurs of anticipation. Light versus shadow. Sun versus Moon. It was a duel that many considered inevitable, and everyone was eager to see the outcome.
As the two stepped onto the fighting platform, their martial spirits automatically manifested. Xu Tian summoned the Blazing Sun, a flaming orb that floated above his shoulder, while Yue Lian deployed the Silent Moon, a silver disc that seemed to absorb the light around it. They were both at rank 40, with four spirit rings shining behind them. Xu Tian's rings were yellow, yellow, purple, and purple, while Yue Lian's were a similar combination, though their colors seemed duller, as if they were covered by a shadow.
"I'm warning you," Xu Tian said, his voice filled with confidence. "Retreat now. I don't want to humiliate you in front of everyone."
Yue Lian didn't reply. Instead, she raised a hand, and her first yellow ring shone. Silent Shadow, a skill that reduced her opponent's perception, enveloped the arena. Xu Tian frowned as he noticed the light in his spirit beginning to wane.
"Interesting," Xu Tian muttered. His first ring also glowed, activating Solar Flash, an attack that dispersed the shadow temporarily. "But you'll need more than tricks to take me on."
The match continued with overwhelming intensity. Xu Tian attacked with a combination of offensive attacks and areas of extreme heat, while Yue Lian countered with illusions, control, and precise deflections. Each move seemed designed to frustrate the other, their opposing styles creating a mesmerizing spectacle.
Finally, both used their fourth spirit abilities. Xu Tian's purple fourth ring glowed with a blinding radiance as he activated Devastating Solar Flame, a massive area attack. Yue Lian, unfazed, used Eternal Shadows, a defensive ability that absorbed some of the damage and deflected the rest into the ground.
The result was a technical draw. Both fell to the ground, exhausted but determined. Although no one had officially won, the audience was amazed by the intensity of the duel.
From the stands, a hooded old man watched silently. "The Sun and the Moon have finally met," he muttered to himself. "The Eclipse is near."