CHAPTER 321: THE LAST TWO STANDING

Dust still hung in the air.

Hou Ban walked forward again, slow but steady, dragging his giant sword behind him.

Xue Lin wiped more blood from her mouth but smiled. "You’re strong, but strength alone isn’t enough."

She uncoiled her whips again.

The air around her shimmered faintly, a soft dark mist forming at her feet.

She raised one hand slowly and activated [Demon Bloom Waltz].

Her steps became light, like a dancer. Her movement was smooth, almost beautiful.

Even the watching disciples paused.

There was something strange about how she moved.

Tianheng narrowed his eyes. "That’s not just a movement skill... she’s boosting her rhythm."

Xue Lin dashed forward again, zigzagging so fast her form blurred.

Hou Ban tried to strike with [Earth Shatter Swing] again, but missed.

She was already behind him.

Her whip snapped with a crack, using [Fang Lash Combo], a three-strike whip chain aimed at the neck, arm, and knee.

Hou Ban blocked the first, but the second hit his arm, and the third struck his leg.

He staggered.

Xue Lin spun gracefully, her whips flowing around her like ribbons.

She activated [Demon Chain Spiral], making both whips spin in a spiral of dark qi.

The attack was wide, fast, and hard to predict.

Hou Ban tried to defend with [Stone Guard Form], a full-body defense stance, but Xue Lin changed her rhythm mid-attack.

She twisted her body and slipped one whip under his guard.

The tip of the whip wrapped around his neck.

With one pull, she flipped behind him and used [Serpent Fang Drop]

.

A finishing move where the whip pulls the enemy’s head down while she delivers a rising kick under the chin.

The kick landed.

Hou Ban’s body flew back and crashed to the ground, unmoving.

The arena was silent.

Then... the elder raised his hand. "Winner, Xue Lin!"

Cheers followed, but they weren’t loud.

They were confused. Surprised. Impressed.

Xue Lin stood in the middle of the stage, her chest rising and falling.

Her face was calm, her expression untouched by fear or hate.

Only quiet confidence.

She coiled her whips again and looked up at the sky.

The blood on her lips didn’t make her ugly.

It made her look fierce, real, alive.

Even Tianheng raised a brow.

"That girl... she’s not just skilled. She knows how to fight with her whole body."

He smiled slightly.

"She’ll be a problem."

As Xue Lin walked back toward the gate, some guards looked at her with new eyes.

---

The girls looked at Zain as he paused for a sip of tea.

Zelia leaned forward. "Zain... was this Xue Lin your girl?"

Zain blinked. "Huh? What makes you say that?"

Savra smirked. "You described her too well. You made her sound like a goddess."

Velra nodded. "Yeah. You even praised her kicks. That’s rare for you."

Zain chuckled and shook his head. "I didn’t say anything strange. I just told the truth."

Zelia crossed her arms. "So... is it true?"

Zain gave a lazy smirk. "Let’s just say she earned her place beside me. Now let me finish the story."

---

Mo Tianheng walked into the arena.

On the opposite side, Xue Lin stood ready.

She had a calm face, no smile, no fear, only focus.

Neither of them said anything.

They didn’t know each other. There was no hate. Just a goal.

Become the Young Lord.

The elder raised his hand. "Begin!"

Xue Lin vanished first.

She used [Demon Bloom Waltz] again, dancing across the ground like a phantom.

Tianheng didn’t move yet. He waited.

As she appeared to the side, her whip snapped out using [Fang Lash Combo].

Tianheng blocked the first with his dagger, ducked under the second, and rolled forward.

Then he used [Ghost Fang Dash], a burst movement that turned him into a shadow.

Xue Lin was already spinning into [Demon Chain Spiral], her whips forming a wide net.

Tianheng saw an opening and activated [Crimson Step Cut], a move where he stepped once and slashed five times in a flash.

Xue Lin blocked three hits but got cut on her shoulder and hip.

She hissed and jumped back.

"You’re fast," she said simply.

Tianheng nodded. "So are you."

They didn’t smile. They didn’t waste time.

Both dashed in again.

Xue Lin threw her whip forward, using [Serpent Fang Drop], trying to fake him into dodging left.

Tianheng didn’t fall for it.

He ducked low and rolled under, then activated [Void Hook Rip].

A dagger technique that hooks the enemy weapon and drags it down.

He caught her whip and pulled it down, closing the gap.

Then he struck with [Twin Claw Bloom], a spinning attack with both daggers.

Xue Lin jumped, but one blade grazed her leg.

She hit the ground and used [Shadow Coil Grasp] to send dark qi tendrils around her for defense.

Tianheng didn’t rush.

He threw one dagger using [Flicked Demon’s Tooth], a move that made the blade curve in mid-air.

The blade passed her defense and scratched her arm.

Blood dripped.

She clenched her teeth. "You really don’t hold back."

"Neither do you," he replied.

Now both were injured.

They circled.

Then both dashed in at the same time.

Xue Lin used [Sky Whip Rain], sending many small whip strikes in all directions.

Tianheng activated [Heavenly Demon Eyes].

A rare part of the Heavenly Demon Art that let him see all movement in slow vision for a few seconds.

He stepped through her whip strikes calmly.

One.

Two.

Three.

Then appeared right in front of her.

He used [Heaven-Split Fang], a downward double-blade slash using full force and qi.

She blocked, but her arms shook. The power was too much.

She tried to dodge, but he chained it with [Abyss Step Fang], stepping behind her and striking her back.

She gasped as the blade hit her back and made her drop to one knee.

Tianheng pointed his blade at her.

"It’s over."

Xue Lin breathed hard, but she didn’t move.

The elder stood.

"Winner, Mo Tianheng!"