Chapter 19 - Duel between Element Adepts (2)

"Forget it. I bet my beak will crush it just by touching it. I also detect other snakes of similar size. No use hunting trash," the largest of the phoenixes answered.

"Slither away, little one. Escape!" the mother hissed, turning to the cave behind her. "Take your kin and escape!"

"No," the tiny snake hissed as one double its size bit into it, joining dozens of others fleeing. Snakes of all kinds slithered away while their guardian fought against the giant phoenixes. Many were killed by the backlash of energy surging from the battle. The tiny snake crashed into a tree and lost consciousness. When it awoke, all it saw were broken trees and giant boulders of flesh scattered everywhere, with gold scales among the debris.

This was the true reason Guo Yang hated phoenixes above all other birds. He hated Blue Heart String Phoenixes, but he despised Heaven Swallowing Phoenixes the most. He lost his mother that day and never knew love afterward, closing off his heart. In his past life, he hunted down the other two phoenixes but the leader had already ascended to the Immortal Realm. He killed each and every phoenix of that species and stopped only when he believed them extinct.

"I can't allow it to happen!" Shen Dong cried, blasting the five snakes into the walls with his heavy sword and charging at Guo Yang's left flank as the phoenix and Guo Yang clashed. Both were initial Element Adepts, and both were pushed back. Guo Yang snarled and unleashed his Moon Slicer Art, sending blades of water at the approaching Shen Dong while he sprinted toward the phoenix.

The phoenix spread its wings, feathers made of light spirit energy surging toward Guo Yang like a storm of arrows.

"Fuck you!" he roared, using his Viper's Dominance Art to destroy the feathers with a shockwave of spirit energy. Some in the crowd cried out as the energy explosions pushed them back.

"Stop!" Shen Dong cried as his heavy sword became enveloped in flames and slashed down at Guo Yang, who was preparing to throw his spear. Spirit energy swirled into the spear, transforming it into a giant jade weapon. The air around it shrieked, and even the ground and his own clothes turned to stone, shattering under the intense spirit energy.

"Vengeance is mine! Take my ultimate poison spear practitioner art, Jade Poison Desolation Spear Art!" Guo Yang shrieked, hurling the spear. However, Shen Dong's flaming sword redirected its trajectory. Guo Yang quickly used his Frost Snake Prison Art, creating a sphere of ice to shield himself. The ice cracked under Shen Dong's blows, but did not shatter. Though the art was meant to capture prey, it served as his defense instead.

"Nooo!" Shen Dong cried, turning toward his magical beast. Sensing danger, the phoenix flew upwards. The altered trajectory of the spear, intended for the phoenix’s chest, now hit beneath its left wing as it flew away. The spear took several feathers with it and turned part of the wall into stone. The phoenix lost some feathers, but its flesh remained intact. The feathers would regrow in a few days.

"You piece of shit! You saved it!" Guo Yang roared as he shattered his ice prison. Enraged, he covered his fist with his Stone Breaker Art, forming a small boulder that he slammed into Shen Dong's back. Shen Dong cried out and fell to the ground. Guo Yang prepared to deliver a finishing blow, his axe kick poised to smash Shen Dong's head.

"This tournament is over! Shen Dong is defeated and is ranked second. Guo Yang is the victor!" Guan Hai announced, causing Guo Yang to pause, sensing Guan Hai's spirit energy. The crowd erupted in applause, thrilled by the intense display of practitioner arts. Some spectators gained insights and left to meditate, while others marveled at the spear embedded in the wall and Guo Yang’s overwhelming power.

"Yang'er!" Guo Jing cried as Guo Yang coughed up blood, his spirit armor vanishing. Clearly, Guo Yang had used a forbidden technique to form the spirit armor, augmenting his spirit energy. He had risked his life to kill the Heaven Swallowing Phoenix. Guo Jing caught him as he collapsed, unconscious.

"Quick, grab Mei'er and Lin'er! Take their weapons, and let’s leave with the snakes," Guo Jing ordered as several powerful practitioners advanced.

"A forbidden technique to create spirit armor! I must have it!" one practitioner shouted, surging forward. However, Guo Li intercepted him, her cultivation at the peak of the Meteor Vessel Stage.

"You dare commit crimes in front of me, Guan Hai!" the Earth Mortal bellowed, stopping the greedy practitioners in their tracks. Though many belonged to clans with elders at the Meteor Vessel Stage, none dared challenge someone of Guo Li’s power or Guan Hai’s Earth Mortal level.

"Thank you, Ancestor, and we apologize for the mayhem caused by my grandson," Guo Jing said as they left the arena.

"I'll take your head for threatening my grandson," Guo Li snapped, tearing the man's head off with her bare hands. She seized his weapon and spirit ring.

"That’s acceptable," Guan Hai nodded, helping Shen Dong to his feet as the injured phoenix struggled to land. "Prince Shen Dong, I recommend keeping your phoenix out of the academy for a while. Guo Yang has a deeper grudge against this particular species than even the rumors suggest."

"It’s lost feathers and won’t be able to fly. A grounded bird is a dead one," Shen Dong agreed, sending the phoenix back to its realm. "Guan Hai, did I really lose?"

"If Guo Yang hadn’t been consumed with rage or used lethal techniques, you would have won. You clearly had the advantage. If you had kept your distance instead of summoning your beast, victory was yours. But you can’t change the past. You made it to the top eight, and that’s what matters most," Guan Hai nodded. "Now, check on your cousin and the third member of the imperial clan in your dorm. I’ve ensured it's guarded by retired imperial guards. I’ll also send some to secretly protect the Guo Clan. The Imperial Majesty is interested in Guo Lin because of his Yin Yang divine tattoo, and Guo Yang’s poisonous herb supply benefits the Alchemist Foundation, which provides elixirs and poisons to our army. He has already saved many lives and taken many more by supplying those herbs. Their safety will be assured for the remainder of the competition."

"Good. I need to defeat my elder brother and sister. I know I can’t win one-on-one. Let’s take Shen Hua back," Shen Dong said as the duo left the chaotic arena, leaving the aftermath to the staff of the Tang Arts School for Practitioners.