Read Novel Full Chapter 322: The Final Battle (2)
Chapter 322: The Final Battle (2)
It was not a small bird like before. It was gigantic, as large as the arena itself. Its red fire wings spread wide, and the heat was so intense that the spectators in the nearest stands instinctively stepped back.
The bird flew toward Kyrian.
Kyrian did not move.
He simply concentrated his Qi into the sword. His eyes shone as the ancestral sword’s intent and sharp Qi gathered on the blade. A deep green hue emerged, cutting and alive.
In a few seconds, Kyrian’s sword shone with a green light that rivaled the bird’s red fire.
He raised the sword. And cut.
The strike was not complex. It was not a secret technique or an elaborate movement. It was just a cut, pure, direct, and absolute.
The green blade sliced through the air.
The white fire phoenix opened its mouth as if to swallow Kyrian.
The green cut entered through the phoenix’s mouth and exited through its tail.
The celestial bird split in half.
The two halves of the phoenix continued flying for an instant, their bodies of fire breaking apart into embers that scattered across the sky like a rain of stars. The heat diminished. The light faded.
And Kyrian’s cut continued.
It struck Huo Ling squarely in the chest.
The young man of the Flaming Sword was thrown backward like a burned leaf. His body flew more than fifteen meters before crashing heavily onto the plateau ground, outside the arena. Blood flowed from his lips. His sword rolled away from his hand.
He tried to stand but could not. His arms trembled. His chest burned.
But he was alive. Kyrian, once again, had controlled the force of the strike.
The Leader of the Ancient Forest Sect raised his hand.
"Kyrian wins! The Verdant Sword Sect is the new champion of the Gathering of Domains!"
The silence lasted only a second.
Then the entire plateau exploded.
Shouts, applause, whistles. Thousands of cultivators rose from their seats, clapping and shouting Kyrian’s name. Even the envoys of the fourth-level forces applauded, some sincerely, others with thoughtful expressions.
"Champion!"
"Kyrian! Kyrian! Kyrian!"
"He won without even breaking a sweat!"
"The underdog won! Who would have thought a disciple from a mid-tier sect would take the title!"
"Underdog? He was never an underdog. He was always the strongest."
Kyrian sheathed his sword and stepped down from the arena calmly. His face showed no euphoria, only quiet satisfaction.
He passed by Huo Ling, who was being helped to his feet by disciples of the Ancient Forest.
"Good fight," Kyrian said.
Huo Ling coughed blood but smiled.
"You’re a monster. I hope I never have to fight you again."
Kyrian almost smiled.
Deep down, he knew that this competition had never truly been a challenge for him. His level was far above everyone present. But at least, in the end, he had found an opponent who respected the sword as much as he did.
The Leader of the Ancient Forest Sect stood at the center of the arena, his voice echoing across the plateau.
"The Gathering of Domains has come to an end! The champion is Kyrian, of the Verdant Sword Sect! Now, I will present the rewards, and after that, the envoys will speak."
The crowd applauded once more.
Kyrian looked at the sky. The sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon, painting it orange.
The competition had ended.
The sun was already low on the horizon when the Leader of the Ancient Forest Sect raised his hand, calling for silence.
The plateau, which moments before had been erupting in applause and shouts, gradually quieted. Thousands of eyes were still fixed on the arena, but now the anticipation was different. The competition had ended. Now it was time for the rewards.
"As is tradition in the Gathering of Domains," the leader announced, his voice echoing across the plateau.
"The best among the best shall be rewarded."
He made a gesture, and disciples of the Ancient Forest appeared carrying trays of living wood covered with red cloths.
"Tenth place, from the Silver Moon Sect!"
A silver-haired youth stepped onto the stage, his face tired but proud. He received a pouch of spirit stones and a bottle of recovery pills.
"Ninth place, from the Mortal Fist Sect!"
The man with calloused hands stepped up, limping. His fingers were still bandaged, but his eyes shone.
The leader continued calling the names. Eighth, seventh, sixth. Each of the top ten received their rewards, some more valuable than others, but all significant.
"Third place, Mu Qing, of the Ancient Forest Sect!"
Mu Qing stepped onto the stage with steady steps, despite the injuries still marking his body. He received an ancestral wooden sword, as valuable as any spiritual metal weapon.
"Second place, Huo Ling, of the Flaming Sword Sect!"
Huo Ling was visibly injured, but he walked to the center of the arena with his head held high. He received a white flame inside a crystal lamp, a treasure that could strengthen any fire technique.
"And the champion." The leader paused dramatically.
"Kyrian, of the Verdant Sword Sect!"
Kyrian stepped up calmly. His face showed no euphoria, only serene composure. The leader handed him an ancient scroll and a pouch of mid-grade spirit stones.
"This scroll contains an ancient sword technique," the leader said in a low voice, only for Kyrian to hear.
Kyrian nodded in gratitude.
"I thank you." It was not useful for Kyrian, but it could serve as a reference, or he could give it to the Verdant Sword Sect or sell it for a high price at an auction if he needed money.
The rewards were distributed. The top ten stepped down from the stage. The Leader of the Ancient Forest raised his hand again.
"Now, I invite all one hundred participants of the final phase to gather at the center of the arena."
There was a general movement. The youths who had fought in the previous days, many still bearing visible injuries, walked toward the center of the plateau. Kyrian joined them, as did Mo Tianhai, Mo Xia, Long Xue, Shen Yu, and Wu Jian.
The Leader of the Ancient Forest bowed toward the VIP stands.
"The envoys of the 4° level forces have the floor."