Chapter 10: Dual
Mo Yanyu stood on the elevated battle stage, her black cloak draped around her slender frame, obscuring her body but leaving her face visible. Her expression was indifferent, her eyes calm as they met Han Tianming's gaze.
Han Tianming smirked, cracking his knuckles as he took a step forward. "You can start first," he offered, his voice brimming with arrogance.
Mo Yanyu raised an eyebrow. "I'd rather not hear excuses later," she replied coolly. "If I start first and you lose instantly, you might claim you weren't ready or that you underestimated me. So go ahead. Show me what you've got."
Han Tianming's lips curled in irritation. He clenched his fists, flames flickering to life around his body. "Fine. Then prepare yourself."
With a burst of speed, Han Tianming dashed forward, his fist engulfed in a roaring fire. He aimed directly for her chest, a powerful strike that could incinerate a lesser opponent on impact.
Mo Yanyu, however, moved with effortless grace. With a subtle shift of her body, she sidestepped his attack, the burning fist grazing the empty air where she once stood. Despite her swift movement, her cloak barely fluttered, as if undisturbed by the wind.
Han Tianming narrowed his eyes. "Not bad," he admitted, before launching a barrage of fiery punches. Each strike was backed by searing heat, and in between his punches, he exhaled bursts of flame, attempting to catch her off guard.
Mo Yanyu moved like a shadow, slipping past every attack with fluid precision. She barely seemed to exert any effort, her feet barely making a sound as she evaded his onslaught.
"Waste of energy," she muttered.
Han Tianming grits his teeth, frustration creeping into his expression. "You won't be able to dodge forever!"
He suddenly changed tactics. His next punch struck the ground, creating an eruption of fire and debris around them. The heatwave surged outward, intending to engulf Mo Yanyu completely.
However, as the flames cleared, she stood unharmed, her cloak still draped neatly over her body. She had moved at the last possible moment, evading even the heat with unnatural precision.
Mo Yanyu exhaled, her patience wearing thin. "I think I've seen enough. I'm tired of playing."
A dark aura surged from behind her, twisting and expanding. The air grew heavy as a massive pair of shadowy hands materialized, their fingers curling menacingly.
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Han Tianming's instincts screamed at him to retreat. He leaped back, fire flaring around him to propel himself to safety, but it was too late.
The giant hands moved with terrifying speed, lurching forward and seizing him midair. The grip was suffocating, the darkness leeching away his strength. Before he could react, the hands flung him skyward, sending him soaring far above the stage.
Han Tianming's eyes widened as he ascended, the ground shrinking beneath him. If he fell from this height, even a cultivator of his level would suffer severe injuries—or worse.
With gritted teeth, he willed his flames to explode outward, slowing his descent. He managed to stabilize himself, landing with a thud, but the moment his feet touched the ground, Mo Yanyu was already in front of him.
"You survived? Impressive," she murmured.
Before he could react, the shadowy hands struck again. They wrapped around him, lifting him like a ragdoll before slamming him into the ground. A sickening crunch echoed through the arena.
Then they lifted him again.
And slammed him down.
Again.
And again.
The spectators were silent, their faces frozen in shock as they watched Han Tianming's body being battered mercilessly. Even the elders of the Mo Clan and Han Clan were stunned, their disbelief evident.
"Enough!" A powerful voice thundered.
An elder from the Han Clan shot forward, his aura flaring with authority. He launched a precise attack at Mo Yanyu, forcing her to retreat. The shadowy hands dissipated instantly as if they had never existed.
The elder rushed to Han Tianming's side, checking his condition. The once-proud young man was barely conscious, blood trickling from his lips.
Mo Jingxia felt a mixture of emotions—shock, disbelief, and rising fury. His daughter had just effortlessly crushed an opponent at the 8th Stage of the Mortal Elemental Realm, a feat no one had expected.
However, his astonishment quickly turned to anger as he realized the consequences. Injuring Han Tianming could provoke the Han Clan's wrath. He turned to confront Mo Yanyu, but she was already gone.
His face darkened. "Damn it!" he cursed under his breath. Without hesitation, he stormed towards Mo Yanyu's room, his fury rising with every step.