I only wanted to kill a chicken, not split the heaven

The ground split open, sending cracks across the entire arena. Disciples screamed and stumbled back as dust filled the air.

Lan Yue raised her sword. "Protect the disciples!"

Li Ming covered his face with his arm, coughing. "Why does this always happen after we win something?!"

Bai Guo groaned. "Descendant, your luck has officially gone from bad to cursed!"

Through the settling dust, the crimson figure stepped forward. His aura pressed down on everyone like a mountain. Even the elders in the stands frowned, whispering amongst themselves.

The man's eyes glowed red, his voice steady but cold. "This tournament is meaningless. Strength should be proven in blood, not games."

Lan Yue glared. "You dare disrupt a sacred event?"

The man tilted his head. "Sacred? Weaklings fighting under rules is sacred?"

Li Ming's jaw clenched. "You know, for someone who interrupts other people's matches, you sure talk a lot."

A ripple of laughter passed through the crowd—nervous, unsure.

The intruder ignored it, raising one hand. Crimson energy surged from his palm, forming a blade of pure Qi. It hummed with terrifying power.

Wu Jian stepped forward, aura flaring. "Who are you?"

The man's lips curved into a faint, cruel smile. "A survivor of the Crimson Blade Sect."

Everyone froze.

Li Ming blinked. "Wait, didn't we just beat them?!"

Lan Yue narrowed her eyes. "He's no ordinary member. That energy… it's far above Foundation Building."

Bai Guo's feathers bristled even in human form. "That's Core Formation level—maybe higher!"

The intruder spread his arms. "Your sect humiliated mine. I'll return the favor."

Before anyone could react, he vanished—then reappeared right in front of Lan Yue.

Their blades clashed, sparks bursting like lightning.

The impact sent a shockwave that blew Li Ming and the others back several steps.

"Lan Yue!" Li Ming shouted.

She slid across the ground, blocking another strike just in time. "Stay back, Li Ming! He's—"

But the intruder suddenly appeared behind her.

Lan Yue twisted, barely blocking the next attack. The collision cracked the tiles under their feet.

Li Ming's mind raced. If that's Core Formation, one direct hit could kill me.

He clenched his fists anyway. But I can't just stand here!

He dashed forward, channeling Qi through his legs. "Iron Palm—Bursting Impact!"

His palm struck the man's side—

—but the intruder didn't even flinch.

A smirk formed under the crimson aura. "Not bad… for a child."

The next instant, Li Ming was thrown backward by a wave of red energy. He crashed through two stone pillars before landing hard on the ground.

"Li Ming!" Bai Guo sprinted over, dragging him up.

Li Ming coughed. "Okay… new plan… maybe I should stay back."

Lan Yue gritted her teeth, still locked in combat. "He's after the sect's core disciples! Keep the others safe!"

Wu Jian nodded and motioned for the rest of the team to fall back. But as they retreated, the ground trembled again.

The intruder's crimson aura spread outward like a storm. "All of you… unworthy."

Dozens of disciples around the arena collapsed under the pressure, barely able to breathe.

Bai Guo's voice turned sharp. "Lan Yue can't hold that forever! We need to do something!"

Li Ming forced himself to stand, his legs shaking. He reached into his robes and pulled out a glowing talisman. "I've been saving this for emergencies…"

Bai Guo stared. "That's from the alchemy hall! It's unstable!"

"Exactly," Li Ming said with a grin. "Unstable means powerful!"

Before Bai Guo could stop him, Li Ming activated the talisman.

A golden wave of energy exploded from his hand, racing straight toward the intruder.

The man turned, eyes narrowing. "What—"

BOOM!

The explosion lit up the arena like a small sun. Dust and flames spiraled high into the sky.

Everyone shielded their faces. When the light faded, a huge crater smoked where the intruder stood.

Li Ming wobbled, his hair half-scorched. "Did… did that work?"

Bai Guo blinked at the hole. "Either he's gone, or we just invented a new volcano."

For a few seconds, everything was silent. Even the crowd held its breath.

Then—

A low chuckle echoed from within the smoke.

The air trembled.

The crimson figure stepped out, completely unharmed, his aura now burning brighter. "Interesting… you actually managed to itch me."

Li Ming's face went pale. "Oh no."

Lan Yue took a defensive stance beside him. "Everyone—formation now!"

Bai Guo's eyes flashed gold. "Descendant, don't move without my signal. This time, we're fighting together."

Li Ming nodded, swallowing hard. "Got it. Though… please tell me your signal isn't just 'run'."

The air buzzed with tension as crimson energy gathered once again, spiraling toward the arena's center.

Lan Yue gripped her sword tighter. "Brace yourselves."

The man raised his hand slowly—and the entire arena began to glow red.

------

The entire arena glowed crimson. Dust floated midair, frozen by pressure alone.

Every disciple felt it — the sheer, crushing power of a cultivator beyond their level.

Li Ming gritted his teeth. "This guy's aura alone feels like a mountain sitting on my chest!"

Bai Guo's wings burst open, feathers shimmering with spiritual light. "Then we'll smash that mountain together!"

Lan Yue's sword blazed with silver Qi as she took the lead. "Everyone, focus attacks on his blind spots!"

The crimson man smiled faintly. "Blind spots? I have none."

He vanished.

A heartbeat later, Lan Yue barely blocked a strike from behind. Sparks exploded as her sword bent under the pressure.

Li Ming reacted instantly — channeling Qi into his legs, he darted forward. "He's fast, but not faster than lightning!"

He launched Thunderstep, appearing behind the man. His palm glowed blue with electric Qi.

"Thunder Palm — Shatter!"

The impact cracked the ground — but the intruder caught his wrist mid-strike.

"Nice trick," he said, twisting Li Ming's arm effortlessly. "Too slow."

Before he could counter, Bai Guo swooped down, slamming both feet into the intruder's chest.

A burst of golden feathers sliced the air, each one carrying spiritual force.

The crimson man slid back a few steps, the ground beneath him hissing from the energy clash.

His eyes narrowed. "Interesting… an ancient bloodline."

"Ancient enough to kick your face in!" Bai Guo roared, sending another wave of energy feathers flying.

Lan Yue joined in, her sword dancing in the storm.

Each slash left trails of silver light, cutting through the red mist like moonlight through fog.

Wu Jian — silent till now — suddenly stepped forward, eyes burning with fierce pride.

"I'm not letting you make our sect look weak."

He stomped the ground, activating a Formation Seal beneath his feet.

Rings of blue light spread outward, linking with the other disciples' Qi.

"Azure Formation — Unity Strike!"

The disciples poured their energy into the seal. It gathered, condensed — then shot upward like a beam of blue light straight into Lan Yue's sword.

"Now!" Wu Jian shouted.

Lan Yue swung her blade — the entire arena shuddered.

A wave of pure azure light erupted, slicing through the crimson storm and engulfing the intruder completely.

BOOM!

The shockwave shattered the spectator stands and blew away the surrounding mist.

When the dust settled — the crimson man was on one knee, his robe scorched, blood at the corner of his mouth.

Li Ming gasped. "We did it!"

But Bai Guo frowned. "No… look at his aura."

The crimson man chuckled softly, standing up straight. His eyes glowed brighter — deeper — as cracks formed across his skin, leaking red light.

Lan Yue took a step back. "That's… not human Qi."

The man's voice deepened, distorted. "You forced me to awaken the Crimson Core… you should feel proud."

Li Ming blinked. "Awaken the what now—?"

The intruder slammed his palm to the ground.

The arena cracked open.

A giant crimson serpent erupted from the earth, roaring into the sky. Its body was made entirely of Qi, its scales glowing like molten metal.

Disciples screamed and scattered.

Lan Yue's eyes widened. "That's a Spirit Manifestation!"

Bai Guo cursed. "He's fused his core with a beast spirit — he's gone insane!"

Li Ming stared at the serpent towering over them. "Insane or not, that thing's going to eat us alive!"

Wu Jian clenched his fists. "Then we'll just have to kill it first."

"Easy for you to say!" Li Ming snapped, jumping back as the serpent's tail smashed down where he stood.

The impact created a crater twenty meters wide.

Lan Yue dashed forward, slicing at the serpent's neck. Her blade sparked but couldn't cut through. "Its Qi is too dense!"

Bai Guo spread his wings. "I'll distract the beast — you find its weak point!"

He soared upward, firing beams of golden light at the serpent's eyes. It roared, thrashing wildly.

Li Ming's brain raced. Weak point, weak point… core fusion means the beast's heart and the cultivator's dantian are linked—!

He looked at the crimson man, still controlling the serpent with one hand. "That's it!"

He turned to Lan Yue. "We're not fighting the beast — we're hitting him!"

She understood instantly. "Then let's end this."

Both launched forward together — Li Ming from below, Lan Yue from above.

The man turned too late.

Lan Yue's sword pierced his shoulder just as Li Ming's palm slammed into his chest.

"Qi Burst—Overdrive!"

The explosion sent both of them flying back. The serpent screamed, its body cracking with light — then exploded into shards of crimson Qi.

Silence.

Smoke drifted across the ruined arena.

Li Ming lay on his back, panting. "Okay… that… hurt…"

Lan Yue limped toward him. "But it's over."

Bai Guo landed beside them, wings folding back. "Barely."

Wu Jian wiped blood from his lip. "Tch. If that's one survivor, how strong is the rest of his sect?"

Before anyone could answer, the Sect Master's voice thundered through the air.

"Azure Sky disciples! Retreat immediately! The Crimson Sect's remnants are moving!"

Li Ming blinked. "Wait—remnants?"

The sky turned red.

Dozens of crimson lights appeared on the horizon — each one radiating the same deadly aura.

Lan Yue's eyes widened. "There's… more of them."

Li Ming groaned. "Oh great. We just kicked one hornet… and now the whole nest's here."

The Sect Master's voice boomed again, grim and heavy.

"All disciples, prepare for war!"