I will eventually become a divine being through accumulating constantly

"How could Zhou Yinglin lose? Before the competition, he was acknowledged as the strongest among the U19 contestants, and was predicted to be stronger than Otogirusu. But what happened? Xue Jing crushed him completely."

"It's clear that Xue Jing is in a league of his own in this age group, the sort we wouldn't normally include in discussions of young prodigies. Facing him, Otogirusu won't perform much better than Ying Lin did, I bet 50 cents, it'll be an instant kill!"

"Martial arts competitions aren't calculated like that... Although hard power is the biggest standard for determining victory or defeat, counter matchups and performance on the spot are also very important. It's really not certain."

"You guys are so boring, always talking about combat strength. We'll find out when the match starts in a bit, why not gossip about the CP feeling between Otogirusu and my husband? They look so great together, both so good-looking..."

In the audience seats, a few acquaintances were discussing, suddenly interrupted by a young woman next to them, dressed brightly and with exquisite makeup.

Looking at the small fan with Xue Jing's photo that she was holding, people fell silent for a moment, then turned their attention towards the arena below:

"Ah, they're coming out!"

"The match is about to start, stop talking, let's watch the match."

...

Xue Jing slowly walked out of the players' tunnel.

The spotlight shone at his feet, as cheers and applause rose up for him.

He wore a pure black Martial Arts Uniform, his expression calm, and step by step, he approached the ring.

The spotlight followed him, countless cameras capturing him from every different angle, not missing any detail.

The big screens above the arena displayed his various postures from different angles; each time it switched, the screams and cheers from the crowd would erupt anew.

After the two matches with Zhou Yinglin, he hadn't paid much attention to the online public opinion about him, only occasionally catching snippets from those around him that suggested his popularity must be very high.

And now, being in the arena and feeling nearly all of the 200,000-strong crowd cheering for him, he was somewhat moved.

He felt the real sensation of becoming a 'superstar.'

Although he wasn't particularly chasing that kind of attention, he still felt somewhat inspired.

His gaze shifted slightly as he looked towards his opponent, who was also walking slowly up to the ring.

Stunningly beautiful and graceful in appearance, she wore a black feather-woven garment and her waist-length hair was tied in a high ponytail. She looked so gentle it was as if she came to meet a lover rather than compete in a match.

Otogirusu.

Unlike in previous matches when he came empty-handed, this time, he carried an antiquated and beautiful long sword with oxidation signs on its timeworn, gray-brown hilt and scabbard, exuding a sense of profound historical weight.

"It's been a while, Lu Sang," said Xue Jing with a smile, glancing at his sword.

"Xue Jun," Otogirusu spoke with a gentle tone.

His eyes, which could even be described as seductive, subtly showed a burning passion.

Like a volcano on the verge of eruption, currently suppressed by the shackles of reason, but could burst forth at any moment.

"I've been waiting to stand on this stage with you for too long... I never thought that just a few short weeks would be so unbearable."

Otogirusu smiled softly.

"Xue Jun, do you know what I'm feeling right now?"

With those eyes that looked at him like a lover, Xue Jing's mouth twitched and his fists clenched.

"What feeling?"

He responded offhandedly.

Otogirusu looked up slightly and sighed:

"I'm afraid."

He rolled up his sleeve and stretched out his clenched right fist.

That hand, it was trembling.

"Stepping onto this stage, seeing you, every inch of my skin, every cell screams at me."

He murmured.

"Can't win, definitely can't win, run now, escape immediately, turn around and flee..."

"Xue Jun, compared to when we first met, you've made me feel more desperate."

Xue Jing simply listened with an unchanged expression, not responding.

At this point, Otogirusu's eyes took on a rapturous look:

"...It's so fantastic!"

"The thought of Xue Jun growing stronger at a pace I can never catch up with, the possibility of defeating Xue Jun growing ever more improbable... I can't help but feel excited."

"To exert all my strength, use up every means, spend everything I have, and still, it's impossible to win!"

"Ah~ ah~ it's so despairing, it's wonderful (素晴らしいです)."

Otogirusu's cheeks flushed, incredibly beautiful, yet so attractively enchanting that it was unsettling.

"This ever-ascending mountain—if I could actually cross it, what immense happiness that would be..."

"Even though such immense happiness is almost impossible for me to touch, just knowing that I am striving towards it, I feel as though I have already obtained happiness."

His gaze toward Xue Jing became increasingly tender, and at the same time, his fighting spirit burned more intensely.

"Xue Jun, you are my happiness," he said.

He reached out slowly and grasped the hilt of the long sword at his waist.

"Let's hurry up... and fight to the death," he whispered.

Xue Jing shook his head and said, "You really are funny."

As he spoke, he walked toward the weapon rack at the edge of the arena, picked up an ordinary long sword about one meter twenty in length, and held it in his hand.

"... Contestants, take your positions, get ready."

"Next, witness fully..."

"The match, begin!"

The commentator's excited voice fell, and the referee waved his hand toward the middle of the two on the stage, announcing the start of the match.

The audience's cheers, applause, and the noisy discussions gradually quieted down; they focused and eagerly watched the stage.

Otogirusu adopted a slightly crouched stance, his left hand on the scabbard of his sword at his waist and his right hand gently touching the hilt.

"The essence of the Suzaku Style lies in the technique of Iaido," he softly began.

"Xue Jun... be careful."

The next moment.

"Clang—!!"

A tremendous clashing sound of metal rang out, and on the stage, it was as if the frame rate had been cut in half; the scene suddenly shifted.
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The two figures, who had been meters apart, disappeared from their original positions and reappeared in the center of the stage with their long swords clashing together.

A visible circular shockwave burst from the point of impact between the two, rippling outwards and sending waves across the repulsion membrane enveloping the stage.

"What...!?"

"Who saw clearly?"

"What kind of speed is that!?"

The eyes of the spectators in the contestants' area were wide open.

Before the audience could react, the situation on the field changed again.

"Ting ting ting ting ting ting—"

A rapid succession of clashing sounds, dozens in a second, rang out continuously as two invisible shadows tumbled across the stage, with only the sparks in the air indicating their positions.

The relentless sweep of the sword light left deep gashes in the stage floor, which quickly became shattered and strewn with debris.

In the heat of battle, Xue Jing's eyes turned to silver vertical pupils, slightly squinting.

'Interesting.'

Whether Otogirusu had burst forth or had been hiding his strength earlier, he seemed much stronger than Zhou Yinglin. Especially his speed and fluidity of attack were above Xue Jing's, but Xue Jing utilized the "Eye-Penetrating Flow" to clearly see the weak spots in Otogirusu's offense, managing to fight to a draw.

'And that sword...'

Xue Jing felt the strain on his long sword, which had been enhanced by the "Army Master," under the impact of their intense clash.

The Blade That Never Dulls truly lived up to its reputation—capable of withstanding tremendous temperatures without even a single particle of change; it was unbelievably hard.

"Xue Jun, let me see that overwhelming strength of yours that fills me with despair!" Otogirusu's excited voice rang in his ears.

Xue Jing's gaze stilled, and suddenly, a powerful aura began to spread from his body, shaking the void, and a visible black lightning pattern aura erupted from all around him.

Then, all the black lightning converged and wrapped around the long sword in his hand.

"Don't die on me, Lu Sang," Xue Jing said indifferently.

Facing the continuous onslaught from Otogirusu's sword, he pulled back his long sword with a counter move.

And then, a flash.

"Yuhua·Divine Avoidance!"

Black lightning surged along the blade, slicing through the void as Otogirusu's eyes widened, only managing to raise The Blade That Never Dulls to block in time.

"Clang—"

A fearsome force transmitted from The Blade That Never Dulls as Otogirusu was sent flying, crashing into the pale blue Repulsion Membrane.

And from his left waist to his right shoulder, a terrifying, bone-deep wound appeared.

...