The fire and ice warred in the center of the stage, creating a swirling vortex of opposing energies. The flames raged, trying to burn through the icy storm, while the feathers relentlessly sliced into the dragon, chilling its fiery essence. For a few heart-stopping moments, it seemed like the clash was even, neither force giving way.
But then, the icy feathers began to overpower the flames. The cold spread, freezing the dragon's fiery form piece by piece, extinguishing the orange flames as they turned to crystal. The once-mighty fire dragon began to slow, its roar dying as its body was frozen solid.
With a final, desperate lunge, the dragon tried to reach Yan Jin, but the cold storm overwhelmed it completely, shattering it into a million glittering fragments of ice.
Li Jie stood in disbelief as his final attack was obliterated. His flames flickered and then died as the icy storm surged toward him, engulfing him in its cold embrace. The force of the feathers drove him backward, crashing him into the frozen remains of the stage.
As the icy feathers tore through the air, the audience held their collective breath. The stage was a battlefield of shattered ice and evaporating flames, the clash of fire and ice now reduced to a single victor.
Li Jie, laid still on the frozen ground, his flame extinguished and his axe discarded beside him.
Yan Jin, standing amidst the crystalline remains of the battle, slowly lowered his bow. His stance was calm, his face hidden behind the wooden mask. The entire arena seemed to pause, time itself suspended, as the audience processed what had just happened. The impossible had occurred—Huang, the blind archer with only one recorded win, had taken down the "Rookie Crusher" and guardian of the 20th floor.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then, as if the entire crowd had been jolted awake at the same time, a roar of exhilaration erupted from the stands. The entire arena exploded into a frenzy of cheers and shouts, the noise like a physical wave crashing against the walls.
"Unbelievable!" someone shouted, their voice lost in the uproar.
"He did it! He really did it!" another yelled, their voice hoarse with excitement.
The spectators were on their feet, many jumping and cheering wildly. Those who had doubted Yan Jin were stunned, their mouths agape in disbelief. Those who had supported him, their faith rewarded, screamed his name with newfound fervor.
"Huang! Huang! Huang!" chanted the crowd in unison, the name echoing across the arena like a war cry.
In the VIP section, the elites exchanged glances, their earlier confidence in Li Jie shattered. Even Nie Yang, who had mocked Yan Jin's readiness, sat in stunned silence. Zhang Chi, however, smiled knowingly, as if he had expected this all along.
"I guess he's more than just a trickster..." one of the spectators murmured in awe, eyes wide at the devastation Yan Jin had caused with his arrows.
The duo walked with newfound purpose, their footsteps echoing through the corridors of the tower.
--
Yan Jin awaited Lee Ann's arrival at the reception area, his attention half on the bustling scene and half on the anticipation of his next challenge. Lee Ann arrived with a beaming smile, barely able to contain her excitement.
"You made fifteen thousand points in just four days! That's unheard of for a newbie! Young Master" she exclaimed with her voice filled with awe.
Yan Jin chuckled softly, "You're making it sound like I'm some kind of legend already. Why are you calling me 'Young Master' all of a sudden?"
Lee Ann's eyes sparkled with admiration. "I can't just call you by your name anymore. You're so powerful now, I wouldn't want to risk you crushing me with a single flick of your fingers!" Explore more at m,v l'e-novelhall.net
Yan Jin shook his head with a smile. "Let's focus on the next steps. What's the situation in the higher levels?"
Lee Ann's expression shifted to one of professionalism as she began to explain. "In the higher levels, there are what you'd call divisions. They're like coalitions of warriors who share information and resources while offering protection. In exchange, you pay a fee to the division leader, which helps them grow their influence both within and outside the tower.
While you can refuse to join a division, solo climbers rarely last long due to the harassment they face from these groups."
She continued, "You'll also have access to the library, guidance from predecessors, a shop, and tower rewards. Every time you break a significant record, the tower will reward you."
Yan Jin nodded, considering the information. "Rent the mid-grade blood pool for fourteen days and keep the rest of the points."
Lee Ann's eyes widened with excitement. "That's a thousand points a day. Are you sure?"
"Yes," Yan Jin affirmed. "You've done a great job."
"Thank you so much!" Lee Ann said, her joy evident as she led the way.