As per usual, the tournament proceeded quite peacefully.
'Peacefully' might be a bit misleading since it was intense for the people involved, but when one reached the realm of Kierra or August, hardly anything could stimulate their emergency instinct.
If anything, they showed interest whenever Bai Qing fought, but that was the extent of it.
At first, both the spectators and the participants doubted the young girl of White Lotus. Of course, this was justified since her cultivation base could be considered underwhelming, especially compared to the others.
However, after only a few rounds, they woke up.
A few so-called geniuses were swiftly swept away by an unnaturally fierce water dragon created by Bai Qing. Said dragon also had sparks of lightning within its scales, electrocuting the opponents should they dare to approach it.
They didn't understand it.
If the Dragon of Shaolin and the Phoenix of Emei were here, they would have taken on the role of a magic tower recruiter and tried to preach the divinity of mana, but alas, they were busy training their magic.
Nevertheless, when Bai Qing arrived in the ring after three smooth fights, her opponent dared not underestimate the girl from White Lotus again.
''Sister, please take care of me.'' Bai Qing politely greeted.
''...Likewise.''
On the other side, a somber-looking girl with green hair stood cautiously, sweat trickling down her back. As the daughter of the noble Tang clan, she mastered the art of poison and was praised as a one-in-a-hundred-year talent.
'But... how the hell do I win against this monster...?!'
She screamed inside.
As it was, she wasn't confident her poison would be able to penetrate the dragon's guard, and if her poison couldn't, her throwing knives and other small weapons obviously couldn't either.
She didn't sign up for this!
(╥ᆺ╥)
''For the honor of our clan...'' She muttered.
Yet, she was determined to win!
As soon as the referee shouted, the Poison Phoenix of the Tang clan soared. Flaring her deadly poisonous knives, she focused solely on her opponent, who only looked unassuming.
''Here I come—ah.''
In an instant, all the hyping she had done on herself just now vanished as she blankly stared forward, facing the dragon whose head was at least three times the size of her body.
''How unfair...''
Those were her last words before she and her weapons got swept away helplessly, landing outside the arena—unconscious. Once again, only silence remained.
''...Bai Qing of White Lotus emerges victorious!'' The referee announced.
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The observers' gaze was focused on the girl, who was nodding to herself with an excited look. Even if the majority of them were ordinary businessmen and businesswomen, in the sense that they weren't cultivators, they had heard rumors about a certain sect possessing an unnatural source of power.
And the name of that sect was White Lotus.
Purity.
A sect composed of mostly women, practicing a clean and refined method of cultivation. Looking at the genius of White Lotus, most felt that she fit the image of the sect to the tee. It was as though they were watching over their own daughter.
'White Lotus... I'll need to make a connection with them. The sooner, the better.'
Just like that, Bai Qing had unintentionally attracted a bunch of supporters for her sect.
After coming back to the table and receiving a head pat from Kierra, Bai Qing merrily went into the ring for the final match. Her opponent this time was, unfortunately, the young master of the noble Namgung clan.
''I thought you were out from the beginning?''
Different from how she treated other candidates, Bai Qing almost spat out when facing this man. Her eyes were filled with disgust.
''To go as far as insulting me... you deserve a teaching!''
''Come on!''
With that, the match enthusiastically began.
Like before, Bai Qing immediately conjured a giant dragon from her sword and had it whirl toward the man. Not losing to that, her opponent also summoned a huge lightning current resembling a dragon.
Two dragons collided, their bodies ramming against each other as they produced chains of flash explosions. This spectacle was indeed what the people had been longing for, and it was missing in Bai Qing's matches.
'Golden Core...'
Bai Qing narrowed her eyes.
Even though she didn't want to admit it, this man was probably the strongest among the ones she had fought today. Once again, the opponent was a whole realm above her. The very essence of his attacks was different.
However, she was a child blessed with talent in magic and the proud disciple of the pinnacle herself—Kierra!
If both her swordsmanship and cultivation were inferior, then she must overwhelm him with the thing he didn't have—magic. Thinking she couldn't risk letting her precious master go on a date with such a frivolous man, Bai Qing clutched her nerves.
As she asserted her presence by bursting out a faint layer of mana, the surrounding area turned a bit humid. Being a cultivator, the young man with the surname Namgung immediately noticed this.
''Petty tricks!''
With a crisp zap, his qi filled the arena, pushing away Bai Qing's water mana. Clicking her tongue, the eldest martial sister of Qinling began to cast magic regardless.
Of course, she didn't have half the confidence Kierra had, so she could only mumble her incarnation.
''BORN FROM THE SEAS AND THE EARTH,''
''TIDES DEFY MIGHT,''
''DESTRUCTION REIGNS.''
⌈TSUNAMI—6★⌋
''!!''
From beyond the space, a wave so high one couldn't help but marvel approached. In front of nature, mere creatures had to bow, and as the being who called upon nature, Bai Qing stood firmly in the air, staring down her opponent.
Although she had exhausted all her mana this time, she was confident. Besides, there was no surer way to win than this.
As if helpless, the man could only continue to resist in futile as the massive tsunami collapsed on his body. The water struck the ground so severely that a minor earthquake ensued.
Withstanding that kind of force... was nearly impossible at the level of a Dragon or Phoenix.
''W-Winner, Bai Qing of White Lotus!''
At the magnificent show of power, a thunderous applaud was directed at Bai Qing, the girl who shyly scratched her cheek.
When she came back to the table, she saw Kierra smiling at her.
''I-I did it, Master... uh?''
Realizing something was wrong with her master's smile, Bai Qing took a step back.
But it was too late.
''Who told you to deplete your mana in one go, hm?'' Kierra asked menacingly, catching Bai Qing's wrist.
''U-Um... I was just trying to end the fight quickly... maybe? Eheheh...'' The eldest martial sister of Qinling awkwardly laughed, sweating profusely.
''Double. Do you agree?''
''...Eh?''
''Two and a half.''
''W-What are you talking about??''
''Three.''
''W-Wait, I'll take three, I'll take three!''
''Good. I'll give you three candies.''
Bai Qing's face was priceless as three matcha-flavored candies were put on her palm. Right when she felt a wave of relief, Kierra spoke up with a smile again.
''And of course, three times the training for the next two weeks.''
''Ah.''
Bai Qing's candies that day were strangely bitter.