"Little sister Ye Xian, are you challenging your big sister to a spar?" Feng Wu's face lit up with a radiant smile.
Staring at this child, even younger than herself, daring to fight her—it was almost unbelievable. Did she not know Feng Wu was a prime genius of the academy?
She had already reached the extreme limit of the Blood Transformation Realm, unrivaled in this stage. Even her senior brothers and sisters at the same realm were no match for her.
"Haha, you're too young! Sparring with me is just asking for trouble!" Feng Wu teased, looking down at Lin Fan, who was a head shorter. So small—how much strength could she have at this age? Ten thousand jin at most.
"What's that, big sister? Are you scared?" Lin Fan replied with a playful, innocent tone.
"Fine then, it looks like I'll get to knead your face to my heart's content today." Feng Wu's clear eyes sparkled with mischief. "To keep things fair, I'll tie one hand behind my back."
She bound one hand behind her, extending a single, glistening jade-like arm that shimmered with confidence and strength.
"No need!" Lin Fan's words barely landed before his arm swept forward, a cascade of runes flaring between his fingers, crashing toward Feng Wu with ferocious force.
In that instant, the tranquil lake erupted as if a bomb had detonated. Waves surged like a tsunami, roaring forward with unstoppable momentum.
Feng Wu's heart tightened. Her sharp spiritual senses felt the overwhelming power. She quickly raised her jade-white arm to shield her chest, while her bound hand broke free, both arms now bracing to block the strike.
Boom!
Caught off guard, Feng Wu was sent flying, splashing through the water, skimming across the surface like a stone skipping across a pond.
The attack was swift and fierce, catching her unprepared. She stumbled, coughing up several mouthfuls of the Immortal Pool's water, looking rather disheveled.
"Cough, cough… So strong! I underestimated her!"
Her smile faded, her porcelain-doll face etched with shock. She could hardly believe it—this smaller figure had strength that rivaled her own, a force unimaginable for a child just over five years old. Could this be a humanoid ferocious beast? How else could someone so young have such power?
Buzz!
Runes coalesced behind Lin Fan, blazing brilliantly. A pair of fiery red wings sprouted, and with a powerful flap, he rose from the Divine Lotus Pool, hovering above the mist-shrouded lake.
From afar, he looked like a war god, solemn and majestic. Up close, he was still a cute child, his tender face laced with innocence, creating a charming contrast.
"Little sister Ye Xian, you're making me more and more curious. To think the academy has a hidden genius like you!" Feng Wu's sweet voice carried excitement, her red lips curling as she licked them. She felt she'd found the perfect rival, one shrouded in secrets. She'd never heard of or seen this girl in the academy before.
"Such a rare find! But your big sister isn't a pushover. Once I catch you, I'll have to give you a thorough inspection!" she shouted, charging forward.
Her hands formed seals, fingers tracing arcs as runes bloomed around her. Her body glowed with silver-white light, like a divine arrow shooting through the air, briefly soaring.
Bang!
Their fists collided, sparks flying in a dazzling burst.
Both moved at blinding speed, clashing over a dozen times in an instant, each strike a pure contest of physical strength.
Vital energy surged skyward, thundering like a storm. It was hard to believe such power erupted from two children—many adults couldn't match this.
Bang!
Another clash, both pouring in full strength, sent them flying back. Lin Fan retreated farther, clearly outmatched in raw power.
"Little sister, you're just a bit short!" Feng Wu said with a smile, though her heart was anything but calm. Her opponent was close to the Blood Transformation Realm's extreme limit and would likely reach it soon.
More astonishing was Lin Fan's age. At her age, Feng Wu hadn't come close to this level. This so-called extreme limit isn't her true limit—she has room to grow.
"Not necessarily!" Lin Fan charged again, rallying his vital essence. Divine light radiated, forming ethereal feathers around him. Bone runes melted into his blood, surfacing to shield him, crystalline and sacred.
Crack!
An invisible shackle within his body seemed to shatter, his aura surging to an unparalleled peak.
Bathed in golden light, every inch of him glowed, radiant and blinding, like a small golden figure, exuding divine, inviolable majesty.
"What's happening?" Feng Wu's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.
She never expected her opponent to break through mid-battle, achieving a dramatic leap in strength.
Lin Fan's golden fist swung, unleashing a sonic boom, its oppressive might like a mountain crashing down, overwhelming and godlike.
Boom!
The lake exploded. Feng Wu didn't meet the strike head-on, instead twisting gracefully to dodge, avoiding a direct clash.
In a fluid motion, she arced behind Lin Fan, her jade-like arm gleaming. A rune glowed in her palm as she struck at him.
Lin Fan's lips curved into a faint smile. Close-quarters combat was his forte, honed daily against ferocious beasts. Treasure techniques meant little to him, so he focused on fists and feet.
He dropped low, and as her palm missed, he swept a leg outward, erupting with golden light, aiming for her lower body.
But Feng Wu was nimble, flipping backward with remarkable flexibility, her small frame darting like a spry monkey, reacting swiftly.
Lin Fan had waited for this moment. His wings flared, propelling him upward, his golden fist clenched, a pillar of light rising like a dragon soaring, striking true.
Suddenly, Feng Wu's body tensed, her soft frame taking on a metallic sheen. Like a divine arrow, she became an embodiment of attack, charging through the void.
"Divine Arrow Technique!" she called softly, her speed blinding, countering the unavoidable strike.
Boom!
A golden sun clashed with a silver arrow, erupting in a radiant blaze. Sparks flew, illuminating the dark night sky, the lake trembling beneath the brilliance.
"Someone's fighting in the Immortal Pool!"
Their battle drew attention. Stunning women cultivating in the Tribulation-Crossing Divine Lotus Pool surfaced, peering at the commotion.
Their damp, half-open robes were alluring, but some disciples glared with anger. This was a sacred place for cultivation, and a duel here was reckless and unheard of.
Splash! Lin Fan plunged into the water, while Feng Wu was knocked far back.
He didn't pursue, diving deep instead. The commotion had surely alerted others, and continuing risked exposing his identity.
Next time, sneaking in would be harder—he was, after all, just a stowaway!