The clamor of clashing blades echoed across the tournament arena as two rival sects battled fiercely. On the east side stood the Crimson Thunder Sect, known for their brutal lightning-infused strikes. On the west, the Azure Wind Pavilion, famed for their speed and agility, darted like shadows under the midday sun. A young swordsman from Crimson Thunder lunged with a blinding crackle of energy, his blade coated in electrical arcs. The Azure disciple countered with a spinning kick, summoning a gust that shattered tiles and sent sparks flying. Blood splattered the sand. Roars erupted from the crowd. Energy beams sliced through the air like shooting stars. One mistake meant defeat. Every second was a storm. Alex stood at the far end, watching with wide eyes. Can we really win like before?" he muttered under his breath, feeling the tension.
He glanced at the system screen.
System Points: 20,000
That made his heart skip. He turned toward Xiao Xiao, who was busy feeding her slime a glowing dumpling. "Xiao Xiao," he said, handing her a slip of parchment, "if you have any ideas for new skills, write them here. Whatever you want.
She blinked. Anything? Anything, he nodded. "Lin Feng, same for you. Create any skill you want and hand it to me when you're done.
Then he frowned. Also we don't have any more low-level disciples. You two are already strong, but we need to break through soon or we'll fall behind. I need something like an 'Alexer' to boost your cultivation.
Yue'er folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "An Alexer? What are you even saying now? You're just making things up. Skill books, pills, next you'll say you can fly with your farts. But before she could continue, Xiao Xiao giggled and handed him a crayon-colored parchment. Done, Master! Here's my skill!
He looked at it: Water Dumpling Fire Slime Technique.With a shrug, Alex touched the page.
Ding!
3,000 Points Deducted.
Skill Created: Heavenly Tier Water Dumpling Fire Slime Technique.
Skill Book added to inventory.
Yue'er's mouth dropped open. What
Her mind reeled. That was her handwriting. That was a joke skill. She watched the glowing golden book appear in his hands. He made a Heavenly Tier book just by touching her drawing?
Before she could recover, Alex was already opening the shop. Hmm. Let's see Breakthrough Pill… found it. He purchased two and handed them out. Xiao Xiao, Lin Feng, take these and prepare for the next stage. Lin Feng finished scribbling on her own page and passed it silently to him. He touched it, and once again
Ding!
3,000 Points Deducted.
Skill Created: Heavenly Tier Duo Baw Blade Slash.All this, done so casually, unfolded under the watchful gaze of the silent father figure standing in the shadows behind the tournament stands.
The crowd was loud. Not cheering exactly more like buzzing with anticipation, the kind that made the floor feel like it was breathing under your feet.
The referee's voice boomed over the arena.
"Next match: Black Something Sect… versus the Dragon Taming Faction!"
Whispers flared like sparks. The Dragon Tamers were one of the strongest sects in the tournament. Their disciples were trained with real beasts, ones that clawed out throats and didn't blink while doing it. Black Something Sect, on the other hand, was barely considered a real sect. More of a mystery who were they, and how were they still winning? A small figure stepped into the arena.
It was Xiao Xiao.
She skipped a little, arms stretched out like wings. In her hands was a jelly-like creature, jiggling with every bounce. She held it up proudly. This is Dou Dou! she announced. The crowd laughed. They always did. A slime? Against a beast? What was this a joke?
Across the arena, the Dragon Taming disciple appeared with a cold glare and a massive demonic wolf at her side. It was huge twice Xiao Xiao's size, its fur smoky black and its eyes a blood-red glow. It snarled and paced, claws scraping against stone.
Even Dou Dou seemed to shrink a little. Xiao Xiao stood firm. She leaned down and whispered, Be ready, okay? Remember the skill Master gave us.
A chime echoed from somewhere behind the stands. Alex watched quietly, arms folded, trying not to look nervous.
His system points sat at 7,000. That was enough for a few more skills if they needed them but he hoped they wouldn't. He'd just upgraded a nonsense drawing from Yue'er into a some Tier skill book by touching it. And still, she had the audacity to glare at him like he'd broken reality.
Which, maybe he had.
But right now, all he cared about was Xiao Xiao.
The referee raised a hand.
Begin!
The wolf leapt forward instantly, snapping its jaws with bloodlust. Xiao Xiao squeaked and jumped back, nearly tripping over herself.
Then she smiled. And danced. It started like before wiggles, hops, nonsensical words shouted with the confidence of a seasoned warrior.
Slime wiggle, go! Nom-nom roll! Dou Dou bounced into action, mimicking her rhythm. The slime spun once in the air, leaving a shimmering trail before slamming into the ground with a soft plop.
But it wasn't enough.
The wolf was faster. Stronger. Trained to kill. It tackled Dou Dou back before the slime could bounce away again. Xiao Xiao's eyes widened as Dou Dou tumbled, landing limply near her feet. The crowd laughed cruelly now. What is she even doing? She's not a tamer she's a dancer! She's a child. Xiao Xiao heard every word. And suddenly, it wasn't the crowd she saw.
It was the old sect.
The beatings. The silence. The days they took her food. The way they looked at her like she didn't belong. She could still feel the cold floor she slept on. Still hear the door closing behind her father as he walked away without a word. No she whispered. She stopped dancing. Her legs gave out, and she dropped to her knees, shaking. No I don't want bad people I don't want
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn't care that the wolf was approaching again. That the match wasn't over. I don't want to be alone
From the edge of the arena, a shadow moved. Alex didn't ask for permission. He just walked into the ring. The referee shouted, That's a violation
Shut up! Alex snapped.
He dropped to Xiao Xiao's side, knelt, and gently put a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes were wide, full of fear, but they met his. Xiao, he said softly. You're not there anymore.
She trembled, lip quivering. You're not with them. You're with me. And I'm here. I've got you.
She didn't speak. Just hugged him tightly, crying into his robes. Let's run, Master I'm scared I don't want to be here Alex held her close.
If he beats you… then we'll beat him together, he said. And then we'll feed him to Dou Dou. Sound good?
She sniffled.
For real. She looked at him for a long second. Then nodded. She stood, legs still shaking. Turned around. And screamed.
DOU DOU!!
The slime bounced upright, quivering with excitement. The wolf tamer raised a brow. "You still want to lose? But Xiao Xiao smiled. She began dancing again but now, something was different. Each step was precise. Each movement had a purpose.
Nom-jigg jiggling roll! Slime whip! Dou Dou bounceback! And somehow it worked. The slime shot forward, smacking the wolf with a jiggly body that rang out like a drumbeat.
The wolf stumbled. Again, she twirled. Dou Dou spiral! Yum-yum strike!
Dou Dou bounced, flipped, and coiled in mid-air before slamming down with unexpected force. The wolf yelped and fell back, dazed.
Xiao Xiao didn't stop. She kept dancing, kept smiling through tears, her body moving like it remembered something old. Something safe. The crowd stared, silent. Was it was it working? She wasn't just fighting. She was leading. Commanding. Dancing her way through battle.
Even the wolf tamer started to panic, shouting orders, but it was too late. Every command she gave was met with Xiao Xiao's counter two steps ahead, like she could see the battle before it even happened. The wolf collapsed. The referee, stunned, raised a trembling hand.
Winner Xiao Xiao of the Black Something Sect!
The arena exploded with noise. Cheering. Screaming. Confusion. Xiao Xiao just stood there, arms high. Dou Dou bounced into her arms and jiggled happily. She turned to Alex, eyes still a little red. I did it, she whispered. Alex smiled. Yes. You did.
Yue'er stood at the edge of the arena, watching everything. Her mouth slightly open. She made a Heavenly Tier skill out of that, she muttered. And now she looked at Alex. "He's making alixers? Skill books? This nonsense is workining Her world her entire understanding of cultivation was starting to break. And the worst part? She had no idea what Alex would do next.