Rhee quickly used her Shadow Forge technique to conjure a staff of darkness and assumed a defensive stance. While she’d never fought an opponent wielding a halberd before, she understood the theory behind the weapon. The concentrated weight at the head of the blade granted it devastating cutting power, capable of cleaving through armor and bone alike. Coupled with Deng Hai’s metal-aspected qi, she suspected he knew a technique that would further enhance the cutting force of the blade. In that case, her usual shadow shields would likely be cut apart with ease. Instead, Rhee resolved to focus on using her staff to deflect oncoming attacks until an opening presented itself.

  Deng Hai gave a grunt of irritation upon seeing her conjured staff. Then he lunged forward without hesitation, swinging his halberd overhead in a brutal downward arc.

  He’s fast, Rhee thought as Deng Hai closed the distance far quicker than she expected. She had never fought an Adept Realm cultivator in serious combat, only restrained sparring sessions back at the Eight Oaths Resolve School. The speed of her opponent was noticeably greater than what an Initial Realm cultivator could manage, but Rhee was an Adept Realm cultivator herself now—and she had fought Adept Realm spirit beasts before. Even so, the pressure of facing another human opponent intent on victory felt entirely different.

  She stepped sharply to the right and pressed her staff forward, angling its head to catch the descending blade and shift it off course. The head of her staff managed to scrape against the gleaming edge of the halberd, sending it crashing into the stone platform just beside her. The tiled ground of the arena exploded into a cloud of debris, shards of marble blasting outward in every direction.

  Rhee had intended to exploit the opening created by the deflection, but the sheer violence of the impact filled the air with dust and shattered stone, momentarily blinding her.

  As I thought, Rhee reflected as she leapt backward, retreating out of instinct. I lost sight of him completely. Her vision was swallowed by the thick cloud. He did use an enhancement technique on his weapon. Typical metal cultivator.

  The debris cloud suddenly split in two.

  Rhee barely had time to react as the slicing blade tore through the dust where her head had been a moment earlier. She threw herself backward again, narrowly avoiding the attack. The force of the swing blasted the remaining debris away, revealing Deng Hai standing where the cloud had been, a grin spread across his scarred face.

  That was close!

  Rhee skidded across the platform, planting her staff to steady herself as she slid to a stop. Only then did she see the damage left behind—a six-foot-long, three-foot-deep gash carved cleanly into the previously flawless stone platform.

  Without a doubt, she would have died if that attack had landed.

  He can wield that halberd with impressive dexterity, Rhee assessed grimly. Even better than Go Lan was with her axe. Her mind raced as she analyzed the exchange. But how did he find me so quickly while the debris blocked my vision? Did he anticipate my movements? Or did he simply trust his instincts?

  Rhee dismissed her staff, realizing she couldn’t risk remaining within the halberd’s effective range any longer. It’s nearly eight feet long, she calculated. Fortunately, my Shadow Fist Echo technique can now reach fifty feet.

  She wasted no time. Drawing deeply on her qi, Rhee launched six fists of condensed darkness toward her opponent. Each shadow fist was now the size of a human head, dense and solid, empowered by her Adept Realm cultivation. Two shot toward Deng Hai’s right flank, two toward his left, and the remaining pair charged directly at his front.

  Rhee had expected Deng Hai to unveil a defensive technique capable of handling multiple simultaneous attacks—but that didn’t appear to be the case.

  With sharp precision, Deng Hai cleaved the two shadow fists attacking from his right cleanly in half and immediately retreated in that same direction. Rhee adjusted instantly, shifting the trajectory of the two advancing fists aimed at his front. They slammed into his torso before he could fully reposition.

  Deng Hai crossed his arms in defense at the last moment and was knocked several feet backward by the impact. He stumbled but managed to keep his footing, boots grinding against the stone as he absorbed the blow. The remaining two shadow fists passed harmlessly through the air behind him—but that was acceptable. They had served their purpose.

  “Not bad,” Deng Hai complimented, shaking out his arms as he raised his halberd once more.

  “Thank you,” Rhee replied evenly. I can’t tell if his arms are injured beneath those sleeves, she thought. Best to assume that did nothing. She summoned eight more shadow fists, letting them hover ominously around her. Then I’ll keep hitting him until he goes down.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Deng Hai’s expression turned solemn as he studied her prepared technique. He leveled his halberd with his torso and swung it horizontally with a sharp twist of his waist.

  A five-foot-long blade of compressed mist tore across the platform at frightening speed.

  Rhee dropped low, ducking beneath the attack just in time. She felt the mist blade scream overhead, close enough to disturb her hair. Turning, she watched as it sliced cleanly through all eight of her shadow fists. Their lower tendrils, still connected to her shadow, unraveled and dispersed into the aether.

  He has a ranged technique of that magnitude?

  A sound from directly ahead snapped her attention forward.

  Deng Hai was already advancing again, exploiting the momentary distraction. Years of ingrained training took over as Rhee instinctively conjured two large shadow shields over her forearms—then immediately realized her mistake.

  Too slow.

  She barely managed to roll aside at the last second. The halberd slammed into the stone where she’d been standing, carving another deep trench into the platform.

  Pain exploded through her side as a powerful kick struck her ribs mid-roll, sending her tumbling across the ground.

  He found me again.

  “Quick thinking,” Deng Hai commented as the dust settled. His tattooed head turned toward her, eyes sharp. He gestured to the slash in the floor. “That would have severed your arms.”

  Rhee dispersed her shields, painfully aware of how close her instincts had come to costing her the match. All of his techniques revolve around that halberd, she realized. If I can take it away from him, I’ll gain the edge.

  Fortunately, she knew exactly how to do that.

  Twisting Shadow Snare.

  Rhee conjured two shadow fists and hurled them at Deng Hai. As expected, he cut them apart with his halberd. But in his focus on the immediate threat, he failed to notice the tendrils of darkness rising silently from his own shadow.

  “What is this?!” Deng Hai shouted as the shadows coiled around his limbs.

  Rhee activated her technique at the precise moment Deng Hai completed his swing, catching him during the natural relaxation of his muscles. The tendrils climbed rapidly, locking his arms and legs in place. His halberd slipped from his grip and clanged loudly against the platform.

  Unlike during the Exhibition Tournament, Rhee wasn’t going to offer him a chance to surrender. Desolate Island taught me better, she reminded herself. The Crimson Abyss Sect values results, not mercy.

  Extending her palm, Rhee compressed her shadows into a single massive fist—nearly half the size of Deng Hai’s entire body.

  This time, she was certain of the outcome.

  Deng Hai’s eyes widened in horror as the shadow fist descended.

  The impact was brutal.

  Bones crunched. Gasps rippled through the gathered disciples. Rhee kept her tendrils locked in place as the fist collided squarely with Deng Hai’s face. She glanced briefly toward Ishin, finding his gaze fixed on the fallen man, his lips pressed into a thin, grim line.

  I hope I didn’t kill him, Rhee thought, a flicker of doubt cutting through her adrenaline.

  The shadow fist dispersed, revealing the aftermath. Deng Hai’s nose was shattered, his jaw visibly dislocated, and deep purple bruising spread across his face. His body lay limp, halberd discarded beside him.

  Alive—but unconscious.

  Rhee released her Twisting Shadow Snare, letting his body slump fully to the ground. Only then did she realize how hard she’d been breathing.

  Was that too much?

  She glanced around, apprehension rising as she searched the faces of the other disciples—and Elder Long Tusk. Instead of condemnation, she saw nods of approval, followed by spontaneous applause.

  Her eyes met Ishin’s. He was clapping along with the others, a proud grin on his face that sent warmth flooding through her chest.

  “Well fought,” Elder Long Tusk boomed, slamming his massive hands together. Turning to a nearby disciple, he commanded, “Bring Disciple Deng Hai to the Restoration Hall.”

  The disciple obeyed, and moments later Deng Hai was carried from the platform.

  “Next up is Disciple Shen Hui!” Elder Long Tusk declared.

  Rhee stiffened.

  She looked to Ishin, whose expression had turned openly concerned. None of the surrounding disciples appeared surprised. A small girl—no older than fourteen—stepped onto the platform. Her dark hair was cropped short, an eyepatch covering her left eye. Eight daggers rested at her waist, her fingers idly brushing their hilts.

  Rhee blinked. She’s a disciple? Her gaze lingered on the eyepatch. What happened to her eye?

  Then realization struck.

  She survived the Culling too.

  “Pardon, Elder,” Ishin spoke from beside the platform. “Is Disciple Rhee going to fight again immediately?”

  “Of course,” Elder Long Tusk replied flatly.

  “With respect, Elder,” Ishin pressed, glancing at Rhee, “she’s tired.”

  It was true. Her ribs throbbed, her qi reserves were depleted by nearly half, and her muscles screamed in protest.

  “This is the Gauntlet, Disciple Ro Ishin,” the Elder said sternly. “She fights until she loses to earn her ranking.”

  Rhee grimaced as Ishin fell silent.

  Brutal, she thought, eyes settling on Shen Hui. And she’s stronger than Deng Hai.

  Rhee straightened, forcing her breath steady.

  “Very well,” she said calmly. “I’m ready.”