The Primordial Vessel System

The village square buzzed with excitement. The Qinghe Village Martial Trials had reached their climax, and only one battle remained—the championship match.

Long Haochen stood at the edge of the arena, his body still aching from his fight with Bai Jiang. The battle had pushed him to his limits, but he had emerged victorious. Now, only one opponent stood in his way.

Across the stage, Li Xueyan stepped forward. Her cold gaze met his, unreadable as ever. She had easily defeated Fang Tiancheng in the other semifinal match, proving once again why she was considered the strongest prodigy in the village.

Unlike Bai Jiang, who relied on brute force, Xueyan was precise, calculating.

She had yet to show her full strength.

Elder Li raised his hand, his voice ringing across the crowd. "The final match of the Qinghe Village Martial Trials will now begin! The winner shall be recognized as the strongest cultivator of this generation!"

The audience erupted in cheers.

Haochen exhaled slowly, steadying his breath. His breakthrough to the Qi Refinement 3rd Stage had given him new strength, but he wasn't sure if it was enough.

Xueyan remained calm, her hands resting lightly on the hilts of the twin daggers at her waist. She hadn't drawn them yet.

She didn't see him as a true threat.

That would change soon.

Elder Li's gaze swept over both fighters.

"Begin!"

Haochen vanished the moment the match started, his Void Step carrying him behind Xueyan in an instant. He slashed forward with Void Rend, golden energy crackling along the edge of his palm—

But Xueyan was already gone.

A cold whisper brushed past his ear.

"Too slow."

Before he could react, a sharp kick slammed into his ribs. Pain exploded in his side as he was launched backward, skidding across the stone platform.

He barely managed to flip mid-air, landing on his feet.

But Xueyan didn't give him time to recover. She appeared above him, descending like a falling star, both daggers flashing toward his chest.

Haochen raised his arm in defense, activating Void Burst—

But the moment his energy flared, Xueyan twisted mid-attack, redirecting her strike.

One dagger slashed past his cheek, the other stopped inches from his throat.

The crowd gasped.

Elder Li's voice rang out. "Match over—"

"Not yet."

Xueyan's voice was calm as she pulled back.

She met Haochen's gaze and smiled. "You're strong. But not strong enough. Get serious, or this will be over in the next exchange."

Haochen wiped the blood from his cheek, his mind racing.

Xueyan's control over her movements was flawless. She could read his attacks before they even landed. If he didn't change his strategy, he would lose.

He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second.

Then—he moved.

He didn't use Void Step this time. Instead, he charged straight ahead.

Xueyan raised an eyebrow but reacted instantly, daggers flashing as she prepared to counter.

But that was exactly what Haochen wanted.

At the last possible moment, he activated Void Step—but only partially.

His body flickered, shifting slightly—just enough to dodge her strike without fully teleporting.

Xueyan's eyes widened in surprise.

Before she could react, Void Rend slashed forward.

She twisted, barely evading the attack, but Haochen had already anticipated her movement.

He stepped in, faster than before, his fist aiming directly for her stomach.

Boom!

The impact sent her staggering back.

A murmur ran through the crowd.

For the first time—Xueyan had been forced to retreat.

She straightened, a glint of interest in her eyes.

"…Not bad."

She vanished.

Haochen barely had time to react before a sharp pain bloomed in his shoulder. He spun around, but she was already gone.

A dagger sliced past his side. Another cut across his arm.

She was attacking from every direction at once.

Haochen gritted his teeth. If I can't track her movements, I'll lose.

He closed his eyes—then focused.

Not on sight. Not on sound.

On energy.

He felt the disturbance in the air, the way her movements displaced Qi—

There!

His eyes snapped open, and he struck before she could attack.

His palm collided with her wrist, stopping her dagger inches from his throat.

Xueyan's eyes flickered in surprise.

For the first time, he had matched her speed.

Haochen didn't hesitate. He pushed forward, unleashing Void Burst at full force.

The explosion of energy knocked them both apart.

They skidded across the platform, breathing heavily.

The crowd was silent.

Neither of them moved for a long moment.

Then—Xueyan smiled.

"Now we're talking."

She crossed her daggers, and a sharp crimson aura surged around her.

Haochen's breath caught.

That wasn't normal Qi.

The elder's eyes widened. "Bloodshadow Art…!"

Haochen tensed. He had heard of this technique before. It was a forbidden cultivation method that enhanced speed and power at the cost of life force.

Xueyan's entire presence shifted.

She no longer looked human—she was a shadow of death itself.

Haochen braced himself. This fight was about to become something far beyond what he had prepared for.

Xueyan's voice was a whisper in the wind.

"…Let's end this."

She vanished.

And this time—he couldn't track her at all.