Immortal Paladin

[POV: Ding Cai]

The moment Ding Cai's match concluded, the battlefield shifted without warning. The shattered arena dissolved into streams of light as broken stone, collapsed buildings, and ancient ruins emerged in its place.

Jagged walls rose from the earth while weathered pagodas overlooked the desolation, turning the dueling grounds into a forgotten city reclaimed by time. There was no pause between battles. The contest simply continued.

Ding Cai wasted no time. She leaped across the broken streets and scaled the tallest structure within sight, landing atop the remains of an ancient watchtower. From there, she surveyed the sprawling ruins, her eyes searching for the slightest disturbance.

"This is perfect," said the Human Soul. His calm voice echoed within her mind. "I can sense three of them. What are your plans?"

The champions had never been told the exact rules governing the contest between the Supreme Heart and the Supreme Bearer. They only knew each side possessed six champions. Whether they fought individually or in groups remained a mystery.

Counting Loki, whom she had just defeated, the Supreme Heart had already committed at least four champions. There was no guarantee another battle would follow this one.

Ding Cai narrowed her eyes.

"If this is the final confrontation," she muttered, "then I won't hold anything back."

"Danger!" the Human Soul shouted.

Her instincts reacted before her thoughts caught up. Ding Cai twisted to the right as an arrow tore through the air where her head had been moments earlier. She swung her blade, knocking the projectile aside. The instant steel met the arrow, violent qi erupted from its surface. The explosion rippled across the tower, sending fractured stone raining into the streets below while the impact numbed her arm.

"Did you see where it came from?" Ding Cai asked.

"I did."

Although Ding Cai possessed exceptional perception and analytical ability, the Human Soul surpassed her in both detection range and reaction speed. Without his guidance, she would never have kept pace with Loki's elusive techniques during their previous battle.

"Let's answer with something that'll force them onto the defensive," Ding Cai said.

"Copy that."

The sword shimmered before its shape unraveled into flowing light. Within moments, the Human Soul reformed into an unfamiliar weapon, one she had seen Mai Duyi and several imperial soldiers wield during military exercises. Its long barrel gleamed beneath the afternoon sun, resembling a metallic staff more than any conventional weapon.

Ding Cai raised the sniper rifle and peered through its scope.

Far across the ruined city, a lone woman stood atop a weathered pagoda. Bow in hand, she remained perfectly still, already preparing another shot.

"There."

Ding Cai squeezed the trigger three times.

The first bullet carried Frost Smite, leaving a trail of pale blue qi that froze the surrounding air.

The second bore Divine Smite, radiating brilliant golden light that rivaled the sun.

The third crackled with Thunderous Smite, its violent lightning splitting the sky as it screamed toward its target.

...

..

.

[POV: Mao Fen]

As a member of the Celestial Circle and an immortal who had wandered the Greater Universe for countless years, Mao Fen had encountered very few archers capable of matching her mastery.

She defeated every one of them.

Her achievements within the Human Empire had earned numerous battlefield honors, eventually drawing the personal acknowledgment of the Supreme Heart himself. Those accomplishments secured her invitation into the Celestial Circle, a peacekeeping organization spanning all six universes under the authority of the Supreme Beings. Every member represented the pinnacle of their respective disciplines.

Archery was hers.

Although she had willingly stripped away layer after layer of her Ascended Soul until only a single layer remained, her experience and refined techniques had not vanished with her cultivation. They remained etched into her instincts.

Unfortunately, her reduced strength demanded adjustments.

That was why she had missed her opening shot.

"Tsk."

Mao Fen drew the bowstring until it formed a perfect full moon. Immortal qi condensed around the arrowhead as she prepared an Immortal Art.

"I won't miss again."

She had sacrificed far too much to fail.

If victory belonged to the Supreme Heart, her willingness to regress from a Level Forty Ascended Soul would be richly rewarded. His backing alone could elevate her standing within the Celestial Circle, opening paths toward a far greater future than she could have reached alone.

One day, the title of Divine Archer would belong to her.

Her concentration broke as an overwhelming killing intent entered her senses. She snapped her head sideways. Three bizarre projectiles tore across the battlefield, and they looked nothing like arrows.

Instead, they resembled tiny pieces of metal propelled by terrifying amounts of qi from a strange staff-like weapon held by her distant opponent.

"What..."

The first projectile burst apart before reaching her, releasing an expanding wave of frost.

Mao Fen activated Gale Steps: First Movement.

The wind gathered beneath her feet, propelling her sideways in an explosive burst without disrupting the tension in her bowstring. She skimmed across the air as the pagoda rooftop vanished beneath layers of ice.

Without hesitation, she released her arrow and it flew straight toward Ding Cai.

The second projectile intercepted it, almost curving to meet her arrow. Divine light erupted across the heavens. The collision blinded the battlefield for a brief instant as sacred qi consumed both attacks.

Suddenly, thunder roared.

The third projectile pierced through the fading radiance and struck Mao Fen's shoulder before she could evade completely. Lightning exploded across her body.

She grimaced but refused to lose control.

Activating Gale Steps: Second Movement, she descended like a feather carried by a storm, landing atop the edge of the pagoda with flawless balance despite the pain coursing through her arm.

The wound rapidly knitted together as the innate immortality of an Ascended Soul restored her flesh.

She immediately searched for her opponent.

"...Gone. Just like that."

The woman that Mao Fen marked as prey had disappeared from her previous position.

[POV: Ding Cai]

The moment Ding Cai's match concluded, the battlefield shifted without warning. The shattered arena dissolved into streams of light as broken stone, collapsed buildings, and ancient ruins emerged in its place.

Jagged walls rose from the earth while weathered pagodas overlooked the desolation, turning the dueling grounds into a forgotten city reclaimed by time. There was no pause between battles. The contest simply continued.

Ding Cai wasted no time. She leaped across the broken streets and scaled the tallest structure within sight, landing atop the remains of an ancient watchtower. From there, she surveyed the sprawling ruins, her eyes searching for the slightest disturbance.

"This is perfect," said the Human Soul. His calm voice echoed within her mind. "I can sense three of them. What are your plans?"

The champions had never been told the exact rules governing the contest between the Supreme Heart and the Supreme Bearer. They only knew each side possessed six champions. Whether they fought individually or in groups remained a mystery.

Counting Loki, whom she had just defeated, the Supreme Heart had already committed at least four champions. There was no guarantee another battle would follow this one.

Ding Cai narrowed her eyes.

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"If this is the final confrontation," she muttered, "then I won't hold anything back."

"Danger!" the Human Soul shouted.

Her instincts reacted before her thoughts caught up. Ding Cai twisted to the right as an arrow tore through the air where her head had been moments earlier. She swung her blade, knocking the projectile aside. The instant steel met the arrow, violent qi erupted from its surface. The explosion rippled across the tower, sending fractured stone raining into the streets below while the impact numbed her arm.

"Did you see where it came from?" Ding Cai asked.

"I did."

Although Ding Cai possessed exceptional perception and analytical ability, the Human Soul surpassed her in both detection range and reaction speed. Without his guidance, she would never have kept pace with Loki's elusive techniques during their previous battle.

"Let's answer with something that'll force them onto the defensive," Ding Cai said.

"Copy that."

The sword shimmered before its shape unraveled into flowing light. Within moments, the Human Soul reformed into an unfamiliar weapon, one she had seen Mai Duyi and several imperial soldiers wield during military exercises. Its long barrel gleamed beneath the afternoon sun, resembling a metallic staff more than any conventional weapon.

Ding Cai raised the sniper rifle and peered through its scope.

Far across the ruined city, a lone woman stood atop a weathered pagoda. Bow in hand, she remained perfectly still, already preparing another shot.

"There."

Ding Cai squeezed the trigger three times.

The first bullet carried Frost Smite, leaving a trail of pale blue qi that froze the surrounding air.

The second bore Divine Smite, radiating brilliant golden light that rivaled the sun.

The third crackled with Thunderous Smite, its violent lightning splitting the sky as it screamed toward its target.

...

..

.

[POV: Mao Fen]

As a member of the Celestial Circle and an immortal who had wandered the Greater Universe for countless years, Mao Fen had encountered very few archers capable of matching her mastery.

She defeated every one of them.

Her achievements within the Human Empire had earned numerous battlefield honors, eventually drawing the personal acknowledgment of the Supreme Heart himself. Those accomplishments secured her invitation into the Celestial Circle, a peacekeeping organization spanning all six universes under the authority of the Supreme Beings. Every member represented the pinnacle of their respective disciplines.

Archery was hers.

Although she had willingly stripped away layer after layer of her Ascended Soul until only a single layer remained, her experience and refined techniques had not vanished with her cultivation. They remained etched into her instincts.

Unfortunately, her reduced strength demanded adjustments.

That was why she had missed her opening shot.

"Tsk."

Mao Fen drew the bowstring until it formed a perfect full moon. Immortal qi condensed around the arrowhead as she prepared an Immortal Art.

"I won't miss again."

She had sacrificed far too much to fail.

If victory belonged to the Supreme Heart, her willingness to regress from a Level Forty Ascended Soul would be richly rewarded. His backing alone could elevate her standing within the Celestial Circle, opening paths toward a far greater future than she could have reached alone.

One day, the title of Divine Archer would belong to her.

Her concentration broke as an overwhelming killing intent entered her senses. She snapped her head sideways. Three bizarre projectiles tore across the battlefield, and they looked nothing like arrows.

Instead, they resembled tiny pieces of metal propelled by terrifying amounts of qi from a strange staff-like weapon held by her distant opponent.

"What..."

The first projectile burst apart before reaching her, releasing an expanding wave of frost.

Mao Fen activated Gale Steps: First Movement.

The wind gathered beneath her feet, propelling her sideways in an explosive burst without disrupting the tension in her bowstring. She skimmed across the air as the pagoda rooftop vanished beneath layers of ice.

Without hesitation, she released her arrow and it flew straight toward Ding Cai.

The second projectile intercepted it, almost curving to meet her arrow. Divine light erupted across the heavens. The collision blinded the battlefield for a brief instant as sacred qi consumed both attacks.

Suddenly, thunder roared.

The third projectile pierced through the fading radiance and struck Mao Fen's shoulder before she could evade completely. Lightning exploded across her body.

She grimaced but refused to lose control.

Activating Gale Steps: Second Movement, she descended like a feather carried by a storm, landing atop the edge of the pagoda with flawless balance despite the pain coursing through her arm.

The wound rapidly knitted together as the innate immortality of an Ascended Soul restored her flesh.

She immediately searched for her opponent.

"...Gone. Just like that."

The woman that Mao Fen marked as prey had disappeared from her previous position.

…

..

.

[POV: Zi Hong]

"Oh boy, did I just see the famed Storm Archer miss her mark?"

Zi Hong chuckled as he wandered into one of the few buildings that remained relatively intact. Though its walls were cracked and its roof partially collapsed, it still offered enough shade for him to lounge comfortably. Without the slightest hint of urgency, he reached into his pocket dimension and retrieved a worn jade gourd before taking a long drink.

"Ah... that's the good stuff."

His robes hung loosely from his broad frame, exposing much of his chest. The sash around his waist looked as though it had been tied as an afterthought, barely holding the garments together. A long sword rested across his shoulder while a pair of wolf-like ears twitched lazily, reacting to distant sounds carried by the wind.

Like Mao Fen, Zi Hong was a regressed immortal.

He had once stood at Level Fifty-Two Ascended Soul, possessing fifty-two layers of immortality. Yet he had discarded all but one of them without hesitation to represent the Supreme Heart in this contest.

To many, that decision bordered on insanity.

Unlike Mao Fen, whose reputation had been forged through distinguished military service and reinforced by the Celestial Circle's prestige, Zi Hong possessed no illustrious background. No grand sect claimed him. No empire sang his praises.

He was merely a wandering swordsman.

At least, that was what people believed until they challenged him.

Across the Greater Universe, more than a hundred renowned swordmasters had fallen beneath his blade. Many of them possessed more layers of immortality than he did at the time. Rank and cultivation had never mattered to Zi Hong.

Only the sword did.

He had been born within the Greater Animal Realm, a universe where the weak existed solely to nourish the strong. Violence was neither condemned nor glorified there. It was simply life.

Zi Hong embraced that reality wholeheartedly.

Whenever coin ran low, he accepted mercenary work. Whenever boredom crept in, he sought powerful opponents to test his sword. Victory delighted him. Defeat excited him even more. He tipped the gourd once again, finishing another generous mouthful before releasing a satisfied sigh.

"Ah, that hits the spot."

Compared to countless ancient immortals who had cultivated for millions of years, Zi Hong and Mao Fen were still considered young. Young immortals often possessed two dangerous qualities, namely talent and ambition. Those traits bred confidence, and confidence often became recklessness.

Neither of them had hesitated to strip away thousands upon thousands of painstaking cultivation. The gamble was obvious.

High risk. Even greater reward.

Footsteps echoed across the broken stone.

Mao Fen landed beside him with a solemn expression, her freshly healed shoulder hidden beneath her robes.

"I lost her."

Zi Hong merely hummed as he continued drinking.

"It's a woman," Mao Fen continued. "Blue hair. Blue robes. She wields a peculiar ranged weapon capable of firing incredibly fast projectiles. Each one carries a different attribute, and their power rivals powerful divine treasures. I suspect the weapon itself is an extraordinary treasure."

She paused before adding with quiet confidence, "My bow remains superior."

"So?" asked Zi Hong.

"We need a plan," said Mao Fen.

Zi Hong scratched behind one wolf ear before shrugging. "Nah."

Mao Fen frowned.

"I'd rather stay here," said Zi Hong without a care for the world, his lips curling into a carefree grin as he casually rested the sword across his shoulder again. "Let her come to me. I want a proper duel. Face-to-face. Sword against sword... or whatever weapon she's carrying. That's the only way to appreciate someone's skill."

"..."

"If they're strong, great! If they're weak and boring?" He waved his hand dismissively. "You can finish them off."

Mao Fen released a weary sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose as if to calm herself down. "As expected of a mercenary. I'm disappointed in myself for believing I could rely on you. We don't know how many enemies remain or what abilities they possess. Separating now only gives them opportunities to isolate us."

She folded her arms.

"We must work together before it's too late."

Turning toward the third champion secretly listening to them, she asked respectfully,

"Surely you believe the same, Lord Lu?"

Zi Hong clicked his tongue in annoyance, suddenly made aware of this person, because he didn't sense him at all. An almost excited bloodlust leak out of him. However, he held himself back, reminding himself that this was an ally.

…

..

.

[POV: Lu Tai]

A figure clad in spotless white robes stepped out from the wall as though he had peeled himself from the paper-thin seam between stone and shadow. His face remained concealed beneath a white veil, revealing only a pair of calm, unreadable eyes.

The man was Lu Tai.

Among the Supreme Heart's countless children, Lu Tai belonged to the eldest generation. Long before many of his siblings had earned their first layer of immortality, he had already established himself as one of the Greater Universe's foremost talisman masters and sorcerers.

At his peak, he had reached Level Eighty Ascended Soul.

Many believed he would become the next of the Supreme Heart's children to step into the exalted realm of a Ruler of Laws.

That future had been temporarily cast aside.

At his father's command, Lu Tai had willingly abandoned seventy-nine layers of immortality to participate in this contest. It was a sacrifice he accepted without complaint.

His gaze swept across Zi Hong and Mao Fen before he spoke.

"You speak wisely, Mao Fen. However, we scarcely know one another. I believe the best strategy is for each of us to fight in the manner most familiar to ourselves."

Zi Hong grinned and took another swig from his gourd.

"The lord has spoken," he said with a sly smile. "You might as well listen, Storm Archer. The way I see it, the best teamwork we can manage is simply staying out of each other's way."

Mao Fen remained silent for a moment before exhaling softly.

"The two of you make valid points."

She gave a reluctant nod.

"Very well. I shall fight in the way most familiar to me."

Her expression hardened.

"I do suggest both of you become accustomed to your current cultivation as quickly as possible before engaging the enemy. According to intelligence gathered by the Celestial Circle, along with rumors surrounding the Supreme Bearer, I believe our opponent is one of the six disciples of the Holy Emperor."

She frowned slightly.

"Very little is known about her. Only that she has been sighted within the Greater Human Realm."

Lu Tai raised his sleeve.

Several talismans drifted from within his robes before floating toward Mao Fen and Zi Hong.

"Although we intend to operate independently," he said, "there is no reason we cannot share information."

Each talisman landed neatly within their hands.

"Please keep this with you. As long as the talisman remains intact, we may communicate regardless of distance."

As one of the Greater Universe's greatest talisman makers, crafting communication talismans required little effort from Lu Tai. He distributed them without asking for anything in return.

He continued calmly,

"My familiars have already surveyed much of the battlefield."

Tiny paper butterflies silently emerged from beneath his sleeves before scattering into the ruins.

"I currently detect only a single enemy presence. We possess the numerical advantage. Should any of you locate the enemy, do not hesitate to attack."

After a brief pause, he offered one final warning.

"Exercise caution around formation traps. My familiars observed the enemy laying spell formations throughout these ruins. The numerous buildings, alleyways, and elevated structures make this battlefield ideal for ambushes and guerrilla warfare."

He glanced toward the crumbling city surrounding them.

"Certainly, we possess sufficient strength to level everything in sight. But doing so would immediately expose your location while surrendering the initiative. If either of you finds yourselves in danger, do not expect me to abandon my objective. I have no intention of rescuing anyone. If a choice must be made, I shall pursue the enemy rather than save an ally."

After a brief silence, he inclined his head.

"That is all. Good luck."

Zi Hong laughed loudly.

"Good luck? Nah."

He hoisted the gourd overhead before taking another drink.

"I won't need it."

Mao Fen gave a confident nod.

"If anything," she said, "it's the enemy who needs good luck."

Lu Tai neither agreed nor disagreed.

He simply turned and walked deeper into the ancient ruins, his white robes gradually disappearing into the shadows between the broken structures.

"I don't know about that," he whispered to himself.

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