Chapter 96

The match began.

First to enter the stage was Miao Huo from Xianding Peak — a fiery, spirited boy with a puff of blazing red hair and a cocky attitude. Dressed in a simple vest, he looked straight out of an anime, like the kind of protagonist who could talk his way through saving the world.

Then came Shen Xian’er.

And with her appearance, the entire arena exploded in cheers. It wasn’t an exaggeration — all hundred thousand disciples of Luoxian Sect were essentially her fans. The thunderous chants overwhelmed her to the point she nervously pulled out a lollipop to calm down.

“Xian’er, you’ve got this!”

The familiar voice of her senior brother rang in her ears, instantly soothing her nerves. She clenched her tiny fists and nodded with confidence.

The duel officially began.

“Senior sister Xian’er, I’m Miao Huo of Xianding Peak. Please go easy on me.”

Miao Huo politely cupped his hands, but wasted no time in activating his Fire Python Art. Instantly, four massive fire serpents as thick as water tanks burst into existence, exuding intense flames that even spectators could feel.

“Such power! Why haven’t we heard of this guy before?”

“Some cultivators are low-profile maniacs. They hide behind layers of formations like they’re avoiding debt collectors, and only come out to fight when necessary.”

“…Seriously?”

The crowd buzzed, but back on the stage, Miao Huo was all business. Young as he was, he was experienced and cautious. Right from the start, he unleashed his trump card — the four flaming pythons.

Facing the monstrous fire serpents, Shen Xian’er instinctively backed away, terrified. She hated snakes. Even if they were delicious when cooked, their slimy look gave her the creeps.

“Senior brother, what do I do?”

Panicked, she looked around for help, but no voice came through this time.

Maybe… I should just surrender?

She started rummaging through her embroidered pouch for the white flag. But just as she was about to wave it, a memory surfaced.

“Oh right! Senior brother said if I panic and don’t know what to do, I should use Plan B!”

With that, she took out a small notebook from her pouch. On its first page were clear instructions:

Step 1: After your opponent summons four fire serpents, throw exactly 113 fire-element talismans at them.

She immediately pulled out the talismans — 113, not one more, not one less.

Step 2: While tossing the talismans, your arm movement should be sharp, and your expression fierce to avoid suspicion of any trap.

“Fierce!”

Xian’er tilted her head, thought hard, and made what she considered a fearsome face — which, to everyone else, just looked painfully adorable.

She began flinging the talismans, one by one.

Now, talismans were a staple for low-level cultivators. With no powerful techniques or weapons, this was a common method. So the crowd wasn’t surprised… until they noticed something odd.

“She’s using fire-element talismans… on a fire-element cultivator?”

“Is she helping him charge up?”

“She’s literally feeding his power!”

Everyone knew basic elemental theory — fire empowers fire. Surely, Luoxian Sect’s top genius wouldn't make such a rookie mistake?

But in truth, Shen Xian’er had no idea. Her senior brother told her what to do, and she simply followed instructions. If he said this would work, it would.

“Twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-one…”

Focused, she counted each talisman she tossed, not even listening to Miao Huo’s mocking.

“Senior sister Xian’er, I’m fire-type too, you know! You’re not going to win like this!”

Initially nervous, Miao Huo now wore a smug grin. He had seen her beat Li Jun, so he knew not to underestimate her… but this? This was just laughable.

Still, something felt off.

She just kept tossing more talismans without a hint of hesitation.

“Very well! Let’s see how much energy you’ve got!”

He stood his ground, controlling the four pythons and letting them absorb the incoming talismans. The flames around him grew increasingly fierce.

Meanwhile, Xian’er continued counting with determination until she hit 113. She wiped the sweat from her brow, satisfied with the work.

Miao Huo, now radiating immense fire aura, sneered, “You’re trying to overload me, huh? Make me absorb more than I can handle?”

“You knew!?”

Xian’er’s shocked reaction was so genuine, it drew waves of laughter from the crowd.

“She’s too pure! Can’t even hide her plans!”

“She’s adorable!”

“Miao Huo, if you dare bully her, I swear I’ll flay you alive!”

Miao Huo basked in the attention and smirked. “Don’t worry, senior sister. I’ll end it quickly. You won’t feel a thing.”

He raised his hands to command the fire serpents — but suddenly, something went wrong.

Two conflicting strands of fire-element spiritual energy clashed inside his body, sending him reeling.

“What?! This can’t be!”

He had checked — every talisman was pure fire-type energy. How could this be happening?

“Tsk… such a naive kid,” muttered Han Luo from the stands.

My talismans? Normal?

Each was infused with my personally refined fire-element spiritual energy — so pure and intense it doesn’t even exist elsewhere in the Eastern Region, maybe not even in all of cultivation history.

He hadn’t told Xian’er, though. With her personality, she’d probably spill the beans mid-battle.

Back on the stage, Miao Huo's control collapsed. The raging energy inside him caused him to double over and roll on the ground, clutching his stomach like he had food poisoning.

Xian’er blinked. “What’s happening?”

She turned to the notebook again.

• If opponent clutches their belly and rolls around in pain — use the detonation talisman.

• If opponent resists and attacks — activate the defensive formation and follow Page 2, Rule 4.

• If opponent surrenders — wave to the crowd and smile.

“Ehehehe…” She grinned and pulled out the explosion trigger.

The crowd watched in confusion as the most ridiculous match continued — one fighter rolling on the floor, the other giggling and holding a notebook.

And so, in the most chaotic and adorable way imaginable, the match crept toward an absurd end.