The air smelled of blood, sweat, and the unmistakable stench of desperate men betting their last spirit stones.
Luo Feng cracked his knuckles as the roars of the crowd vibrated through the underground coliseum's rusted gates. Somewhere in this pit of violence was a shard of Thunder God Void Energy—and he needed it.
[New Check-In Location: Blood Iron Arena – Underground Fighting Ring]
[Mission: Win 3 Consecutive Matches (Reward: Combat Fame + Thunder God VE Shard)]
[Failure Penalty: Permanent ban… or death. Whichever comes first.]
The Fox Spirit, already disguised as a shady bookie, nudged him. "You look tense. Need a pep talk?"
Li Qing, arms crossed, cut in before Luo Feng could answer. "If you embarrass yourself, I'm leaving."
Luo Feng smirked. "Worried about me?"
Li Qing's glare could have frozen lava. "Worried about the noise."
A gong sounded. The announcer's voice boomed:
"NEXT FIGHT: THE MYSTERIOUS 'STORM FIST' VS. THE BLOOD TUSK CHAMPION!"
The crowd erupted.
[Round 1: The Warm-Up]
Luo Feng's first opponent was a hulking brute with tusks grafted onto his jaw—courtesy of some questionable demonic surgery.
The Blood Tusker grinned, cracking his neck. "I'll make this quick, little man."
Luo Feng sighed. "Why do they always say that?"
The bell rang.
The Blood Tusker charged—
—and faceplanted into the arena floor as Luo Feng Gale Stepped behind him and kicked out his knees.
KNOCKOUT.
The crowd went silent. Then, furious betting erupted.
[Combat Fame: +50 Reputation]
[System Note: "Boring. Try flair next time."]
The Fox Spirit, now wearing a vendor's hat, was already selling "Storm Fist" merchandise.
Li Qing looked physically pained.
[Round 2: The Problem]
The next fighter was faster. Smarter. And, unfortunately, cheating.
A masked duelist with twin daggers flickered like a shadow—each blade dripping with paralytic venom.
"THE PHANTOM VIPER HAS A 28-WIN STREAK!" the announcer crowed.
Luo Feng barely dodged the first strike. The second grazed his arm—numbing his fingers instantly.
"Venom detected," the System chirped. "Poison Immunity engaged… mostly."
His right arm went limp.
The Fox Spirit yelled from the stands: "Stop playing with him and win, idiot!"
Luo Feng bared his teeth. Fine. Time to improvise.
He Gale Stepped straight up—then dropped like a meteor, elbow aimed at the Viper's skull.
The man twisted, but not fast enough.
CRACK.
The Viper crumpled.
[Combat Fame: +150 Reputation]
[System Note: "Better. Still basic."]
Li Qing, despite herself, gave a single nod.
[Round 3: The Trap]
Then the arena lights dimmed.
A new figure stepped into the ring—wreathed in crackling lightning.
"UNANNOUNCED CHALLENGER: THE 'LIGHTNING TYRANT'!"
Luo Feng's stomach dropped. That's not just some fighter. That's a Thunder God VE user.
The Tyrant didn't speak. He just moved.
One second he was across the arena. The next—
BOOM.
Luo Feng barely blocked with Wind God VE, skidding back from the sheer force. His arms screamed in protest.
The Fox Spirit's playful grin vanished. "Oh. Oh no."
Li Qing's hand went to her sword.
The Tyrant attacked again. Faster. Harder.
Luo Feng's blocks grew sloppier. His Gale Steps barely kept him ahead.
"User," the System warned, "enemy Thunder God VE is Tier 2. Yours is… not."
Luo Feng spat blood. "Noted."
Then—
A whisper in his ear. The Fox Spirit's voice, somehow beside him despite being in the stands:
"He's weak to his own element. Overload him."
Luo Feng's eyes widened. Right. Thunder can't strike the same place twice—unless you force it.
He stopped dodging.
Let the Tyrant charge.
Waited until the last possible second—
—and yanked the man's own lightning into his body with Wind God VE, creating a feedback loop.
KA-BOOM.
The explosion blinded the arena.
When the smoke cleared, the Tyrant was down.
And Luo Feng?
Standing. Barely.
[Check-In Complete!]
[Reward: Thunder God VE Shard – Lightning Resistance +5%]
[Combat Fame: "Storm Fist" Now Ranked Top 10 Underground!]
[The Aftermath: More Problems]
As Luo Feng limped out of the ring, the Fox Spirit tossed him a healing pill. "You're welcome for the advice."
Li Qing, still scowling, flicked a glance at the unconscious Tyrant. "He wasn't just a random fighter."
Luo Feng knew. The precision. The power. "Void Dynasty?"
Li Qing nodded. "They're hunting you harder now."
The Fox Spirit clapped. "Good news, then! I got us tickets to the real prize—the Celestial Thunder Tournament!"
Luo Feng groaned. "There's more?"
END OF THE CHAPTER14