Teacher by day, Farmer by passion

Chapter 53 A dragon or a phoenix_1

Back on the stage, Liu Mei stretched lazily, covering a small yawn with her hand.

"What's wrong? Did Swiftah crashed into a car?" she teased, her voice light and playful.

Spee Ding faltered, his brow furrowing. "What's a... car?"

Swiftah—a beast renowned for its lightning-fast speed and the pinnacle of agility below Gold Rank—was familiar to him. But 'car'? That word was foreign.

Liu Mei simply shook her head, an amused glint in her eyes.

'That's a little secret between me and my master' she mused internally. 'No way I'm ever explaining that to an outsider.'

Then, her gaze locked onto Spee Ding's, sharp and unwavering.

"Be glad I have no weapon," she murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly. "If I did, I'd be going for your throat."

And in the next instant—she vanished.

A gust of wind followed.

Spee Ding barely registered the movement before a chilling sensation crept up his spine—Liu Mei was already there, her fingertips hovering inches from his exposed throat.

His body tensed. His instincts screamed. And before he could think—

"I SURRENDER!"

His voice rang through the arena.

Silence.

The crowd, once roaring with excitement, fell into stunned stillness.

Liu Mei smirked, pulling back her hand without a scratch.

"She's fast..." Shan Yifeng muttered, eyes still fixed on Liu Mei as she gracefully descended from the stage.

Ace let out a long breath, the tension finally easing from his shoulders. "That was intense, better than I expected... I'm glad you two won."

Before he could say more, Liu Mei rushed towards him.

Yifeng nodded stiffly. "R-Right..."

Meanwhile, Liu Mei, who had been listening silently, finally looked up with sparkling eyes. "Master, master! What about me? What title should I go for?"

Ace turned to her with a grin. "Go for the Golden Radiance Phoenix. It represents flashiness—the one who shines the brightest in the tournament earns it."

Liu Mei gasped. "Master... do I shine?"

Before Ace could respond, Shan Yifeng sighed dramatically and rubbed his temples. "Liu Mei, you shine so bright... my eyes hurt just watching you fight."

Liu Mei beamed, clearly taking it as the highest form of praise. Ace just shook his head, amused.

....

....

The next day, the arena was more packed than ever. The air buzzed with excitement as spectators filled every seat, eager for the upcoming battles. Not a single spot was left empty—it was a full house, brimming with anticipation.

The crowd erupted into cheers as the commentator's voice boomed across the arena.

"Welcome to the finals of the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament!"

The atmosphere was electric, the anticipation thick in the air. Spectators leaned forward in their seats, eager for the battles ahead.

"And today, we are honored to have a very special guest—Old Master Blind!"

The crowd roared even louder.

Old Master Blind's name carried immense weight. As a Dark Gold Rank expert, he was the closest living warrior to Legend Rank. Though age had taken its toll, his insight remained razor-sharp, making him one of the martial world's most respected figures.

With a knowing chuckle, he stroked his long beard and spoke into the voice-amplifying artifact before him. "This year, i have witnessed many budding talents. I hope to spectate battles that will shake the very foundations of this arena."

He lowered himself onto his seat, exuding the quiet confidence of a master who had seen countless battles unfold before his eyes. "I'll try to provide the finest commentary for you folks—assuming my old eyes can keep up!"

Laughter rippled through the audience at his playful remark.

Then, the commentator's voice rang out again.

"Let's not keep you all waiting for long! The first match of the day—White Rose vs. Xiao Ling!"