Ling Tian flew towards the Moon Ape, his movements swift and agile. He dodged the powerful blow with ease, his eyes fixed on the beast. With a flick of his wrist, he released a metal element from the staff, striking the ape with a burst of energy. However, the ape's shield-like hand proved too strong, blocking the attack.
The Moon Ape retaliated with a deafening roar, unleashing a sonic wave attack that sent Ling Tian stumbling back. He dodged slightly, but one of the waves still managed to graze his shoulder, leaving a shallow cut.
Ling Tian's eyes blazed with determination as he hurled the Jade Emperor's Wrath towards the Moon Ape. The attack took the form of a giant jade-green dragon's head, its jaws wide open as it pierced through the ape's defenses. The beast stumbled back, its strength waning.
The Moon Ape charged forward, its powerful fist hurtling towards Ling Tian. He countered with a swift Caelestis Slash, shattering the ape's hand and leaving it broken.
"Now's your chance," the specter whispered. "Use the Daylight Attack to finish it off, and you'll be able to absorb its power."
Ling Tian's curiosity was piqued. "How do I absorb its power?"
The specter's voice grew urgent. "Do it now, while it's recovering!"
Ling Tian quickly executed a series of intricate movements, summoning 15 Daylight Attacks that converged on the Moon Ape. The beast let out a defeated roar as its body began to fade away.
"Quickly, consume the power," the specter urged.
Ling Tian hesitated, unsure of the process. "How do I do that?"
The specter's instructions were swift and precise. "Remove impurities using spirit energy, then extract the essence. Create a spirit bond by linking your spirit energy with the extracted essence, and merge your spirit energy with the beast essence using energy fusion. Finally, seal the power – that's all there is to it."
Ling Tian followed the specter's guidance, his hands moving in a blur as he practiced the technique. Finally, he managed to absorb the Moon Ape's power.
The specter nodded in approval. "Well done."
Ling Tian turned to him, curiosity still burning in his eyes. "Why did you teach me all this?"
The specter's expression remained enigmatic. "Never mind, let's head to Tianjin."
With that, Ling Tian hopped onto the Jade Emperor's Staff, and they flew for 30 minutes before reaching the city. The air was filled with the din of cheering crowds and the sound of excited chatter.
As they descended into the city, Ling Tian overheard a conversation between two ladies. "Hey, did you know that the Snake Queen's daughter wants to join the tournament?"
The specter's eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on some unseen point. "Snake Queen," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible.
Ling Tian's curiosity was piqued once more. What secrets lay hidden in this city, and what lay in store for him in the tournament? Only time would tell.
Ling Tian released the specter from its binding, allowing it to move freely once more. As they walked through the city, making their way to the Tianjin Tournament Arena, they overheard a conversation between two individuals.
"Snr Fan Long, all four clans' masters are coming to watch the battle, so you have to win," a boy said, his voice filled with excitement. "Your father will be there, and you can't afford to lose."
Snr Fan Long nodded, his expression serious. "I know."
Ling Tian's face turned stern as he approached them. "Where is the tournament being held?" he asked quietly, his eyes fixed intently on the pair.
The two individuals burst out laughing, clearly amused by Ling Tian's sudden appearance. They didn't bother to respond, instead choosing to mock him with their laughter.
Ling Tian's face darkened, annoyance and anger simmering beneath the surface. He slammed his hand onto a nearby table, the sound echoing through the air. "Tell me where I can find the place," he demanded, his voice low and menacing.
Fan Long stood up, his eyes locked onto Ling Tian's. However, his assistant quickly grabbed his arm, holding him back and nodding subtly to caution him against engaging with Ling Tian.
"We're heading to the Azure Dragon Arena," the assistant said hastily, providing Ling Tian with the location.
Ling Tian turned to leave without a word of thanks, his abrupt departure leaving Fan Long seething with anger. The young noble snatched up a knife and hurled it at Ling Tian's retreating back.
However, Ling Tian's reflexes proved too quick, and he caught the knife with ease. With a swift motion, he flung it back at Fan Long, the blade embedding itself in a nearby wooden pillar, mere inches from the young noble's face.
As Ling Tian walked away, the specter lagged behind, slipping into various stores and stalls to pilfer goods without drawing attention to itself. The mischievous entity snatched jewelry, low-grade power stones, coins, clothes, shoes, snacks, and even a sword, all while Ling Tian remained oblivious to its thievery.
When Ling Tian turned to check if the specter was still following, he spotted the monkey perched on the entity's shoulder, both of them engaged in their clandestine activities. Ling Tian chuckled and called out, "Hey, let's go."
The unlikely trio finally arrived at the arena, where a sea of enthusiastic spectators cheered and clapped. As they entered, Ling Tian was greeted warmly and offered a seat.
"We're two," Ling Tian said, his eyes scanning the surrounding area.
The guard's expression turned puzzled. "Where is the other person?"
Ling Tian gestured to the monkey, now sitting on the specter's lap. "I and my monkey."
The guard burst out laughing. "Alright, you can take the two seats. I have to go."
As the guard departed, Ling Tian sat down, and the specter followed suit, carefully positioning the monkey on its lap to conceal its true nature. The crowd was none the wiser, assuming the monkey was the second occupant of the seat.
As Ling Tian surveyed the surroundings, he noticed the leaders of the four clans – Snake, Tiger, Bear, and White Tiger – seated in attendance, their eyes fixed intently on the tournament. His gaze swept across the dignitaries, and his eyes locked onto the Snake Queen, her piercing stare directed squarely at him.