Crossing to Douqi Continent and walking sideways

After the smoke cleared, the arena was completely silent. Xiao Muchen and Lin Lei had both used their last trump cards. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the arena, their hearts in their throats, nervously awaiting the final outcome of this fierce battle.

When the smoke gradually dissipated, Xiao Muchen and Lin Lei both fell to the ground. Their bodies seemed to have been drained of all their strength, and they lay there motionless like a puddle of mud. Xiao Muchen gasped for breath, and every breath was like pulling on the worn-out, creaking bellows, difficult and heavy. Sweat poured out like a raging torrent, soaking his clothes completely, sticking tightly to his body, and clearly outlining his muscles that were trembling slightly due to extreme fatigue. His eyes were bloodshot, and his eyelids were heavy as if weighed by lead, but the unyielding fire in his heart drove him to try to open his eyes, and his eyes were firm and stubborn.

Xiao Muchen raised one hand with difficulty. The hand was shaking like a leaf in the wind, and it seemed that it would be broken in the next second. He tried to support his body, but as soon as he exerted force on his arm, he felt a piercing pain, and his muscles seemed to be protesting against the excessive consumption angrily. He gritted his teeth, and the veins on his forehead bulged like earthworms, trying to gather the remaining fighting spirit in his body. At this moment, he caught a glimpse of the faintly shining Star Sword beside him.

The Star Sword lay quietly aside. Although the light of the sword was weak, it seemed to contain endless power and encouragement. Xiao Muchen held the Star Sword with his hands that were trembling and almost unconscious. When his fingertips touched the hilt, a familiar chill instantly spread throughout his body, bringing him a brief moment of clarity. He used the Star Sword as his only support and tried to stand up little by little. With every move, the pain in his body came like a surging tide, ruthlessly impacting his nerves, causing his eyes to go black and almost faint. But he clenched his teeth so tightly that he seemed to break them. There was even a strong smell of blood in his mouth, but he still refused to let go and stood up slowly with his tenacious will.

He stood there shakily, using his Star Sword to support himself on the ground, trying to keep his balance. Looking at the fallen Lin Lei in front of him, his eyes could not help but reveal a look of admiration. There was no trace of pride or arrogance in his eyes, only respect and recognition for a powerful opponent.

Lin Lei lay on the ground, gasping for air. Every breath he took caused his chest to rise and fall violently, as if he was taking all the air in the world into his lungs. His eyes were a little blurry, but when he saw Xiao Muchen struggling to stand up, he instantly regained some clarity.

“Lin Lei, you… are very strong.” Xiao Muchen spoke in a hoarse voice as if it had been rubbed by rough sandpaper. Every word he spoke seemed to exhaust all his strength. His voice was weak but firm. “This battle was a thrill.”

Lin Lei gave a bitter smile, his lips curled up in a helpless yet relieved arc. “Xiao Muchen, you are still better. But I, Lin Lei, refuse to accept the result, and will definitely compete with you again in the future.” Although his voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible, it was full of firm determination and unyielding fighting spirit.

Xiao Muchen nodded slightly, with a tired but sincere smile on his face, which showed satisfaction from this fierce battle. "Okay, I'll wait. It's my honor to have an opponent like you."

At this moment, after a brief silence, the audience burst into thunderous applause and cheers. The sound was like surging waves, one higher than the other, deafening. The shouts of "Xiao Muchen! Xiao Muchen!" resounded through the sky, as if to break the entire sky, and echoed over the arena for a long time.

Xiao Muchen's consciousness gradually blurred, and the scene in front of him began to become blurry, as if covered by a hazy veil. But he still tried to stay awake and not let himself fall again. He knew that the victory at this moment was hard-won, and he wanted to greet the cheers of the crowd with a standing posture to prove that his persistence and efforts were not in vain.

The elders of the Lin Clan walked onto the arena one after another, their steps steady and eager. Every elder's face was full of traces of time, but at this moment, they were all filled with admiration and satisfaction.

"This battle is a classic. Xiao Muchen, you really didn't let us down." An elder said with emotion, his eyes full of recognition and praise for Xiao Muchen. His voice was loud and powerful, and could be heard clearly in the noisy crowd, like a huge bell.

Xiao Muchen forced a smile and tried to speak, but found that his throat was as dry as a desert that had not seen rain for a long time, and he could not make a sound. He could only express his gratitude with his eyes, which were full of respect for the elders and a sense of belonging to the Lin Clan, deep and sincere.

Lin Wan'er rushed over, tears welling up in her eyes, like two crystal clear pearls that could fall at any time. Her face was full of worry and heartache, and she threw herself at Xiao Muchen's side, carefully supporting him. Her hands trembled slightly, as if she was touching the most precious treasure in the world, gently and cautiously.

"Mu Chen, how are you?" Lin Wan'er cried, her trembling voice full of endless concern and worry, like a cuckoo crying blood. Her eyes swept back and forth over Xiao Muchen's body, afraid of missing any wounds, her eyes were anxious and worried.

Xiao Muchen looked at her, and tenderness flashed in his eyes, as if the warmest sunshine in spring could melt all the ice and snow. He shook his head gently, "I'm fine, Wan'er, don't worry." His voice was as soft as a whisper in the breeze, but it was full of soothing power, making people feel at ease.

With the help of everyone, Xiao Muchen and Lin Lei were sent back to the room to heal. Xiao Muchen lay on the bed. Although his body was extremely tired, his heart was full of joy and a sense of accomplishment. His thoughts were like flying snowflakes, constantly recalling every moment of the battle, every move, every resistance, and every collision with Lin Lei. He reflected on his shortcomings, thinking about how to become stronger in future battles and how to better control his strength and skills.

After a few days of recuperation, Xiao Muchen's body gradually recovered. The moment he walked out of the room, the sun shone on him, as if he was covered with a golden coat, dazzling. The warm sunshine was like a mother's embrace, making him feel extremely comfortable and at ease, dispelling the fatigue of the body and the haze in the heart. He took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air filling his chest. The air with the fragrance of flowers and soil lifted his spirits, as if injected with new energy and vitality.

When the children of the Lin clan saw him, they all looked at him with admiration. Someone quickly walked up to him, smiled and greeted him, his eyes full of respect and admiration for him. "Brother Xiao, you are so awesome!" A young child said excitedly, his voice full of excitement and admiration, as if he had seen the hero in his heart.

“It’s incredible that he was able to win the battle against Linley,” another disciple echoed, his eyes full of envy and yearning, hoping that one day he could be as powerful as him.

Xiao Muchen's name has become a symbol of strength and tenacity in the Lin clan. However, Xiao Muchen knows that this is just a small node in his long journey of practice. The road ahead is still long and full of unknowns. There may be more powerful opponents waiting for him, and he may encounter unprecedented difficulties and challenges, but he is not afraid in his heart. Because every battle is a tempering of growth, and every victory is a driving force for moving forward. With this firm belief and unremitting pursuit of strength, he will continue to embark on his journey, to write more glory and to conquer higher peaks. He believes that as long as there is a dream and persistence in his heart, nothing can stop him from moving forward.