"Father, I'm off."

"Go on, go on. Beat that little girl from the Ouyang Clan!"

"I'll do my best!"

On the other side of the Ouyang Clan's prep room, in the Huang Clan's lounge, a father and daughter were encouraging each other. Unlike Ouyang Feng, this girl named Huang Shi Yao gave off a rather ordinary vibe. Her father was the obese man who had once mocked Ouyang Long—the head of the Huang Clan, Huang Long.

—Another one named Long...

But Huang Long's obese figure was quite mismatched with his name.

As he watched his daughter leave the lounge, the fatherly smile on Huang Long's face vanished instantly, replaced by a worried expression. The upcoming match was the semifinals. The final four were elites who had defeated countless opponents—each a powerful sorcerer. A single misstep could even get someone killed. Huang Long feared this worst-case scenario. His daughter was his only child, doted on since birth.

"I'm not even praying for victory. How could she win against that monster from the Ouyang Clan? But Shi Yao, please don't get hurt..."

Muttering softly, Huang Long soon left, heading outside.

...

...

...

"Hi, Huang Shi Yao, right?"

"Y-you... hello..."

On stage, Ouyang Feng casually greeted her opponent. Huang Shi Yao, startled by the sudden address, stuttered slightly.

"You know what? Why don't you just surrender?"

"Eh?"

"I said—"

Ouyang Feng stepped forward until she stood right before her opponent.

"Why don't you surrender? I'm afraid I might accidentally kill you."

The smile on Ouyang Feng's face seemed gentle, but to Huang Shi Yao, it carried a different meaning.

"You're really confident."

Huang Shi Yao, five years older, wasn't easily intimidated. She gave a big-sisterly smile, gazing warmly at her opponent.

"Your gaze... I hate it. I really hate it..."

That sisterly warmth reminded Ouyang Feng of someone. Hatred surged within her—and her smile slowly turned cold.

"Shall we just have a proper match?"

"Sure. Let's... have a good match..."

Ouyang Feng's expression was clearly off. Huang Shi Yao, older and wiser, felt an inexplicable unease. Her opponent's words deepened her fear.

"It's fine. I've made it this far. How can I be scared before it starts?"

After psyching herself up, Huang Shi Yao regained composure and stepped back.

[Both competitors are in position.]

The referee's voice boomed from the speakers. Ouyang Feng smiled and stepped back a few paces.

[Begin!]

The signal blared immediately!

But Ouyang Feng stood frozen. This meant either surrender or overwhelming confidence. She'd never give up.

"Come on, what's wrong? No need to hold back!"

Seeing Huang Shi Yao unmoving, Ouyang Feng tauntingly crooked her finger.

"......"

Standing like this wasn't working. Huang Shi Yao accepted the provocation and launched her attack.

Raising her hand, she pointed her right palm at Ouyang Feng.

"Come on, come on. Let me crush you completely."

A slightly mad whisper. Ouyang Feng's smile deepened... and the world in her eyes suddenly flipped upside down!

"Forgive me..."

Her wide-open palm swung violently. Ouyang Feng, suspended upside down, flew sideways with the motion!

—Huang Shi Yao's magic was telekinetic!

"Good, good! It wouldn't be fun otherwise!"

Shouting, Ouyang Feng laughed instead of panicking. And in that instant—

—the entire stage erupted into a sea of white flames!!!

"What!"

The view filled with white. Huang Shi Yao lost control of her magic. Scorching fire pillars three meters high surrounded her, engulfing Ouyang Feng completely.

"W-what do I do..."

Her magic was useless—and she felt suffocating...

Ouyang Feng went all out. The dazzling white flames were hellfire at 9,000 degrees, burning the air rapidly.

If she didn't act, Huang Shi Yao would suffocate!

"Shi Yao!"

Huang Long cried out from the stands.

"Father, I... I can still manage..."

Her vision blurring, Huang Shi Yao gritted her teeth. Draining her remaining Imagination Particles, she tore a huge chunk of earth from the ground. It became her platform, rising slowly—the fire didn't cover the sky!

But after escaping, she saw in despair—Ouyang Feng waiting calmly outside...

—She slowly raised her hand, aiming at Huang Shi Yao like a sitting duck...

"Checkmate..."

Her fingers clenched. Huang Shi Yao's clothes burst into flames, burning to ashes instantly...

Already dizzy from lack of oxygen, she lost consciousness.

Ouyang Feng descended to the ground. The flames vanished as she stopped supplying Imagination Particles. Luckily, Huang Shi Yao fell face-down, avoiding exposure.

"Heh heh heh..."

Ouyang Feng walked over, roughly grabbed her hair, and yanked her head up.

"Forfeit! I declare forfeit on behalf of the Huang Clan!!"

Huang Long's voice rang out. He couldn't bear his daughter's humiliation!

"Forfeit request accepted. I declare—"

The referee, Captain of the Wang Clan guards, raised his hand...

"Oh, what a pity..."

Ouyang Feng sighed. The hair in her hand flashed white for an instant.

"You bitch!!!"

Huang Long wailed. His eyes bloodshot, he glared at Ouyang Feng's victor pose—he wanted to tear her to pieces!

Why?... Because at the exact moment the referee signaled, Ouyang Feng burned Huang Shi Yao's beautiful golden hair to ashes...

The girl with lovely long hair now had... nothing left. Just a bald head.

Humiliation. Blatant humiliation. This was how Ouyang Feng flaunted her victory.

...

...

Walking off stage, Ouyang Feng returned to her parents.

"Well done."

Ouyang Long nodded approvingly, unmoved by her final act. His creed was simple: victory was everything. Defeat all enemies to stay powerful. This was why he restrained Ouyang Shi—her magic was too strong, requiring special devices to limit it...

"Heh heh, thanks, Dad..."

Feeling her father's hand on her head, Ouyang Feng smiled contentedly.