[The match concludes. The victor is...]

On the other side, the second match had already ended. The winner was a remarkably young man. Since the preliminary rounds, he hadn’t used a single spell—defeating opponents solely with the blade in his hand. Any hidden abilities he might possess were a serious concern for Ouyang Feng.

"Xiao Feng, be careful with your next opponent. They’ll be tough," Ouyang Lijia warned.

"Mom, don’t worry! I’ll melt that sword down to nothing!"

Watching the victor—her upcoming opponent—step off the stage, Ouyang Feng declared her confidence to her mother beside her. Her arrogance wasn’t unfounded. Her magic, *Blazing Inferno*, was the bane of all physical objects. Anything with a melting point would inevitably dissolve under her white-hot flames.

[After a one-hour intermission, the final match of this tournament will commence. Please enjoy your lunch.]

Time slipped by unnoticed. Noon had arrived—the lunch hour. Only Ouyang Lijia and Ouyang Feng remained at the Ouyang Clan’s designated area. Ouyang Long had vanished without a trace, as he often did. The mother and daughter paid it little mind; he frequently disappeared unpredictably. As long as he returned safely, that was all that mattered. Ouyang Feng bit heartily into her sandwich, her face glowing with satisfaction.

"Don’t eat too fast. Here, have a drink."

Ouyang Lijia, sipping tea elegantly beside her, handed her daughter a chilled glass of fruit juice. Ouyang Feng took it with a grin and gulped it down.

"Haaah! I’m alive again! Mom, your cooking’s still unbeatable!"

"That truly makes me happy. Back when I was a poor girl, life forced me to learn many things."

"Eh? Mom was poor? I’d never have guessed!"

Ouyang Feng gazed at her mother, eyes sparkling. Feeling that gaze, Ouyang Lijia gently stroked her hair and began reminiscing.

"I was once a child of poverty, living hand-to-mouth every day. Burdened by hardship, I learned housework and cooking far too young. Those years were grueling—even now, the memories ache."

"Eh? But now..."

Ouyang Feng tilted her head, staring at her mother’s hands—smooth and flawless, bearing no trace of toil.

"Hehe, it’s natural you’d wonder. After meeting your father and going through certain events, I married into the Ouyang Clan. Once wealthy, of course I’d care for skin weathered by years of struggle."

Ouyang Lijia pinched her daughter’s cheek playfully. Tears of mock pain welled in Ouyang Feng’s eyes as she let out cute whimpers—too distracted by the pinch to notice her mother’s tightly clenched fist.

"Lijia’s absolutely right. Marrying her was the greatest fortune of my life!"

"Master, you’re back."

The fist instantly relaxed. Ouyang Lijia greeted Ouyang Long with a smile.

"Mm. Still couldn’t find Xiao Shi. She vanished early this morning—who knows where she went."

"Dad, forget about her! Come eat!"

Ouyang Feng thrust a sandwich toward her father.

"Oh! Lijia’s specialty! It’s been ages!"

"Hehe, you flatter me, Master."

Seeing Ouyang Long’s delight, Ouyang Lijia’s laughter rang out.

"Hehe, I want another one too!"

"Xiao Feng, don’t overeat."

"Stuffed!"

Mouth full, Ouyang Feng mumbled her reply. Father and daughter then mirrored each other perfectly—both devouring sandwiches with identical, ravenous vigor.

The midday break passed swiftly.

Soon, the afternoon session commenced. The final match of the exchange tournament—and the closing ceremony of the Magic Exchange Conference—were about to begin.

[Now, the final match of the Magic Exchange Conference Friendship Tournament is ready to begin. Contestants Ouyang Feng and Jamel, please take the stage!]

"Dad! Mom! I’m off!"

Rising proudly from the competitor’s lounge beneath the stage, Ouyang Feng strode toward her destiny.

"..........."

On the opposite side, a mysterious man stood. A long scarf obscured half his face. In his hand, he gripped a Japanese sword—his weapon.

Both ascended the stage and took their positions.

"Hmph. What a strange man. Why hide your face? After all this time in the tournament, you’re the first who hasn’t fawned over me."

"........"

Ouyang Feng studied her opponent curiously. Only silence answered her.

"No reply? Fine. I’ll defeat you anyway!"

"......."

Jamel remained motionless, silent as stone, ignoring Ouyang Feng’s declaration of victory.

"Tch! How boring!!"

Frustrated by his indifference, Ouyang Feng stamped her foot hard.

[Begin!]

"I’ll roast you to a crisp!!!"

"........"

The instant the match started, Ouyang Feng unleashed her signature move—blinding white fire pillars erupted where Jamel stood! But Jamel was faster. He vanished from her sight a split second before the flames burst forth.

"What?!"

This was unprecedented. In all her prior matches, she’d never faced an opponent this swift. Panic flickered across her face.

"Your cervical spine... I’ll take it."

A chilling whisper slithered from behind. Jamel had materialized at Ouyang Feng’s back. His sword descended in a brutal strike—using the flat of the blade.

"Ahhh!!!"

Yet Ouyang Feng was no novice. Trained and battle-hardened, she snapped out of her daze instantly. Imagination Particles roared within her, flooding the air with searing heat. Ghostly white flames—*Blazing Inferno*—flared between her and the descending blade.

"......."

Seeing his strike would miss, Jamel twisted his wrist. His sword slid past the white flames as he disengaged.

"You bastard..."

The white flames dissipated. Ouyang Feng glared, teeth bared, at Jamel reappearing before her.

"How dare you make me lose composure? Unforgivable... utterly unforgivable!!!"

A scream tore from her throat. Heat surged around her body once more—this time, with her full power.

The entire arena filled with drifting orbs of *Blazing Inferno*. Between the flames, no space remained for a human to slip through—white fire blanketed every inch of the stage.

"........"

Jamel shifted into an iaijutsu stance. An ominous purple glow enveloped his body. Was he finally unleashing the magic he’d hidden since the preliminaries?