Burial of Petals

A sudden love rival!? Du Chen was genuinely startled by the thought that had just sprung to his mind. Yet, upon closer reflection of the recent exchange—he and Frinda had indeed been discussing diamond rings when a young scion abruptly interjected, proposing a "friendly spar"—it was nigh impossible to arrive at any other conclusion.

A sidelong glance at Frinda revealed a mix of four parts indignation and six parts confusion in the girl's eyes. Evidently, she was just as clueless as to the origins of this particular young scion, Pylos.

Pylos surveyed Du Chen with a faint smile, his internal monologue racing: *This Francis fellow has already given her a diamond ring, and Miss Frinda not only accepted it but was laughing and talking with him. This... if I don't make my move now, it might be too late!* Almost simultaneously, a rumor swept through the young talents recently arrived at Battle God Isle: Francis had presented Miss Frinda with a stunning and precious diamond ring, which she had accepted on the spot without the slightest hesitation! As for the actual conversation between Du Chen and Frinda… who cared? What mattered was that many had clearly witnessed Francis bestowing a diamond ring upon Miss Frinda! (It was, indeed, a curious coincidence that men in this world expressed their affection for a cherished lady by presenting her with a diamond ring!)

At the same moment,

Du Chen was also sizing up Pylos, an internal dialogue unfolding: *This slick-haired, pretty-faced youth's battle armor indicates he's a Six-Star Battle God. He only graduated two years ago, so he's likely at the beginner stage of his rank. Flaying once evaluated that if I unleash the new technique I've been cultivating, I could defeat opponents like him, even fighting above my rank and without resorting to the Lotus Sacred Artifact. But it's clear Pylos has mistaken me for a love rival... Is Frinda truly worth bearing this undeserved burden for?*

With that thought, Du Chen broke into a smile. "Ah, Senior Brother, a graduate! This junior has only just ascended to a Five-Star Battle-Warrior, so I'm hardly qualified to spar with your esteemed self. You must be here for Miss Frinda, I presume? In that case, I shan't intrude upon your conversation. Enjoy yourselves! Heh, classmate Frinda and I aren't exactly close, and there's nothing of import between us."

With a pivot, Du Chen turned and departed.

The ring had been delivered. If a secret accord truly existed between Phil and the Saint Dak family, they would approach him directly. There was no need to involve himself further with Frinda here.

*The ring's already been given! If you claim Miss Frinda has no connection to a pretty boy like you, do you honestly expect me to believe it?! Do you take me for a fool? Trying to slink away now? Not a chance!*

"Francis, you must be mistaken! I don't know him!" Frinda called out, stopping Du Chen. "And I wasn't finished speaking with you!"

Hearing Frinda's words, Pylos's smile stretched thin, failing to reach his eyes. "I fail to see any misunderstanding in this situation. I merely wish to engage in a friendly spar with the Junior Brother who, by fate, shares a dormitory with me. Come now, it's just a simple exchange of moves! I assure you, I'll hold nothing back... or rather, I'll hold back significantly!"

Before Du Chen could even voice his annoyance, Frinda interjected, glaring fiercely at Pylos. "Sir, what precisely are you implying? We are all people of understanding here; there's no need to feign ignorance!"

"Very well, I shall be explicit!" Pylos shrugged. "I intend to court Miss Frinda, classmate Francis, and therefore, I challenge you to a duel! For you just presented Miss Frinda with a diamond ring, and as a noble, you couldn't possibly be unaware of its implications, could you? Do I need to elaborate further!?"

*Heh, so I'm truly being made a scapegoat,* Du Chen mused, covertly surveying his surroundings. *There's no shortage of hostile glares in the vicinity! Could it be that all these promising young talents who've recently flocked to Battle God Isle are here solely for Frinda!?*

*Impossible! Though the girl possesses the raw potential of a beauty, she's quite the tomboy, and her temper is fiercely volatile. How could she attract so many young talents? Is it her status among the Five Fallen Gods' families? No, that doesn't quite fit either. If it were for status and influence, wouldn't Annie be the more logical target? Besides her superior martial skills, extensive reading, and slightly broader knowledge, what else does Frinda have that surpasses Annie?*

*Hold on! High status, loves to read…* Du Chen abruptly turned his head. Sure enough, Betty was watching the spectacle from Annie's dormitory attic. *Damn it, could Frinda be the girl Betty was thinking of a few days ago? And does she now mistakenly believe I'm some damned profligate scion, just like Pylos, intent on chasing Frinda?*

Du Chen, lost in these thoughts, had inadvertently wasted a significant amount of time. Pylos, noticing Francis's apparent daze, loudly reiterated his demand for a duel!

Frinda fumed, "Pursuing me? What are you even talking about? I don't know you at all! Fine, if you insist on a duel, I'll be the one to contend with you!" *Her declaration was akin to a lover accepting a challenge to protect their cherished one!*

"Classmate Frinda, please wait a moment!" Du Chen suddenly said, rubbing his nose and smiling. Flaying's words echoed in his mind: *Hesitation is a word that should never belong to you!* He knew he had to act decisively now to sever any perceived ties with Frinda, lest he face "long-term pain!"

Subtly, Du Chen's temperament had been profoundly altered by Flaying's influence. Or perhaps it was the bitter lessons learned from Annie and Avril that had instilled in him a deep aversion to "long-term pain."

Lifting his outer robes, he shed his long gown, revealing the gleaming silver-white battle armor beneath. As "Vanishing Snow" hummed softly, Du Chen tapped its hilt and, with a smile, declared, "Senior Brother Pylos, *I* challenge *you* to a duel!"

Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded!

Frinda exclaimed, "Francis, do you even comprehend what you're saying? I have no need for you to duel on my behalf! I have absolutely no interest in you! You should have listened to what I was trying to tell you!"

"Classmate Frinda, please listen carefully! It is *I* who am initiating this duel!" Du Chen declared, his longsword now aimed directly at Pylos. "The reason for this challenge is that you have slandered me, Senior Brother Pylos!"

"I slandered you?" Pylos's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Indeed! Classmate Frinda and I were engaged in serious discussion; we're hardly even friends at this point, merely ordinary classmates! Yet you insist I'm pursuing her. Article 73 of the Holy Church's Code explicitly states that spreading false rumors about Divine Scion nobility in public constitutes slander! Naturally, as you are my Senior Brother, I won't formally prosecute you before the Holy Church's Inquisition. However, I demand a duel—a fair trial by combat to prove your error, for this is a sacred right bestowed upon me by the Holy Church's Code!"

Everyone present was utterly dumbfounded! Du Chen had eloquently and logically invoked the Holy Church's Code, leaving no one able to refute him. This instantly etched a stark impression into the minds of the onlookers: Pylos, who had just challenged out of blatant jealousy, was, in terms of personal character, vastly inferior to Francis!

Pylos's mind raced. "Junior Brother Francis, to the Water Pavilion's Battle God Platform!" he declared, naming the site for their duel!

"Excellent, now!" Du Chen agreed, confirming the time. The two then leapt and sprinted towards the Battle God Platform.

The students, drawn to witness the spectacle, immediately grew intensely interested upon seeing a Five-Star Battle-Warrior challenge a Six-Star Battle God. It was common knowledge that a Five-Star was a mere Battle-Warrior, while a Six-Star was a Battle God—a colossal gap, representing the full power of a Battle Soul, separated them! *Why was Francis so brimming with confidence!?* Driven by overwhelming curiosity, the students trailed the two to the Battle God Platform, their cheers, clamor, and applause incessantly rising.

The two stood opposite each other: Pylos tall, slender, and imposing; Du Chen graceful and scholarly. At least in terms of their emanating aura, neither could claim superiority! "Junior Brother, after you!" Pylos offered, but upon seeing Du Chen stand majestically, sword poised, with battle qi radiating a pressure no less formidable than his own, he instantly shed any complacency. He drew his sacred artifact, the Azure-Spined Saber, and gripped it firmly, his gaze fixed on Du Chen.

"Senior Brother, please!" Du Chen stepped forward, his blade lightly intersecting Pylos's saber, gracefully dismissing the formality and signaling Pylos to begin. Then, his longsword twirled, and the two clashed, locking into battle.

Below the platform, Frinda fixated her gaze on Du Chen. Having been bested by him countless times, her heart burned with a fierce reluctance to concede. Every day, she trained with a vengeance, hoping to one day overcome the obstacle that was Francis and advance to her next objective. Yet, unexpectedly, Francis always seemed to improve faster than she did… This time, having ascended to a Five-Star Battle-Warrior herself, she had approached with unyielding confidence, and thus, she had to meticulously scrutinize Du Chen's every action! On the stage, the two engaged in a life-or-death struggle. Pylos, truly deserving of his Six-Star Battle God rank, wielded his saber with a terrifying howl, each stroke imbued with immense, oppressive brilliance. From afar, the vast Battle God Platform glittered with saber light. As Pylos pushed his saber art to its zenith, ten-zhang long saber shadows danced across the heavens, crisscrossing and utterly engulfing Du Chen!

From the very first exchange, Du Chen found himself at a disadvantage, his longsword parrying the furious torrent of saber light, yet seemingly powerless to counterattack. But Deboning's words, like a flowing river, echoed in his mind: *A Six-Star Battle God's battle qi is only marginally stronger than yours. With the exquisite Secret Techniques of the Vanishing Snow Sword, you will assuredly not be at a disadvantage. However, a Battle God's true might resides in their Battle Soul. Fail to shatter that, and you are destined to lose!*

Flaying had once imparted: *As long as you refrain from using the Lotus Sacred Artifact, no one in this world can perceive your peculiar inner strength or the power emanating from your soul! To shatter a Battle Soul, simply employ that strange force from within your spirit to launch a surprise assault…*

With a dazzling smile, Du Chen's sword tip reversed direction. He swiftly retreated, his hands clasping before his chest, as the Vanishing Snow longsword spun around his body like a shimmering bolt of silk. Instantly, snow swirled and silver light danced, enshrouding the Battle God Platform in ice and snow.

Pylos strode forward, laughing heartily. "Junior Brother, that technique of yours is the renowned Vanishing Snow, is it not? Heh heh, it might suffice against common Battle-Warriors, but it certainly shouldn't be employed against a Battle God!"

He had never witnessed the full 'Vanishing Snow' technique before, and so, his saber swept across the air, slicing relentlessly towards Du Chen. Yet, below the platform, Frinda's expression underwent a drastic change. She had seen 'Vanishing Snow' on multiple occasions, but the prelude to the technique had never looked like *this*! *Francis… has he improved yet again!?*

As the ten-zhang saber light descended upon him, Du Chen's expression remained unperturbed, a tranquil smile gracing his lips. Abruptly, his body moved with his sword, vanishing into an intangible blur. A Silver Dragon materialized, striking with glacial force, then soared heavenward before plummeting down, coiling around the ten-zhang saber light to twist and assault it.

Pylos's smile froze on his face. He felt a profound strangeness; Francis clearly still possessed only Five-Star battle qi, so how could he… Driven by a Battle God's instinctual perception of danger, Pylos sensed that at this very moment, Francis was… stronger than him!

"Hah, to the death!" Pylos roared, sweeping his saber upwards to meet the plummeting Silver Dragon. Abruptly, the Silver Dragon exhaled a longsword from its maw, and saber and sword intertwined, clanging ceaselessly.

Frinda clenched her fists. *No use seeking out Francis; I still can't defeat him! Even this Six-Star Battle God, Pylos, won't be enough…*

Facts proved, Frinda was right!

In that instant, the Silver Dragon shattered, and saber and sword sharply separated. Du Chen stumbled, landing unsteadily on his feet. Pylos, however, roared with laughter. "Junior Brother, your Vanishing Snow is still wanting…"

Suddenly, Pylos froze mid-motion, ice and snow erupting from his body. A man-sized Ice-Snow Lotus blossomed, encasing him within its frigid embrace. Petal by petal, the snow lotus began to shed, each falling fragment subtly siphoning away Pylos's very essence of life…

Amidst the swirling dance of ice and snow, the snow lotus withered, emitting an indescribable, poignant beauty. It instantly captivated every gaze, a tableau of desolation, heart-wrenching beauty, and resolute finality… For a fleeting moment, Pylos, frozen within the frigid embrace of the snow lotus, was entirely forgotten.

Du Chen steadied himself, sheathed his sword, and calmed his turbulent qi. Feeling his body nearly utterly drained, he offered a faint smile. "Senior Brother Pylos, your intelligence is rather behind the times. This technique is known as 'Burial of Petals.'"

This technique was Du Chen's full-powered strike, a masterful fusion of his Lotus Internal Force and battle qi! It was the move where he channeled the profound cultivation of the Precious Lotus Scripture to its utmost potential! Oh, no, this wasn't even his *full* power, for Du Chen had yet to wield the Lotus Sacred Artifact. The complete "Burial of Petals" entailed the simultaneous manifestation of the Lotus Azureveil Shield and the Third-Grade Lotus Pedestal, augmenting the formidable might of the Vanishing Snow Sword…

Deboning had once remarked that the true "Burial of Petals" possessed enough power to slay any Seven-Star Battle God in this current era!

However, Du Chen was unwilling to expose his sacred artifact to so many eyes today. He had merely utilized his inner strength to assault and shatter Pylos's Battle Soul.

Just as Pylos's life force was on the verge of being extinguished within the snow lotus, Du Chen stepped forward, shattered the ice with a tremor of his sword, and released Pylos. With a smile, he declared, "Senior Brother Pylos, let me reiterate one last time! Please refrain from slandering the relationship between classmate Frinda and me! All the students and teachers here can attest: she and I are nothing more than ordinary classmates!"

Pylos's face was pale, and he shivered, his recently thawed smile twisting into a bitter grimace. "Indeed, the one ranked first on the Battle God Ranking, after Charlemagne of the Starry Sky, truly lives up to his renown! I concede!" He snorted. "What was that power you just wielded? How could it possibly shatter my Battle Soul!?"

"Merely the application of a Secret Technique!" Du Chen replied. "As you witnessed, I only utilized Five-Star battle qi. Heh heh, in the thousand-year annals of this academy, I'm hardly the sole individual capable of defeating a Six-Star Battle God with Five-Star battle qi; Sir Charlemagne himself accomplished this feat. Are you truly unaware?"

Pylos let out a resentful snort. "What right do you have to compare yourself to Sir Charlemagne! Utterly conceited… Hmm, so you truly have no intention of pursuing Frinda!?"

"Pylos!" Du Chen sharply elevated his voice. "Do you truly believe I would dare utter a falsehood under the scrutiny of so many teachers and classmates? I genuinely have no intention of pursuing Frinda!"

For Du Chen, with his established reputation, to make such a public declaration left Pylos with no choice but to believe him. Based on Francis's words today, even if he later wished to renege and pursue Frinda, the proud Saint Dak family would never permit their daughter to accept such a disloyal individual!

"In that case, I'll take my leave!"

Pylos turned and walked away, his steps faltering.

Rounding a few corners, he arrived before a snow-white carriage, where he chuckled bitterly, self-deprecatingly. "Hah, to rush out so impetuously, like an ignorant hothead, challenging someone to a duel, and then getting beaten to a pulp… I haven't experienced anything this mortifying since graduation! Damn it, such a thing is only fit for children!"

"Didn't we all do such mortifying things in our youth? Thinking back to our teenage years, we were truly laughable, weren't we!" A voice emerged from inside the carriage, belonging to the Young Lord of Great Snow Mountain, Loki!

"Consider it a moment of youthful exuberance, reminiscing about lost youth! Occasionally doing something only children would, it actually feels rather good!" Pylos climbed into the carriage. "For Francis to utter such words in public, he can never again pursue Frinda. And besides, Frinda didn't seem to like him anyway, Senior Brother, so you can set your mind at ease!"

"Hm, Zigurd's direct disciple, under the tutelage of Roland, and the undisputed number one on the Battle God Ranking in the Post-Starry Sky era, not to mention his immense family wealth and dashing good looks! If Francis had genuinely intended to contend for Frinda, he would indeed have been a potent rival. I would have had to be genuinely cautious…"

Inside the carriage, Loki sipped the silver-white Secret Wine, stroking his long hair lightly as he instructed a maid to apply medicine to Pylos. He spoke dispassionately: "The moment Frinda returned to the academy, she immediately went looking for Francis. Seeing that, I was quite concerned for a time. That's why I asked you, Junior Brother, to feign youthful impulsiveness and probe their relationship. If the opportunity arose, to simply cripple Francis directly on the Battle God Arena—that way, even Teacher Zigurd couldn't fault us! But who would have thought, he actually defeated you… Alas, for you to have been injured, I…"

"Enough, Senior Brother! We were inseparable back in the day, skipping classes together, chasing girls in Pleasure Houses—what's with all this formal talk!?" Pylos said, his gaze lingering on the maid applying his medicine—though it was merely the playful glint of an old friend, teasing Loki about his apparently boundless luck with women!

He chuckled, "You old grim-face, it's been seven years! It seems you haven't genuinely smiled with joy since graduation. Let me remind you, brother, a stone-cold expression won't win Frinda's favor!"

Loki's face, however, remained an unyielding mask, cold as ice and snow. "Perhaps I've simply grown too old, and forgotten how to smile! The Glacial Rift is here, the Sea Tribe army presses close! The Snow Serpents of South Cold Lake are in rebellion, and back home, my two younger brothers have come of age, finally understanding the allure of power…"

Pylos sighed wistfully, "Ah, youth truly is a blessing! Damn it, I never imagined back when we were skipping classes that just seven short years later, I'd already be lamenting my age!"

"Indeed, old!" Loki mused. "Who could have predicted that today I would be pursuing a woman I'd never met, all for Saan's Light…" By then, the Secret Wine in his cup was drained. Loki twirled the empty cup between two fingers, scrutinizing it carefully. "Now is not the time to accumulate more powerful enemies. Francis can now be definitively struck from our list of targets! Crown Prince Ken of the Eastern War's formidable right-hand man has already been crippled by me. Next… Crown Prince Peck of the Sea!"