99: The final battle!

Outside the Dome of the Heavens, crowds surged. The second semi-final had just ended, and the odds immediately skyrocketed. Several large betting companies urgently adjusted the final odds. Under the glitzy urban nightscape, countless people frantically placed bets on the light screens.

"Sun Ke! I'm betting five hundred thousand!"

"Lu Yuan! That turtle emperor youth!"

"His blade technique is so pure, he's simply a breath of fresh air in the Card Master world!"

"But that giant turtle is truly terrifying..."

"Sixteen million seven hundred seventy-seven thousand, on Sun Ke! If he loses, I'm jumping off a building tonight!"

"Damn, that's bold!"

"I'm also betting a million, Sun Ke!"

"Eighty! Lu Yuan!"

...Canglan Province Card Master Association Headquarters.

Zhou Wanxiong didn't even go to watch the competition today; he had more important matters to attend to.

"Are they all here?"

A series of footsteps sounded from behind him. Seven figures entered in single file, lining up one by one.

"Everyone is here, Eldest Brother," Zhou Wanjiang respectfully said.

Zhou Wanxiong turned around: "The list has been officially submitted. In three days, among the sixty slots for the Lost Water Realm, our Zhou Family has taken seven Fourth Rank Peak slots! The Yao Family only has four Fourth Rank Peak slots, Deyun Hall has three, and among the twenty government slots, most are Third Rank, with only six Fourth Rank Peak slots."

He sneered: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Lin Haige bowed slightly: "President, rest assured, I have studied all the officially released information. It is said that the environment inside is complex, with extensive water bodies, and there might be powerful water-type creatures."

"In that case, Lu Yuan's giant turtle might be even stronger in water combat," Zhou Wanhe interjected.

A sinister glint flashed in Zhou Wanxiong's eyes: "Therefore, we cannot give him any chance. As soon as the target is spotted, immediately form an ambush formation and ensure a one-hit kill."

"Brothers, do you all understand?"

"Understood!" The seven responded in unison.

On the other side, after Lu Yuan returned to the Yao Family, he immediately opened the video footage of all Sun Ke's previous matches.

He was determined to win the championship!

On the screen, Sun Ke, holding his war saber, was like a scorching sun, his blade light almost instantly killing his opponents.

His combat style was simple and direct, without flashy moves or complex tactics, only one word—fast! And another word—ruthless!

"One person, one saber, can solve the problem..." Lu Yuan muttered to himself.

Sun Ke's advantage lay in his almost fanatical focus. He had no complex card combinations, no intricate tactical variations; he only focused on maximizing the power of the Blaze Prison Warhorse Saber.

In comparison, Sun Ke seemed to have no obvious weaknesses, or rather, his weakness was his strength—being too singular.

Lu Yuan rubbed his eyes and turned off the screen.

The finals were at 8 PM; a few hours of rest would be better to conserve his energy.

Sun Ke, however, was the opposite.

He was still in the player waiting area; he hadn't even gone home!

"Whoosh!"

The war saber swished, creating a gust of wind. The Blaze Prison Warhorse Saber, wreathed in flames, danced in his hands like a fire dragon.

"Faster! Stronger!" Sun Ke roared, injecting Source Power into the blade.

The blade light grew brighter and brighter, the temperature higher and higher, and the surrounding air began to distort.

"Man and saber as one!"

The blade light and the figure merged into one, leaving scorching marks on the alloy walls.

"Awesome!"

Sun Ke stopped, panting, and looked into the distance:

"Lu Yuan... use your strength to show me what realm my saber can truly reach!"

At 8 PM, the Dome of the Heavens was packed, truly standing room only.

Scalped tickets had been resold for ten thousand star coins each.

The holographic big screen in mid-air displayed the latest odds from the betting companies: Lu Yuan 1 to 1.2, Sun Ke 1 to 1.3.

A billion-star coin betting pool! Almost the highest wager in the history of the Canglan Province Prodigy Competition!

"This is insane! I bet five million on Lu Yuan!"

"I put my entire fortune on Sun Ke!"

In the VIP box, Yao Xiao's palms were sweating from nervousness.

"Grandpa, do you think Lu Yuan can win?"

Yao Zhenchuan smiled and stroked his granddaughter's head: "This is the fun of cultivation, child. No one knows the outcome."

"But I bet two hundred million on Lu Yuan. If he loses, I'll take his two gold cards and sell them."

"Tch... you're scaring me again."

"Hahahaha."

"Little girl, you're scolding me, but you've bet a lot of money on Lu Yuan these past two days, haven't you?"

"Are you saving up for your dowry so early?"

"Grandpa—"

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore. Watch the match, watch the match."

At the commentary desk, the host was full of passion:

"Ladies and gentlemen! The finals of the Canglan Province Prodigy Competition are about to begin! Tonight's contenders—'turtle emperor youth' Lu Yuan! Against the 'blazing sun blade master' Sun Ke!"

"Both contestants, please step onto the stage!"

Lu Yuan and Sun Ke walked onto the arena from opposite sides, standing facing each other in the center.

Sun Ke wore simple black training clothes, his hands clasped, his eyes burning with intense fighting spirit.

Lu Yuan, on the other hand, wore a white hoodie, looking casually out of place.

Two auras collided in the air, stirring up invisible ripples.

The referee announced loudly: "Canglan Province Prodigy Competition, Finals! Lu Yuan versus Sun Ke! Match—begin!"

Sun Ke moved!

"Blazing Sun Slash!"

With a low roar, his entire being transformed into a dazzling flash of fire, moving so fast that his trajectory was almost impossible to catch! Sun Ke's opening was always like this, with overwhelming force, instantly cutting down his opponent!

Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed, and the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon flapped its wings and flew out!

He wanted to see if his Light Falcon was faster or the opponent's saber!

"Caw!"

The Light Falcon let out a long cry, golden lightning coiling around its body, going all out to meet the blazing sun blade light!

"Boom!"

Thunder and flames collided in mid-air, erupting in a deafening roar!

Golden lightning and crimson flames intertwined, illuminating the entire arena!

The two were evenly matched, neither able to overwhelm the other!

The audience's eyes widened; close-quarters combat was thrilling!

"Lu Yuan, relying on external objects won't get you far!" Sun Ke laughed loudly in the firelight, "This isn't enough!"

The blade light suddenly changed, shifting from a frontal head-on clash to a sideways attack, like a fire snake, coiling towards the Light Falcon's wings!

Lu Yuan responded calmly, with a thought, the Light Falcon's body flickered, transforming into three lightning shadows, simultaneously dodging in different directions!

Illusions? Speed? Or clones?

Sun Ke's blade light struck a golden shadow but passed right through it!

"Petty tricks!" Sun Ke scoffed, turning to strike at another golden shadow!

Another miss!

Sun Ke frowned; the third golden shadow also vanished before his eyes!

Just then, lightning flashed behind him!

The real Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon appeared behind him, spreading its wings, and countless golden lightning arcs shot towards him!

"Cunning!" Sun Ke roared, his body enveloped in flames, enduring the attack while rapidly turning to strike at the Light Falcon again!

Where the blade light passed, space itself seemed to be scorched, carrying astonishing power!

The Light Falcon's speed increased again, drawing a golden arc in the air, narrowly avoiding the blow!

Sun Ke relentlessly pursued!

One man, one bird; one saber, one lightning bolt; they engaged in an ultimate speed contest above the arena!

Lu Yuan stood in the center of the arena, his Source Power fluctuating frequently, precisely controlling every movement of the Light Falcon, his eyes focused.

"Lu Yuan, stop hiding! Fight me head-on!" Sun Ke roared, his blade light growing brighter, his flames fiercer!

Lu Yuan shook his head: "Why should I follow your rhythm?"

This sentence infuriated Sun Ke.

"Then I'll cut down your main body!"

Sun Ke suddenly changed his attack target, his scorching blade light turning towards Lu Yuan, cleaving down directly!

A cold glint flashed in Lu Yuan's eyes. Without panic, the card slot in his hand glowed—

A card slid into his palm, but it wasn't the Raging Waves Sea Soul!

"Source Power Shield!"

A blue energy shield instantly formed around Lu Yuan, blocking the blade light!

Sun Ke scoffed: "Do you think such a low-level defensive card can block my saber?"

The blade light struck, and the shield instantly cracked!

Just as the shield was about to shatter, the Heavenly Thunder Light Falcon suddenly attacked from behind, crashing heavily into Sun Ke's back!

"Ah!" Sun Ke grunted, staggered a few steps, and his blade light briefly faltered!

Lu Yuan seized the opportunity, quickly retreated, and created distance.

"Despicable!" Sun Ke roared, "A true man only knows how to hide!"

Lu Yuan chuckled: "Card Masters play with cards. If you want to fight so badly, go play professional MMA. It's just a competition; victory is what matters."

Sun Ke took a deep breath: "You're right. In that case, take this!"

He gripped his saber with both hands, and the flames on his body suddenly turned deep red, the temperature soaring!

"Blaze Prison True Understanding!"

Sun Ke's aura surged dramatically, and the flames on his war saber seemed to come alive, transforming into a giant fire dragon coiling around his body!

The temperature on the arena floor skyrocketed; even the audience could feel the scorching heat!

This was Sun Ke's strongest form!

"Come on, Lu Yuan! Let me see how much strength you truly possess!" Sun Ke roared, and the fire dragon roared, pouncing towards Lu Yuan!

Lu Yuan took a deep breath, a determined glint in his eyes:

"As you wish."

...