My Auto Cloning System-Chapter 106: The Final Stand-Off

Bao Zi entered the ring, trying to look confident, but his knees knocked together. "I beat the big guy. I can beat the fast guy. I'm Stage 9 now too! Don't underestimate the Bao!"

The fight started. Li Kuan didn't underestimate his opponent this time. He used his full speed immediately. (Zip! Zap!) He ran circles around Bao Zi, cutting shallow lines into Bao Zi's blue robe. (Rip! Tear!)

Bao Zi was holding his own. His [Cloud-Misting Breath] allowed him to sense the disturbance in the air currents. He dodged left, ducked right, and even managed to land a solid kick on Li Kuan's hip that made the speedster stumble.

"You little rat!" Li Kuan yelled, frustrated that he couldn't land a clean hit. He performed a spinning aerial kick, aiming for Bao Zi's head.

Bao Zi saw it coming. The world seemed to slow down. I can dodge this! he thought. If I step back and sweep his landing leg, I win!

He stepped back confidently.

But fate is a cruel mistress.

Bao Zi's foot landed on a loose, round pebble left over from the shattered floor of the previous fight between Ren Tie and Li Kuan.

(Slip!)

Bao Zi's eyes went wide. His arms windmilled wildly as he lost traction. "Whoaaaa!"

He didn't just stumble. He did a complete, accidental, cartoonish backflip. He flew backward, missed the ground entirely, and landed butt-first in the dirt outside the ring boundaries. (THUD!)

The judge stared at him. Li Kuan stared at him, mid-kick, looking confused.

"Ring out. Winner: Li Kuan."

Bao Zi sat in the dirt, his face turning bright red with shame. "That... that doesn't count! I slipped! It was a pebble! A sabotage! It was the environment! Can we do a redo?!"

Li Kuan spat on the ground, sheathing his daggers. "Luck is part of skill, rabbit. Go home and cry."

Bao Zi: 1 Win. 1 Loss.

Round 3: Ren Tie vs. Gou

Ren Tie's third match was against a sneaky fighter named Gou. Gou was small, rat-faced, and notorious for fighting dirty. He used pockets full of sand, ash, and chili powder to blind people.

The moment the match started, Gou threw a handful of red chili powder at Ren Tie's eyes. (Poof!) A red cloud enveloped Ren Tie's head.

"Hahaha! You can't hit what you can't see!" Gou laughed, drawing a knife.

Ren Tie didn't even blink. He didn't rub his eyes. He simply inhaled deeply, his chest expanding like a barrel. (HUUUUUU!)

Then he blew.

(FOOOOOM!)

A massive gust of breath, powered by his Stage 10 lungs, reversed the cloud instantly. Gou screamed as his own chili powder hit him full in the face.

"MY EYES! IT BURNS! IT BURNS LIKE FIRE!" Gou rolled on the floor, clawing at his face.

Ren Tie walked over, picked Gou up by the back of his robes like a naughty kitten, and gently tossed him out of the ring.

Ren Tie: 3 Wins. 9 Points. Undefeated.

Round 3: Bao Zi vs. Gou

Bao Zi was angry now. Really angry. The slip against Li Kuan had hurt his pride more than any punch. He climbed back into the ring for his third match against the blinding Gou, who was still rubbing his red, watery eyes. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"I can't see well..." Gou whined.

Bao Zi didn't wait for the gong to fully fade. The moment it sounded, he turned into a literal storm of punches. He was venting his frustration.

Gou tried to throw sand blindly. Bao Zi slapped his hand. (Whack!)

Gou tried to kick. Bao Zi stepped on his foot. (Crunch!)

"I am not a rabbit! And I am not clumsy!" Bao Zi screamed with every hit. He weaved past a punch, grabbed Gou by the collar, and threw him over his shoulder with a perfect hip toss. (WHAM!)

Gou hit the floor hard, the wind knocked out of him.

"I am a Bao!" Bao Zi huffed, standing over the defeated cheat.

Winner: Bao Zi. 2 Wins. 1 Loss. 6 Points.

The Final Stand-Off

The sun was now high in the sky, baking the stone platforms until heat waves shimmered off the rocks. The crowd was buzzing. Group A had one final match to decide the undisputed king of the group.

"Final Match of Group A: Ren Tie (3 Wins) vs. Bao Zi (2 Wins)!"

The crowd leaned forward. Even people watching other platforms turned their heads. This was the match to watch. The Unmovable Mountain vs. The Drifting Cloud. Friend vs. Friend.

Ren Tie stepped onto the cracked stone of Platform 1. He looked calm, massive, and inevitable. He rolled his neck, the muscles rippling under his grey skin. (Crack...)

Bao Zi stepped up opposite him. He looked nervous, sweating profusely, but his eyes were determined. He tightened his belt and bounced on his toes, shaking out his arms.

"I'm not going to hold back, Ren Tie," Bao Zi said, his voice shaking slightly but getting stronger with every word. "I need those points. I can't be the only one left behind while you and Yin Zhe soar into the heavens. I won't be the sidekick anymore."

Ren Tie nodded, respecting the fire in his friend's eyes. He settled into a low, heavy stance, his feet cracking the tile beneath them. "Good. If you held back, I would have been insulted. Show me your Dao, Bao Zi. Prove to me that the mist can stop a mountain."

"I'll show you," Bao Zi whispered, sinking into his stance, white vapor beginning to curl around his fingers. "I'll show everyone."

The judge raised his hand high, the hammer poised over the gong. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on.

(BONG!)

📢 Author's Corner

In the vast starry sky of cultivation, they say: "A star that doesn't shine gets swallowed by the void." 🌌

I'm speaking up because your energy is the "light" that keeps this story visible! {Please stick with me on this adventure and dive into the latest chapters.

I promise the twists coming up are going to be legendary!}

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