Sigh...spent all day with soaked shoes because the city is basically completely slush. Thank you for reading and commenting, and of course don't forget to vote and spread the word!

"Wait! STOP!" Muareen tried to stop the fight but Jateirus was already preparing to attack and Lineir obviously was not going to listen to a bystander when someone was emanating killing intent.

"You've pissed me off. Relax Muareen, if he can stop this fist, I'll let it go. But if he thinks he can make a fool out of me in front of the elders...well I have to defend my honor don't I?" The demon began to radiate a deep bloody aura as flames began to burn inside. Lineir squinted, unwilling to reveal his Madness Eyes, not just for fear of losing control, but also because he was within enemy territory right now. He doubted anyone would recognize them but he was loathe to reveal a single trump card. Instead he used his 'normal' cultivator's eyes to try to see what was going on. Ugh I've grown too used to being able to see everything by default. It's a good thing that it's obvious he's using some sort of technique which burns his own life essence.

The demon grinned as his Qi skyrocketed.

"This is the Baraaz clan's signature technique. I won't sacrifice anything important of course, but I will pay a great price to teach you a lesson on your betters. Be honored!" He spat as he finished channeling the technique and flames erupted all along his body. They were small, clearly he was not truly igniting his life force, but Lineir noted that the flames actually looked threatening now. Instinctively Lineir wanted to take a step back but he knew that going on the backfoot was a bad idea against techniques such as these. If you retreated, you would gain distance and time but you would lose the initiative. When the demon moved he was now twice as fast and Lineir could even see that the demon's eyes were beginning to track his movements much more quickly. It would be much more difficult to avoid this attack!

"Why don't we...try this AGAIN!" Jateirus clenched his fists and all the flames which had ignited on his body condensed once more onto his fists and a pillar of flame so thick it created a vast pillar of light in the sky appeared.

FLAME PILLAR ANNIHILATION!!

The enormous pillars turned into two cyclones of incinerating might, the intense heat causing a vortex to appear which sucked in all the air in the surroundings. It created a natural vacuum making the technique difficult to evade. Lineir was at a loss for words. This is considered a friendly bout in the Hells? He's clearly burning a bit of his life essence for this attack! Damnit, do I have to reveal my own trump cards? You know what? Screw this!!

"If you really want to fight...how about we make it for REAL!" Lineir suddenly snarled and manifested the black blade! To everyone around it appeared an ordinary weapon for a cultivator, if an odd stylistic choice, it was by no means particularly unusual. However, it was unusual that he would do so in what was previously an unarmed bout! "I'm tired of you doing whatever you want." He said to the demon who had been about to lower his massive incendiary pillars. Immediately the demon laughed, his aura growing even more menacing.

"Oh? Can't handle the heat? Well if you want to fight with weapons...the gap will only grow LARGER!" He yelled as two flaming spears appeared, one in each of his hands. The twin flame pillars which had seemed to pierce the blue sky before, now seemed to grow until they were looking to pierce the very Heavens themselves! "COME!" He yelled as he lowered the spears and the pillars crashed down like the apocalypse.

Lineir to his credit, did not use use any of his signature techniques. The Lightning and Darkness element attacks that Mei had taught him were essentially all techniques he wouldn't usually use in a spar. Now that he had brought out his blade however, he had a different technique in mind! He danced in close, so close that the towering pillars of flame extending from the spears passed well over his head. Then he engaged in close combat!

Clang!

Clang Clang!

The black blade slammed against one spear and then the other, deflecting them and the huge amount of Qi away. Jateirus's eyes grew surprised once more. 

"You...that blade techniques...there's a trick to it!" He yelled. Though he was the one with two spears, and Lineir only had one blade, it felt like he was fighting against three swordsman at once! This close, the flaming pillars he summoned were too large and unwieldy to hit Lineir with. Instead he was forced to engage directly in a bout of martial skill. However, despite what should have been an overwhelming strength advantage, this Divine Realm cultivator always seemed to be a step ahead!

Clang Clang Clang!

Meanwhile the two female demons were watching from the sidelines nervously. Muareen especially was nervous. Dammit, Aileen will never forgive me if  her friend gets hurt. But the elders specifically instructed me to not let him stop once he pulled out that sword! I don't understand, why are they so curious in a mere Divine Realm cultivator?

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"That sword...and that unmistakable style. So reminiscent of THAT man. How can this be coincidence? I must know more!" Deep in the caverns of the Baraaz Clan a crimson robed demon awoke. With strong chiseled features, and a nose like a block of wood, he was a fantastic specimen of their race with three horns positioned about his head he seemed almost royalty. After sitting up from his meditative cross-legged position he stretched.

 "Hehehe...has the wind of destiny finally blown on the Hells once more?"

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The Heavens Edge style is truly something special. Even without the Midnight Armor's multiplicative abilities I'm able to engage this Celestial King in battle without getting completely blown over by his superior strength. It truly is as they say, a master needs not brute force, just his finger to overturn a thousand amateurs.

Lineir marveled as he felt the black blade dance in his hands as it never had before. Unlike all of his previous techniques, the Heavens Edge was a style. It influenced every part of his thinking, and even his very instincts. He felt like he was playing chess but he always knew what the next move the opponent would make would be because he had set it up that way. This made him even more excited to try this technique against a real group of enemies. He was sure that this was where the technique excelled. In the past he had used it to try to fight in the Hells to great effect, but now at his current level of power and with the Midnight Armor...Aish if I had just had this armor the last time I was with master, I could have done so much more!