Read The Almighty Dominance Novel (Alexander Leonhart and Sophia Lancaster) by Sunshine Updated 2025 -26 - The Almighty Dominance Chapter 604

The Almighty Dominance Chapter 604

The referee stood at the center of the arena, his robes fluttering in the wind as his voice rang across the vast grounds.

“This,” he declared, sweeping his gaze over the roaring crowd, “is the most anticipated battle of the year at Thousand Herbs Peak!”

The noise surged—thousands of disciples pressing forward, eyes blazing with anticipation.

“And now,” the referee continued, his tone sharpening with excitement, “we arrive at the pinnacle of the tournament—the clash between the first- and second-ranked contenders!”

A beat.

“Who will claim the title of this year’s top outer disciple of Thousand Herbs Peak?”

He raised one hand, pointing to the right side of the arena.

“From the right—Hou Mei!”

The crowd erupted.

“She is recognized as the most beautiful fairy of Thousand Herbs Peak—ranked among the top ten beauties of the entire Wudang Sect!”

Cheers spiraled into a frenzy of admiration.

“She has defeated every challenger before her with overwhelming skill. Her cultivation stands at the peak of Qi Condensation—just one step away from Foundation Establishment!”

“Welcome—the most beautiful woman of Thousand Herbs Peak!”

The applause became deafening.

Hou Mei stepped forward.

Every movement flowed effortlessly. Grace moved through her like water—each step precise, each gesture refined. Her robes shimmered softly as she ascended the arena, her presence alone enough to still the air.

Eyes followed her.

Breaths caught.

For a moment, even the noise seemed to bow before her.

And then—

The silence shattered.

The arena exploded into chaos.

Voices surged in every direction, wild and uncontrollable, like a storm finally breaking loose. Disciples leapt to their feet, shouting, laughing, roaring—some in shock, others in pure excitement at the spectacle unfolding before them.

“Hou Mei! Hou Mei!”

“You’re my idol!”

The cries turned feverish, especially from the male disciples. Their voices rose above the rest—desperate, unrestrained, bordering on obsession.

Some pounded their chests. Others waved their arms like madmen, trying to catch her attention.

“Hou Mei, look at me!”

“You’re the most beautiful!”

“I’d die for you!”

The energy spiraled out of control—no longer just a crowd, but a living, breathing force of hysteria.

And at the center of it all—

Everything was about to ignite.

“And from the left…”

A pause.

“Contestant number 777—Jun Jiu!”

A ripple of curiosity spread through the crowd.

“The top scorer on the Herb Knowledge Stone Stele—an achievement unseen in a thousand years!”

This time, the applause came louder, sharper—charged with expectation.

All eyes turned.

They waited.

And waited.

The cheers began to fade.

No one stepped forward.

The referee frowned slightly, glancing toward the entrance.

“…Please welcome Jun Jiu,” he called again.

The crowd clapped once more, though hesitation crept in—whispers threading through the noise.

Still no one appeared.

A third time, louder than before—

“Jun Jiu!”

Silence answered him.

Confusion spread like cracks through glass.

Where was he?

Just as the tension tightened to its breaking point—

A sharp gasp rippled through the crowd.

High above, a figure streaked across the sky like a shard of frost.

The Pure Snow Sword Maiden—Li Qingxue.

Her robes billowed like drifting snow, her presence cold and absolute.

And in her grip—

A man.

Dangling.

Dragged unceremoniously by the collar.

“Hey—HEY!” Alex shouted, his voice carried by the wind as he flailed midair. “I already lost! Why do I have to fight again?!”

Li Qingxue didn’t even glance at him.

“You won your match,” she replied, her tone as calm and merciless as winter. “So you will fight.”

“Can’t I just not show up? Then everyone can say I lost!” Alex protested desperately.

“No.”

One word.

Final.

Before he could say another, she flicked her wrist—

And threw him.

Alex dropped from the sky like a sack of grain.

He hit the arena with a heavy thud, landing squarely on his backside.

The crowd blinked.

Then… exhaled.

Just like that, the tension shattered.

Alex groaned, rubbing his backside as he sat there, completely undignified.

“That damn Li Qingxue…” he muttered under his breath. “Dragging me out of my nap like that…”

“Excellent!” the referee exclaimed, his excitement surging back as if nothing unusual had happened. “Contestant Jun Jiu has arrived! Now let the final match begin! Who will emerge victorious?!”

The arena erupted again.

Disciples shouted over one another, voices crashing like waves. Some called out for Jun Jiu—but they were drowned out by the overwhelming chorus screaming Hou Mei’s name, desperate for even a glance from her.

“I surrender!”

Alex’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade.

Everything stopped.

The noise collapsed into absolute silence.

Thousands froze, eyes wide, breath caught.

Did he just—

Did Jun Jiu surrender before the fight even began?

The arena held its breath.

The referee blinked, then forced a laugh. “Ah… what a joke.”

“Sorry,” Alex said flatly, completely serious. “This isn’t a joke. I surrender.”

The referee’s smile stiffened. “Of course… of course it’s a joke,” he said, forcing a chuckle. “Because just moments ago, the Peak Leader introduced a new regulation.”

“No one is allowed to surrender in the final match.”

Shock rippled through the crowd.

Alex’s head snapped toward the high platform.

The Peak Leader sat there, calm and composed—watching him.

Smiling.

“I know you want to surrender,” the Peak Leader said leisurely. “Did you really think I wouldn’t stop you?”

His smile deepened.

“Dream on. You will fight.”

Alex’s eyes darkened, but before he could respond—

“My respects.”

Hou Mei stepped forward, bowing gracefully to the Peak Leaders. Her voice was soft, almost fragile—but it carried clearly.

“I am only a woman,” she said gently, lowering her gaze with practiced modesty. “If I were to face a male opponent in direct combat… then by nature, by birth…”

Her voice softened further.

“…I would stand at a disadvantage compared to Jun Jiu.”

The crowd quieted, drawn in by her tone.

“So,” she continued, lifting her eyes slightly, “I would like to propose… a different kind of match.”

Alex barely reacted.

In his mind, this was already over.

Perfect.

Whatever she suggested, he’d agree—and then lose on purpose.

If it was pill refining, he’d ruin a step.

If it was cooking, he’d make something inedible.

If it was anything else—he’d find a way to fail.

How hard could losing be?

“Brother Jun Jiu,” Hou Mei said, turning to him with a soft, hopeful gaze, “I hope you’ll agree.”

Alex nodded immediately. “Sure. Whatever kind of match you want—I’m in.”

Her face brightened, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

“Thank you, Brother Jun Jiu,” she said gently. “You are truly kind… a real gentleman. It’s rare to find a man like you.”

Alex shrugged, indifferent.

“So,” the referee said, raising an eyebrow, curiosity creeping into his voice, “what kind of competition do you propose?”

Hou Mei hesitated for a moment.

Then she took out a small piece of paper and handed it to him, her expression turning shy—almost embarrassed.

The referee unfolded it.

His eyes moved across the words.

And then—

He froze.

“…Are you certain,” he asked slowly, lowering the paper just enough to look at her, “that this is the competition you want?”

Hou Mei lowered her head, her blush deepening.

She nodded.

The referee let out a long, complicated sigh.

“Well… I suppose that’s one way to do it.”

Then his gaze shifted toward Alex.

Another sigh.

“…What a lucky bastard.”

“Very well,” the referee said, drawing a slow breath. “I will now announce the nature of this competition.”

The arena leaned in.

“This test,” he continued, his voice carrying across the grounds, “belongs to one of Wudang’s specialized cultivation paths.”

A pause.

“It is… a Yin-Yang dual cultivation match.”

Silence.

It didn’t spread—it slammed into the crowd all at once.

Even Alex froze.

The referee allowed the shock to settle before continuing, his tone steady.

“In this match, both participants will exchange Yin and Yang energy through an intimate cultivation method. The one who loses control first—triggering a collapse in their energy flow—will be declared the loser.”

The arena became suffocatingly quiet.

Then—

“What?!”

The explosion of voices came all at once.

“What kind of match is that?!”

“That’s dual cultivation!”

“Isn’t that only for Dao partners? Husband and wife?!”

“Do they have to become Dao partners to even do this?!”

“And if Hou Mei gets pregnant—what then?! Does Jun Jiu have to marry her?!”

The questions spiraled into chaos, crashing over one another in disbelief.

Some disciples looked completely lost.

“Wait—does that mean… win or lose… they end up as husband and wife?!”

That realization hit harder than anything else.

Shock rippled through the crowd again—deeper, heavier.

“I surrender!”

Alex’s voice came out sharp, almost desperate.

His face had gone pale.

Yes, Hou Mei was stunning—breathtaking, even.

But that wasn’t the point.

He’d had enough entanglements in his life—enough complications, enough ties he never chose.

He wanted freedom.

Not this.

“No.”

Hou Mei’s voice cut through his protest.

“I will not accept a victory by surrender,” she said gently, but firmly. “You will fight me. Whether you win or lose… that will be decided between us.”

She hesitated, cheeks flushing as her words stumbled slightly.

“I mean… it will be decided by… you know… our lower energies.”

“No.” Alex shook his head immediately, stepping back. “I’m not doing this. I’m not playing this kind of game.”

“Sorry, Jun Jiu,” Hou Mei said with a soft smile—but something in her eyes had hardened. “You can’t run from this.”

Above them, the Peak Leader glanced at Elder Hou.

“How shameless,” he said. “You see his talent, and suddenly you’re eager to secure him as a son-in-law.”

Elder Hou didn’t flinch.

“My daughter is the most beautiful woman of this peak,” he replied calmly. “If anyone is lucky, it’s Jun Jiu—not the other way around.”

Not far away, Li Qingxue stood in silence.

Her expression remained cold—distant, untouchable, like a queen carved from ice.

Her gaze moved between Alex and Hou Mei.

None of this should have mattered to her.

It didn’t concern her.

It shouldn’t.

And yet—

Something twisted in her chest.

A sharp, unfamiliar irritation.

The thought of Alex being tied to Hou Mei—of him belonging to someone else—

For reasons she refused to name—

It angered her.

While the crowd continued buzzing—arguing, shouting, speculating—the staff moved quickly.

From the edges of the arena, attendants carried in a large bed.

Not small.

Not subtle.

Large enough to dominate the center the moment it touched the stone floor.

Then came the wooden panels—tall and solid—assembled into enclosed walls around the bed. Tight. Sealed. Private.

A tent was stretched over the top.

In moments, the arena’s center transformed into something else.

Something intimate.

Something completely out of place in a battlefield.

The disciples stared, stunned.

“…Are they really building a private chamber in the middle of the arena?” someone whispered.

Shock rippled outward.

Hou Mei lowered her gaze, cheeks flushed a soft pink. She glanced at Alex shyly.

“Brother Jun Jiu… why don’t you go in first?”

Alex didn’t move.

Before he could respond, she added quickly, her voice softer, almost embarrassed, “If I go in first… you might run away. So… please. You first.”

“Jun Jiu!” a disciple shouted from the crowd.

“If you’re a man, accept the challenge!”

“Yeah! Show her your strength!”

“Don’t embarrass yourself—get in there!”

The shouting intensified—voices piling up, pressing in, cornering him.

Alex stood there, trapped in the noise.

“I surrender,” he said again, turning to the referee.

The referee shook his head. “You can’t. Just accept it. Do you know how many people would kill to be in your position? Being chosen by Hou Mei—you should consider yourself lucky.”

Lucky.

Alex almost laughed.

Around him, the pressure only grew. The crowd’s energy became a single force, pushing him forward.

And then—

A hand.

Hou Mei’s fingers wrapped around his.

Gentle.

But firm.

She began pulling him, step by step, toward the enclosed space.

Toward the bed.

Each step felt heavier than the last.

If he crossed that line—

Everything would change.

His future.

His freedom.

His life.

No.

His mind raced, panic tightening in his chest.

There has to be a way out—

“STOP!”

His voice exploded across the arena.

Everything froze.

“I… only love Li Qingxue!” Alex shouted, the words spilling out in desperation. “She is my Dao partner! Even if I die—I will only marry her!”

Silence.

Absolute.

The kind that pressed against every breath.

Even Alex felt it—his own words echoing louder than he expected.

He swallowed hard.

It had been the only thing he could think of.

The only escape.

The crowd erupted—not in cheers, but in whispers.

“So it’s true…”

“Jun Jiu and Miss Li Qingxue…”

“They really have that kind of relationship…”

High above—

Li Qingxue stood still.

Her expression didn’t change.

But her eyes—

Turned colder.

Sharp enough to cut.

Her gaze locked onto Alex like a blade at his throat.

“Do you really want to die?” she asked.

Alex’s face drained of color.

Because in that moment—

He realized something far worse than being forced into that chamber.

He had just provoked her.

And now—

He had no idea which fate was worse.