Qingyun Town, Qingyun Sect Selection Arena, early morning.
As dawn pierced through the mist, the selection grounds outside Qingyun Town bustled with noise. The spacious stone arena stretched like a plain, and the high platforms around it were packed with townsfolk and sect elders. The Qingyun Sect's selection, held once every three years, was a ladder for the gifted—and a battleground for Lin Yuan to wash away the shame of his crippled meridians. Clad in plain clothes, a faint heat radiated from the pendant on his chest. Standing beneath the platform, his gaze was sharp as a blade.
The shame of the broken engagement at the ancestral hall, the first encounter with a spirit beast in the wild forest—these had reignited his hope. The Divine Puppet System was the key to defying fate.
On the high platform, Liu Qingyao stood in a pale yellow dress, cold and aloof, her presence at the fourth stage of the Spirit Disciple realm like a blade of frost. Beside her, Liu Hao's brocade robe shone under the sun. He was at the third stage, a smirk tugging at his lips. Liu Qingyao glanced at Lin Yuan and said coldly, "Lin Yuan, even with crippled meridians, you dare to come for the selection? Don't humiliate yourself."
Her voice was crisp and clear, cutting into hearts like a knife, drawing quiet chuckles from the crowd. But as she finished, her gaze faltered—as if pierced by Lin Yuan's calm composure. Her slender hand unconsciously clenched the hem of her skirt, a flicker of complexity flashing through her eyes.
Lin Yuan met her eyes directly and said evenly, "Liu Qingyao, whether I'm crippled or not, we'll see on the arena."
His tone was calm, eyes gleaming with a cold light, filled with the confidence gained from his first battle in the wild forest. Liu Qingyao's heart trembled slightly, her ears flushed red. With a cold snort, she turned away, fingers trembling as they gripped her skirt.
The system's mocking voice rang out.
"Oh? Host, did you see that? The ex-fiancée is wavering! New mission: Pass the selection, defeat one opponent, refine a Wind Wolf Puppet, and break through to Spirit Disciple Stage One. Reward: Wind Blade and Shadow Dash skills. Are you in?"
Lin Yuan's pupils contracted, heart racing. Wind Wolf Puppet?! The mere sensory imprint in the wild forest had stunned him—what kind of divine artifact was this puppet?
He looked down at the pendant, green light swirling, its warmth pulsing like a heartbeat. A storm brewed within. This system… can it really refine living creatures? Just how deep is the secret of the Heavenly Meridians?
He took a deep breath and whispered, "I'm in."
The selection began. Disciples took turns on the stage, blades clashing, spiritual energy flaring, cracks forming across the arena's stone surface. Lin Yuan watched patiently, scanning the high platform until his eyes found a figure in a blue dress.
Su Wan'er stood with arms crossed, her aura at the fifth stage of the Spirit Disciple realm, flowing like wind. Her eyes held a mix of curiosity and scrutiny.
"A crippled meridian? Hmph, he's got guts…"
Liu Hao was the first to take the stage, defeating a second-stage disciple in three moves, drawing cheers from the crowd. Leaping off the platform, he pointed at Lin Yuan with a sneer.
"Cripple, do you dare come up? It's time to settle the Liu clan's score!"
The crowd buzzed. Liu Qingyao frowned slightly. "Hao-ge, don't go too far."
Though her tone was cool, a trace of unease flickered in her eyes—as if wary of the unknown within Lin Yuan.
Lin Yuan stepped onto the arena, his plain clothes fluttering, voice steady.
"Liu Hao, today, the shame of being a cripple ends!"
Silence fell.
Su Wan'er narrowed her eyes and scoffed softly, "Big talk from a cripple…"
Yet the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, a flash of amusement in her gaze.
Midday, at the selection arena.
The scorching sun hung high. Heat shimmered from the stone tiles.
Liu Hao gripped his longsword, his third-stage aura surging like waves.
"Cripple, take this!" he roared.
Sword light burst forth, spiritual energy condensed into a sharp arc, slashing toward Lin Yuan. The air screamed. A deep sword mark etched into the stone floor.
The crowd gasped.
"Liu Clan sword arts! Unstoppable!"
Lin Yuan's heart pounded.
Crippled, he had no spiritual energy—only the system to rely on.
"System, refine it!" he shouted.
The pendant burst with green light.
"Refining Wind Wolf soul—begin!" the system cried.
The light surged into the pendant, forming a silver-furred wolf. Its crimson eyes locked on Liu Hao, letting out a low growl that shook the platform.
Its fur gleamed like silver needles, claws glinting coldly. Lifelike. Agile as wind.
Lin Yuan's eyes widened.
"This… puppet? It moves like a living beast!"
Emotion surged within.
A crippled boy, powerless for over a decade—now summoning such a divine creature!
A thought flashed in his mind. This Wind Wolf… comparable to a fifth-stage disciple?
"System… what are you?"
The system laughed.
"Stunned, aren't you? An S-rank puppet—once in a century! Show it off and watch the Liu clan's eyes pop!"
"A puppet?!"
The crowd erupted.
"He refined a puppet? Unheard of in a hundred years!"
"How could a cripple have such talent?"
Elder Zhao Wuji sprang to his feet, eyes blazing.
"This boy is no ordinary cultivator!"
Liu Qingyao's pupils shrank. Her hand trembled.
"Lin Yuan… how could he…"
Regret surged through her. His imposing presence shook her to the core.
Su Wan'er scoffed. "So he's got some skill. Hmph, don't get cocky."
But her eyes smiled, her fingers subtly trembling.
Liu Hao's face darkened with jealousy.
"Tricks and illusions! Sword Tide!"
His blade unleashed a torrent of sword energy, three strikes in a row. The arena cracked beneath the assault.
The Wind Wolf activated Shadow Dash, becoming a blur of silver light, narrowly dodging the strikes. Its claws tore across the stone, sending shards flying.
Another Sword Tide surged forth, grazing the wolf's flank. Silver fur scattered.
Lin Yuan flinched, his robe torn at the edge by the shockwave.
"Host, the Wind Wolf's speed rivals a fifth-stage disciple—use tactics!"
"Wind Blade—aim for his weakness!"
The puppet's senses locked onto Liu Hao.
The Wind Wolf feinted left. A Wind Blade whistled through the air, forcing Liu Hao to retreat, his sword aura faltering.
Seizing the gap, the wolf lunged. Wind Blade streaked like a meteor—piercing Liu Hao's shoulder. Blood sprayed. Sword light shattered.
"Ah!"
Liu Hao screamed, sword falling from his grasp. He collapsed, fear etched on his face.
"You… you're not crippled?!"
The Wind Blade hovered at his throat. Killing intent thick as frost.
Lin Yuan looked down at him coldly.
"Liu Hao. The shame of being a cripple—paid in full."
The crowd erupted.
"Lin Yuan! The dark horse of the selection!"
Ding!
"Mission complete!" the system cheered.
"Wind Wolf Puppet refined successfully. Skills acquired: Wind Blade, Shadow Dash. Spirit Disciple Stage One unlocked!"
Spiritual energy surged within Lin Yuan. His meridians widened. His aura stabilized.
He dismissed the Wind Wolf and walked down from the arena, robe fluttering, heart pounding with joy.
"Spirit Disciple Stage One… System, this is only the beginning, right?"
The system snickered.
"Ambitious now, are we? The secrets of the Heavenly Meridians are calling. Next stop—smash the outer sect!"
Su Wan'er approached, arms crossed.
"Not bad, but don't think that's enough to enter the outer sect."
Her tone was proud, eyes gleaming with mischief. She turned, blue dress swirling.
At the edge of the field, Wang Teng stood in radiant robes. A chilling sixth-stage aura cloaked him.
"A cripple, huh… You won't survive the trial."
The system whispered:
"Host, your S-rank puppet debut just popped every eyeball in town! Intel: Outer sect trial—Qingyun Mountains. Forbidden grounds contain clues to Heavenly Meridian fragments. Investigate?"
Lin Yuan clenched the pendant, eyes sharp.
"Investigate. I won't stop until I uncover the truth of the Heavenly Meridians!"