The next morning dawned gray and heavy, rain clouding the Qingye Sect's distant peaks. Yet even the dreary light could not mask the whispers spreading across the sect like wildfire.
> "He carried her out alone, you know." "They say he faced four beasts and returned untouched." "Elder Qiu personally escorted him afterward—can you imagine?"
Lin Ho ignored the murmurs. He walked through the central courtyard with steady steps, his robes dampened by drizzle, his expression calm. The chaos within his dantian thrummed, never still, like a storm waiting behind still waters.
At the task hall, he received a jade slip—inscribed not with a mission, but an invitation.
> "Invitation to the Inner Peak Combat Assembly. All inner disciples under Foundation Building are to attend."
Lin Ho's eyes narrowed. A test? Or a challenge?
---
Inner Peak Arena – One Day Later
Rows of disciples filled the stands, their realm a sea of Qi activity. From early Meridian Forging to peak Body Condensation, they gathered in anticipation. The assembly was not just tradition—it was an opportunity to rise, to challenge, to prove.
Elder Mo stood on a raised platform, voice echoing through formation-empowered stones.
> "This year's assembly will test your understanding of combat arts, spiritual application, and your ability to adapt. Victory is not merely power—it is judgment."
As the battles began, Lin Ho watched silently from the corner, arms folded.
The first fights were predictable—brash displays of brute strength, flashy techniques, and reckless spirit attacks. But every now and then, a clever movement or precise strike caught his eye.
When his name was called, the crowd shifted. Some leaned forward. Others whispered again.
> "That's him… the chaos kid."
His opponent was a proud disciple from the Azure Root Hall—Xue Ren, peak Meridian Forging, known for his ironwood staff and relentless physical techniques.
They bowed.
> "I won't hold back," Xue Ren said, staff spinning into stance.
> "You shouldn't," Lin Ho replied flatly.
The bell rang.
Xue Ren shot forward like a battering ram. His staff blurred, striking thrice in an instant—chest, side, head.
But Lin Ho moved like flowing mist. He stepped around the strikes, his Chaos Qi swirling defensively. He struck once, palm open, tapping Xue Ren's chest.
It should've been nothing.
Instead, Xue Ren was blasted backward, skidding across the arena floor. He groaned but couldn't rise.
The crowd fell silent.
Elder Mo narrowed his eyes.
> "That technique… it wasn't brute force. It unraveled the opponent's energy before contact."
A hidden elder murmured beside him.
> "Primordial Disruption... or something older?"
---
Later That Evening
Lin Ho returned to his courtyard. He sat cross-legged beneath the same tree, but tonight, the air felt heavier.
He wasn't alone.
A voice drifted from the shadows behind him.
> "You've drawn too much attention, boy."
Lin Ho turned calmly. A man in gray stood at the edge of the courtyard, face hidden beneath a hood, presence as quiet as a breath.
> "And who are you to judge that?"
> "Someone sent to observe. You'll find more eyes on you from now on. Some friendly. Others not."
The man tossed a jade talisman to the ground.
> "When the ocean turns black, use this. Or you'll drown."
And then he vanished.
---
End of Chapter 42