The dust had only just settled, but the echoes of Kai's victory still thundered across the arena.
Jiang Hao—the genius ranked in the top twenty of the Inner Academy—lay unconscious at Kai's feet. The arena that once mocked him now trembled with his name.
"Kai! Kai! Kai!"
The chants rose like crashing waves, each one hammering into the pride of Inner disciples watching from the stands.
But amid the roar, a familiar crisp tone chimed.
> [Ding! Victory Reward Confirmed.]
[+8 Free Attribute Points.]
[Minor Feature Unlocked: Status Scan Lv.1.]
Description: Host can scan opponents up to equal rank. Provides rough stat estimates. Accuracy improves with level.
Kai exhaled heavily, body aching with every movement, yet his eyes gleamed as the notification burned into his vision.
"Status Scan…" His lips curled upward despite the blood at their corner. Now I can see through my enemies before they crush me. No more blind fights.
---
System Allocation
Kai pulled up his stat window quickly, his vision overlaying the faint blue holographic text only he could see.
[Free Points Available: 8]
He didn't hesitate.
Strength: +3
Agility: +3
Constitution: +2
The moment he confirmed, power flooded through his battered body. His muscles knit slightly tighter, his lungs pulled deeper breaths, and his balance steadied even on weakened legs.
The agony didn't vanish, but he could feel himself crossing yet another invisible threshold.
---
Testing Status Scan
Curious, he looked toward a random Outer disciple gawking at him from the crowd.
> [Target Locked: Outer Academy Disciple, 6th Stage Qi Refinement.]
Strength: Approx. 40% of Host.]
Agility: Approx. 55% of Host.]
Constitution: Approx. 60% of Host.]
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Rough, but enough to measure threats."
The Outer disciple shivered under his stare, paling instantly.
Kai chuckled inwardly. Useful. Very useful.
---
The Crowd Divided
The spectators were a storm of chaos.
"He actually won again! An Outer disciple defeating an Inner genius—it's unthinkable!"
"No, it's dangerous. If he keeps climbing, he'll overturn the balance of the Academy."
"Or maybe… he's the one who'll carry the Outer Academy into glory!"
Voices clashed, admiration warred with envy, and Kai's legend was being written in real time.
---
Elder Reactions
In the high pavilion, the elders were no less shaken.
Elder Wu's fists were clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. "This… this is unacceptable! He must be suppressed immediately!"
"Suppressed?" Elder Zhan's tone was cold, his gaze never leaving Kai. "Or are you afraid that your favorite pet, Shen Fei, was simply too weak?"
"You—!" Elder Wu bit back his fury, unwilling to openly insult his peer.
Other elders whispered among themselves.
"He's too dangerous."
"No, he must be cultivated. A talent like that comes once in a generation!"
"Or perhaps once in a century…"
Their arguments faded beneath the weight of Elder Zhan's final words. "Let the boy grow. Those who fear him now will either perish… or prove they were right."
---
Inner Academy Booths
High above, cloaked in shadows, Inner Academy geniuses exchanged sharp looks.
One, a young man with cold eyes and a jade pendant, sneered. "Jiang Hao humiliated… by trash from the Outer ring? Our reputation is stained."
Another, a woman with crimson robes and fire in her gaze, tilted her head. "Or perhaps our Inner Academy has grown complacent. That boy… he's dangerous. Ambitious. He should be tested further."
The jade pendant youth's sneer deepened. "Tested? He should be crushed."
A third figure, silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was calm, smooth, yet carried a weight that silenced the others.
"If he can beat Jiang Hao, then he is worth my attention."
The booth grew silent.
Because this was no ordinary genius. This was Wei Ren, ranked in the top five of the Inner Academy, a name whispered with awe and fear alike.
---
Kai's Retreat
Dragged half-conscious from the arena, Kai ignored the healers clamoring around him. He staggered into the shadows of his quarters, collapsing against the wall.
His body screamed in pain. His ribs ached with every breath. But he laughed softly, a raw, triumphant sound.
"Twice now," he muttered. "Twice I've done the impossible."
He looked at his bloodied hands. They trembled, yet his grip was iron.
Shen Fei, Jiang Hao… both fell. The world calls me trash, but the system calls me Host. And as long as it speaks to me, I'll keep climbing.
He closed his eyes briefly, letting the faint hum of the system steady him. The system wasn't just a lifeline—it was his destiny.
---
Ripples Spreading
That night, the Outer Academy buzzed like a hive.
Disciples argued, factions schemed, and Kai's name became the fire sparking every conversation.
Some dreamed of joining him, seeing him as the dawn of a new age.
Others seethed with jealousy, swearing to trip him the moment he faltered.
And deep within the Inner Academy, invitations were drafted, alliances whispered, and blades sharpened.
Kai's defiance had rippled across the Academy, and now the storm was inevitable.
---
Foreshadowing
In the high chamber of the Inner Academy, Wei Ren stood alone before a towering statue of a dragon. His eyes were sharp, his expression calm.
"Trash that defeats dragons…" he murmured. "Interesting."
He turned, his robe sleeves flowing like dark rivers.
"Let's see if you can climb high enough to reach me, Kai. Because if you do… I will be waiting."