Chapter 27 – The First Match
Lin Xuan's name was called.
The crowd's reaction was muted — a few curious glances, some faintly mocking smiles, but no real excitement. For most here, his name carried no weight. To them, he was still the newly inducted disciple who had barely scraped by in the entrance trials a month ago.
As he stepped toward the stage, Elder Danfeng leaned slightly toward the elder seated beside him — a lean, hawk-eyed man named Elder Heng. Heng was Danfeng's long-standing rival, the one who had always boasted of producing the strongest combat disciples. His favored student, Zhao Renkai, was Lin Xuan's opponent.
Danfeng's smile was almost imperceptible. "Your disciple seems confident."
Heng smirked. "Confidence born of reality. Your alchemy pet will be flattened before he knows what's happening."
Down on the stage, Zhao Renkai clasped his spear and gave Lin Xuan a bored look. "I don't know how you managed to get this far without being crushed, but it ends here."
Lin Xuan said nothing. His gaze swept the arena once, then settled on his opponent.
The gong rang.
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Cultivation Norms
For the benefit of the new disciples in attendance, Elder Mu spoke loudly over the match, his words carrying to every corner of the arena.
"In normal cultivation, even with adequate talent and resources, advancing through the early Qi Condensation stages takes time. From first to third level often requires three months to a year. From fourth to sixth, half a year each level is considered excellent. The leap to the peak — level nine — can take years without extraordinary opportunities. The breakthrough to Foundation Establishment is harder still; even a prodigy may take decades between realms."
Several outer sect disciples nodded, whispering that Lin Xuan had entered barely a month ago. By those norms, he should still be at the first or second level of Qi Condensation — far too weak to stand against someone like Zhao Renkai, who was already in mid-Foundation Establishment.
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The Battle
Zhao moved first, his spear lancing forward like a silver serpent, the tip splitting into three afterimages. Lin Xuan twisted aside, the wind from the strike brushing his sleeve.
Gasps rippled through the crowd — not because he dodged, but because of how little effort it seemed to take.
Zhao pressed forward, chaining thrusts into sweeps, his spearwork tight and aggressive. Lin Xuan met each blow with controlled parries, his own spear heavier and slower, but carrying a weight that made Zhao's arms shudder with each clash.
Heng's brow furrowed slightly. Danfeng hid his smile.
A feint from Zhao turned into a sweeping low strike aimed to take Lin's legs from under him. Lin's spear spun, deflecting the attack, and his foot shot forward in a sudden kick that sent Zhao stumbling back.
That was when Lin stopped holding back.
His movements shifted — no longer purely defensive, his spear blurred in a pattern too fast for most to follow. Zhao's defense cracked in just six exchanges, a hard upward sweep knocking the spear from his grip and a follow-up strike sending him sprawling to the jade tiles.
The protective formations flashed, cushioning Zhao from serious injury, but the match was decided.
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Aftermath
Silence hung over the arena for a heartbeat before the crowd erupted into shouts.
"Did he just—?"
"That was Zhao Renkai! Mid-Foundation Establishment!"
"How in the world is Lin Xuan that strong already?"
On the dais, Heng's expression had soured. Danfeng's smile was polite, but his eyes glinted like a blade. "I suppose your disciple will have time to reflect on the dangers of underestimating others."
Lin Xuan stepped down from the stage without a backward glance, ignoring the mixture of awe and suspicion now following him.
He had made his statement.
And judging by the looks from some of the elders — both curious and calculating — he had also just painted a larger target on his back.