Being the topic of this competition had already achieved some of Lucian's goals—to make a name for himself—but he wasn't satisfied yet. He needed to win this competition so the world would know their ruler's name—or so he probably thought, but who knows. Right now, he was nowhere to be found. He was likely training in the outskirts, away from prying eyes.
The prideful heirs of the 5 Great Clans and some of the renowned disciples of the 9 Great Sects, all competing this year, gathered inside a private room of a famous inn. A thick tension hung in the air; their expressions ranged from irritation to disdain as they discussed the name that was on everyone's lips: Lucian.
Han Daehyun suddenly stood up, his tone sharp and righteous.
"Tch, that so-called Lucian? I've only heard whispers, but they say he's tied to some Demonic Sect filth. Hah! Figures. No wonder he struts around like he owns the place. A brat like that couldn't possibly live up to the hype—they probably made up those 'martial prodigy' tales themselves to scare fools. Outrageous that someone like him dares set foot near our alliance's domain!"
Several disciples nodded in agreement, while others exchanged hesitant glances, unwilling to fully support Daehyun's claim.
Han Daehyun was from the Radiant Light Sect, one of the 9 Great Sects, and the greatest disciple of a renowned elder. Rigid and narrow-minded, he was obsessed with moral purity, often condemning others for the slightest misstep—a trait that earned him both respect and irritation from his peers.
Moyong Seojin of the Moyong Clan leaned back in his chair, his calm eyes narrowing. He spoke with a soft chuckle, his words dripping with subtle mockery.
"Ahem… Really now, must you embarrass yourself by parroting baseless rumors? No one even knows where this Lucian brat hails from. And yet, the elder of Verdant Willow Sect himself reported his swordsmanship to the Alliance Leader. Do you think a sect of that standing would waste their time on some street-side swordsman? Hmph. Next time, try thinking before you speak."
Though his tone was calm, the sting was clear. A few muffled chuckles went around the room, and Han Daehyun's face turned slightly red.
Moyong Seojin, unlike Daehyun, was a calm, calculating, and cunning prodigy. From a young age, he had been a treasured jewel of the Moyong Clan, excelling in both swordsmanship and political strategy. He was feared despite his youth, and he naturally saw the bigger picture of this competition.
The others present were Tang Hwarang of the Tang Clan, Namgung Jisoo of the Namgung Clan, Jeong Harin of the Kunlun Sect, and Lee Cheongho of the Mount Hua Sect, while the rest didn't attend—either busy with other matters or simply unwilling to join.
Everyone in the room silently agreed with Moyong Seojin, his reasoning too sound to argue against. Han Daehyun, humiliated, clenched his fists under the table. In his heart, his irritation toward Lucian turned to hatred.
As the discussion carried on, faint laughter and conversation could be heard from the hall outside. Word of this mysterious Lucian was spreading fast.
"Have you heard?" a passing inn server whispered to another, just loud enough to catch the group's ears. "They say he hasn't been seen in days. Where do you think he's staying?"
"Or maybe he's just afraid," the other scoffed. "You know how rumors are. They make men sound like gods."
The prideful heirs ignored the gossip, but Moyong Seojin's faint smile showed he was listening.
After that night passed, Lucian remained unseen for five more days before the competition began. Yet his absence only fueled the whispers. By the time the day of the battle arrived, his name was on everyone's lips.
The town was bustling, brimming with people who had traveled from every corner of the land to witness the start of this grand tournament. The competition grounds were massive, with ten towering platforms, labeled A to J. Lucian's platform, bracket E, was at the very center, drawing even more attention to him.
When the competition started, renowned martial masters from across the country gathered to test their strength, win glory, and perhaps gain a prize—or both, like Lucian, who craved glory despite being dirt poor. For ambitious fighters like him, this stage was perfect.
Lucian's name was listed last in bracket E, as though his match was intentionally reserved for the finale of that platform.
The duels began, brutal and unrelenting. Fighters left the stage bleeding or dead. Even those from the so-called evil factions displayed such terrifying prowess that their strength alone could have formed small or medium-sized sects.
One by one, hidden masters revealed their terrifying skills, carving their names into history with every round. Some battles ended in double knockouts, neither combatant able to continue.
All the young masters of the 5 Great Clans naturally won in this first round. Some won with difficulty after being paired with exceptional foes. They were:
Moyong Clan — Moyong Seojin
Baek Clan — Baek Yuhwan
Hwangbo Clan — Hwangbo Minho
Namgung Clan — Namgung Jisoo
Tang Clan — Tang Hwarang.
While in the 9 Great Sects, one of them got eliminated—Song Areum of the Celestial Sound Pavilion. She was not weak, but the one she was paired with was a demonic master: Seo Hwa-rin, the Crimson Flower of Murim. She wields beauty as deadly as her blade and was once heir to a revered sect but, for unknown reasons, slaughtered her sect overnight. Now, she wanders Jianghu as a feared demonic master.
The rest who won were:
Iron Fist Sect — Jang Dohyun
Beggar's Union — Kang Bok
Emei Sect — Choi Yura
Kunlun Sect — Jeong Harin
Mount Hua Sect — Lee Cheongho
Wudang Sect — Seo Woon
Shaolin Temple — Jinhye
Radiant Light Sect — Han Daehyun
They all fought well, deserving of their sects and their own reputations.
After several bloody matches, it was finally time for Lucian's fight—against none other than Jin Hyeon-ryu, the arrogant and prideful young master of the Iron Serpent Sect.
The crowd erupted in whispers the moment the two stepped onto the stage.
"Is that him? Lucian?"
"He's so young…"
"Don't let his age fool you. Even the Alliance Leader's been keeping an eye on him."
"But Hyeon-ryu's undefeated. I'd bet my life he'll crush this kid."
Jin Hyeon-ryu smirked, sweeping his long green robe back as he approached, saber gleaming under the sun. His arrogance was palpable, and he made sure everyone heard his voice.
"Ha! So you're that Lucian?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain."You're nothing but a child. How much silver did you waste spreading those ridiculous rumors, hoping people would fear you and withdraw from battle? Pathetic."
The crowd chuckled nervously at his words, but Lucian merely tilted his head, his expression calm and unreadable.
"Look at him," a disciple muttered from the sidelines. "He doesn't even react."
"Probably because he knows he's outmatched," another snickered.
The signal was given.
And then, silence.
No one saw him move. One heartbeat, Jin Hyeon-ryu was standing confidently; the next, Lucian's blade was resting against his throat. The eerie sword gleamed under the sun, its dark, bloodthirsty aura sending a shiver through everyone present.
A collective gasp coming from the crowds who came to witness the first day of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition rippled through the courtyard.
"D-did anyone see that?" a disciple stammered.
"No… I… I didn't even blink, and he was already there!"
"That sword… it's like it's alive…" whispered another, stepping back.
Jin Hyeon-ryu's smirk faltered, his body stiff as the cold edge of Lucian's blade grazed his neck. His pride was shattered in an instant. He hadn't even had the chance to draw his weapon.
Lucian's eyes remained steady, his expression calm yet unnervingly detached. He slowly withdrew the sword, lowering it without a word, and stepped back as if nothing had happened.
The murmurs grew into an uproar:
"Impossible! Hyeon-ryu didn't even move!"
"He's terrifying… I will withdraw immediately if he'll be my opponent!!!" Some competitors that pass the first round said.
"No one's that fast… No one!"
All competitors are taken aback of this scene. Jin Hyeon Ryu's defeat is way too easy.
Though no blood was spilled, the courtyard felt colder than ever. That single, invisible strike was enough to brand Lucian as a monster among men. All the people who watched this confirmed that an unknown genius indeed joined the competition and his name is: Lucian.