The Crimson Blade leader stared at Chen Wei with narrowed eyes.
"Foundation Mid," he muttered. "When did Heavenly Ember produce one of those?"
Chen Wei didn't answer.
He was focused.
Before yesterday, even a Foundation Early opponent pressured him.
Now—
The flow inside him felt different.
Smoother.
Stronger.
Cleaner.
He stepped forward again.
A Crimson Blade Foundation Mid cultivator rushed him.
"You got lucky once," the man sneered.
They clashed immediately.
The opponent's strikes were aggressive, force-heavy, relying on superior sect techniques.
Chen Wei absorbed the first strike, redirected the second, and countered with a palm strike reinforced by stable Qi.
The impact forced the opponent back two steps.
The Crimson Blade leader's expression shifted slightly.
Something was wrong.
Chen Wei's Qi output wasn't explosive.
But it was efficient.
Very little waste.
Every movement flowed.
Lian Zhou watched silently.
He wasn't worried.
Not because Chen Wei was overwhelmingly strong.
But because the structural upgrades were already showing effect.
Expanded meridians meant better endurance.
Improved Qi affinity meant faster circulation recovery.
In prolonged combat, Chen Wei would win.
The Foundation Mid opponent attacked again.
This time using a blade technique.
A shallow cut appeared on Chen Wei's arm.
He didn't retreat.
He stepped inside the blade's arc and struck the man's shoulder joint.
Bone cracked.
The opponent staggered.
Chen Wei followed with a controlled palm strike to the abdomen.
The opponent fell to one knee.
Silence spread through the Crimson Blade group.
Two of their members down.
Against a sect with three disciples.
Impossible.
The Crimson Blade leader's aura flared.
Foundation Late.
"You've grown bold," he said coldly.
Chen Wei's breathing was steady, but he knew—
This opponent was different.
Stronger.
Faster.
Before Chen Wei could respond, the leader moved.
The speed difference was obvious.
One strike sent Chen Wei sliding back several meters.
The difference between Mid and Late was real.
Chen Wei steadied himself.
He felt no panic.
Only clarity.
His Qi recovered faster than it ever had before.
He circulated again.
The leader attacked a second time.
Chen Wei blocked—but this time the impact shook his meridians.
He couldn't win this head-on.
Not yet.
The Crimson Blade leader raised his hand for a finishing strike.
Then—
Lian Zhou stepped forward.
"Enough."
His voice was calm.
Not loud.
But it carried.
The Crimson Blade leader scoffed.
"You finally step in?"
"Yes."
Lian Zhou walked past Chen Wei without hurry.
He released his aura slightly.
Foundation Realm.
But—
The pressure felt strange.
Denser than normal.
The leader frowned.
"You think Foundation Early can challenge me?"
Lian Zhou smiled faintly.
"Try."
The leader attacked immediately.
Lian Zhou did not block directly.
He shifted half a step.
Redirected the incoming force with minimal movement.
The leader's strike missed center alignment.
Before he could adjust—
Lian Zhou tapped his wrist lightly.
The leader's Qi flow stuttered for a split second.
Just enough.
A palm struck his chest.
Not violent.
Precise.
The leader stumbled back.
Shock crossed his face.
"You—"
Lian Zhou didn't pursue.
He stood calmly.
"I said we won't be paying tribute."
Silence.
The Crimson Blade members hesitated.
Their leader tested his circulation.
It felt disrupted.
Not damaged.
But unsettled.
"How?" he demanded.
Lian Zhou didn't answer.
He wouldn't expose system advantages.
He had only used timing and structural understanding.
The leader made a quick calculation.
Two members injured.
Sect strength misjudged.
This wasn't worth escalating immediately.
He stepped back.
"This isn't over," he said coldly.
"No," Lian Zhou replied. "It isn't."
The Crimson Blade group retreated.
Not defeated.
But shaken.
The courtyard fell silent after they left.
Mu Jian stared at Chen Wei.
"You… you beat two of them."
Chen Wei looked at his hands.
"I feel different."
"You are," Lian Zhou said calmly.
Chen Wei turned toward him.
"Sect Master… what did you do?"
Lian Zhou walked back toward the hall.
"I trained you."
That was all he said.
Inside the system interface, new notifications appeared.
[Disciple Combat Victory Detected.]
[Performance Above Expected Talent Grade.]
[Bonus Reward: 3 Talent Points.]
Lian Zhou's eyes sharpened.
Eight points total now.
Interesting.
Combat results also generated rewards.
This system was not passive.
It rewarded growth and performance.
He opened Chen Wei's profile again.
Current Talent Grade: Upgraded.
Potential: Rising.
New option appeared.
[Minor Constitution Refinement — Cost: 5 TP]
That was tempting.
But he hesitated.
If he poured everything into Chen Wei—
The other two disciples would lag behind.
A sect required structure.
Not a single pillar.
He closed the interface.
Not yet.
Chen Wei approached again.
"Sect Master… I want to train more."
Lian Zhou looked at him carefully.
"Good."
He turned toward the training courtyard.
"Because they will return."
Outside their broken gates, Crimson Blade Sect was already regrouping.
Their leader's expression was dark.
"Heavenly Ember changed," one subordinate said.
"Yes," the leader replied.
"And that means…"
He looked toward the distant sect.
"…we inform our Elder."
The game had shifted.
Heavenly Ember was no longer prey.
And predators did not ignore prey that suddenly bit back.