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I’d spent most of the day hunting down C-Class monsters and practicing my Faux Lightning technique while generating Frenzy to steadily expand the liquid reservoir of my Dantian. Now I was flexing it for Mu Lin to see, accenting it with the “perfume” of my lightning core.

“Why?” I asked. “What do you see?”

She shook her head at me. “You’ve got the Qi aura of a low-tier Core Realm cultivator now. Like, 2nd or maybe even 3rd Tier. How did you do this, Chun?”

I stopped cycling my Frenzy as her stare became accusatory. “Do you feel it less now?”

“I sensed that you stopped cycling, yes, but I can still sense the strength of your core.” She then took off her glasses and got real close to me, looking me dead in the eye. “Tell me the truth, Chun. Have you been taking more of those cheap elixirs?”

I tried to laugh it off. “What are you, an Enforcer now?”

The whole point of testing my [Devil’s Shadow] technique with Mu Lin was to gauge if I could control the intensity of my Qi aura by adjusting the amount of perfume I applied. After three separate tests it appeared the amount was static just like my absorption ability. The intensity was determined by the volume of Frenzy itself.

I guess it made sense. I could mask the source of my power but not the amount. I’d have to remember that when going into the ring tonight. It might raise some eyebrows as it was doing for Mu Lin right now.

But how the hell could I explain my sudden advancement to her?

Intense training could only explain so much, but being linked to a bona-fide sect like the Fire Birds possibly could. Expensive pills, elixirs, hidden techniques—everything became a trade secret when you were in a sect. That’s what I was betting on when it came to dealing with the officials at the arena.

But I couldn’t tell Mu Lin any of that.

I simply shrugged instead. “Maybe a little?”

Her brows lowered into a scowl and she punched me in the arm. “Chun, you damn idiot! I told you not to mess with that stuff! You can kill yourself. I honestly don’t know how you’re not dead already.” She then sort of mumbled to herself, “You’re either the luckiest, dumbest idiot alive or some kind of cultivating prodigy.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if you’d taken some high-quality spiritual enhancers, it should have taken you weeks or even months to cultivate and purify it through your system.” She then began to look at me even more strangely and I started to wonder if she suspected something more than just being an oddity. She was a scholar. Perhaps she knew about things like illegal cultivation methods.

I tried to play it off with a shrug. “I definitely think I fall into the stupid and lucky category there.”

“Well, anything that can make you this strong in just a few weeks has got to be dangerous. You’re rolling the dice here, Chun. And your luck is going to run out one day. So please stop, okay?”

I scratched the back of my head. “I hear you. I hear you.”

She frowned as she grabbed her backpack, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure you said something like that the last time.”

“Hey, how’s the studying going?” I asked, eager to change the topic. “Are you ready?”

“It’s in three days now, so I guess so.” She began walking off. “I actually have to go meet Xi Xha now for a session. She’s coming to pick me up.”

“What do you mean pick you up?”

“Walk and talk if you want to see,” she said, already moving ahead of me. “I have to meet her by the crossroads. And you’ve already made me late.”

We left the compound and Mu Lin powered ahead of me, walking at almost a sprint. The crossroads were less than a quarter mile away and I tried to make small talk while we walked, but Mu Lin seemed too focused to engage with more than one or two-word replies.

Ahead of us, I spied a familiar-looking skiff parked by the side of the dirt road. Xi Xha stood outside it along with the pilot, who was wearing simple black robes. Seated within the skiff itself, however, was a woman I’d seen once before. Silver hair cut in a razor-sharp bob, piercing chrome eyes, and a face to rival the princess herself. The only thing off-putting were her black and silver robes—the colors of the Silver Leaf Clan.

“Looks like you’re moving up in the world,” I said to Mu Lin with a playful nudge.

“More like Xi Xha is. She said her friend offered to give us a ride into the city so we could get to studying early.”

“That’s some friend,” I said, eyeing the woman and when she finally looked in our direction, our eyes locked for a second. I kept the stare as did she, and I sensed the faintest hint of lemonade come from her before she turned away.

“Who is she?”

“I’m not really sure,” Mu Lin said. “Someone Xi Xha went to university with, but she’s part of the ruling family obviously.” Mu Lin then added in a whisper, “So don’t act stupid.”

As we approached, Mu Lin ran ahead and gave a deep bow to Xi Xha who returned it before looking over at me, blushing again.

“Mister Chun,” she said with a polite bow. “It seems I’m always in a hurry when I see you, lately. It’s not intentional, I swear.”

“No worries,” I said, returning her bow. “You have a star pupil to prepare. I think that takes priority.”

I waved goodbye to Mu Lin as the pilot helped her into the skiff, but she was too busy prostrating herself before the silver-haired woman to notice.

Xi Xha smiled as she looked me up and down, blushing a little as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s been a while since we caught up. Perhaps we should make plans to meet up lat—”

“Xi Xha!” the silver-haired woman called sharply, cutting her off.

“Yes, my Lady?” Xi Xha said in a formal tone, nerves in her voice.

“Clearly you have no manners. Ask the young Terran man if he would like the privilege of riding into the city via skiff with us.”

Her voice was powerful and authoritative, and Xi Xha turned a few shades redder as she turned and bowed respectfully to her.

“Yes, of course, my Lady.”

What the hell was this?

The woman didn’t even turn her head as she spoke, her stare of aloofness fixed on some unseen point ahead of her. Ire stirred within my gut as Xi Xha fumbled with her words, clearly embarrassed as she turned slowly to face me again. Whoever this woman was, she had a strange way of speaking to her so-called friends.

“Chun, the Lady Silver Light wishes to know if you would like a—”

“Tell her no,” I said loud enough for the woman to hear, a hint of [Indifference] in my voice. “I’d much rather walk. I’ll see you soon though, Xi Xha.”

With that I got to stepping, leaving Xi Xha standing there with her mouth slightly ajar.

I felt bad for leaving her like that, but no way was I acquiescing to some bitch who treated Xi Xha like a servant and who spoke to me like she was damn Li Gong Qui.

She wasn’t getting my attention, no matter how damn beautiful she was.

I glanced at the Lady Silver Light from the corner of my eye as I passed by the skiff and the look of shock and indignation on her face was priceless. Mu Lin, sitting opposite her, looked like she wanted to die. The sight put a smile on my lips and I could feel a sting of anger seething from the silver haired woman.

Another spoiled, rich girl cultivator used to getting everything she wants on command, I thought. But not today, bitch.

Perhaps she’d read my thoughts, or just caught my vibe in general but she glared at me with an even nastier stare. I almost expected her to say something, or just outright attack me, as I kept eye contact with her, not backing down, my jaw fixed firmly with [Struggler’s Resolve]. Then oddly enough, I began to sense some lemonade again, pushing its way through her anger.

I lifted my chin at her defiantly and even more lemonade flowed.

“Sidon, prepare to leave,” she called to her pilot and the man in black robes hastily took to the controls. “It is clear that This One has wasted her time attempting to be charitable to a Terran savage. This One shall not make the same mistake again.”

With that the craft took off and all I could see was Mu Lin burying her head in her lap in mortification while Xi Xha looked away, embarrassed. I wasn’t exactly sure what the hell had just happened, but I didn’t have time to be playing games with the likes of Hein’s rich and famous extended family.

Screw them.

I had a tournament to get to.

* * *

“Furious Lightning Sect?” Official Bo Ren looked over the paperwork with a furrowed brow, his eyes scanning back and forth. “I thought you were trying to stay unattached?”

I was back at the counter at the arena, finally handing in the documents that had been burning a hole in my robes all day. I even cut my sparring session with Gui Zu short just so I could catch Bo Ren as soon as he showed up. At least he knew me, to an extent, and any further bamboozling I might have to do would perhaps go over way smoother with him.

Or so I hoped.

“What can I say?” I gave a shrug. “Membership has its privileges.”

I’d stolen that line from a TV commercial. Something about credit cards if I remembered correctly. It seemed to work on Bo Ren though because he just mirrored my shrug and then stamped the papers with an official seal.

“Congratulations,” he said a few minutes later and handed me an upgraded ID card with my full name and sect affiliation. “Especially on the lightning. It’s a rare aspect to possess. Once Master Xhu examines you, I’ll put you on the roster for your first match.”

He gestured to an old man with a wispy white beard and thick glasses who was sitting in the far corner of the admissions room. This was the part I’d been dreading all day, and my test run with Mu Lin earlier didn’t make it any easier.

“Stand inside there,” the old man said, pointing to a circle marked on the floor.

I did so and channeled my anxiety into Frenzy, taking care to not perfume it with Qi and further skew my results. The old man leaned forward in his chair adjusting his thick glasses while he stared at my lower abdomen.

He furrowed his brow like something was wrong and my heart skipped a beat.

“What did you say he was again?” he asked Bo Ren.

“Lightning,” Bo Ren said.

The old man Master Xhu glanced at the paperwork once Bo Ren had handed it to him and then he stared at my stomach again. “Your core is chaotic. Are you nervous?”

“A little,” I admitted.

He frowned and looked at the paperwork again. “Master Hong Feng, eh? Why am I not surprised.”

Shit, what the hell did that mean?

“Okay, you’re done,” Master Xhu said and by how quickly he’d said it, I feared he might call for an Imperial Guard next. But he continued, nonplussed. “Aspect is fire, lightning specialization. Core 2nd Tier.”

Holy shit was that it? I thought. Did I just pull this off?

“Core?” Bo Ren said, surprised. “I thought you were still within the Foundation Realm.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but the old man just laughed.

“Like I told you, I’m not surprised.” He then gave me a smile. “Master Hong Feng has a knack for finding prodigies.”

Prodigies? Was he referring to Yin Chu perhaps?

Regardless, that was the second time I was called something like that today. Not that I was complaining. Prodigy was a much-preferred term compared to heretic or even fraud, which was what I truly was at the moment. Funny how the presence of Qi made all things kosher under the heavens. Like the old philosophy went—power within a mortal was an affront, but power within a cultivator was revered.

“Well, that changes things a bit,” Bo Ren said. “I had you lined up for a Foundation-Tier match your first bout, but we can scrap that now. You’re headed for the big leagues, son.”

Before I could ask him what he meant he glanced at the Iron Bracket ranking list on display behind him. “Seems your closest match is now Blue Mantis, a 1st-Tier Core Realm cultivator.”

I remembered that name. It was the name right above my spot. “He was in 92nd place just above me right, right?”

“She,” Bo Ren corrected. “And yes, she was in 92nd place but not anymore. She fought last night and has advanced considerably since then. Won all four of her matches. She stands at 37th place now.”

Holy shit… Thirty-seventh?

“Sorry to say it, but you’re being thrown right into the deep end for your first fight.” Bo Ren then chuckled. “The price of power, I guess.”

I looked at the score board as it updated, Bo Ren adding me to the list.

Rank

Name

Sect

Affiliation

Aspect

Element

Cultivation Realm and Tier

Current

Standing

92

Blue Mantis

Blue Lotus Sect

Water

Core 1st

37

93

Bull Man

Furious Lightning Sect

Lightning

Core 2nd

93

94

Hui Kwon

Iron Crane Sect

Metal

Foundation 9th

Eliminated

95

Y’miris

Frozen Claw Sect

Ice

Foundation 9th

Eliminated

96

Lady Silver Sparrow

Silver Leaf Sect

Metal

Core 4th

12

97

Li Wu

Unaffiliated

None

Foundation 6th

Eliminated

98

Red Tiger

Crimson Dragon Sect

Fire

Foundation 7th

Eliminated

99

Xhu Tung

Unaffiliated

None

Foundation 6th

Withdrawn

100

Rahib Zhu

Unaffiliated

None

Foundation 5th

Eliminated

Shit, I thought. Everyone this far down has been eliminated already.

I scanned further to the top of the list to see what kind of competition lay ahead for me to reach my goal. Not a single person was below 2nd-Tier Core level, the top twenty filled with 4th and 5th tiers. A knot of tension built within my gut the more I looked. I was finally legal—able to cut loose in the ring, but my lightning was as fake as the sham hustle I was pulling on Hong Feng.

Without true lightning, am I even going to be able to compete?

“What can you tell me about my opponent?” I asked.

Bo Ren let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead. “If I’m honest, the betting odds won’t be in your favor. She’s ruthless in the ring. Aggressive and her technique is near flawless. Her core is not as strong as yours, but she has the advantage of aspect. Water is strong against Fire. Plus, she has that moniker ‘Blue Mantis’ for a reason.”

I raised a brow. “What’s that?”

“She never allows her opponents to yield,” he said. “She’s one who always eats her prey, they say. That’s how she got it.”

“Damn,” I said, channeling my growing tension into [Indifference]. “I’m hoping that’s not literal, right?”

I cracked a grin, letting him know it was a joke and Bo Ren chuckled.

“You have a strong spirit, son, but there’s a good chance you’ll die out there and the numbers call for it.” He then paused a moment, becoming serious. “It’s not too late to withdraw, you know? If you want.”

Just the mention of withdrawal stirred my Flame.

I was facing uncertain death, a fear I’d already long since conquered.

“No,” I said. “Bring it on. She’s just another obstacle in my path.”

Bo Ren looked at me oddly, like I was a madman or something. Or maybe he was just reacting to the intensity of my Flame. Either way I was ready. After all this skullduggery and bureaucratic bullshit I was more than eager to finally tap into where my true strength lay.

Win, lose, or die, it was all the same—the Demon was breaking its chains tonight.

And Blue Mantis was first thing on the menu.