Top 1 Outer Disciple

Shen and Wu stood at the gate of the outer sect. They both wore the gray robes now, marking their new status. After months of hard training, they were no longer just hopefuls. They were outer disciples now. Wu looked at her robe, her hands shaking slightly with excitement.

"We made it," Shen said, his voice low but filled with pride. "We're part of the sect now."

Wu nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. She couldn't help but look around, taking in the courtyard filled with others like them. It was a big step, but deep down, both of them knew their journey was far from over.

Meanwhile, Jo Yuan had changed. The other disciples whispered about him now. Over the last months, he fought in 623 more matches. His win rate? It climbed to 45%.

How? The madness in his eyes was clear when he fought. His strikes were sharper, his defense tighter. Each move carried more weight than before. People said he fought like he had nothing to lose. Even when he was losing, he still pressed forward with a crazed focus, as if pain or injury didn't matter to him.

One elder, sitting high above in the arena, watched his recent matches and sighed. "This Jo Yuan... He is reckless, but there is power in his madness. He has no fear of losing. That makes him dangerous."

Another elder nodded in agreement. "But that same madness might destroy him one day. He's walking a thin line."

After one particularly bad defeat, Jo Yuan found himself alone, sitting under the old training tree. His body ached. His muscles screamed in pain from the brutal fight. He had lost again, but something was different this time. As he sat, he replayed the match in his mind, his movements, his mistakes. His hands moved slightly, following the pattern of his last fight, over and over again.

Suddenly, he felt it. The flow of his qi shifted, smoother now, like water running through his veins. His technique, which was once clumsy and forced, started to feel natural as if it belonged to him.

He trained that night, and by morning, his movements were faster and more precise. He had moved from the initial stage of his technique to proficiency.

In his next match, it was clear. Jo Yuan's body now reacted instinctively. When his opponent, a disciple at the 6th stage of qi building, sent a heavy punch towards him, Jo Yuan didn't dodge. He didn't need to. His body absorbed the impact, barely shaking. The next blow, from a disciple at the 7th stage, felt the same. He shrugged it off, standing firm, his body stronger now.

"His technique... it's not just for offense anymore," one disciple whispered from the crowd. "It's like his body has turned into iron. He's on a different level now."

Jo Yuan didn't smile. His eyes remained sharp. He wasn't done yet.

...

Ten years passed slowly for Jo Yuan. He kept training, day after day, year after year. He reached the proficient stage long ago, but breaking through to the expert stage? It took a full decade. Why so long? The difference between proficient and expert was huge.

At the proficient stage, Jo Yuan had control over his moves. His technique was smooth and powerful but still limited. His body could handle strong hits, but there was a limit. Expert was different. At that stage, his body wasn't just stronger—it changed. The technique became lightning-like, quick, and sharp, flowing through him. Each time he trained, the lightning strengthened his cells, making them harder, faster, and more durable. It was like his body was no longer human, but something more.

But reaching that stage was no easy task. It wasn't about just practicing; it was about feeling the technique deep in his bones, understanding it at a level beyond just muscle memory. That's why it took so long.

In those ten years, Jo Yuan fought in over a thousand matches. His win rate climbed, slowly but surely. By the end of that decade, he had fought 1,347 matches and won about 62% of them.

The elders noticed his steady growth. One of them, a quiet old man who had seen many disciples come and go, spoke to another elder one day after watching one of Jo Yuan's matches.

"Jo Yuan's improvement is undeniable," he said. "He's patient, methodical. But what impresses me is his durability. His losses don't slow him down—they push him forward."

Another elder nodded. "Yes, but his path is a slow one. He isn't chasing glory, and that's what makes him dangerous. When the time comes, he'll be ready."

Even among the outer disciples, there was a mix of awe and fear towards Jo Yuan. Many respected his skill, but others were wary of his quiet, intense focus. Some called him "The Madman" behind his back, others spoke of his discipline.

At the expert stage, Jo Yuan's strength became truly terrifying. In his first match after reaching that level, he faced a disciple at the 9th stage of qi refining. The disciple launched a powerful attack, one that could have broken bones, but Jo Yuan didn't flinch. His body, now strengthened by the lightning in his technique, absorbed the hit without much effort. His cells were tougher, able to handle much stronger blows than before.

After the match, Jo Yuan stood in the middle of the arena, breathing heavily but calmly. He looked down at his hands, feeling the power running through him. Reaching the expert stage brought him a strange sense of peace.

For years, he had pushed himself, struggled, and suffered. Now, standing there, he felt... balanced. He wasn't proud, nor did he feel invincible. He simply felt that he was where he needed to be, on the right path, with more to come!

The sun was high in the sky when Jo Yuan was approached by the top disciple of the outer sect. His name was Ren Wei, known for his mastery of the Hardening technique.

"I've watched your matches," Ren Wei said, a small smile on his face. "Your technique... it's unique. Let's have a friendly match. No stakes, just to see how we measure up."

Jo Yuan looked at him for a moment, his expression calm, then gave a nod. "Alright."

The two met in the arena, with outer disciples gathering around to watch. It wasn't every day that the top disciple asked for a match. Elders were present too, watching from the high platform.

Ren Wei's Hardening technique was powerful. His body turned into something like stone, every muscle becoming rigid, every movement unyielding. He charged at Jo Yuan, fists like hammers.

Jo Yuan, however, had reached the expert stage of his technique. The lightning flowed through him, making his body light and quick, but at the same time, strong and firm. Each time Ren Wei's heavy blows came down, Jo Yuan met them with his own. The impact of their strikes shook the ground beneath them, but neither gave in.

As they fought, both evaluated each other in the heat of the moment. Ren Wei noticed the lightning in Jo Yuan's movements, how it seemed to pulse through his body, making him faster and stronger after every exchange.

"Your technique... it's alive," Ren Wei muttered, pushing back after a clash. "I can feel it. Each time I hit you, it's like you're feeding off my strength."

Jo Yuan, breathing steadily, could feel the weight of Ren Wei's attacks. They were powerful, nearly overwhelming, but his cells, strengthened by lightning, held firm. He admired how unshakable Ren Wei was, how his Hardening technique made him seem like an immovable object.

"You're solid," Jo Yuan replied, eyes sharp. "But you lack speed."

The fight continued, both pushing themselves to the limit. In the end, neither could gain the upper hand. Jo Yuan, using the flow of lightning within him, managed to redirect Ren Wei's last powerful strike, causing it to lose its momentum. At the same time, he launched a counterattack, but Ren Wei's hardened body absorbed the blow. They both stood there, breathing heavily, but neither fell.

The match ended in a draw.

After the match, the three elders who had been watching closely began to discuss. Their evaluations were detailed and thoughtful.

Elder Xuan, the oldest, spoke first. "Jo Yuan's technique is exceptional. The lightning that strengthens him is like nothing I've seen. It makes him faster with each strike, and it fortifies his body in a way that counters even the strongest of hits."

Elder Fei nodded, adding, "Indeed, but Ren Wei's Hardening technique was equally impressive. His strikes were devastating, and his defense was nearly perfect. If he had more speed, he might have won."

The third elder, Mei, leaned forward, her eyes sharp. "Jo Yuan has one key advantage, though—his adaptability. He used Ren Wei's own strength against him, neutralizing attacks that should have broken him."

Elder Xuan stroked his beard. "Yes, and that adaptability shows his deeper understanding of the expert stage. But Ren Wei is a wall of power, solid and unmoving. If Jo Yuan hadn't redirected that last strike, the result could have been very different."

Elder Fei then spoke, "It was a true match of equals. Both have reached a level where strength alone is not enough. It's their minds, their tactics, that are now the key."