The First Challenge

The Four Seasons Sect bustled with life as the morning sun bathed the mountain peaks in golden light. The outer sect disciples were already up, training in the vast courtyards, their shouts and the clash of wooden swords filling the air. Li Yuan stood at the entrance of the practice grounds, watching the chaos unfold. The past few days had been relentless—grueling physical training, endless lectures on cultivation, and the ever-present pressure of survival.

Even though he possessed the knowledge of the previous Li Yuan's life, he was still an outsider in this world. The more he observed, the more he realized how ruthless this place was. The outer sect was a battlefield where the weak were crushed beneath the feet of the strong.

"Hey, new kid!"

A voice pulled him from his thoughts. A tall disciple with a square jaw and narrow eyes approached him, his expression filled with disdain. Behind him stood a group of three others, all outer sect disciples wearing the same uniform as Li Yuan, though theirs looked more refined, possibly tailored to fit better.

"You think you can just stand around all day?" the disciple sneered. "In the Four Seasons Sect, every outer sect disciple must prove their worth."

Li Yuan remained silent, sensing trouble.

"Zhang Sen," Lin Xue's voice cut through the air as she approached, arms crossed. "Still bullying newcomers? Or have you finally found a real opponent?"

Zhang Sen's expression stiffened, but he quickly regained his composure. "It's not bullying," he said with a smirk. "It's tradition. Every new recruit must pass the first challenge. If he can't handle it, he doesn't belong here."

Lin Xue sighed. "And what is this challenge?"

Zhang Sen's grin widened. "A simple duel. No weapons, just fists. If he can last five minutes, we'll leave him alone."

Li Yuan glanced at Lin Xue. She didn't say anything, but he could see the warning in her eyes. This wasn't just about proving himself—it was a trap. If he lost, he would become an easy target for bullying. If he won, he would make enemies.

He clenched his fists. No matter what, he couldn't back down.

"Fine," Li Yuan said, stepping forward. "I accept."

Zhang Sen's eyes gleamed with amusement. He cracked his knuckles and took a stance, his feet firmly planted on the ground. "Let's see if you can last five minutes."

The surrounding disciples formed a circle around them, eager to witness the fight.

The moment the duel began, Zhang Sen charged forward like a bull, his fist aimed straight at Li Yuan's face. Li Yuan barely dodged, twisting his body to the side. He had no time to think—only react. Zhang Sen was fast, much faster than Li Yuan had expected.

A second punch came at his ribs. Li Yuan raised his arm to block, but the force sent him stumbling backward. His entire arm throbbed from the impact. Zhang Sen wasn't just an ordinary disciple—he was already at the third level of Qi Condensation, while Li Yuan had only just started sensing his Yuan Qi.

"You're too slow," Zhang Sen mocked.

Li Yuan gritted his teeth. His body had changed since the Blood Pond, and he could feel a strange energy coursing through him, but he still didn't understand how to control it.

Zhang Sen lunged again, aiming a kick at Li Yuan's stomach. At the last second, something inside Li Yuan clicked. His body moved on instinct, twisting slightly as he sidestepped the attack. His hand shot out, gripping Zhang Sen's wrist and using his own momentum against him.

With a sharp tug, Zhang Sen was thrown off balance. He staggered, his foot dragging through the dirt. For the first time, his smirk faded.

The crowd murmured in surprise.

Li Yuan's heart pounded. That movement… It felt natural. Almost as if his body had remembered something he hadn't learned yet. Was this part of the transformation he underwent in the Blood Pond?

Zhang Sen's expression darkened. "You got lucky."

This time, he moved faster, his punches relentless. Li Yuan dodged one, blocked another, but the third strike slammed into his shoulder, forcing him back.

"You won't last five minutes," Zhang Sen growled, his attacks becoming more aggressive.

Li Yuan knew he couldn't match Zhang Sen's strength, but he didn't need to. He just needed to survive. He focused on evading, letting Zhang Sen waste his energy.

Minutes passed. The crowd grew restless.

"Three minutes left," Lin Xue called out.

Zhang Sen scowled. His breathing had become heavier. His frustration was evident.

"Why don't you fight back?!" he shouted.

Li Yuan smirked. "Why should I? You're tiring yourself out."

Zhang Sen roared in anger, lunging forward with a wild punch. This time, Li Yuan saw it coming. He sidestepped, bringing his elbow down onto Zhang Sen's extended arm. A sharp crack echoed through the air.

Zhang Sen yelped, clutching his wrist. The crowd gasped.

"Time's up," Lin Xue announced.

Li Yuan exhaled, stepping back as Zhang Sen glared at him, humiliated. He wanted to attack again, but he knew the rules—once the five minutes were up, the duel was over.

Zhang Sen spat on the ground. "This isn't over."

He stormed off, his lackeys following behind. The crowd slowly dispersed, murmuring among themselves.

Lin Xue walked up to Li Yuan, raising an eyebrow. "That was interesting."

He shrugged. "I just got lucky."

She studied him for a moment. "Luck has nothing to do with it. Your movements were too precise, too natural for a beginner."

Li Yuan remained silent. Even he wasn't sure how he had done it.

Lin Xue smirked. "Well, you've made a name for yourself. That means you'll have more enemies now."

"Great," he muttered.

She chuckled. "Don't worry. If you survive long enough, you might even make some friends."

Li Yuan sighed. He had only been in the Four Seasons Sect for a short time, but he could already feel the weight of the world pressing down on him. If he wanted to survive—no, if he wanted to thrive—he needed to get stronger.

He looked down at his hands, feeling the faint warmth of the strange energy in his veins.

Whatever happened to me in the Blood Pond… it changed me.

And he was going to find out exactly what it meant.