A New Rival

The outer sect trial continued, each battle fueling the tension in the air. Victorious disciples stood tall, while the defeated were left nursing their wounds or silently retreating into the crowd, their dreams of advancement shattered.

Li Yuan remained standing at the edge of the arena, watching the matches unfold. He was no longer just an anonymous outer disciple—his victory over Gao Shen had turned more than a few heads. He could feel the weight of countless gazes settling on him, some curious, some envious, and others… openly hostile.

Among those watching, a particular figure caught his attention. A tall, slender young man with piercing golden eyes and an air of arrogance. His black robes bore a silver embroidery pattern that was noticeably more refined than those of other outer disciples. Unlike the others, who whispered among themselves, this young man's gaze remained locked on Li Yuan, as if assessing him.

Lin Xue noticed his stare. "That's Jiang Hao," she murmured. "One of the strongest outer disciples. He's been in the sect for two years now, and he's already at the peak of Qi Condensation. Some say he's only a step away from entering the Four Palace Realm."

Li Yuan's brows lifted slightly. "And he's paying attention to me?"

Lin Xue sighed. "Your fight with Gao Shen was impressive. But that also means you've made yourself a target."

Before Li Yuan could respond, the elder overseeing the trial raised his voice again.

"Next match—Jiang Hao versus Bai Zhen!"

The crowd erupted into murmurs of excitement. Jiang Hao was a known powerhouse in the outer sect. Bai Zhen, on the other hand, was skilled but nowhere near his level.

Jiang Hao stepped onto the arena, his movements smooth and effortless, as if he already knew the outcome of the match. His opponent, Bai Zhen, was a broad-shouldered young man wielding a heavy steel saber. He clenched his weapon tightly, knowing he was the underdog.

"Begin!"

Bai Zhen didn't hesitate. He roared as he dashed forward, swinging his saber down with all his strength. A shimmering arc of Yuan Qi trailed behind the blade, splitting the air with force.

Jiang Hao didn't move. Not until the very last moment.

Then, with a step so light it barely made a sound, he vanished.

The next instant, he was behind Bai Zhen.

A single palm strike landed on Bai Zhen's back, sending him crashing into the ground. Dust exploded into the air as Bai Zhen coughed violently, trying to stand but failing.

The crowd was silent.

Jiang Hao sighed, shaking his head. "Too slow."

The elder nodded. "Match over! Winner—Jiang Hao!"

The fight had lasted mere seconds.

Jiang Hao turned away, not even sparing his fallen opponent another glance. But instead of leaving the arena, he let his gaze sweep across the crowd—until it landed on Li Yuan.

A smirk formed on his lips.

"Li Yuan," Jiang Hao called out, his voice calm yet carrying undeniable authority. "I've heard about your recent rise. Defeating Gao Shen was quite the feat."

Li Yuan met his gaze evenly. "I do my best."

Jiang Hao chuckled. "I'd like to see that 'best' in action. Let's hope the trial gives us that opportunity."

The challenge was clear. The surrounding disciples murmured among themselves, some already looking forward to a potential showdown.

Li Yuan smiled faintly. "We'll see."

Jiang Hao gave him a final glance before stepping away, his presence leaving a lasting impact on those around him.

Lin Xue sighed. "You really know how to attract trouble."

Li Yuan shrugged. "It's not like I asked for it."

"Still, be careful," she warned. "Jiang Hao isn't just strong—he's dangerous. There are rumors that he has some sort of unique martial spirit, though no one knows exactly what it is."

Li Yuan filed away that piece of information for later. He wasn't afraid of a challenge. In fact, he welcomed it.

As the trial continued, Li Yuan found himself watching every match carefully, analyzing techniques, strengths, and weaknesses. The more he observed, the more he realized just how vast the world of cultivation truly was.

His own progress had been fast, but he still had a long way to go.

After what felt like hours, the elder finally raised his voice once more.

"We will now move on to the next round!"

The floating board updated itself, displaying the new matchups.

Li Yuan's eyes scanned the list—until he found his name.

His opponent: Sun Yi.

Lin Xue frowned. "Sun Yi… I don't know much about him. He's not as famous as Jiang Hao, but I doubt he's weak."

Li Yuan cracked his knuckles. "Then I'll just have to find out myself."

As he stepped forward, preparing for his next match, he couldn't shake the feeling that this trial was only the beginning. The real challenges were yet to come.