The Gathering Storm

Li Yuan stood beneath the pale moonlight, gripping the scroll Elder Han had given him. The words etched in ink—The Scarlet Hand moves in the shadows. Beware.—burned into his mind.

What was the Scarlet Hand?

Who were they, and why were they interested in him?

A soft breeze swept through the night, rustling the trees surrounding the sect. He clenched his fist, his thoughts racing. This wasn't just a tournament anymore. He had stepped into something deeper—something far more dangerous than rival disciples or sect politics.

Still, he couldn't afford to waste time. The Outer Disciple Tournament would resume at dawn, and he needed to prepare. If there were people watching him from the shadows, then he would have to become stronger—strong enough that they would hesitate before making a move.

With that determination, he turned and disappeared into the night.

---

The training grounds were deserted at this hour, but that suited Li Yuan just fine. Beneath the towering stone pillars, he settled into a stance, closing his eyes and circulating his Yuan Qi.

The energy within him had changed ever since the blood pond. It was sharper, more potent—like an untamed beast coiled within his veins, waiting to be unleashed.

Tonight, he would push himself to the limit.

He moved swiftly, executing a series of strikes and counterattacks, his fists cutting through the air. Each movement was precise, honed from the memories of the former Li Yuan, but there was something else—an instinct, something primal guiding him beyond mere training.

Faster.

Stronger.

The wind howled around him as he drove his fist forward, the impact sending a ripple through the air. The ground beneath him cracked slightly.

He exhaled, his breath steady. He was growing, but was it enough?

The night stretched on as he trained, sweat dripping from his brow. His muscles burned, but he refused to stop. If there were unseen enemies lurking, then he would make sure they had something to fear.

By the time the first light of dawn crept over the mountains, Li Yuan finally allowed himself to rest.

Tomorrow, the tournament would continue. And this time, he wouldn't just be fighting for a rank—he would be fighting for survival.

---

As morning arrived, the sect was abuzz with excitement.

Disciples filled the outer sect arena, eager to witness the next round of battles. The grand platform in the center shimmered under the golden sunlight, its surface marked by past clashes of power.

Li Yuan made his way through the crowd, his presence drawing more attention than before. Word had spread of his previous victories—of how he had crushed his last opponent with ease.

Some looked at him with admiration. Others, with jealousy.

One gaze, however, lingered longer than the rest.

He turned his head slightly and met a pair of deep violet eyes.

A girl stood among the crowd, watching him intently. She wore the robes of an inner disciple—far above the ranks of the outer sect. Her long black hair was tied into an elegant ponytail, and a jade pendant hung from her waist.

She did not avert her gaze when their eyes met. Instead, she smiled.

Li Yuan frowned slightly.

Who was she?

Before he could think further, the tournament announcer stepped forward.

"The next round begins now! First match—Li Yuan versus Zhao Feng!"

The crowd stirred. Zhao Feng was an outer disciple known for his ferocity in combat. He was in the ninth level of Qi Condensation—one step away from the Four Palaces Realm. Many believed he would dominate the tournament.

Li Yuan stepped onto the stage, his expression calm. Across from him, Zhao Feng smirked, his arms crossed.

"So you're the one everyone's been talking about," Zhao Feng said, his tone amused. "I watched your last fight. Not bad. But luck won't save you this time."

Li Yuan didn't respond. He simply adjusted his stance.

Zhao Feng's smirk widened. "Confident, huh? Let's see how long that lasts!"

The elder overseeing the match raised his hand.

"Begin!"

Zhao Feng moved instantly, his foot slamming into the ground. The force sent cracks through the arena as he surged forward, his palm igniting with golden Yuan Qi.

"Golden Palm Strike!"

A wave of force shot toward Li Yuan like a raging tidal wave.

But Li Yuan didn't retreat.

Instead, he stepped forward, his own energy flaring to life. His crimson Yuan Qi surged, colliding with Zhao Feng's attack.

The impact sent a shockwave through the arena. Dust exploded into the air.

When it cleared, both fighters still stood.

Zhao Feng's eyes narrowed. "Not bad. But let's see how you handle this!"

He roared, his aura flaring. The ground beneath him cracked further as he leapt, delivering a devastating downward kick.

Li Yuan twisted, dodging at the last moment. His movements were fluid, precise.

He countered with a sweeping strike, his fist glowing with crimson light.

Zhao Feng barely managed to block, but the impact forced him back several steps.

The crowd gasped.

"This… Li Yuan is actually holding his own against Zhao Feng?"

"His strength is… abnormal."

Zhao Feng growled, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "You're stronger than I thought. But that just means I can stop holding back."

His aura expanded violently, golden energy swirling around him like a storm. "Let's end this!"

Li Yuan exhaled, his own energy rising in response.

The real battle was about to begin.

---

Meanwhile, in the upper viewing stands, several inner disciples and elders observed the match with interest.

One of them was the girl with violet eyes. She leaned forward slightly, her expression unreadable.

"Li Yuan… interesting," she murmured.

Beside her, another inner disciple frowned. "He's reckless. Zhao Feng will crush him."

She smiled faintly. "Maybe. Maybe not."

Her gaze lingered on the crimson energy surrounding Li Yuan.

Whatever it was, it wasn't ordinary.

And that made him worth watching.