Inner sect

Chapter 6: Inner sect

The arena buzzed with excitement after Su Dao's victory over Su Qian. Disciples whispered about the unexpected result.

In the crowd, Chu Tian's face was dark with anger. "Su Dao humiliated Qian," he muttered under his breath. His fists were clenched tight. "He won't get away with this. I'll crush him myself."

2. The First Round

The matches began, and the top disciples showed why they were the strongest.

Match 1: Su Dai vs. Lin Fei

Lin Fei's speed gave him an early advantage, but Su Dai used her Iron Fist Technique to block his strikes. With one powerful punch, she knocked Lin Fei out of the ring.

Match 2: Su Fang vs. Zhao Liang

Su Fang used his Wolf Claw Technique, striking quickly and dodging Zhao Liang's spear. After a fierce exchange, Su Fang won with a sharp claw strike.

Match 3: Su Hou vs. Yan Qi

Su Hou's strong defense frustrated Yan Qi, who grew reckless. Su Hou countered with a powerful palm strike, winning the match.

Match 4: Su Feng vs. Liu Qing

Su Feng's speed overwhelmed Liu Qing. Using his quick footwork and precise strikes, Su Feng secured victory.

The top 10 disciples also advanced without much effort:

Rank 1: Feng Tian ended his fight with a single overwhelming punch.

Rank 2: Bai Rui used his elegant swordplay to win in one strike.

Rank 3: Luo Zhi dodged every attack before finishing his opponent with a swift kick.

Rank 4: Chen Li used her spear to dominate her opponent.

Rank 5: Mo Chen displayed flawless dual blade techniques.

Ranks 6-10 showcased their abilities, easily qualifying.

At the end of the day, the elder announced the 20 disciples advancing to the second round. Among them were Su Dao, Su Dai, Su Hou, Su Fang, and Su Feng.

---

3. Mei Ling's Gift

After the matches, everyone returned to their dorms. Mei Ling approached Su Dao with a small bottle. "Brother Dao, this is a Rank 2 pill. It will help you strengthen your foundation," she said with a smile.

Su Dao hesitated. "I can't accept this, Senior Mei."

But Mei Ling pressed the bottle into his hands. "You need it. I believe in you."

Reluctantly, Su Dao took the bottle. That night, he meditated and consumed the pill. His cultivation level remained at the 3rd layer of Qi Gathering, but his body felt stronger, his energy more refined.

---

4. Second Round: Su Dao vs. Chu Tian

The next morning, the arena was packed. Everyone was eager to see Su Dao face Chu Tian, the 9th-ranked disciple.

"Do you think Su Dao can win?" a disciple whispered.

"I doubt it. Chu Tian is at the 9th layer of Qi Gathering," another replied.

Mei Ling watched from the sidelines, her hands clenched in worry.

The Fight Begins

Chu Tian stepped into the arena confidently. "You should have stayed in your place, Su Dao," he sneered. "Now I'll teach you a lesson."

Su Dao bowed slightly, his expression calm. "Let's fight."

Chu Tian charged first, using his Tiger Pounce Technique. He leapt high into the air and came down with a heavy claw strike aimed at Su Dao's chest. Su Dao raised his arms to block but was pushed back, sliding several steps.

"He's strong," Su Dao thought, steadying himself.

Chu Tian smirked. "That's all you've got?" He charged again, this time with Raging Tiger Sweep, a flurry of claw-like strikes. Su Dao dodged and blocked as best he could but was forced to retreat.

"Su Dao is struggling," someone in the crowd murmured.

Mei Ling's heart raced. "Come on, Brother Dao, don't give up," she whispered.

Su Dao Strikes Back

As Chu Tian lunged again, Su Dao took a deep breath and activated his Mind's Eye Technique. His mind sharpened, predicting Chu Tian's moves.

This time, instead of retreating, Su Dao charged forward with Piercing Fist, a technique that concentrated energy into a single powerful strike.

The two clashed in the center of the arena, their techniques colliding with a loud boom. Dust filled the air as the crowd leaned forward in anticipation.

When the dust settled, Su Dao stood firm while Chu Tian stumbled back, his arms shaking. "Impossible!" Chu Tian growled.

The Final Exchange

Furious, Chu Tian unleashed his ultimate move, Tiger King Strike, a powerful claw infused with his full Qi.

Su Dao responded with Crushing Palm, channeling all his strength into a single strike. Their attacks collided, sending shockwaves across the arena.

For a moment, it seemed they were evenly matched. But Su Dao's refined strength from Mei Ling's pill gave him the edge. Chu Tian's technique shattered, and he was thrown out of the ring.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the elder announced, "Su Dao wins!"

Mei Ling sighed in relief, a smile spreading across her face. "I knew he could do it."

Chu Tian, battered and humiliated, glared at Su Dao. "This isn't over," he muttered before walking away.

Su Dao bowed to the elder, then left the arena. He felt the weight of the fight but also the thrill of victory. His path to the inner sect was now clear.

After defeating Chu Tian, Su Dao bowed to the elder and left the arena without looking back. His body felt heavy, each step more difficult than the last. His face remained calm, but inside, pain surged through him.

Reaching his room, he closed the door behind him and staggered to the floor. A sharp cough escaped his lips, followed by a spray of blood.

Su Dao leaned against the wall, his breaths shallow. Using the Crushing Palm technique had pushed him beyond his limits. The technique had drawn on all his Qi and strained his body, leaving his internal organs brutally injured.

"It hurts…" he muttered, his voice weak. His vision blurred as tears mixed with sweat.

Unable to hold back his emotions, Su Dao screamed, the sound echoing in his small room. The pain wasn't just physical; it was the weight of knowing how close he had come to breaking.

A gentle knock on the door broke the silence. Before Su Dao could respond, Mei Ling entered, holding a small package. "Brother Dao, I wanted to congratulate—" She froze when she saw him.

Her eyes widened in shock. "Su Dao!" she exclaimed, rushing to his side. Blood stained his lips, and his complexion was pale. "What happened to you?"

"I'm fine," Su Dao said weakly, attempting to sit up.

"You're not fine!" Mei Ling said firmly, examining him. "You've injured yourself badly."

Without hesitation, Mei Ling pulled out a small jade bottle from her pouch. Inside was a 3rd-rank Vital Essence Pill, a treasure she had saved for her own cultivation breakthrough.

"Drink this," she ordered, crushing the pill into powder and mixing it with water.

Su Dao tried to refuse. "This is too precious—"

"Quiet," Mei Ling interrupted, her tone stern. "You need this more than I do right now."

Reluctantly, Su Dao drank the mixture. A warm energy spread through his body, soothing his injuries. His breathing steadied, and the pain began to fade.

Mei Ling placed her hands on his back and guided the pill's energy with her Qi, carefully healing his damaged organs and meridians. The process took an hour, leaving her drenched in sweat.

Su Dao opened his eyes, his body feeling lighter. He looked at Mei Ling, who was sitting nearby, exhausted but smiling.

"Thank you, Senior Mei," Su Dao said, bowing his head.

Mei Ling waved her hand. "You're reckless, Brother Dao. You can't fight like this again. Promise me you'll take care of yourself."

Su Dao nodded solemnly. "I promise. I owe you my life."

The Top 12 Announced

While Su Dao rested, the elder gathered the disciples in the arena to announce the top 12 advancing to the inner sect.

Advancing Disciples:

1. Feng Tian (Rank 1)

2. Bai Rui (Rank 2)

3. Luo Zhi (Rank 3)

4. Chen Li (Rank 4)

5. Mo Chen (Rank 5)

6. Xu Feng (Rank 6)

7. Zhou Min (Rank 7)

8. Liu Yan (Rank 8)

9. Su Dao

10. Su Dai

11. Su Hou

12. Su Fang

Chu Tian, despite being ranked 9th, was eliminated due to his defeat by Su Dao.

That night, Su Dao sat cross-legged in his room, reflecting on everything that had happened. His body still felt weak, but his spirit burned stronger than ever.

"I can't let this happen again," he thought. "I need to become stronger, to control my strength. Only then can I survive in the inner sect."

As he closed his eyes to meditate, his mind was clear. The path ahead would be harsh, but Su Dao was ready for it.

The next morning, the 12 disciples stood outside the gates of the inner sect. The towering walls were made of white jade, radiating an aura of grandeur. Elders greeted them warmly, handing out new robes embroidered with silver and gold patterns, symbolizing their elevated status.

"Welcome to the inner sect," one elder announced. "From today, you are no longer outer disciples. Your journey as true cultivators begins now."

Each disciple was assigned a private room, far better than the shared dorms of the outer sect. Su Dao's room had a soft bed, a study table, and a small meditation chamber. The air was richer in Qi, making it perfect for cultivation.

The dining hall was stocked with spiritual food that enhanced cultivation, and the library was much larger, holding scrolls and manuals that reached higher levels of mastery.

As Su Dao explored his new living quarters, there was a knock at his door. Opening it, he saw Mei Ling smiling brightly.

"Brother Dao, let me show you around the inner sect," she said, her voice cheerful. Su Dao hesitated, but seeing her enthusiasm, he nodded.

Together, they walked through the winding paths of the inner sect. The buildings were grand, with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes. The gardens were filled with rare herbs and flowers, their fragrances calming the mind.

"This is the training ground," Mei Ling said, pointing to a large open space where disciples practiced. "And over there is the alchemy pavilion. It's where pills are refined."

As they wandered deeper into the inner sect, a young man approached from the opposite direction. He was tall and wore a luxurious blue robe. His name was Jiang Tian, one of the top-ranked inner sect disciples.

Jiang Tian stopped in his tracks when he saw Mei Ling walking with Su Dao. His expression darkened, and anger flickered in his eyes. Jiang Tian had long admired Mei Ling and had hoped to win her favor, but seeing her with another man made his blood boil.

"Mei Ling," Jiang Tian called out, his tone cold. "Who is this?"

Before Mei Ling could respond, Jiang Tian's sharp gaze landed on Su Dao. "You… you dare walk around with Mei Ling?"

Su Dao immediately noticed the hostility in Jiang Tian's eyes. Without hesitation, he grabbed Mei Ling's hand. "We should leave," he whispered to her.

Mei Ling blinked in surprise but nodded.

Jiang Tian took a step forward, his aura growing oppressive. "Running away? That won't save you!" he growled.

But Su Dao didn't look back. Holding Mei Ling's hand tightly, he dashed down the nearest path, weaving through the gardens and courtyards. Mei Ling couldn't help but laugh softly. "Brother Dao, are you afraid of him?"

Su Dao smirked. "I'm not afraid. I just don't feel like dealing with him right now."

Behind them, Jiang Tian's voice echoed, "You can't hide forever, Su Dao!"

Eventually, they stopped near a quiet pond. Mei Ling pulled her hand away, her cheeks slightly red. "You didn't have to hold my hand so tightly," she said, trying to hide her embarrassment.

Su Dao chuckled. "I didn't want to lose you in the crowd."

Mei Ling looked at Su Dao seriously. "Jiang Tian is one of the strongest disciples in the inner sect. You should be careful around him."

Su Dao shrugged. "Strength doesn't mean everything. I'll deal with him if I have to."

Mei Ling sighed but couldn't help smiling. "You're reckless, Brother Dao. But that's what makes you… different."

Su Dao said:

When I stand before you, the world fades away,

My doubts and fears, all seem to sway.

In your presence, my weakness turns to might,

For your love is the flame that ignites my fight.

I forget the pain, the scars that remain,

For in your eyes, I find no chains.

Alive or dead, it matters no more,

With you, I find a reason to soar.

I would move mountains, cross every sea,

For your smile is the strength that sets me free.

So long as I live, as long as I breathe,

I'll protect you forever, no matter the cost or the grief._

In his heart, Su Dao thought, Ah, crap, his aura is so strong. If I fought him, I'd get knocked out in one hit. I had to run, but I didn't want to show fear. I just… didn't want to fight him. This is embarrassing.