Chapter 14: Blood and Will

The moment Liu Heng's foot left the ground, Wu Tian's senses sharpened. The world around him seemed to slow as he watched the disciple surge forward, Qi swirling around his fists. The gathered disciples held their breath, eager to see the janitor crushed beneath the weight of true cultivation.

But Wu Tian was not the same as before.

Liu Heng's first strike came in a blur—a powerful straight punch aimed directly at Wu Tian's chest. He did not retreat.

Instead, he met the attack head-on, shifting his weight at the last second, allowing the force to glance off his forearm rather than take the full brunt.

Pain jolted through his bones, but they held firm. Rooted Bones had taken effect.

Liu Heng narrowed his eyes at the lack of expected recoil. Without missing a beat, he launched a flurry of attacks, his fists blurring as they rained down.

Wu Tian weaved through them, deflecting what he could, absorbing what he couldn't. His body ached, but he was enduring.

Then he struck back.

His fist lashed out—low, fast, and brutal—crashing into Liu Heng's ribs. The impact forced a sharp exhale from his opponent, but Wu Tian wasn't done. Using the opening, he drove his knee into Liu Heng's abdomen, sending him staggering backward.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Was this really the same janitor?

Liu Heng snarled, his face twisted with humiliation. He wiped his mouth and straightened, his Qi flaring violently. "Enough playing around."

He raised his hand, and suddenly, the air hummed with energy.

A blue aura encased Liu Heng's fists. A Qi technique.

Wu Tian's muscles tensed. He had expected this. Liu Heng had been holding back, but so had he.

The book's whispers echoed in his mind: "The Third Gate—Flowing Blood."

He had yet to grasp its full meaning, but he knew one thing—it was time to adapt.

Breaking Through the Third Gate

Liu Heng vanished from sight, his movement enhanced by Qi. Wu Tian barely had time to register before a glowing fist crashed into his shoulder.

Pain erupted through his body, sending him skidding across the arena floor. He caught himself before he fell, digging his fingers into the stone. His breath came in short, sharp bursts, but his mind was clear.

The First Gate strengthened his flesh. The Second Gate reinforced his bones. The Third…?

He felt it now, the fire in his veins.

Liu Heng charged again, his Qi-infused strikes surging toward him. This time, Wu Tian did not dodge.

Instead, he stepped forward, welcoming the attack.

The moment Liu Heng's fist met his skin, something shifted inside Wu Tian. The pain coursing through his body transformed—not into suffering, but into power.

His blood burned, his veins pulsing with energy. The moment Liu Heng's Qi entered his body, Wu Tian's own blood absorbed it, dispersing the force before it could deal real damage.

Flowing Blood.

Wu Tian's eyes snapped open, his irises glinting with newfound understanding. He had not just endured Liu Heng's attack—he had redirected it.

Liu Heng's face twisted in confusion. "What…?"

Wu Tian answered with a punch that carried **all the power of Liu Heng's own Qi-infused strike—**and more.

It landed.

Liu Heng's body lurched backward, blood spraying from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground.

Silence.

The elder overseeing the match stepped forward, looking down at the unconscious disciple. Then, his gaze shifted to Wu Tian, who stood victorious, his body bruised but his stance unbroken.

The elder raised his hand. "Winner—Wu Tian."

The outer disciples erupted into chaos. A janitor had just officially defeated a Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

Wu Tian exhaled, the Third Gate—Flowing Blood fully awakened within him.

But he knew this was only the beginning.