Chapter 40: Path to the Outer Sect

The courtyard was abuzz with anticipation as the gathered youths and young women eagerly watched, treating the unfolding conflict as a spectacle.

A young man in fine brocade robes stepped forward, his gaze filled with disdain as he pointed at Dustin Li. "You're quite arrogant," he sneered. "Just because you practice the Pure Yang Technique, you think you're a master?"

Dustin Li's expression remained calm, though the other man's condescending gesture irked him.

"Isn't that Hanks from Noble Justice City's Martial Hall?" someone whispered among the spectators. "I heard he has a thing for Alayna from New Stone Martial Hall."

"Yeah, and since Alayna lost to Dustin Li in Novaridge City, Hanks wants to step in and impress her by getting revenge."

"Hanks is already seventeen and has reached the second level of Energy Gathering. He's even mastered a fourth-grade boxing technique—his strength is no joke."

Listening to the murmurs, Dustin Li quickly understood why Hanks was so eager to challenge him.

"And what exactly do you want?" Dustin Li asked, his tone indifferent.

Hanks scoffed. "You humiliated Alayna. I can't let you off so easily. But I'm a generous man—kneel down and kowtow to me three times, and I'll forgive you." His lips curled into a smirk. "Otherwise, I'll beat you down until you beg for mercy."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. To Hanks, this was pure entertainment—publicly shaming an opponent was always satisfying.

Dustin Li's expression darkened. "Are you serious?"

Hanks snorted. "You think I'd joke with someone like you?" His eyes gleamed with mockery. "You only have two choices—either kneel now or let me force you down."

Among the martial halls, duels between young talents were rarely interfered with by their superiors. It was an unspoken rule—only the strong deserved respect. The weak were destined to be trampled.

A faint smile played at Dustin Li's lips. "Are you sure you're my match?"

Hanks hesitated for a split second before his face twisted with fury. "You really think you can beat me?" He clenched his fist, his muscles tensing as he struck.

A powerful surge of energy erupted around his arm, his fist slicing through the air with a sharp crack. The force behind the punch was anything but ordinary—it was a high-level fourth-grade boxing technique.

Hanks had heard that Dustin Li specialized in swordplay. With their close distance, he was certain that his punch would land before Dustin could even draw his blade.

But Dustin Li remained still, his gaze unwavering. He barely needed to react—his opponent's speed was nothing to him.

Just as the fist neared, Dustin shifted slightly, sidestepping the attack with effortless precision.

Before Hanks could recover, a loud snap echoed through the courtyard.

Dustin Li's open palm struck Hanks square across the face.

The force sent him spinning through the air, his body twisting before he crashed onto the ground.

Silence fell over the crowd.

No one had even seen Dustin Li move.

Hanks lay there, momentarily dazed before his senses returned. His face burned with humiliation—he, a proud second-level Energy Gathering cultivator, had been slapped down like an insect.

"You little bastard!" he roared, his rage boiling over. "I'll kill you!"

He lunged again, his fists leaving afterimages as golden energy crackled around them.

Yet Dustin Li remained calm. His left hand was still tucked behind his back.

Snap!

Another sharp slap resounded.

Once again, Hanks was sent flying—this time in the opposite direction. He tumbled onto the ground with a dull thud.

"So fast!"

This time, the gathered martial artists saw it clearly.

"He didn't even draw his sword… If he did, wouldn't he have killed Hanks in one strike?"

A chilling realization settled in—Hanks had been utterly outclassed.

Dustin Li's speed was due to his mastery of the Quick Sword Art. The technique was not just limited to swordplay—it enhanced all aspects of combat, including palm strikes and footwork.

Hanks, now barely able to move, gasped for air, his swollen cheeks a testament to his humiliation. He had never suffered such disgrace in his life.

"I… I'll kill you!" His trembling hands reached into his robes, pulling out a dagger.

With a crazed scream, he thrust the blade at Dustin Li's chest.

But strength alone wasn't enough to bridge the gap between them.

Before the dagger could even come close—

Boom!

Dustin Li's foot shot out.

Hanks was sent flying once more, blood spraying from his mouth before he collapsed, unconscious. A deep footprint was imprinted on his chest.

Dustin Li didn't spare him another glance. Without a word, he turned and pushed open the door to his quarters.

Bang!

The door shut behind him.

Outside, the spectators were still reeling from the spectacle.

News of the humiliating defeat quickly spread to the ears of the Lord of the Eighteen Cities' Martial Halls. The palace master of Noble Justice City turned livid—this incident had turned his martial hall into a laughingstock.

Of course, as a dignified master, he couldn't take action against a mere junior. Instead, he summoned Hanks and reprimanded him harshly.

Meanwhile, Alayna and a group of young women returned from their outing, only to be bombarded with the latest gossip.

"Alayna, that idiot Hanks tried to defend your honor but got slapped to the ground. Twice!"

"He even got scolded by the palace master afterward. That's what he gets for meddling in your business."

Alayna frowned, unimpressed. "I never asked him to fight my battles. I intend to defeat Dustin Li myself."

One of her friends scoffed. "You and Hanks are about the same level. If he couldn't even touch him, what makes you think you can win?"

Alayna clenched her fists. "Just wait. I'll surpass him."

.....

The Path to the Outer Sect

Dustin Li, however, paid no attention to the chatter outside.

In his room, he continued honing his Quick Sword Art. After over a month of training in the depths of the Eight Wonders Mountains, his mastery had reached a new level—his sword speed was now comparable to fourth-rank martial arts.

More importantly, he had begun unlocking the mysteries of the Wheel of Life and Death.

Sitting cross-legged, he raised his hands, and a black-and-white light flickered between his fingers. As he pressed his palms together, the energy condensed into a seal—an intricate symbol containing the balance of life and death.

This was the technique he had created—The Seal of Life and Death.

The moment it formed, a surge of power drained nearly all of his true energy.

"Disperse!"

With a soft exhale, the seal vanished, and the energy in his dantian stabilized.

He had tested the technique before—it was devastatingly powerful. But the energy cost was steep. If he could fully decipher the first law of the Life and Death Wheel, he might refine the technique further, making it both stronger and more efficient.

Days passed in relentless training.

Then, the time arrived—

The Outer Sect Entrance Examination.

At dawn, the finest young warriors from the Eighteen Cities gathered under the leadership of their respective hall masters.

Their destination: the grand hall at the heart of Xandoria County, the gateway to Salmoris Sect.

It was said that the true inner sanctum of Salmoris lay deep in Longyou Mountain, over 3,000 kilometers away.

For the young hopefuls of Xandoria County, this was their chance—a single opportunity to step beyond the limits of the mundane world and enter a realm of true martial power.

But the competition was brutal. Out of the hundreds of participants, only three would earn a place in the outer sect.

Failure meant waiting another year—if they were still young enough.

And in Salmoris Sect, even a so-called genius was just another ordinary disciple.

For those who made it through, their reward was more than prestige. It was access to powerful martial arts—the kind that could shape the fate of empires.

The gates loomed before them.

The test was about to begin.