The elite training grounds roared with energy.
Melting frost shimmered across the stone pillars.Qi surged like waves beating against cliffs.Disciples leapt through the air, landing on wooden stakes with perfect balance.
This was not a place for rest.
This was a place for sharpening blades—and breaking the ones that weren't sharp enough.
Lian Hong stepped onto the platform.
A dozen elite disciples looked up, their eyes flashing with curiosity… or hostility.
Zhou Shan clung to the entrance gate like it was a life raft.
"Bro… if you survive today, I'll worship you as the Outer Sect Guardian Spirit…"
Lian Hong ignored him.
His gaze settled on Mu Yanting, the Rank 1 standing at the center of the grounds.
Mu Yanting spoke without turning:
"Warm-up begins."
Warm-up.
But the training that followed was far from gentle.
Training Phase 1 – Qi Endurance Run
Mu Yanting lifted his wooden sword.
"Ten laps around the plateau.Full qi circulation.No stopping."
Chi Yao grinned viciously.
"Let's see how our newcomer handles this one."
Zhou Shan muttered:
"Ten laps… at full qi flow… bro, even the ground might catch fire…"
The disciples started running.
Lian Hong followed.
Immediately, he felt the pressure.
The plateau wasn't small.Running it at full qi flow meant every step hammered his meridians, shaking his internal organs.
His body heated.His blood surged.Sweat formed instantly.
Several elite disciples glanced at him.
"He's keeping pace.""And without losing breath…""That's… ridiculous."
Chi Yao ran beside him, cracking his neck.
"Don't collapse just yet, newcomer. I haven't even bullied you properly."
Lian Hong didn't even look at him.
"You talk too much."
Chi Yao stumbled from pure shock.
"YOU—!!"
Before he could retort, Xu Jian appeared on Lian Hong's other side with silent steps.
"You're wasting energy by engaging with him," Xu Jian advised softly."Your breathing is stable, but your stride is off by a quarter-inch with each step."
Chi Yao yelled:
"WHY ARE YOU GIVING HIM TIPS!?"
Xu Jian answered calmly:
"If he is to fight me in the future, he should be worth fighting."
Lian Hong replied:
"I won't lose to you."
Xu Jian smiled faintly.
"I hope not."
Chi Yao nearly exploded.
Training Phase 2 – Strike Control Practice
After completing the laps, Mu Yanting raised a hand.
"Next."
Wooden mannequins rose from the ground, glowing faintly with inscriptions.
"These respond to qi pressure.Hit too soft—no reaction.Hit too hard—they explode and you fail."
Chi Yao smirked.
"This is where newcomers embarrass themselves."
Elite disciples stepped up, striking with precise force.
Some mannequins vibrated.Others glowed faintly with acceptance.
Then it was Lian Hong's turn.
He stepped forward.Raised his fist.
And struck.
BOOM—
A perfect controlled impact.
The mannequin glowed with balanced light.
No cracks.No excessive force.
Just right.
Whispers echoed instantly.
"Perfect?""On the first try?""That's impossible!""Even senior disciples need weeks to master this!"
But Lian Hong frowned slightly.
"…My force was slightly too focused. The center point shifted."
Mu Yanting finally looked at him.
A faint spark of interest gleamed in his eyes.
Training Phase 3 – Footwork Combat Drill
Mu Yanting drew a circle on the ground with the tip of his wooden sword.
"Now we test footwork."
Every disciple grew serious.
Footwork was the foundation of survival.
Mu Yanting called out:
"Xu Jian."
Xu Jian stepped into the circle silently, like a shadow taking form.
Mu Yanting turned to Lian Hong.
"You as well."
Zhou Shan collapsed to the ground.
"BRO—THE TEST IS TO FIGHT XU JIAN!?? THAT'S NOT FOOTWORK, THAT'S SUICIDE—!!"
But Lian Hong stepped calmly into the circle.
Xu Jian offered a polite nod.
"Do not worry.I won't injure you."
Lian Hong responded:
"You won't have the chance."
Xu Jian blinked.
Then smiled.
"This will be fun."
Battle Begins
Mu Yanting raised a hand.
"Do not use weapons.Do not strike with intent to injure."
He lowered his hand.
"Begin."
Xu Jian moved first.
A flicker—
so fast he vanished.
His footwork was like drifting wind.Silent.Flowing.Effortless.
Lian Hong felt the pressure instantly.
His qi is heavier than it looks.
Xu Jian's palm appeared at Lian Hong's ribs.
Lian Hong shifted—just a fraction.
The strike grazed empty air.
Xu Jian's eyebrows lifted.
"Oh?"
He pivoted, sweeping his leg low.
Lian Hong stepped backward—
to where Xu Jian's second strike was already waiting.
He predicted it.
Lian Hong exhaled.
Then activated—
〈Shadowstep Phantom Movement – Double Afterimage〉
His body blurred—two afterimages peeled away at different angles.
Xu Jian's eyes sharpened.
"You awakened it already?"
The afterimages twisted—and Lian Hong reappeared behind him.
His palm touched Xu Jian's back—
not striking.Just placement.
The clear message:
If it were real combat, you'd be dead.
The arena gasped.
Xu Jian froze.
Then—
he laughed.
A clear, bright, sharp laugh.
"Well done."
He stepped out of the circle.
"A newcomer…matched my footwork, even for a moment."
He looked at Mu Yanting.
"I approve of him."
Chi Yao snarled.
"I don't."
Mu Yanting said nothing.
But his eyes now watched Lian Hong with unmistakable interest.
After Training – Pressure Grows
As disciples broke off for rest, Chi Yao approached with a dark grin.
"You passed today, newcomer.Congratulations."
He leaned close.
"But tomorrow…I'll make sure you can't walk home."
Zhou Shan panicked.
"Bro—quick, let's leave before he decides to 'warm up' on you—!"
Lian Hong ignored Chi Yao completely.
But the system did not.
[Elite Threat Detected][Chi Yao – Hostility Level: 79%][Potential Danger: Medium to High]
Lian Hong turned away.
He'd deal with that later.
But the greatest danger was watching from afar.
In the shadows outside the training ground, a masked figure stood silently.
His qi was refined.His presence almost undetectable.
He spoke softly:
"It seems the outer sect's prodigies have taken interest."
Another voice answered:
"As expected.Continue observing him."
"What about intervention?"
"Not yet.When the sect opens the Path of Trials…that will be our chance."
The masked figure bowed.
"Understood."
They vanished like smoke.
Lian Hong's Resolve
As the sun climbed higher, Lian Hong left the elite grounds.
Zhou Shan dragged himself along like a dying crab.
"Bro… I aged ten years today… please slow down…"
Lian Hong gave him a sidelong glance.
"You're not even the one training."
"It's emotional damage!!"
Lian Hong didn't respond.
His hand tightened on the jade token in his pocket.
This path will only get harder.
But difficulty meant nothing.
He had returned for one reason—
To climb.
To destroy those who broke him.
To reclaim everything he lost.
And the elite group…
was only the first step.