The courtyard felt colder than usual when Yun Zhen stepped into it at sunrise. The mist still clung to the stone floor, curling around his ankles. He stretched his arms once, testing the flexibility of his ribs, and felt the dull ache still sitting there like an unwelcome guest.
Mei Ling sat on a rock near him in her fox form, tail wrapped around her paws, her pink eyes watching him with lazy amusement.
"You look tense," she whispered into his mind, her tone playful. "Are you nervous?"
"Not at all," he answered, rolling his shoulders.
"You should be," she teased. "Yun Xue wants to freeze you."
Yun Zhen didn't respond. He breathed slowly as the sky lightened. The courtyard grew louder as clan disciples streamed in, their expressions mixed with curiosity and anticipation. Some leaned forward eagerly, whispering to each other as if Yun Zhen couldn't hear.
"He'll get crushed."
"She's stronger than him by two whole stages."
"Why even show up?"
Yun Zhen ignored them all.
Mei Ling hopped onto his shoulder, curling her tail around his neck. "Don't listen to them," she murmured. "They're worms."
He exhaled and kept walking.
Elders began settling onto the stone seats above the dueling grounds. Elder Liang sat in the center with a hard, disappointed stare. He sniffed once when he saw Yun Zhen.
"Let's hope this ends quickly," Elder Liang muttered to another elder.
"It will," the other elder said. "Stage One trash can't last long against her."
Mei Ling's fur puffed angrily. "Let me claw one of them."
"No," Yun Zhen said quietly.
She grumbled and settled down again.
Then the courtyard fell silent.
Yun Xue walked out from the far side, her steps steady and sharp. Her high ponytail swayed behind her, black hair catching the early morning light. Frost Yin wrapped around her like a thin, shimmering veil. When she reached the center of the arena, she lifted her chin and met Yun Zhen's eyes.
"You're late," she said.
"I'm early," he corrected.
"Still late," she muttered, though her voice softened slightly.
Mei Ling snickered into Yun Zhen's ear. "She practiced that line all night."
Yun Xue's gaze flicked to the fox on his shoulder. "You brought… that thing again?"
Mei Ling's tail flicked. "This 'thing' has better manners than you," she hissed.
Yun Xue shot her a cold glare. The frost in the air thickened.
Yun Zhen raised a hand. "Both of you, stop."
Mei Ling stuck her tongue out at Yun Xue, then curled back into a tiny ball of fluff on his shoulder.
An elder stepped forward and raised his hand. "The duel between Yun Xue and Yun Zhen will now begin. Each side may fight until one yields, is unable to continue, or elders call the result."
Yun Zhen stepped into the arena and faced Yun Xue. She lifted her arms slowly, palms open, her breathing calm. Her Frost Yin wrapped around her hands in faint wisps of cold mist.
"Don't hold back," she said, lowering into a fighting stance.
"Same to you," he answered.
Her eyes narrowed. "I never hold back."
The elder dropped his hand.
The duel began.
Yun Xue moved first—fast, low, sharp. She rushed him with a burst of frost energy that cracked the air around her feet. Yun Zhen dodged the first strike by shifting his weight left, letting her palm skim inches from his ribs.
Yun Xue spun in a full circle, sending a second strike at his head. He ducked under it with a clean motion. Her eyes widened.
"That footwork…" she muttered, stepping back. "You shouldn't able to do that."
Yun Zhen didn't answer. He stepped forward and executed a basic palm technique. The form was flawless—clean angles, balanced weight, perfect timing. But the force behind it was weak. His meridians screamed when he pushed qi through them.
Yun Xue blocked easily, but her confusion deepened. "How are your movements so polished? You barely trained in this technique."
He didn't respond. Instead, he slipped into another form, using smooth, shifting steps that manipulated distance. The elders leaned forward in surprise.
"Those aren't beginner movements," one elder whispered.
Yun Xue came at him again, this time faster. Her Frost Yin coated her arms. She launched a rapid series of palm strikes. Yun Zhen avoided each one with a half-step or pivot. He never met her force head-on.
"That won't work forever," she warned, landing a heavy strike toward his shoulder.
Yun Zhen raised his arm to block. The impact sent a jolt down his ribs. His chest tightened with pain, but he stayed standing.
Mei Ling whispered softly, "Your body are still injured…"
He ignored her and pushed forward with a counterstrike. The technique was beautiful—clean lines, precise angles—but his body simply couldn't hold the power.
Yun Xue blocked, and her eyes widened again. "Your form is too perfect. Something is strange."
She stepped back and narrowed her gaze. "You're hiding some kind of skill."
Yun Zhen shook his head lightly. "Just enough practice."
"Liar," she muttered.
She came at him again, faster and sharper than before. Their movements blurred in the center of the arena—her frost clashing with his calm precision. The disciples around them murmured loudly.
"Why is he lasting this long?"
"He's dodging everything."
"Is she holding back?"
Yun Xue's frustration leaked through her frost. She darted forward with a clean strike aimed at his chest. Yun Zhen braced himself and used a movement from his old life, one that his body barely remembered.
He dodged by the width of a breath—but his chest flared with pain.
He staggered.
Yun Xue's eyes widened. For a moment, her Frost Yin faltered.
"You're injured," she said, stepping toward him with a flicker of worry. "Why didn't you tell me—"
"I'm fine," he said quickly.
"You're not—"
"I said I'm fine."
She stared at him, conflicted. Then she tightened her fists. "Don't blame me if this hurts."
He nodded once.
Yun Xue struck forward with her full Stage Three force, palm glowing with cold power. Yun Zhen lifted his arm to meet the strike head-on. At the moment their palms touched, a surge of qi ran through him.
Their auras collided—Frost Yin against rising yang-like force.
Yun Zhen felt his meridians tighten… then suddenly loosen, like chains breaking inside him.
The system flashed:
[Cultivation Surge Detected]
[Breakthrough Threshold Reached]
Yun Zhen inhaled sharply. His qi shot upward through his body. For a heartbeat, his vision brightened.
Their palms pressed together, faces inches apart, breathing quick and warm despite the cold aura around them.
Yun Xue's voice came out in a shaky whisper. "You're… pushing me back?"
The shock on her face spread slowly.
A ripple of force exploded between them.
Dust burst across the ground.
The impact sent both of them sliding backward—Yun Zhen three steps, Yun Xue four.
The courtyard fell completely silent.
They both stopped moving at the same moment.
The elder raised his hand slowly.
"Draw," he said. "The duel is a draw."
The disciples erupted in stunned murmurs.
"What?"
"He lasted against her?"
"He even pushed her?"
"Impossible!"
Yun Zhen kept his gaze locked on Yun Xue. She looked stunned, her Frost Yin trembling around her like she couldn't decide whether to be angry or impressed.
Mei Ling hopped off his shoulder and ran circles around him in fox form, tail wagging. "You did it!" she chirped in his mind. "You made her shake!"
Yun Xue breathed out slowly, the frost fading from her stance. Her eyes softened for half a second before she looked away.
Yun Zhen felt something shift inside him. His qi surged, pushing against the thin barrier in his meridians.
The system flared:
[Breakthrough Achieved — Elementary Spirit Realm Stage 2]
[Stability: 73%]
A faint shockwave pulsed from his center, strong enough that the dust on the ground trembled.
Whispers broke out.
"He broke through!"
"During the duel?"
"That's insane!"
Yun Xue stared at him, lips parted slightly. "You… brokethrough right in front of me."
He nodded once.
She looked away quickly, hiding her expression. "Don't get arrogant."
Mei Ling hopped into his arms again, curling up proudly. "He should get arrogant."
"Shut up," Yun Xue muttered.
Mei Ling hissed.
Yun Zhen sighed. "Both of you, stop."
The elders dismissed the crowd. Yun Zhen began walking back to his courtyard. Mei Ling rested comfortably in his arms in fox form, tail flicking. Yun Xue stood at the edge of the arena, looking like she wanted to say something.
She walked toward him slower this time, stopping just a step away.
"…Good fight," she said quietly.
Then she turned sharply and left.
Mei Ling snickered. "She likes you."
Yun Zhen sighed and kept walking.
Back inside his courtyard, he sat down on a stone bench. Mei Ling curled in his lap. The system chimed one last time:
[System Sync Update Available]
[New Scan Efficiency Unlocked]
[Harem Synergy Level +1]
Yun Zhen leaned back, breathing out.
"This is only the beginning," he said softly.
Mei Ling purred in agreement.
End Of Chapter 12