The Inner Sect courtyard buzzed with quiet tension. Rumors of Lin Tian's success had spread like wildfire. Whispers followed his every step:
"Outer Sect disciple… Layer Seven… officially recognized by the Inner Sect?"
"Impossible… how can one rise so fast?"
"Someone should… teach him humility."
Among them, several inner candidates gritted their teeth. Hao Ran, Zhuo Ming, and a few others were particularly irked. Pride and jealousy coiled around them like vipers.
Hao Ran slammed his fist against a training dummy. "That Outer Sect brat… he can't just waltz into the Inner Sect and take the spotlight!"
Zhuo Ming nodded. "We should challenge him. Together. Show him that Outer Sect talent isn't enough!"
A female cultivator, Qing Lian, narrowed her eyes. "Brute force won't work. He's too smart, too precise. We need strategy… and subtlety."
---
Meanwhile, Lin Tian had returned to his private quarters.
He placed the rare cultivation manuals he had received from Elder Tianfeng on his desk. The Blood Refinement elixirs glowed faintly in the moonlight, reflecting their potency.
He sat cross-legged, closing his eyes. The seventh layer pulsed within him, harmonious, steady… but Lin Tian knew he could do more.
Layer Eight… he thought. It's the next step. Pain, precision, and observation… all must align perfectly.
---
The outer courtyard, however, wasn't quiet for long.
Hao Ran and Zhuo Ming had gathered a few more inner candidates. Their plan was simple: ambush Lin Tian during his next solo training session. They assumed that his confidence might let him slip—an easy target for a combined strike.
They don't understand strategy, Lin Tian thought, already aware of their movements through subtle qi fluctuations. Or perhaps they underestimate me.
---
That afternoon, Lin Tian walked toward the training grounds. The courtyard appeared empty, but qi fluctuations told a different story.
Three inner candidates emerged from behind columns, pretending to meditate, but their intentions were clear. Lin Tian smiled faintly.
"You're predictable," he said softly.
Hao Ran's eyes widened. "How—how does he know?"
Lin Tian didn't wait. His Body Refinement Layer Seven surged, muscles tensing, energy flowing seamlessly. Every step he took was precise, every motion calculated.
The first attack came from Hao Ran—a fast, heavy punch aimed at Lin Tian's chest.
Lin Tian sidestepped, placing just enough force into the floor to redirect Hao Ran's momentum. Boom! Hao Ran stumbled back but recovered.
The second strike came from Zhuo Ming—a spinning kick. Lin Tian twisted mid-air, catching the kick and using his strength to send Zhuo Ming crashing into a training dummy. Crack!
Qing Lian attempted a qi-infused energy strike from a distance. Lin Tian analyzed her qi fluctuations, predicting her attack patterns. With a subtle shift, he avoided the strike while simultaneously closing the distance.
Boom!
Her construct shattered.
---
The fight escalated rapidly.
Despite being outnumbered, Lin Tian moved with the fluidity of water. Observation, prediction, and precise strikes made him untouchable.
Harem teasing note: several female candidates watched silently from the shadows, their expressions a mix of awe and admiration.
Mo Xue, observing from a distance, whispered to Su Yan:
"He's turning combat into art… and everyone around him notices, whether they want to or not."
Su Yan nodded slightly. "The attention he draws… could be dangerous. Or useful. Depends on how he handles it."
---
After neutralizing all three inner candidates with minimal effort, Lin Tian didn't attack further.
"You're strong," he said calmly. "But reckless coordination without strategy is useless. Learn this lesson: observation and adaptation outweigh brute strength."
Hao Ran and Zhuo Ming glared, breathing heavily, humiliated yet alive.
---
That evening, Lin Tian returned to his quarters, laying out the manuals and elixirs.
He began his Layer Eight solo training, integrating lessons from previous battles. Every strike, every movement, every mental calculation was now intensified.
Qi circulated more efficiently.
Reflexes were sharper.
Blood Refinement and Heaven-Defying Body Art merged seamlessly.
Pain thresholds increased dramatically.
He could feel his body approaching a new boundary, the precursor to Layer Eight.
---
Outside, the night was calm, but the wind carried whispers of scheming.
Even as Lin Tian trained, eyes in the Inner Sect observed silently—rivals plotting, allies intrigued, and a few female disciples growing more curious.
The storm was coming. And Lin Tian was at its center, calm, precise, and ready for everything.