Morning arrived with the sound of steel striking steel.
The outer training courtyard of the Azure Cloud Sect was already alive with activity. Dozens of disciples moved across the stone arena in synchronized formations. Swords cut through the air. Spiritual energy flowed in faint ripples around the fighters.
Ethan Luo stood at the edge of the courtyard, arms folded inside the loose sleeves of his robe.
Technically, he still looked exactly like Lu Wei, the weakest outer disciple.
Thin frame.
Average height.
No intimidating aura.
But Ethan knew the truth.
Everything had changed.
Last night he had unlocked a Forbidden Technique hidden within ancient ruins.
Azure Dragon Pulse.
Even thinking about it made the Dao Code system flicker across his vision.
Technique: Azure Dragon Pulse
Type: Qi Amplification
Rank: Forbidden / Prototype
Stability: 62%
Warning: Improper use may damage host body
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"Yeah… definitely not something I should spam yet."
Lu Wei's body was still weak. Even with optimized Qi circulation, it couldn't withstand too much force.
But today he intended to test the technique carefully.
Because today was Outer Sect Duel Day.
And duels meant opportunity.
The Outer Sect ArenaThe outer disciples gathered in a circular stone arena surrounded by raised spectator platforms. Elders observed from above while disciples waited for their names to be called.
A tall elder stepped forward.
His voice echoed through the courtyard.
"Today we will conduct ranking duels for the outer sect."
Murmurs spread instantly.
Ranking meant access to better resources:
Spirit stones
Technique manuals
Priority training areas
For most disciples, improving their ranking even slightly could change their entire future.
The elder continued.
"Victories will raise your ranking. Defeats will lower it. Those who perform exceptionally may even be considered for Inner Sect evaluation."
The atmosphere exploded with excitement.
But Ethan barely reacted.
Instead, he focused inward.
The Dao Code system displayed the energy patterns of every disciple present.
Each cultivator appeared like a moving diagram of spiritual energy.
Flow lines.
Power density.
Weak points.
It was like looking at combat analytics in real time.
"Yeah… this really is a game."
And Ethan had just unlocked a cheat skill.
A Familiar Enemy"Lu Wei!"
The voice cut across the arena.
Jin Tao stepped forward again.
His humiliation from yesterday still lingered on his face. His broken sword had been replaced with a new one, but his pride clearly remained wounded.
He pointed the blade directly at Ethan.
"You embarrassed me yesterday. Today I'll show everyone it was just luck."
The crowd whispered again.
Some were excited.
Others confused.
Was Lu Wei really strong now?
Or had Jin Tao simply been careless?
Ethan sighed.
"NPCs always want a rematch."
But he stepped forward calmly.
"Fine," he said. "Let's make this quick."
Duel BeginsThe elder raised his hand.
"Begin."
Jin Tao exploded forward instantly.
This time his attack was much more careful. His Qi circulated through his body in a stable pattern as he unleashed a series of rapid sword strikes.
The Dao Code analyzed everything.
Opponent: Jin Tao
Cultivation: Early Qi Gathering
Attack Pattern: Azure Spiral Strike
Weak Points:
– Left rib opening
– Qi delay during third strike
Ethan moved.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
Just efficient.
He stepped aside at exactly the right moment, letting Jin Tao's sword pass inches from his robe.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Again.
Ethan moved like someone who could predict the future.
Because in a way…
He could.
Pushing the LimitsJin Tao roared in frustration.
His attacks grew faster.
Harder.
More desperate.
But every strike was predicted by the Dao Code.
Ethan calmly deflected one strike after another.
Then he decided it was time.
"Alright… let's test Azure Dragon Pulse."
He inhaled slowly.
Qi circulated through Lu Wei's body following the optimized flow patterns he had debugged earlier.
Then he activated the technique.
Azure Dragon PulsePower surged.
It was like lightning running through his veins.
The Dao Code flashed warnings immediately.
Technique Activated
Qi Output x3
Body Stress Rising
Ethan ignored it.
His sword moved.
Just one strike.
But it carried an explosive surge of energy.
A faint dragon-shaped aura flickered around the blade.
Jin Tao's eyes widened.
Too late.
Their swords collided.
BOOM.
A shockwave burst across the arena.
Jin Tao flew backward like a rag doll, crashing onto the stone floor several meters away.
His sword spun across the ground.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The entire courtyard froze.
Then the murmurs began.
Shock"That… what was that technique?"
"Did you see the Qi explosion?"
"That's not an outer disciple level attack!"
Even the elders leaned forward slightly.
Ethan exhaled slowly, calming the chaotic Qi inside his body.
The Dao Code flashed again.
Azure Dragon Pulse Deactivated
Body Stability Restored
Good.
He had controlled it.
Barely.
But controlled it nonetheless.
Jin Tao groaned on the ground.
Defeated again.
This time even worse than before.
Rising ReputationThe elder raised his voice.
"Winner… Lu Wei."
More whispers spread through the crowd.
The once useless disciple had now won two consecutive duels.
And not by luck.
By overwhelming power.
Ethan turned away calmly.
But his Dao Code suddenly flickered violently.
A new alert appeared.
Warning
External Observation Detected
Unknown Entity Monitoring
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Someone… or something… was watching.
Not just Yuan Ling.
Something bigger.
Yuan Ling's InterestAfter the duel, Ethan left the arena.
But someone was waiting near the training hall.
Yuan Ling.
She stood quietly beside a stone pillar.
Her gaze locked onto him.
"You're hiding something."
Ethan shrugged.
"Aren't we all?"
She stepped closer.
"You used a technique that doesn't exist in the outer sect manuals."
Her tone was calm.
But sharp.
Observant.
Dangerous.
Ethan smirked slightly.
"Maybe I'm just talented."
Yuan Ling studied him carefully.
Then she said something unexpected.
"You should be careful."
Ethan blinked.
"Why?"
Her eyes turned toward the mountain peaks surrounding the sect.
"Because if the elders notice too much… they'll investigate."
She paused.
"And if the Inner Sect notices… things will become much more dangerous."
Then she walked away.
Leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts.
The Watching EyesLater that night, Ethan returned to his room.
The moonlight filtered through the window.
The sect was quiet.
But the Dao Code still pulsed faintly in his vision.
That warning hadn't disappeared.
He focused on it.
Trying to trace the signal.
The code shifted.
Rearranged.
And then—
A new message appeared.
System Integrity Alert
Unauthorized Dao Modification Detected
Administrator Access Pending
Ethan's heart skipped a beat.
Administrator?
That didn't sound like a normal cultivation concept.
It sounded like something else entirely.
Something controlling the system behind the Dao itself.
Ethan slowly leaned back against the wall.
Then he smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"So the world has moderators now?"
He cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
Because if someone was running the system…
Then eventually…
He would hack that too.