I was awakened by the sound of rain falling on my window. It wasn’t the morning rain that typically greeted Azure Peak Sect; it was a steady downpour that seemed fitting for the day of the tournament finals. The grey light that filtered through the cloudy sky told me that dawn had broken some time ago, though I’d slept later than usual.

  My body felt odd. Not fatigued, per se – but weighed down with everything that had happened to lead to this point. The semi-final against Wei Lin, Xu Ruomei’s unsettling visit, the mysterious cathedral now sitting in my inner world — it all bore down on my thoughts like boulders in my chest.

  “Master, you should get ready to leave,” Azure said softly. “The arena will be crowded today, it’s probably best you get there early.”

  I sat up and rubbed my hair. The tournament finals. Against Wu Kangming, no less. After everything we’ve gone through in the Fallen Realm, and after watching him destroy opponent after opponent with ease, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

  “You got any advice for facing someone who can casually slice through an Elemental Realm being?” I asked, drawing on my outer disciple robes, possibly for the final time.

  “Survive long enough to learn what drives him,” Azure answered. “Every cultivator has a pattern they follow, even the exceptional ones. Wu Kangming’s powers seem to come from his sword master, but Wu Kangming isn’t his master, there’s likely some limitations we just haven’t seen yet.”

  That was true, but whether limitations existed or not, at times the gap between us felt huge.

  I wet my face with a splash of water from the basin and tried to gather my thoughts.

  Today wasn’t just about winning or losing.

  Sure, the champion would gain the chance to cultivate in the Elemental Chamber.

  But the battle would do more than that.

  It would determine my standing within the sect.

  Whether I win or lose, after today, everything will be different.

  The walk to the arena went through the center of the outer sect residential district.

  In spite of the early hour and the rain, disciples were already moving about.

  Some were walking to the arena to watch, while others appeared to be conducting their normal daily activities.

  “Ke Yin!” A familiar voice called out. I turned to see Mei Ling, one of the disciples from the original dormitory building I was housed in, running toward me with a large grin on her face. “I can’t believe you made it to the finals in your first year!”

  “I had great teachers,” I said, which was true. “Are you planning on watching?”

  “Are you kidding? I have ten spirit stones riding on you defeating that sword fanatic.” She grinned, then her expression became more serious. “Although I have to say, after seeing his quarter-final match… be careful, okay? There’s something off about his techniques.”

  My eyebrows raised at that comment.

  It seemed even those who hadn’t grown up reading webnovels were able to sense that there was something unusual going on with Wu Kangming.

  Honestly speaking, the guy hadn’t done a great job hiding it.

  I thanked her for her concern, and I continued to make my way through the crowd toward the arena.

  It turned out Mei Ling wasn’t the only one to greet me.

  Other disciples approached me.

  Some congratulated me on my progress.

  Others mentioned their bets, with roughly half of the disciples favoring me and the remainder Wu Kangming based on what I could tell.

  A few looked at me with a mixture of envy and anger, whispering among themselves about “lucky breakthrough timing” and “favoritism from the elders.”

  I tried to ignore the negativity.

  Envy was to be expected in a competitive setting like this, and in truth, some of their complaints weren’t completely baseless.

  My advancement had been unusually rapid.

  I did have a Life Realm Elder as a formation teacher.

  And not to mention, I had certain world walking advantages they couldn’t understand.

  Near the arena’s outer courtyard, I saw several familiar faces among the crowd: disciples who had been eliminated in earlier rounds, but who had still come to view the finals. Yuan Zhen sat alone on a stone bench, appearing surprisingly relaxed considering he’d been defeated before the quarter-finals.

  When he noticed me, he stood up and bowed.

  “A worthy victory,” he said simply. “I’m excited to see what you’ll do in the inner sect.”

  “Thanks. Your mathematical techniques were impressive. I learned a lot from our battle.”

  “Maybe we can spar again once you've settled into your new position,” he smiled slightly. “I suspect you'll continue to find interesting ways to surprise people.”

  Yuan Zhen wasn’t the only one from my former opponents that I saw.

  Tang Shuo was standing with a small group near the arena entrance, gesturing wildly while recounting a heavily exaggerated account of his first-round loss. When he saw me, his expression went through several states before finally settling on forced politeness.

  “Ah, the tournament favorite,” he said loudly enough for the members of his audience to hear. “Are you ready to claim your destined victory?”

  I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or if his ideas regarding fate and predetermination had resurfaced after his mental collapse. Either way, I decided to keep my response neutral.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “I’m just planning to give it my best shot,” I said.

  “Of course, of course. The humble hero act. Classic.”

  His smile failed to reach his eyes, but he didn’t seem openly hostile either. More like someone trying to convince himself he was content with how events had transpired.

  Other eliminated contestants responded differently. Many were curious about me, some were respectful, and others clearly resentful. The tournament was a life-altering experience for many of them, and not all were managing their disappointment well.

  I continued on my way to the arena’s competitor’s entrance, where my parents and Liu Chen would be waiting. The rain had diminished to a light drizzle, and the arena loomed before me like a massive stone amphitheatre. I could already hear the murmur of thousands of conversations as spectators found their seats.

  “Ke Yin!” My mother’s voice rose above the background din, and I saw her waving from near the entrance to the Core Disciple viewing area. She was wearing her finest dress, the dark blue one she reserved for special occasions in our village, and my father was beside her, dressed in his formal business attire. Liu Chen was with them, looking both excited and apprehensive at the same time.

  “There’s our champion,” my father said, smiling somewhat tightly. “How are you feeling today, son?”

  “Nervous,” I admitted. “But ready.”

  My mother adjusted my robes as I spoke.

  “You don’t have to win, you know,” she said quietly. “We’re already very proud of you.”

  “I know, Mother. But I’d like to try.”

  “Just... be careful,” she said. “These tournament fights are supposed to be regulated, but we’ve heard stories. Accidents occur, particularly at higher cultivation levels.”

  I clasped her hand for a moment. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  Liu Chen stepped forward, almost vibrating with excitement. “This is incredible! The finals! And you’re in it! Rocky wanted to come but he’s too big to fit inside the viewing stands. He’s watching from the outside, but he said to tell you that rock always defeats sharp metal, whatever that means.”

  I laughed. “Tell him I appreciate the tactical tip.”

  “We really ought to let you prepare,” my father said. “But Ke Yin... whatever happens today, remember that you’re our son first, and a cultivator second. Don’t lose yourself in pursuit of power.”

  The words carried greater weight because of what happened with Wei Lin.

  “I won’t, Father. That’s a promise.”

  I hugged both my parents briefly, and clapped Liu Chen on the shoulder.

  “Take care of them for me.”

  “Of course! We’ll be cheering so loudly you’ll be able to hear us from wherever they send you to compete!”

  After I left them, a familiar voice called my name.

  “Ke Yin.”

  I turned to see Elder Chen Yong approaching from the direction of the elder viewing areas. He was wearing his formal sect robes instead of the casual clothes he normally wears when we meet privately to study.

  “Elder Chen,” I said, bowing. “I hadn’t expected to run into you before the competition.”

  “I wanted to speak with you for a minute before you head into the arena.” His expression was friendly, yet serious. “First, I wanted to tell you how proud I am of your progress, boy. When we started working on your formation lessons, I sensed potential in you, but what you’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time is much more than I ever could have imagined.”

  I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride hearing those words.

  Elder Chen Yong wasn’t someone who gave compliments freely.

  “I had a great teacher,” I smiled. “Your lessons gave me tools I used in every single battle so far.”

  “That might be true,” Elder Chen Yong replied. “But a tool is only as effective as the one wielding them.”

  I nodded, not sure what to say to that.

  “But what surprised me the most is how you maintained your character despite your advancement,” the elder almost looked like he was lost in distant memories for a second. “That’s rarer than you might think among young cultivators who gain power quickly.”

  He stopped speaking and studied my face with the analytical gaze I’ve become accustomed to during our private meetings.

  “I want you to know, it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose, my door will always be open to you.”

  “Thank you,” I bowed slightly, appreciating the sentiment.

  The elder wasn’t finished.

  “The political attention you've attracted, the complexity of your cultivation method, the responsibilities that come with power... these are all things we'll need to discuss in the coming weeks."

  That was nice of him.

  I had been worried what the reactions of the other elders would be to my reveal.

  And I wasn’t sure how involved the Sect Master would be to protect me.

  “I understand, Elder,” I bowed again. “Your guidance has been invaluable, I’m excited to learn more from you in the future.”

  “Good. Now, some practical advice for today’s battle.” His expression became more serious. “Wu Kangming is likely the most naturally gifted swordsmen the sect has produced in a millennium. His techniques are pure and refined in ways that few cultivators are ever able to achieve. However, talent is not the only factor. You have demonstrated repeatedly that your adaptability and creativity can overcome sheer strength. Have faith in your abilities, but don’t underestimate your opponent.”

  The advice wasn’t anything groundbreaking but knowing that Elder Chen Yong had confidence in my abilities was reassuring.

  “I won’t,” I said, and I meant it.

  Underestimating Wu Kangming was a sure way to suffer a humiliating loss.

  “Excellent. Now go show the sect what you’re truly capable of.”

  With that, Elder Chen Yong returned to the elder viewing areas while I continued on my way to the competitor’s entrance. As I walked past the betting pavilion, I couldn’t help but glance at the odds board.

  What I saw didn’t surprise me much.

  While in previous rounds there had been clear favorites, today’s odds were extremely close.

  Wu Kangming was listed slightly better than even money, while I was just behind him. Betting on both sides was heavy, with disciples wagering substantial amounts on the outcome of the match.

  “No clear favorite today,” said a voice behind me. I turned to see one of Wei Lin’s merchant family friends, someone I vaguely remembered from our team formations in the early rounds of the tournament.

  “It seems not,” I replied. “But I thought if there would be a favorite, it’d be Wu Kangming with how easily he defeated all his opponents.”

  “Word is that your battle with Wei Lin changed the dynamics. Also, everyone’s been talking about how you’ve won battles that you probably shouldn’t have won based on paper. So, they’re starting to wonder if you might have some hidden potential.”

  They weren’t wrong, but I didn’t confirm or deny anything.

  I just took a closer look at the scene around me.

  The crowd surrounding the betting boards was lively, with disciples arguing over the merits of various wagers.

  I picked up snippets of conversation as I began to move away.

  “Wu Kangming hasn’t shown everything yet. Just wait until he unleashes his true power.”

  “But Ke Yin always finds a way to counter opponents who logically should have beaten him.”

  “The environment will be a factor. Wu Kangming’s sword techniques work anywhere, but Ke Yin needs specific conditions.”

  “Isn’t it fascinating,” said a voice behind me. I turned to see Wei Lin approaching, moving slowly, but under his own power. Lin Mei was walking beside him, her arm linked through his as support in case he needed it.

  “Wei Lin!” I exclaimed, surprised and happy to see him walking on his own.

  “How are you doing?” I asked. “Shouldn’t you still be in the medical pavilion?”

  He smiled weakly, but I could see that it cost him a lot of effort.

  “Couldn’t miss the finals, could I?” he said. “My best friend is about to become the outer sect champion.” Wei Lin’s expression became more serious. “Besides, I wanted to thank you. For what you did in our match. I know you could have... well, things could have gone much worse for me.”

  There was genuine gratitude in his voice, but I could also sense the confusion and fear. He remembered enough of his corruption to know that something bad was happening to him, even if he didn’t fully comprehend the extent of the problem.

  “We’ll find a way to help you,” I promised quietly. “Once the tournament is over, we’ll find a solution.”

  “I hope so,” Wei Lin said. “I can feel it, you know. Still there, like a shadow at the edge of my thoughts. Waiting.” Wei Lin trembled slightly. “But enough of that. Today is your day. Show Wu Kangming what you can do.”

  Lin Mei squeezed his arm and smiled at me.

  “We’ll be cheering for you,” she said. “But I think you and Wu Kangming are both amazing cultivators. This should be a fun battle.”

  Fun for them maybe.

  They weren’t the one going up against an undefeated sword prodigy who could kill an Elemental Realm cultivator with a single strike.

  I thanked them and continued on to the arena proper.

  It was time to find out which inner world we would be fighting in.

  Comment below what Dao World they will be fighting in!

  It is a Dao that has yet to be introduced in this story :)

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