Su Yu gazed at the massive carcass of the Earth Splitting Bear on the ground, a flicker of regret in his eyes.
A demonic beast was treasure from head to toe. Its hide could be made into armor, its sharp claws forged into weapons, and its blood essence was a fine ingredient for pill refining.
But now, he could only take its most precious Beast Core. The rest would have to be abandoned in the wilderness.
Storage Bag...
Su Yu murmured to himself.
In Skywind City, a Storage Bag was the stuff of Qi Refining Realm martial artists' dreams.
Even in a power like the Su Family, only core disciples who had reached the Spirit Condensation Realm were entitled to one.
But with his current rate of cultivation, and the Ancient Sword's nourishment, he would surely break through to the Spirit Condensation Realm within half a year.
By then, all these troubles would resolve themselves.
At the thought of the Ancient Sword, Su Yu's expression turned complicated.
Why had this mysterious object appeared inside him? It remained a secret that troubled him.
Though it had now become his greatest support, it had once been a nightmare that tormented him for years.
Those days and nights when his spiritual energy was drained, those years when people looked down on him— even now, the memories pricked at him like thorns.
Father...
He gently touched his chest.
Perhaps only by finding his missing father could he unravel the mystery of the sword's origins.
Shaking his head to clear away his stray thoughts, Su Yu began planning his next steps in cultivation.
His Gale Sword Style had reached perfection. Merely advancing his cultivation level would no longer bring any qualitative leap.
His most urgent task was to obtain a Human-grade Mid-tier Martial Skill.
With his current cultivation at Qi Refining Level 7, he was qualified to choose one from the Su Family's collection.
As for more profound techniques... his gaze turned toward Yunlan Sect in the distance.
If he could stand out in the Skywind City Grand Tournament a little over a month from now and join Yunlan Sect, then forget Human-grade Mid-tier techniques—even top-tier ones would be within easy reach.
Dusk deepened. Su Yu gathered his things, and his figure disappeared into the forest.
At daybreak the following morning, his travel-worn figure finally returned to the familiar courtyard.
He pushed open the creaking gate. In the courtyard, where the morning dew had yet to evaporate, an old plum tree still bloomed stubbornly.
Just like him, forgotten by his family, quietly gathering strength to blossom in a corner where no one paid him any mind.
In the morning mist, the gate to Su Yu's courtyard was suddenly flung open.
Su Yan came charging in, a fine sheen of sweat still beading on his forehead.
Brother Yu! Where have you been?
The youth grabbed Su Yu by the sleeve, his voice betraying undisguised worry.
You've been gone for a whole twenty-three days, and today's the day they decide who'll compete in the Grand Tournament!
Su Yu smiled and patted Su Yan's shoulder. "I made it back just in time, didn't I?"
He had calculated the timing well in advance and deliberately ended his cultivation the night before.
Su Yan suddenly froze, staring wide-eyed as he looked Su Yu up and down. "Wait... you..."
He took an incredulous half-step backward.
Qi Refining Level 7!
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice and fell across Su Yu.
At that moment, spiritual energy flowed around him like liquid mercury, his aura deep and steady. He had unmistakably reached Qi Refining Level 7!
"Got lucky yesterday and just broke through."
Su Yu said it casually.
"You call that getting lucky?" Su Yan clutched his chest in exaggerated disbelief.
"It took me two and a half years to go from Qi Refining Third Layer to Level 7! And you managed it in just a few months..."
He suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Brother Yu, did you find some kind of heavenly treasure?"
Su Yu shook his head. "Maybe five years of stagnation finally paid off."
He changed the subject. "How are things with the younger generation in the Su Family?"
At that, Su Yan immediately perked up.
- Su Yun: Third Elder's son, fifteen years old, Qi Refining Level 8
- Su Mei: Second Elder's daughter, fourteen years old, Qi Refining Level 8
- Su Yan himself: fourteen years old, peak Qi Refining Level 7
"That Lin Tian from the Lin Family is even more monstrous."
Su Yan pursed his lips.
"He's already Qi Refining Level 9 at fifteen."
Su Yu's thoughts paused for a moment.
In his memories, Su Mei had always quietly stood at the edge of the crowd. Her clear eyes had never held the disdain he saw in others, yet she had rarely interacted with him.
It was as if an invisible veil lay between them.
They weren't distant, but they weren't close either.
"Come on." Su Yan tugged Su Yu along and hurried out.
"I was worried you wouldn't make the cut, but now you're a sure thing!"
Hundreds of Su Family disciples stood in neat rows on the Training Ground that morning.
On the raised platform, Su Tianheng stood with his hands behind his back, his robes snapping in the morning breeze.
"This Skywind City Grand Tournament will determine how our Su Family's resources are allocated over the coming year." The family head's deep voice carried across the entire grounds.
"Following the elders' council's decision, anyone at Qi Refining Level 7 or above may enter the Grand Tournament roster directly."
A flurry of discussion immediately rose from the crowd.
At present, only three members of the Su Family's younger generation met this standard:
Su Yun, the Third Elder's son, fifteen years old, peak Qi Refining Level 8, stood with a sword in his arms, dressed in fitted black robes and wearing a cold expression;
Su Mei, the Second Elder's daughter, fourteen years old, early Qi Refining Level 8, wore a pale purple dress and had bright eyes and pearly teeth;
Su Yan, the family head's son, fourteen years old, peak Qi Refining Level 7.
The remaining disciples would need to reach Qi Refining Level 6 and compete for the last two spots...
"Father!"
Su Yan suddenly called out loudly, interrupting him. "Brother Yu is at Qi Refining Level 7 too!"
His shout rang out like a thunderclap, and the entire Training Ground fell silent.
Everyone turned to look at Su Yu as he walked toward them, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"What a joke! That good-for-nothing?"
"Su Yu, who hadn't broken through in five years?"
"Did Young Master Su Yan mistake him for someone else?"
Under the crowd's skeptical gazes, Su Yu calmly walked toward the raised platform.
With every step he took, he stopped concealing his aura. His spiritual energy rippled outward like a tide.
He was unmistakably at Qi Refining Level 7!
A brilliant gleam flashed in Su Tianheng's eyes. He praised him three times in succession. "Good! Good! Good!"
"Su Yu is added to the Grand Tournament roster!"
The crowd below erupted:
Standing among them, Su Hao stared at Su Yu on the field in disbelief.
A month ago, that good-for-nothing had clearly been only at Qi Refining Level 4. How could he have improved so quickly?!
Su Yun glanced at Su Yu indifferently, then closed his eyes again and continued resting with his sword in his arms.
Among the younger generation in all of Skywind City, only that genius from the Lin Family was worth his attention. Everyone else was beneath notice.
Su Mei stood frozen, a flash of surprise in her eyes.
When had this cousin, whom she had never paid attention to, reached such a level of cultivation?
Su Mei's father, the Second Elder, was named Su Tianlan. He was the second of the Su Family's three brothers, but spent much of the year traveling. Even during the New Year ancestor-worship ceremonies, he was rarely seen.
Though he held the title of Second Elder, he essentially never involved himself in the Su Family's affairs.
"Silence!" Su Tianheng swept his sleeve, his deep voice drowning out all the discussion.
"Now we'll begin the selection matches!"
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