The streets and alleys of Skywind City were noisier than ever. Crowds packed the roads, leaving carts and horses struggling to pass.
The inns near the Training Ground in the city center were already full. Even several small lodgings on the outskirts had hung out "No Vacancy" signs.
In a teahouse, several martial artists sat around a table, the scent of tea mingling with their conversation.
"Heard the news? That genius from the Lin Family is a favorite to win this Grand Tournament," said a saber-wearing man, slapping the table.
"Of course he is!" someone beside him said at once.
"Lin Tian reached Qi Refining Level 9 at fifteen. Who among Skywind City's younger generation can match him?"
"A higher cultivation level doesn't guarantee victory." In the corner, a stern-faced martial artist set down his teacup and spoke evenly.
"Su Yun of the Su Family may only be at Qi Refining Eighth Layer Peak, but his Blazing Flames Sword Style has reached great accomplishment. If they fought, he might well put up a fight."
"The Blazing Flames Sword Style is formidable, but Chu Feng of the Chu Family can't be underestimated either," another person cut in.
"His Thunderous Saber Style has reached the Greater Accomplishment Realm. Last month, he killed a Swift Wind Wolf outside the city in three moves."
"What about Xu Chuan of the Xu Family? They say his movement is as swift as a ghost's. Few at his level can stand against him."
"Don't forget, several smaller families have produced geniuses at Qi Refining Level 8 too. This Grand Tournament is bound to be a clash of dragons and tigers."
Just then, a sharp-faced man at the next table lowered his voice. "Speaking of the Su Family... do you know Su Yu? The good-for-nothing who was stuck at the Qi Refining Third Layer for five years?"
A burly man with a bushy beard scoffed.
"Has the Su Family run out of people? Even someone like him made it into the Grand Tournament?"
"That's where you're mistaken." A scholarly-looking young man waved his folding fan.
"They say he suddenly broke through to Qi Refining Level 7 a month ago. Now the Su Family is focusing its efforts on cultivating him."
An uproar swept through the teahouse.
"Four breakthroughs in a month?" The saber-wearing man's eyes widened.
"How is that possible? Even that genius from the Lin Family took a full two years to go from the third layer to the seventh!"
"Probably used some dubious pills," the sharp-faced man said with a sneer.
"A cultivation level propped up by drugs like that probably couldn't stand up to someone at Qi Refining Level 6."
"Exactly!" The bearded man slapped the table in agreement.
"The Grand Tournament isn't a contest of who has the higher cultivation level. Once real blades come out, a shaky foundation like his will probably get him eliminated first!"
The scholar gently waved his fan, looking thoughtful. "Still... if he really made four breakthroughs in a month, even with pills, that's no small stroke of fortune..."
"Fortune?" The sharp-faced man sneered.
"I'd say the Su Family was willing to ruin one of its own young members just to save face. Wait and see. He'll show his true colors at the Grand Tournament!"
The discussion went on. The tea in their cups had long since gone cold, but no one thought to drink it.
Just then, a commotion rose from the street.
They craned their necks and saw a luxurious carriage rolling slowly past, surrounded by Lin Family guards.
The curtain lifted slightly, revealing a glimpse of a young man in white resting with his eyes closed, his expression calm.
"It's Lin Tian!" someone whispered.
"I heard he only came out of seclusion yesterday after half a month. Looks like he was conserving his strength for today's Grand Tournament."
The talk in the teahouse quieted. As one, everyone looked out the window, their eyes full of awe and anticipation.
Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard in the west of the city, Su Yu moved through the yard like a swimming dragon. The Azure Edge Sword in his hand unfurled like flowing clouds one moment and rose like a sudden gale the next.
Fresh sword marks crisscrossed old ones on the ground, recording his hard training over these past days.
Cloud Rise!
The sword tip turned lightly. Nine solid Cloud Patterns bloomed in the air and lingered without fading.
Though his Flowing Cloud Sword Style had reached great accomplishment, Su Yu still practiced it every day.
He drew back and changed moves. His sword's path shifted abruptly. As he unleashed the Wind-Swept Flowing Cloud Sword, wind and clouds seemed to change color across the courtyard.
The Sword Qi raged like a hurricane one moment and surged like a sea of clouds the next. The bluestone ground kept cracking beneath the lingering force of his strikes.
More astonishing still, the flying stone fragments gathered into a tiny vortex of clouds in midair before bursting apart.
"Still not quite there..." Su Yu stood with his sword lowered and gently stroked the blade.
Each time he practiced this sword style of his own creation, he caught a new insight.
He had a vague premonition that if he could develop it further, he might truly break through the limits of the Human tier and touch the threshold of Low-grade Yellow-tier.
"Brother Yu!" The courtyard gate flew open, and Su Yan rushed in like a whirlwind.
"Get ready! Father wants us to gather at the Training Ground!"
"You gained quite a bit from this half-month in seclusion?" Su Yu looked his younger cousin over.
Su Yan's aura was much stronger than before, and the gleam in his eyes was restrained. His cultivation had clearly improved.
"Of course!" Su Yan raised his chin proudly.
"My Flowing Cloud Sword Style hasn't reached great accomplishment yet, but I can form eight Cloud Patterns now!" He reached for his sword to demonstrate.
"Not bad." Su Yu pressed down on his sword hilt, offering sincere praise.
Such progress in just half a month showed how talented Su Yan was.
If he were not so lazy on ordinary days, his achievements would certainly be no less than Su Yun's.
Of course, compared with Su Yu's own progress, he was still far behind...
"Brother Yu, how's your Flowing Cloud Sword Style coming along?" Su Yan asked curiously.
"Well enough." Su Yu slid his sword into its sheath as though it were nothing worth mentioning.
"I'm still some way from a breakthrough."
Su Yan nodded in understanding.
In his eyes, Su Yu was extraordinarily gifted, but advancing the Flowing Cloud Sword Style from lesser accomplishment to great accomplishment was far harder. Reaching lesser accomplishment in such a short time was already remarkable.
He had no idea Su Yu meant the final step from great accomplishment to perfection.
"Let's go." Su Yu patted Su Yan's shoulder.
"Don't keep the family head waiting."
Morning light fell across the bluestone Training Ground. Su Tianheng stood with his hands behind his back, slowly surveying the five outstanding members of the Su Family's younger generation.
Su Yun stood at the front in white, the sword at his waist glimmering with crimson light.
The aura of Qi Refining Eighth Layer Peak lay contained within him. He looked like a keen blade drawn from its sheath.
Beside him stood Su Mei in a pale-purple fitted outfit. Morning dew still clung to the tips of her hair; she had clearly come straight from her morning training.
This jewel of the Su Family was only at Qi Refining Level 8, but her aura was full and harmonious. She was just one step from the peak.
"Father!" Su Yan straightened his back, unable to hide his pride.
The joy of breaking through to Qi Refining Level 8 yesterday had not faded, especially after the rare praise he had received from his father. His heart was still pounding with excitement.
Su Tianheng's gaze passed over his son and paused briefly on Su Lie.
The honest-looking boy was only sixteen, yet he had already reached Qi Refining Level 7. At that moment, he was scratching his head with a sheepish grin.
Finally, Su Tianheng's gaze fell on Su Yu at the end of the line.
His nephew, once dismissed as worthless by the Su Family, had now reached Qi Refining Level 8!
Surprise flashed through Su Tianheng's eyes before his expression returned to normal. "Su Yu, Qi Refining Level 8. Very good."
Those few simple words sent ripples through the group.
Su Yun's pupils narrowed, and his grip on his sword tightened unconsciously.
But he soon relaxed.
His Blazing Flames Sword Style had reached great accomplishment. Even if Su Yu had reached the eighth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, he could not be a match for him.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Su Yu talking with Su Yan nearby and suddenly recalled how Su Hao had come to him looking miserable over a month ago.
His useless younger brother had actually wanted him to teach Su Yu a lesson.
Su Yun had slapped Su Hao to the ground.
As the foremost of the Su Family's younger generation, how could he stoop to suppressing another member of the family?
If you want to win, don't rely on someone else. Defeat your opponent openly with your own strength!
Su Mei froze and stared at Su Yu, her eyes wide.
She remembered that her older cousin had been only at the Qi Refining Third Layer just over two months ago. Now he was at the same level as her. His cultivation speed was simply beyond belief.
Unlike everyone else, Su Yan looked unsurprised. A faint just as I thought smile even played on his lips.
Over the past two months, Su Yu's talent for cultivation had won his wholehearted admiration.
Hearing that Su Yu had reached Qi Refining Level 8 felt only natural to him.
"Quiet!" Su Tianheng's sharp command silenced the whispers.
His gaze swept over them like lightning. "In this Grand Tournament, you represent not only yourselves, but the honor of the entire Su Family."
At that, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
That monster from the Lin Family, who had reached Qi Refining Level 9 at fifteen, weighed on his heart like a stone.
More troubling still, the Lin Family had been in frequent contact with the Chu Family and Xu Family lately...
"The Yunlan Sect is one of the Great Xia Kingdom's five great sects." Su Tianheng raised his voice.
"If you can join it, you'll gain access to high-level cultivation methods. That is crucial to both you and the Su Family!"
"Now, let's go!"
Before you continue