The Eve of the Grand Tournament

The streets and alleys of Skywind City were noisier than usual, with crowds jostling and carriages barely able to move.

The inns near the central Training Ground had long since filled up, and even a few small hostels 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 chatter.

"Did you hear? For this Grand Tournament, that Lin Family prodigy is the top favorite to win," a saber-wielding man said, slapping the table.

"Goes without saying," another chimed in immediately. "Lin Tian stepped into Qi Refining Level 9 at fifteen—among the entire younger generation of Skywind City, who can match that?"

"High cultivation doesn't guarantee victory." From a corner, a stern-faced martial artist set down his teacup and said flatly, "Su Yun of the Su Family may only be at Qi Refining Eighth Layer Peak, but his Blazing Flames Sword Style has reached Greater Accomplishment. If they actually fought, he might not be without a chance."

"The Blazing Flames Sword Style is formidable, but Chu Feng of the Chu Family can't be underestimated either," another cut in. "His Thunderous Saber Style has reached the Greater Accomplishment Realm. Last month, outside the city, he killed a Swift Wind Wolf in three moves."

"What about Xu Chuan of the Xu Family? They say his movement technique is as fast as a ghost—among his peers, he's hard to beat."

"Don't forget, besides the four great families, a few smaller clans have also produced some Qi Refining Level 8 prodigies. This Grand Tournament is bound to be a fierce battle."

Just then, a sharp-faced man at a neighboring table lowered his voice: "Speaking of the Su Family... do you know that Su Yu? The one who's been stuck at Qi Refining Third Layer for five years—that waste."

A burly bearded man snorted. "Is the Su Family that desperate? They'd pick someone like that for the Grand Tournament?"

"Ah, you don't know the half of it," a young man dressed like a scholar said, waving his folding fan. "Word is, a month ago, he suddenly broke through to Qi Refining Level 7. Now he's a key trainee of the Su Family."

The teahouse erupted in uproar.

"Four realms in one month?" The saber-wielding man's eyes went wide. "How is that possible? Even that Lin Family prodigy took two whole years to go from the Third Layer to Level 7!"

"Probably some crooked elixir," the sharp-faced man said with a sneer. "A cultivation stacked with drugs like that—he probably doesn't even have the combat ability of a Qi Refining Level 6."

"Exactly!" The bearded man slammed the table in agreement. "The Grand Tournament isn't about who has the highest cultivation. When the real blades come out, a flimsy foundation like that will be the first to get eliminated!"

The scholar lightly fanned himself, thoughtful. "Still... if he really broke through four realms in a month, even with elixirs, that's no small fortune..."

"Fortune?" The sharp-faced man laughed coldly. "I say the Su Family is ruining one of their own just to save face. Just wait—when the Grand Tournament comes, he'll show his true colors!"

The crowd buzzed with debate, their tea long cold in the cups, but no one bothered to drink.

Suddenly, a commotion rose from the street.

Everyone craned their necks to look. A procession of Lin Family guards was escorting a luxurious carriage as it slowly passed by.

The curtain lifted slightly, revealing a white-clad young man resting with his eyes closed, his expression calm.

"That's Lin Tian!" someone whispered. "I heard he went into seclusion for half a month and only came out yesterday. He must be saving his strength for today's Grand Tournament."

The chatter in the teahouse died down. Everyone turned to look out the window, their eyes filled with awe and anticipation.

Meanwhile, in a quiet courtyard on the west side of the city.

Su Yu moved like a swimming dragon through the yard, the Azure Edge Sword in his hand flowing like drifting clouds one moment, then whipping up like a fierce gale the next.

Fresh sword scars crisscrossed the old ones on the ground, recording the days of hard training.

"Cloud Rise!"

The blade spun lightly, and nine solid cloud patterns bloomed in the air, lingering long without fading.

Though his Flowing Cloud Sword Style had already reached Greater Accomplishment, Su Yu still practiced it daily.

He shifted his stance, changing his sword path. The Wind-Swept Flowing Cloud Sword unfolded, and the courtyard's atmosphere shifted—wind and clouds churning.

Sword Qi raged like a hurricane one moment, then surged like a sea of clouds the next. The bluestone floor cracked under the residual force of his strikes.

Even more astonishing, the flying gravel coalesced into tiny cloud vortices midair, then burst apart.

"Still not quite there..." Su Yu sheathed his sword and gently stroked the blade.

Every time he practiced this self-created sword style, he caught new insights.

A vague premonition told him that if he could push it further, he might truly break through the mortal-tier shackles and touch the threshold of Low-grade Yellow-tier.

"Brother Yu!" The courtyard door slammed open as Su Yan burst in, all flustered. "Hurry up and get ready—Father wants us to gather at the Training Ground!"

Su Yan sized up his cousin. "Your half-month of seclusion paid off, huh?"

Su Yan's aura was much denser than before, and a restrained gleam shone in his eyes—clearly, his cultivation had advanced.

"Of course!" Su Yan raised his chin smugly.

"Though I haven't mastered Flowing Cloud Sword Style yet, I can already condense eight cloud patterns!" He reached for his sword to demonstrate.

"Not bad." Su Yu pressed down on his sword hilt, offering genuine praise.

To make such progress in just half a month spoke well of Su Yan's talent.

If not for his usual laziness, his achievements would never fall short of Su Yun's.

Of course, compared to himself, there was still a long way to go...

"Brother Yu, how's your Flowing Cloud Sword Style coming along?" Su Yan asked curiously.

"Decent." Su Yu sheathed his sword casually.

"Still a ways from a breakthrough."

Su Yan nodded knowingly.

In his view, though Su Yu was exceptionally gifted, advancing Flowing Cloud Sword Style from Lesser Accomplishment to mastery was exponentially harder. Reaching Lesser Accomplishment in such a short time was already impressive.

He had no idea Su Yu was referring to the final step from mastery to perfection.

"Let's go." Su Yu patted Su Yan's shoulder.

"Don't keep the family head waiting."

Morning light spilled across the bluestone-paved Training Ground. Su Tianheng stood with hands clasped behind his back, his gaze slowly sweeping over the five outstanding juniors of the Su Family before him.

At the front stood Su Yun in white robes, a sword at his waist gleaming with crimson light.

His Qi Refining Eighth Layer Peak aura was restrained but sharp, making him seem like a drawn blade.

Beside him, Su Mei wore a light purple training outfit, her hair ends still damp with morning dew—she had clearly just finished her morning practice and rushed over.

Though this jewel of the Su Family was only at Qi Refining Level 8, her aura was well-rounded, just a step away 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 hadn't faded yet, especially since he'd earned rare praise from his father, leaving him still exhilarated.

Su Tianheng's gaze passed over his own son and paused briefly on Su Lie.

This honest-looking youth, though only sixteen, had already broken through to Qi Refining Level 7. He was currently scratching his head with a sheepish grin.

Finally, his eyes landed on Su Yu at the end of the line.

This nephew, once dismissed as a waste by the family, had now reached Qi Refining Level 8!

A flicker of surprise crossed Su Tianheng's eyes before he returned to normal. "Xiao Yu, Qi Refining Level 8. Good."

Those simple words stirred ripples through the crowd.

Su Yun's pupils contracted slightly, and his hand unconsciously tightened on his sword hilt.

But soon, he relaxed again.

His Blazing Flames Sword Style had reached mastery. Even if the other party's cultivation was at Qi Refining Realm Level 8, he wouldn't be a match.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Su Yu chatting with Su Yan nearby and suddenly recalled the scene a month ago when Su Hao had come to him with a tearful face.

That worthless younger brother had actually wanted him to teach Su Yu a lesson.

But back then, he had slapped Su Hao to the ground.

As the foremost junior of the Su Family, how could he stoop to bullying his own kin?

"If you want to win, don't rely on others. Beat them fair and square with your own strength!"

Su Mei was stunned, her eyes wide as she stared at Su Yu.

She remembered that just over two months ago, her cousin had only been at Qi Refining Third Layer. Now he was at the same level as her—this cultivation speed was simply unbelievable.

Unlike the others' shock, Su Yan remained calm, a hint of an "I told you so" smile tugging at his lips.

Over the past two months, Su Yu's cultivation talent had already earned his full respect.

Hearing that Su Yu had broken through to Qi Refining Level 8 now only felt natural.

"Silence!" Su Tianheng's sharp command cut through the murmurs.

His gaze was like lightning as he swept over the crowd. "This Grand Tournament, you represent not just yourselves, but the entire Su Family's honor."

At this, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

That prodigy from the Lin Family, who had reached Qi Refining Level 9 at just fifteen, weighed on his mind like a stone.

What worried him more was the Lin Family's recent frequent dealings with the Chu and Xu Families...

"The Yunlan Sect is one of the five great sects of the Great Xia Kingdom." Su Tianheng's voice suddenly rose.

"Entering their ranks not only grants access to high-level techniques. This is crucial for you, and for the Su Family!"

"Now, move out!"