A Young Man with the Bearing of a Dou Wang

The Misty Cloud Sect was one of the foremost great powers within the Jia Ma Empire, located in the southwestern corner of the Northwest Continent on the Dou Qi Continent.

The Misty Cloud Sect's mountain gate was established atop a majestic peak more than ten li north of the imperial capital. Because of the Misty Cloud Sect's presence, it was known as Misty Cloud Mountain.

Misty Cloud Mountain was exceptionally steep, with cliffs on three sides and only a single path leading to the summit. It was a typical location that was easy to defend and difficult to attack. The buildings on the mountain were mainly divided into four major sections, each rigorously patrolled by Misty Cloud Sect disciples.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

At the heart of the main building complex near the foot of Misty Cloud Sect Mountain stood a vast, open plaza. Quite a few people were gathered around it now, watching two youths fight at its center.

After their fists collided, the two youths each retreated more than ten paces, their gazes clashing in the air.

The two youths stood at opposite ends of the plaza, forming a stark contrast.

The youth on the left wore luxurious, close-fitting white training robes. His aura was fiery, his looks ordinary, and his build slightly short.

The youth on the right had thick brows, large eyes, and excellent bone structure. Even in an ordinary close-fitting black robe, it could not conceal his half-step reader-tier handsome appearance and refined bearing. His temperament was cold.

Blazing Palm.

The shorter youth stomped hard on the ground and rushed toward the black-clad youth, heat rising from both his hands.

The Yellow Tier High Grade Fighting Skill, Blazing Palm. When used by a Dou Master, it could condense a thin layer of flame over the palms. Only cultivators at Seventh Stage Dou Qi or above could practice it.

Upon arriving before the black-clad youth, the shorter youth shot him a threatening look.

Bang!

The black-clad youth planted his stance in place and calmly struck out with a charged palm. A chill radiated from it.

Frost Palm, a Yellow Tier Intermediate Fighting Skill. When used by a Dou Master, it could condense a thin layer of ice over the palm. Only cultivators at Fifth Stage Dou Qi or above could practice it.

The two youths' palms collided. Heat and cold alternated as a layer of white mist rose.

"Hm?" The shorter youth sensed that something was wrong, and his pupils contracted.

But before he could react, the black-clad youth shifted his footing, turned sideways, and drove out an elbow strike.

Eight Extremes Fist, Iron Mountain Lean.

Bang!

The shorter youth took a heavy blow to the chest. His throat turned sweet with blood, his vision went dark, and he flew several meters before crashing to the ground.

When his sight returned, an ordinary longsword was already pressed against his throat, flashing with cold light beneath the sun.

"As expected, Senior Brother Gu Han won the competition. I'm rich!"

"That Waste Mo Qing! I bet my entire fortune on him winning."

"Didn't Mo Qing warn Gu Han beforehand and tell him to throw the match?"

"Gu Han must have refused to give him face. Mo Qing has really embarrassed himself this time. He had the attribute advantage and still lost."

"You can't put it that way. Senior Brother Gu Han was already at Ninth Stage Dou Qi half a year ago, while Mo Qing only tested at Eighth Stage Dou Qi before this competition."

"Then why don't you mention that Gu Han isn't even fifteen yet, while Mo Qing is already sixteen and a Mo Family descendant?"

"There's no way to speed up cultivation before breaking through to the Dou Zhe realm, so even descendants of great families have no advantage. But once he becomes a Dou Zhe, Mo Qing will quickly surpass Gu Han. A temporary lead means nothing."

"No matter what, neither of them is someone we can compare to."

"All I know is that Gu Han gave Mo Qing no face, so he'll definitely be retaliated against. Mo Qing isn't broad-minded, and he also has an elder brother who is a Personal Disciple under the Great Elder."

"Who knows..."

The disciples around the plaza discussed animatedly, revealing quite a bit of information.

Mo Qing clutched his chest, swallowed the blood in his throat, and his expression darkened further. He said coldly, "Gu Han, you've got nerve!"

Gu Han said nothing, merely gazing calmly at Mo Qing.

Yet the indifference flashing through his eyes seemed to answer, Of course I do. What, should I be a Waste like you?

Gu Han then turned to Ge Xian, the Outer Sect Steward responsible for presiding over the competition at one side of the plaza, while lightly moving the longsword in his hand.

The meaning was simple: if you did not announce the result soon, he could keep going.

"Ahem."

Ge Xian was a middle-aged man clad in luxurious green robes, with the Misty Cloud Sect's distinctive cloud-and-silver-sword insignia embroidered on his cuffs. After a light cough, he loudly announced the result.

"Mo Qing can no longer continue the battle. Gu Han is victorious."

"In this Preliminary Disciple Competition, first place goes to Gu Han, second place to Mo Qing, third place to Liu Ye'er... and tenth place to Yun Shang."

"Come forward and collect your competition rewards!"

Finally hearing the result he wanted, Gu Han immediately sheathed his sword and walked straight to Ge Xian without looking back.

"First place in the competition: one Profound Iron Token of the Transmission Hall, one hundred Gold Coins, one Storage Ring, and one thousand Merit Points."

Ge Xian handed a Storage Ring to Gu Han, signaling for him to inspect it.

Gu Han's eyes brightened. He used the sword in his hand to make a small cut on his finger, then squeezed out blood and let it drip onto the Storage Ring.

An unfathomable sensation emerged, and with a thought, his consciousness sank into the Storage Ring.

There was a ten-cubic-meter space inside, containing one hundred Gold Coins and a Profound Iron Token of the Transmission Hall.

Gu Han stored his sword in the Storage Ring, then took out his Probationary Disciple Identity Token and handed it to Ge Xian, who transferred one thousand Merit Points onto it.

"Thank you, Steward."

Gu Han accepted the Token with both hands. After cupping his hands in salute, he stepped back to stand at one side. His every movement was meticulous, his posture straight as a sharp sword.

Approval flashed through Ge Xian's eyes. Though Gu Han was not warm toward others, he was exceptionally disciplined and courteous. Coupled with his considerable talent—reaching Ninth Stage Dou Qi before the age of fifteen—he had the bearing of a Dou Wang. Many throughout the sect thought highly of him.

"Second place..."

Ge Xian was about to distribute Mo Qing's reward when he discovered that Mo Qing had already silently left with the support of another disciple.

Ge Xian's expression immediately became somewhat unpleasant. Out of consideration for the Mo Family, he had favored Mo Qing to a certain extent during the competition.

But that did not mean Mo Qing could be so arrogant and disrespectful. Ge Xian could not possibly ignore everything, suppress talented disciples, and favor family descendants.

After all, the Misty Cloud Sect bore the surname Yun, not Mo.

"Third place..."

With a cold expression, Ge Xian continued distributing the remaining rewards.

Once the top ten Probationary Disciples had all collected their rewards, he offered them a few words of encouragement before turning and leaving.

"Gu Han, congratulations!"

Liu Ye'er and the other nine approached Gu Han, offering congratulations, some sincerely and some out of courtesy.

"You're too kind."

Gu Han responded calmly, exchanged a few pleasantries, and prepared to leave.

"Gu Han, Mo Qing will not let this go. Be more careful these days," Liu Ye'er reminded him after a slight hesitation.

"I will. Thank you." Gu Han's tone carried an extra note of seriousness as he departed at a brisk pace.

"Ye'er, why did you remind him?" Yun Shang came to Liu Ye'er's side, admiration flashing in his eyes. "He's just an ice block. It isn't worth offending Mo Qing for him."

"We're fellow disciples. We should help each other," Liu Ye'er replied casually as she watched Gu Han's departing back.

Half an hour later, Gu Han returned to the wooden cabin where he lived.

He pulled open his clothes and lowered his head toward his chest, discovering that a Bagua Diagram was faintly appearing and disappearing there.

Instinctively, he reached out to cover it. The blood seeping from his finger was suddenly absorbed.

The next moment, he felt as though his brain were about to explode.

Immediately afterward, his consciousness arrived in a strange place, where he saw an indescribable prehistoric beast.

"Black Tortoise!?"