Actual Combat

As the words fell, a figure emerged from the mountain gate.

It was a young man, about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, dressed in the white robes of an inner disciple, a Long Sword hanging at his waist. His face was handsome, but a hint of arrogance lingered between his brows.

"Inner disciple, Zhao Yuanchen," Bai Chen said. "True Qi Realm, first layer. If you can last ten moves under him, you pass."

Zhao Yuanchen walked up to Li Xuan, sizing him up, a sneer curling his lips.

"You're Li Xuan? That bumpkin from the Northern Territory?"

Li Xuan remained silent.

Zhao Yuanchen scoffed, "I heard you condensed True Qi in the Body Tempering Realm? Ridiculous. Qi is a technique only available in the True Qi Realm. You, a Body Tempering Realm cultivator, are not worthy!"

He turned to Bai Chen, "Elder Bai, are you looking down on me, Zhao Yuanchen, by having a heavily injured Body Tempering Realm cultivator fight me?"

Bai Chen said calmly, "This is an assessment."

"Then let's finish this quickly." Zhao Yuanchen drew his sword. The blade was like water, its cold light chilling. "Within three moves, I'll have him begging on his knees."

Li Xuan looked at Bai Chen, "Elder, are there any restrictions?"

"No killing or crippling. Nothing else is restricted."

"Can I use a weapon?"

"Yes."

Li Xuan nodded and looked at Yun Qingxuan, "Senior Sister Yun, may I borrow your sword?"

Yun Qingxuan unbuckled the Crimson Firmament Sword from her waist and handed it over.

The sword was crimson, as if stained with blood. Even before it was unsheathed, a formidable sword intent emanated from it.

"This sword is called 'Crimson Firmament.' It's a high-grade mortal item. Use it carefully," Yun Qingxuan whispered.

Li Xuan gripped the sword and looked at Zhao Yuanchen.

"Please."

A flash of anger crossed Zhao Yuanchen's eyes.

Did a heavily injured Body Tempering Realm cultivator deserve to have him make the first move?

"You're asking for death!"

He charged forward, his sword light like lightning, aiming straight for Li Xuan's throat.

The speed of a True Qi Realm, first layer, far surpassed that of the Body Tempering Realm.

But Li Xuan's Spirit Soul strength had already reached five points.

In his eyes, this sword strike... was too slow.

He sidestepped, avoiding the blade.

The Crimson Firmament Sword, still in its scabbard, struck horizontally.

The scabbard hit Zhao Yuanchen's wrist.

Zhao Yuanchen's wrist went numb, and his Long Sword almost flew from his grasp.

His face changed drastically as he retreated rapidly.

But Li Xuan was already upon him.

The Crimson Firmament Sword, still sheathed, swept out like a club.

Zhao Yuanchen raised his sword to block.

Immense force struck him, sending Zhao Yuanchen staggering back five steps, his hand splitting open.

Silence fell over the entire area.

One move, and he forced back a True Qi Realm cultivator?

Elder Heiyan's eyes flashed with brilliance. "Excellent eyesight! He saw through all of Zhao Yuanchen's possible feints and sealed off his retreat routes in advance."

Elder Ziyue nodded. "His combat experience is terrifyingly profound. This isn't something learned; it's something earned through battle."

Zhao Yuanchen was a mixture of shame and rage.

"You—"

"Second move," Li Xuan interrupted.

Zhao Yuanchen gritted his teeth, his True Qi erupting, his Long Sword glowing with a faint white light.

"Flowing Cloud Sword Technique—Cloud Rolls, Cloud Unfurls!"

Sword light like clouds, ethereal and unpredictable, enveloped Li Xuan.

This strike had already utilized True Qi.

Li Xuan still hadn't drawn his sword.

He closed his eyes.

His Spirit Soul senses spread out. With five points of Spirit Soul strength, Zhao Yuanchen's sword path was as clear as the lines on his palm.

The opening was at the third inch of his left rib.

Li Xuan moved.

Sidestepping, stepping forward, his Crimson Firmament Sword sheath darted out like a viper's tongue, aimed at Zhao Yuanchen's left rib.

The timing was precise to the millimeter.

Zhao Yuanchen's sword momentum was spent, and he had no time to change his move.

The sword sheath struck his left rib.

Zhao Yuanchen grunted, his True Qi scattered, and his sword momentum collapsed.

Second move, broken.

Li Xuan sheathed his sword and retreated.

"Eight moves left."

Zhao Yuanchen's face flushed a deep, ugly red.

He, a dignified inner disciple at the first level of the True Qi Realm, was actually forced back by a heavily injured Body Tempering Realm cultivator in two moves?

It was a profound humiliation!

"I'll kill you!"

He exploded with power, True Qi surging, his Long Sword gleaming with white light.

"Flowing Cloud Killing Blow—Cloud Sea Skyfall!"

Sword light cascaded down like a waterfall.

This was the most powerful move of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique. Executed with his cultivation at the first level of the True Qi Realm, its power was enough to heavily injure those of the same level.

The three elders frowned simultaneously.

This strike had already surpassed the scope of the assessment.

Bai Chen was about to intervene—

Li Xuan drew his sword.

Can't find it by searching the book title, maybe try searching the author, perhaps the name was just changed!

The Crimson Firmament Sword left its sheath.

Its blood-red blade reflected the sky's light, like a blood-red rainbow, slashing upwards.

No fancy moves.

Just one sword.

Although his Blood Fiend Gang Qi was depleted, the power of his Blood Fiend Diamond Body remained.

All sixteen points of Strength erupted.

Sword light against sword light.

BOOM!!!

Waves of energy exploded.

Zhao Yuanchen was sent flying back, crashing ten feet away. His Long Sword flew from his grasp, his palm bloody and torn.

Li Xuan stumbled back three steps, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his right leg wound completely reopening.

But he stood.

The Crimson Firmament Sword pointed diagonally at the ground, its blood-red light flowing.

Third move, enemy defeated.

The entire area fell silent.

Only the mountain wind howled.

After a long moment, Elder Bai Chen spoke.

"Third trial, passed."

He looked at Li Xuan, his gaze complex.

"From today onwards, you are an inner disciple of the Crimson Firmament Sect, residing in the East Courtyard of Crimson Firmament Peak. You are granted three hundred Contribution Points, which can be used to exchange for pills, cultivation methods, and weapons."

He paused. "After your injuries heal, you will need to complete sect missions to accumulate contributions. The sect does not support idlers."

Li Xuan sheathed his sword and cupped his fists. "Thank you, Elder."

Zhao Yuanchen struggled to stand, glaring venomously at Li Xuan before turning and leaving.

Elder Heiyan snorted. "Kid, you've made an enemy. Zhao Yuanchen is from the inner sect Zhao Family. His brother, Zhao Yuanji, is at the fifth level of the True Qi Realm and ranked among the top twenty inner disciples."

Li Xuan's expression remained calm. "This junior fears no one!"

"Good." Elder Heiyan showed a rare smile. "You have spirit. The Discipline Hall is short an Enforcement Disciple. If you're interested after you recover, you can come find me."

Elder Ziyue also said, "The Pill Department needs a trial-taker for pills, with a monthly salary of fifty Contribution Points. Although it's dangerous, you'll have access to high-level pills."

Li Xuan thanked him one by one.

Yun Qingxuan walked up to him and whispered, "Focus on healing your injuries first. We can discuss everything else later."

Li Xuan nodded.

Elder Bai Chen waved his sleeve. "Qingxuan, take him to the East Courtyard."

"Yes."

Yun Qingxuan supported Li Xuan as they walked towards the mountain gate.

The moment they passed through the mountain gate, the scene before them changed drastically.

It was no longer a platform on the mountain peak, but a series of continuous palaces.

Blue tiles and white walls, with flying eaves and bracket clusters. The spiritual energy was so dense it formed mist, flowing between the palaces. In the distance, a waterfall cascaded down like a silver ribbon, its roar echoing. Disciples occasionally flew past in the air on their swords, their robes fluttering.

This was the true inner sect of the Crimson Firmament Sect.

Yun Qingxuan led him towards a courtyard on the east side.

"The East Courtyard is for newcomers. One person per courtyard. You'll be in C-7," she said, pushing open the courtyard gate.

The small courtyard wasn't large, with three rooms. In the center stood an old plum tree, with a stone table and stools beneath it.

It was simple, yet clean.

"Every day at the Chen hour, a servant will deliver meals. If you need pills or weapons, you can exchange for them at the Contribution Hall. The Cultivation Method Pavilion is on the central main peak, and you can enter the first floor with your Disciple Token."

Yun Qingxuan took out a crimson token and handed it to Li Xuan.

The front of the token was engraved with "Crimson Firmament," and the back with "Inner Sect C-7."

"Drip blood to recognize your master."

Li Xuan bit his finger and dripped blood onto the token.

The token flashed with a faint light and returned to its original state.

"Rest well," Yun Qingxuan said, turning to leave.

"Senior Sister Yun," Li Xuan called out, "Steward Liu, he..."

"Uncle-Master Liu is in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Grandmaster Realm," Yun Qingxuan replied. "He will see you once he emerges from seclusion."

She paused. "Within the sect, speak less, observe more, and practice diligently. Your performance today was astonishing, but it also drew attention. Some people will want to recruit you, while others will want to step on you."

"I understand."

Yun Qingxuan nodded and departed.

The courtyard gate closed.

Li Xuan walked into a room and collapsed onto the bed.

A tide of intense pain surged through his body.

His injuries had worsened from his forceful actions today.

But he closed his eyes and observed his own body internally.

[Name: Li Xuan]
[Status: Critically Injured (Recovering)]
[Strength: 10.8 (Weak)]
[Stamina: 51.8 (Damaged)]
[Agility: 2.2 (Restricted)]
[Spirit: 5.0]
[Cultivation Method: Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique, Third Layer (Perfection)]
[Potential Points: 5.3]

Three hundred Contribution Points could be exchanged for a Pure Heart Jade Dew Pill to cleanse the residual malevolent energy from the Wolf Soul.

But it wasn't enough.

He needed more Contribution Points to exchange for medicine to heal his injuries and for Cultivation Methods to improve himself.

And the fastest way to earn Contribution Points was through sect missions.

But in his current condition, taking on a mission would be suicidal.

"I'll focus on healing first."

Li Xuan took out the remaining Golden Wound Powder from his embrace and sprinkled it on his wounds.

Then, he sat cross-legged and began circulating the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique.

The spiritual energy here was abundant. Though not as violent as the malevolent energy on the battlefield, it was gentle and continuous, suitable for healing.

His vital energy and blood slowly circulated, nourishing his fractured meridians.