Actual Combat

Before he had even finished speaking, a figure walked out from inside the mountain gate.

He was a young man of about twenty-three or twenty-four. He wore the white robes of an Inner Disciple, with a long sword hanging at his waist. His features were handsome, but there was an air of arrogance between his brows.

"An Inner Disciple, Zhao Yuanchen," Bai Chen said. "First level of the True Qi Realm. If you can withstand ten moves from him, you'll pass."

Zhao Yuanchen walked up to Li Xuan and looked him up and down, the corner of his mouth curling in disdain.

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

Li Xuan said nothing.

Zhao Yuanchen sneered. "I heard you condensed Gang Qi in the Body Tempering Realm? What a joke. Gang Qi is a technique only those in the True Qi Realm can possess. A Body Tempering cultivator like you—what makes you worthy?"

He turned to Bai Chen. "Elder Bai, having a heavily injured Body Tempering cultivator fight me—is that looking down on me, Zhao Yuanchen?"

Bai Chen said indifferently, "This is an examination."

"Then let's finish it quickly." Zhao Yuanchen drew his sword. Its blade was like water, gleaming with a biting chill. "Within three moves, I'll make him kneel and beg for mercy."

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

"You may not kill or cripple him. Other than that, there are no restrictions."

"May we use weapons?"

"Yes."

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

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

The blade was crimson, as if dyed in blood. Though it remained sheathed, an awe-inspiring sword intent already seeped from it.

"This sword is called the Crimson Firmament Sword. It's a high-grade mortal weapon, so use it carefully," Yun Qingxuan said softly.

Li Xuan gripped the sword and looked at Zhao Yuanchen.

"Please."

Anger flashed through Zhao Yuanchen's eyes.

A heavily injured Body Tempering cultivator thought he was worthy of making Zhao Yuanchen strike first?

"Courting death!"

He lunged forward, his sword light flashing like lightning as it thrust straight at Li Xuan's throat.

A first-level True Qi Realm cultivator was far faster than one in the Body Tempering Realm.

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

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

He turned sideways and let the blade pass.

The Crimson Firmament Sword remained sheathed as he swung it horizontally.

The scabbard struck Zhao Yuanchen's wrist.

Zhao Yuanchen's wrist went numb, and his long sword nearly slipped from his grasp.

His expression changed drastically as he hurriedly retreated.

But Li Xuan was already close.

The Crimson Firmament Sword remained sheathed as it swept across like a staff.

Zhao Yuanchen raised his sword to block.

A tremendous force crashed into him. Zhao Yuanchen retreated five steps, the web between his thumb and index finger splitting open.

The entire arena fell deathly silent.

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

A sharp glint flashed through Elder Heiyan's eyes. "Excellent insight! He saw through every possible variation in Zhao Yuanchen's attack and sealed off his retreat in advance."

Elder Ziyue nodded. "His combat experience is terrifyingly rich. This wasn't trained into him. He fought his way there through killing."

Zhao Yuanchen was consumed by shame and fury.

"You—"

"Second move." Li Xuan cut him off.

Zhao Yuanchen gritted his teeth. True Qi erupted from him, and his long sword gleamed with a faint white radiance.

"Flowing Cloud Sword Technique—Clouds Gather and Disperse!"

Sword light spread like clouds, ethereal and unpredictable, enveloping Li Xuan from head to toe.

This strike had already used True Qi.

Li Xuan still did not draw his sword.

He closed his eyes.

His soul perception spread out. Under his five points of soul strength, Zhao Yuanchen's sword path was as clear as the lines on his palm.

The flaw was three inches beneath the left rib.

Li Xuan moved.

He turned sideways and stepped forward, the scabbard of the Crimson Firmament Sword darting toward Zhao Yuanchen's left rib like a venomous snake flicking out its tongue.

His timing was accurate to the slightest fraction.

Zhao Yuanchen's sword momentum had already reached its limit; he had no time to change his move.

The scabbard struck his left rib.

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

The second move was broken.

Li Xuan sheathed his sword and retreated.

"Eight moves remaining."

Zhao Yuanchen's face flushed purple like pig's liver.

He was a dignified Inner Disciple, a first-level True Qi Realm cultivator—and he had been forced back twice by a heavily injured Body Tempering cultivator?

What utter humiliation!

"I'll kill you!"

He erupted completely. True Qi surged wildly, and the white radiance of his long sword flared brilliantly.

"Flowing Cloud Killing Blow—Clouds Overturning the Heavens!"

Sword light poured down like a waterfall.

This was the strongest move of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique. With Zhao Yuanchen's first-level True Qi Realm cultivation, its power was enough to heavily injure someone of the same realm.

The three elders frowned at the same time.

This sword had already exceeded the scope of the examination.

Bai Chen was just about to intervene—

Li Xuan drew his sword.

The Crimson Firmament Sword left its sheath.

Its blood-red blade reflected the light of the sky, rising against the attack like a blood-colored rainbow.

There was nothing fancy about it.

Only one sword.

Though his Blood Fiend Gang Qi had been exhausted, the strength of his Blood Fiend Diamond Body remained.

Sixteen points of strength erupted all at once.

Sword light collided with sword light.

Boom!!!

The shock wave exploded.

Zhao Yuanchen was sent flying. He crashed down ten zhang away, his long sword flying from his hand, the flesh around his thumb and index finger mangled and bloody.

Li Xuan staggered back three steps. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and the wound in his right leg split open completely.

But he remained standing.

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

Third move—enemy defeated.

The entire arena was silent.

Only the mountain wind howled.

After a long while, Elder Bai Chen spoke.

"Third trial, passed."

He looked at Li Xuan, his expression complicated.

"From today onward, you are an Inner Disciple of the Crimson Firmament Sect. You will reside in the East Courtyard of Crimson Firmament Peak. You are granted three hundred Contribution Points, which you may exchange for pills, cultivation methods, and weapons."

He paused. "Once your injuries have healed, you must complete sect missions and accumulate contributions. The sect does not support idle people."

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

Zhao Yuanchen struggled to his feet, shot Li Xuan a venomous look, and turned to leave.

Elder Heiyan snorted. "Brat, you've made an enemy. Zhao Yuanchen belongs to the Inner Sect's Zhao Family. His elder brother, Zhao Yuanji, is at the fifth level of the True Qi Realm and ranks among the top twenty in the Inner Sect."

Li Xuan's expression remained calm. "This junior fears nothing!"

"Good." Elder Heiyan rarely revealed a smile. "You've got spirit. The Discipline Hall is short one Enforcement Disciple. Once your injuries heal, come find me if you're interested."

Elder Ziyue also said, "The Pill Department is short one disciple for testing pills. The monthly stipend is fifty Contribution Points. It's dangerous, but you'll have access to high-grade pills."

Li Xuan thanked them one by one.

Yun Qingxuan walked up beside him and said softly, "Focus on healing first. We can discuss the rest 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 toward the mountain gate.

The instant they passed through the mountain gate, the scene before them changed dramatically.

It was no longer a mountaintop platform, but a vast stretch of interconnected halls.

Blue tiles and white walls, upturned eaves and interlocking brackets. Spiritual energy had condensed into mist, flowing between the halls. In the distance, a waterfall hung like a silver chain, its roar echoing through the air. From time to time, disciples swept across the sky on flying swords, their robes fluttering.

This was the true Inner Sect of the Crimson Firmament Sect.

Yun Qingxuan led him toward a cluster of courtyards on the eastern side.

"The East Courtyard is where newcomers live. Each person gets one courtyard. You'll stay in C-7." She pushed open the courtyard gate.

The small courtyard was not large. It had three rooms, an old plum tree in the middle, and a stone table and stools beneath it.

It was simple, but clean.

"Every day at the Hour of the Dragon, a servant will deliver your 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. With your disciple token, you can enter the first floor."

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

"Crimson Firmament" was carved on the front, while "Inner Sect C-7" was carved on the back.

"Blood recognition."

Li Xuan bit his finger and dripped blood onto it.

The token flashed faintly before returning to normal.

"Rest and recuperate properly." Yun Qingxuan turned to leave.

"Senior Sister Yun." Li Xuan spoke up. "Steward Liu, he..."

"Uncle-Master Liu is in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Grandmaster Realm," Yun Qingxuan said. "He'll see you after he comes out."

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

"I understand."

Yun Qingxuan nodded and left.

The courtyard gate closed.

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

Pain surged through his entire body like a rising tide.

His injuries had worsened after he forcibly fought today.

But he closed his eyes and examined his body inwardly.

[Li Xuan]

[Status: Heavily Injured (Recovering)]

[Strength: 10.8 (Weakened)]

[Constitution: 51.8 (Damaged)]

[Agility: 2.2 (Restricted)]

[Soul: 5.0]

[Technique: Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique, Third Layer (Perfected)]

[Potential Points: 5.3]

Three hundred Contribution Points could be exchanged for a Pure Heart Jade Dew Pill, which could cleanse the residual killing intent in his Wolf Soul.

But it still wasn't enough.

He needed more Contribution Points—to exchange for healing pills and improved cultivation methods.

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

But in his current condition, accepting a mission would be no different from seeking death.

"First, I'll heal."

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

Then he sat cross-legged and circulated the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique.

The spiritual energy here was dense. Although it was not as violent as the killing intent on the battlefield, it was gentle and sustained, making it suitable for healing.

His qi and blood circulated slowly, nourishing his shattered meridians.

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