Qingcang Academy

In the late autumn season, the setting sun cast its slanted rays.

Beside the outer court training grounds of Cangyun Academy stood a massive obsidian monument, inscribed with the five characters "Outer Court Battle Merit Ranking."

"Jin Jin, have you heard? On the training day three days from now, Senior Brother Ning is going to challenge Qin Jue!"

In front of the monument, a round-faced girl tugged at her friend's arm, deliberately lowering her voice, her face alight with excitement.

This round-faced girl was named Shen Zhiqiu. Although her talent was average, her family's successful business allowed her to maintain a mid-to-lower ranking in the outer court.

The one she was pulling was a girl with waist-length hair and a gentle demeanor, named Su Jin, also a disciple of the outer court.

Upon hearing Shen Zhiqiu's words, Su Jin was slightly taken aback, her brows furrowing unconsciously.

"Challenge Qin Jue?"

A strange feeling welled up within her, and her voice lowered, "Senior Brother Ning... why challenge him?"

Even though she knew the answer, she couldn't help but ask.

Shen Zhiqiu lowered her voice, her eyes filled with a knowing glint, "Jin Jin, don't play dumb. You rejected his invitation a few days ago, and then you went to challenge Qin Jue. Anyone who isn't an idiot can see the reason behind it."

"Everyone in the outer court knows Senior Brother Ning's feelings for you, right?"

Su Jin didn't reply, merely gazing silently at the training grounds not far away, her eyes filled with worry.

Seeing Su Jin's silence, Shen Zhiqiu dropped her playful demeanor and said seriously, "I just passed by the Hall of Affairs and saw that the challenge letter has been officially accepted. Qin Jue cannot avoid it on the training day in three days."

"According to the rules, disciples ranked in the top one thousand can challenge disciples ranked in the bottom one thousand. The winner takes half of the loser's battle merits."

She paused, then shook her head, "This was originally an opportunity for those at the bottom to save themselves. If they could defeat a stronger opponent, they would be exempted from elimination. But in reality... who can actually overcome a gap of several thousand ranks to defeat their opponent? If Qin Jue's meager battle merits are halved again, he might be directly eliminated from the outer court."

"Eliminated..."

Su Jin murmured to herself, and the image of Qin Jue's perpetually calm face surfaced in her mind.

Shen Zhiqiu nodded, "Moreover, Senior Brother Ning posted the challenge letter at the entrance of the training grounds, and everyone in the outer court saw it. If Qin Jue doesn't dare to accept the challenge, how can he continue to stay in the outer court?"

Su Jin bit her red lip, a hint of struggle flashing in her eyes, "Senior Brother Ning is being so ruthless. If Qin Jue loses his battle merits and is removed, what will he do then...?"

Seeing her like this, Shen Zhiqiu felt a pang of anxiety. She knew Su Jin too well – soft-hearted and sentimental. If something truly happened to Qin Jue, she would be heartbroken for a long time.

She grabbed Su Jin's hand, her expression earnest, "Jin Jin, you're just too sentimental!"

"I know you and Qin Jue grew up together, but look at Senior Brother Ning. Although he's from a collateral branch of the Ning family, he's valued by Senior Brother Li Changfeng of the inner court and often receives his guidance."

She glanced at Su Jin, sighing helplessly, "And then look at Qin Jue, ranked outside of eight thousand. Sigh... how can he compare?"

"Moreover, Senior Brother Ning is at the fourth level of Hundred Refinements, having already entered the [Jade Bone] realm. Qin Jue has only just entered the third level of Hundred Refinements. They aren't even in the same league!"

The Hundred Refinements realm is the initial stage of martial arts. Levels one to three are [Tanning Skin], focusing on skin, flesh, tendons, and membranes. Levels four to six are [Jade Bone], where bone tempering begins, greatly increasing strength.

The transition from the third to the fourth level is a significant watershed. Once crossed, the bones are initially tempered, and when a full-power punch is thrown, the bone joints resonate, and the strength surges, making it impossible for a third-level martial artist to resist.

Su Jin remained silent.

Once upon a time, that young man had been full of spirit, earnestly telling her, "When I enter Cangyun Academy, I will make a name for myself."

But now...

"Perhaps, this is fate."

A complex look flashed in Su Jin's eyes. "Without talent, without resources, no matter how hard you try... it's all in vain."

As the two girls were talking, a deafening roar of cheers suddenly erupted from the center of the training grounds.

The two turned their heads to look, and saw a young man in luxurious robes practicing his saber techniques in the middle of the training grounds.

The young man was handsome and tall. As he swung his saber, the wind whistled, stirring up waves of powerful gusts. Each saber strike was heavier than the last, creating an astonishing momentum.

Even more astonishing was that every time he swung his saber, a low, rumbling thunderclap could be heard from within his body. This was the sound of bone resonance, vibrating the surrounding air.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The thunder-like sounds echoed on the training grounds along with the saber wind. After the young man finished his saber routine, he stood with his saber retracted, not a single drop of sweat on his forehead, clearly at ease.

"As expected of Senior Brother Ning!"

"Is this the power of the mortal-grade high-tier Hundred Bones Thunderous Sound Technique? That bone resonance sound is simply terrifying!"

"Look at his saber momentum, one strike building upon another, like surging waves. This is the essence of Thousand Wave Saber!"

The surrounding disciples exclaimed in admiration, their eyes filled with envy.

This person was Ning Zhiyuan.

In the divine dynasty's genius crucible that was Cangyun Academy, being ranked over eight hundred was already a true master. Furthermore, the mortal-grade high-tier cultivation techniques and martial skills he practiced made him a rare opponent among those of the same realm.

Ning Zhiyuan heard the surrounding praise and a slight smile tugged at the corner of his lips. His gaze swept towards the pavilion not far away, and he happened to see Su Jin's figure. A determined glint flashed in his eyes.

"Senior Brother Ning, your Thousand Wave Saber has likely reached the [Layered Waves] realm, hasn't it?"

A disciple who looked like a follower fawned over him, his face full of flattery.

Ning Zhiyuan waved his hand indifferently, "I've only just begun. I'm still far from it."

Though he said this, the smugness on his face was impossible to hide.

Another follower, grinning from ear to ear, said, "Senior Brother Ning is too humble! Senior Brother Li Changfeng even said you have a knack for swordsmanship. With your current strength, surely that Qin Jue won't dare to show up in three days? He's ranked over eight thousand now, where would he find the courage to step onto the stage?"

Hearing Qin Jue's name, Ning Zhiyuan's expression darkened slightly, and he let out a cold snort. "Does he dare not to come? This was a public challenge. If he evades it, will his Qin family still have any face in the Four Alliances?"

"Then if he comes, he's just walking to his death!"

The follower continued to flatter him. "Senior Brother Ning, you're at the fourth level of Hundred Refinements, and you practice a top-tier mortal-grade technique. He's only at the third level. You could split him in two with one strike!"

Ning Zhiyuan frowned. "Don't say that. We're all fellow disciples. I just... want him to recognize reality."

He paused here, then glanced again in the direction of the stone pavilion, lowering his voice slightly. "Some people don't deserve to stand beside certain individuals."

The followers immediately understood and nodded in agreement.

Ning Zhiyuan took a deep breath and turned to leave the training grounds. Before he left, he looked back towards the stone pavilion again, the obsession in his eyes growing more apparent.

Inside the stone pavilion, Shen Zhiqiu was even more excited after seeing Ning Zhiyuan's earlier sword practice. She pulled on Su Jin. "Jin Jin, look, Senior Brother Ning is really amazing! That thunderous resonance from his bones, and his sword techniques like waves, the Thousand Wave Blade! How could Qin Jue possibly win in three days?"

Su Jin remained silent for a moment.

Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the battle merits board beside the stone pavilion. On the massive black obsidian tablet, Ning Zhiyuan's name was ranked eight hundred and thirty-first, while Qin Jue... was over eight thousand three hundred.

A gap of seven thousand places was like an insurmountable chasm.

"Sigh, I wonder what Qin Jue is doing now," Shen Zhiqiu suddenly thought of something and sighed, shaking her head. "He's probably scared out of his wits, right? Maybe he's hiding in his courtyard, too afraid to come out... It's understandable, though. If it were me, facing such a gap, I'd probably hesitate for a long time even to concede."

Su Jin was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I hope... he can come to terms with it."

The implication was that he should just concede; at least he could save his life.

Shen Zhiqiu nodded regretfully. "Yes, conceding is embarrassing, but at least he won't get hurt. Qin Jue is just too stubborn."

The two fell silent for a moment, then parted ways.

As the sky grew dark and the sun set, fewer and fewer people remained on the training grounds.

Outer disciples returned to their courtyards in twos and threes, discussing the challenge in three days along the way.

"That Qin Jue is probably finished."

"Third level of Hundred Refinements against fourth level of Hundred Refinements, there's no chance of winning."

"Not to mention the greater gap in techniques. Senior Brother Ning practices a top-tier mortal-grade one, while Qin Jue's Azure Pine Qi Cultivation Technique is practiced by so many people in the academy."

"Sigh, this gap..."

In the southwest corner of the outer prefecture, there was a secluded small courtyard.

The courtyard walls were mottled, the door panel had several cracks, and a few withered grasses grew in the corners.

Behind the courtyard gate, a thin figure sat cross-legged on a cushion, motionless.

It was Qin Jue.

He had his eyes closed, his expression calm, as if the surrounding discussions had no effect on him.