The air in the Grand Courtyard was electric.
After Lin Feng's sudden arrival, the atmosphere transformed. Every disciple — from the newest initiate to the most seasoned elder — could feel it. The pressure he emitted wasn't loud or overbearing, yet it weighed on their hearts like an invisible mountain.
Even those who had once mocked his absence now fell silent, their earlier arrogance melting into unease.
And above them all, sitting quietly upon the elevated dais, Li Yuexin's gaze never left him.
There was something about Lin Feng that defied reason. His posture was relaxed, but each subtle motion carried the weight of an unshakable will — one honed through countless battles. His aura was restrained, yet the faint hum of power beneath it sent shivers through the most sensitive cultivators.
It was the stillness before a storm that could tear mountains apart.
---
The Tournament Resumes
The Grand Elder's voice rang out, amplified with spiritual power.
"Resuming the Core Disciple Ranking Tournament! Round five — Lin Feng will face disciple Mu Qian, ranked twenty-first!"
A murmur spread through the audience. Mu Qian was no weakling; he had trained under the Second Elder and possessed the Blade of Crimson Wind, capable of splitting boulders with ease.
But when Lin Feng stepped into the arena, calm and unarmed, even Mu Qian hesitated.
"Y-you're not drawing your sword?" he asked, tightening his grip.
Lin Feng's voice was level. "If you can make me draw it, you win."
A ripple of disbelief spread through the crowd. Arrogant? Yes. But the way he said it — calm, assured, absolute — made it sound less like arrogance and more like truth.
Mu Qian roared, spiritual energy surging. His crimson blade whistled through the air, releasing waves of compressed qi that tore through the arena floor.
Boom!
Dust exploded outward. But when it cleared — Lin Feng was standing exactly where he'd been, one hand behind his back, the other raised casually. Between his fingers, he pinched the edge of the incoming blade.
The courtyard went dead silent.
"Impossible…"
Mu Qian's eyes widened. He tried to pull back — but it was as if the sword was caught in iron. Then Lin Feng flicked his wrist lightly.
Crack!
The sword shattered into glittering fragments. Mu Qian staggered back, the shockwave sending him sprawling. Lin Feng didn't move again.
"Next," he said quietly.
---
One by One, They Fell
Round after round, opponent after opponent, Lin Feng stood unchallenged.
A cultivator with lightning qi — defeated in one strike.
A spear master with body refinement — thrown out of the arena with a single palm.
A dual-blade expert with qi clones — all twelve destroyed in the blink of an eye.
Each battle ended faster than the one before it. It wasn't a contest — it was a demonstration.
The sect disciples watched in awe, their earlier excitement turning to reverence. Even the elders exchanged glances, the pride of seeing such a prodigy from their sect swelling within their chests.
But amid the admiration, a faint unease lingered — the realization that Lin Feng's power had already surpassed the confines of the Sword Sovereign Sect itself.
---
From her seat above, Li Yuexin leaned slightly forward. Her eyes reflected the light of the arena as Lin Feng's azure aura danced around him like drifting mist.
"He fights like someone who's seen countless battles," she murmured.
Her father, the Sect Master, smiled knowingly. "He's tempered by real bloodshed. That calm… it's the calm of someone who's stared at death and smiled back."
Li Yuexin's fingers brushed the edge of her sleeve, her mind flickering with a strange feeling — not admiration alone, but curiosity.
What drives a man like that?
Down below, Lin Feng turned his gaze slightly toward her. Their eyes met for an instant — brief, but piercing. And for that moment, it was as if the world faded into silence.
Then he looked away, as indifferent as ever, but the faint curve of his lips lingered in her mind long after.
---
The Final Match
The Grand Elder's voice rolled like thunder across the courtyard:
"The final match — to determine the Number One Core Disciple of the Sword Sovereign Sect!
Lin Feng… versus Bai Chen!"
The sound of Bai Chen's name brought immediate silence.
From the far end of the courtyard, a sharp clang echoed. A tall figure appeared, his steps soundless yet crisp as frost. Bai Chen's silver-white robes fluttered behind him, the faint gleam of sword qi flowing like frozen rivers around his body.
He was elegant, composed — a walking blade.
He bowed slightly. "Lin Feng."
Lin Feng mirrored the gesture. "Bai Chen."
Their gazes met — calm, steady, deadly. The air between them began to tremble as their sword intents flared unconsciously, clashing even before a strike was made.
---
"Begin!"
In the next instant — Boom!
The two vanished.
Only shockwaves remained.
The barrier flared violently as their swords collided midair, creating a shower of blue and silver sparks that rained down like falling stars.
Bai Chen's movements were sharp and precise, each slash like a line drawn by a divine artist — seamless, elegant, and efficient. Frost spread across the tiles with every swing, his intent chilling the air.
Lin Feng moved like flowing water — unrestrained, unpredictable, his sword arcs shifting between fluid grace and explosive force.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hundreds of strikes in a breath.
The disciples could see nothing but light and afterimages.
Bai Chen's blade screeched against Lin Feng's, sparks scattering like fireworks. "You're strong," he said, voice calm despite the pressure. "But strength without control is reckless."
Lin Feng's eyes glowed faintly blue. "And control without courage is weakness."
Their swords clashed again — this time, Bai Chen unleashed a torrent of frost qi that froze the entire platform.
Frost Domain — Thousand Petals of Ice!
A storm of crystalline blades erupted around Lin Feng, forming a blizzard that swallowed the entire arena. Every flake carried killing intent.
"Such precision," murmured an elder. "Each shard could slice through steel…"
But through the blizzard came a low, resonant sound — the roar of a dragon.
Azure light burst through the snowstorm, scattering it apart.
Lin Feng stepped forward, his aura rising like a tide. "Dragon Domain — Break."
The frost shattered. Bai Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Impressive. So it's true — you've merged multiple intents."
"Sword, Battle, Slaughter, and Dragon," Lin Feng said, lowering his stance. "Let's see how long you can last against all four."
---
The Dance of Frost and Flame
Their blades met again — this time, neither yielded.
Each swing cracked the barrier. Each movement sent air currents spiraling like tornados. Disciples clutched at the railings as invisible shockwaves rippled outward.
Bai Chen's sword left trails of frozen light, creating illusions that mirrored his movements. For every one of him Lin Feng struck, another appeared.
But Lin Feng's instincts were honed beyond illusion. He turned, slashing backward — Bang! — deflecting the real Bai Chen's killing thrust.
"You rely on precision," Lin Feng said, eyes glowing like embers. "But I fight with instinct."
He spun, unleashing a flurry of azure arcs that roared like dragons breaking free from the abyss.
Azure Sword Art — Fifth Stance!
The ground exploded. Dust and light swallowed the platform.
When it cleared, Bai Chen stood firm — his robe torn, frost spreading down his arm. He smiled faintly.
"You are strong, Lin Feng. But the sword isn't about raw strength… it's about clarity."
He raised his sword, and for a moment — the world grew silent.
Then — Boom!
A sudden wave of killing cold burst forth. The barrier screamed under the pressure as Bai Chen's aura transformed into a perfect circle of frozen light.
Frost Sword Domain — Eternal Stillness!
Everything froze. The air, the dust, even the sound. The only things moving were the two swords.
Lin Feng felt his qi slow, the frost trying to invade his veins. But deep within him, his nine-headed dragon roared in defiance.
Blue flames ignited from his core.
"Break!"
His aura flared — a mix of killing intent and divine might. Frost cracked around him like shattering glass.
"Dragon-Battle Domain — Overrun Heaven!"
The two domains collided. The explosion that followed split the barrier in half, forcing elders to reinforce it with their own qi.
---
They clashed again and again. Each strike faster than the last.
Their swords no longer just met — they tore through space itself. Sword qi intertwined, forming storms that twisted the arena's foundation.
"Unbelievable…" Li Yuexin whispered. Her hand gripped the railing unconsciously. "He's matching Bai Chen blow for blow."
The Sect Master smiled faintly. "Matching? He's pushing him back."
Bai Chen's breathing quickened, frost qi flickering unstable. Lin Feng's aura, however, only grew denser — a beast awakening.
Bai Chen's eyes hardened. "Then let's end this!"
He poured every ounce of power into his sword. The blade turned completely white, its glow so cold that the air itself fractured around it.
Frost Heaven Sword — Final Form!
Lin Feng exhaled, his own sword humming violently. "Azure Sword Art…"
Blue lightning coursed up the blade, arcs of slaughter intent coiling like serpents.
"Seventh Stance — Heaven Severing Light!"
The world went white-blue.
When their swords met, the resulting explosion drowned every other sound. Mountains quaked. The formation shattered entirely, sending shockwaves through the surrounding peaks.
Disciples screamed as they were thrown backward. Elders shielded them with barriers of qi.
For a long moment, nothing could be seen.
Then, as the dust settled, a single figure remained standing.
Bai Chen knelt on one knee, his sword broken in half, blood trailing from his lips. His frost aura flickered weakly before fading altogether.
Lin Feng stood before him, blade resting at his side, calm and unscathed save for a faint tear in his sleeve.
---
"You've… surpassed me," Bai Chen said softly, his tone neither bitter nor resentful — only respectful. "Your sword carries something… boundless."
Lin Feng sheathed his blade. "Your sword was flawless. But the heavens don't favor perfection — they favor will."
Bai Chen smiled faintly and bowed. "Then I yield."
The Grand Elder raised his trembling hands. "The victor— Lin Feng!"
Thunderous cheers erupted, shaking the sect grounds.
"Number One Core Disciple!"
"He defeated Bai Chen head-on!"
"The Dragon of the East rises!"
Up above, Li Yuexin stood, her gaze following Lin Feng's calm form as he turned and walked off the platform. Her lips curved slightly.
"There's something terrifying about his composure," she whispered. "And yet… something admirable."
Her father, the Sect Master, chuckled. "Careful, Yuexin. Dragons have sharp claws."
She didn't respond. Her eyes never left Lin Feng's fading silhouette — a solitary figure walking beneath a sky that suddenly seemed too small to contain him.