The next day, Merin walks out of the house with his brother.
They stroll through the morning streets, their steps unhurried, until they stop in front of a tall building.
What surprises them is the sight of a large crowd gathering so early in front of the Xiao family martial arts training school.
The brothers exchange glances, then squeeze into the crowd.
From the murmurs around them, they learn that a new martial arts school has arrived in the city and is challenging the Xiao family's martial arts training school.
Merin releases a ripple of spirit power, subtly influencing the crowd to part, and he and his brother move forward until they stand at the forefront.
They arrive just in time to see a Xiao family disciple, wearing the school's uniform, fall defeated to the ground.
The challengers, disciples of the Zu family school, burst into laughter.
One sneers, "I heard your Xiao family school once dominated this area, but now I think it must have been a lie—just like your so-called Young Master advancing to the Blood Yang realm while still stuck as a third realm martial artist."
Another chimes in mockingly, "Three years have passed, and he's still at the third realm."
Merin's eyes shift to the Xiao family's young master, and his expression turns strange.
Xiao Yun's blood surges like burning fire—but every bit of it is being absorbed by a ring on his finger.
Within that ring dwells a soul faintly shimmering with gold.
Xiao Yun is, in truth, a Blood Yang realm martial artist, yet all his energy is devoured by the soul inside his ring.
Merin cannot determine whether the soul is a ghost or not.
There is no deathly aura—only the aura of life.
Even without a body, the soul radiates pure vitality, and Merin knows there is only one reason: the soul has reached the Divine Soul realm.
It is on the verge of awakening, and within days, Xiao Yun's cultivation will begin to recover.
Merin frowns as a strange realisation forms.
Xiao Yun's situation feels eerily similar to a character in a novel he once read on Earth.
But unlike that story, this world—the dream world—has no Heaven and Earth fire.
Merin watches silently as a disciple of the Zu family steps onto the stage.
He points his finger at Xiao Yun. "Young master of the Xiao family, I challenge you."
Xiao Yun pushes himself to his feet.
His fellow disciples rush to stop him, their voices filled with fear and concern for Xiao Yun's safety.
But Xiao Yun ignores their pleas and walks steadily onto the stage.
The battle begins, and to everyone's shock, Xiao Yun wins with ease.
Though his realm has fallen to the third and teeters on the brink of collapsing into the mortal realm, his body's strength and his combat skill remain sharp.
Another Zu family disciple steps forward, this one a second realm martial artist.
He smirks and says, "You're only third realm. Step down. I don't want to waste time defeating a liar."
Xiao Yun's face stays calm as he takes a fighting stance.
The disciple laughs. "I'll finish you in three moves."
But instead of Xiao Yun falling, the Zu disciple is kicked clean off the stage.
The crowd grows silent, then whispers break out like a tide.
"Was it true three years ago? Did Xiao Yun really reach the Blood Yang realm?"
"But why is he at the lowest point of the third realm now?"
"I heard he was cursed, and that's why he fell from Blood Yang back to the third realm."
"Can he recover?"
"Why would anyone curse him?"
"When the Xiao family dominated, they slaughtered countless evil creatures, but in revenge, their Blood Yang predecessors were ambushed and cursed by those very creatures."
"I heard Xiao Yun fell because of the three martial arts schools. They ganged up and crippled him."
Merin listens with a faint smile, amused that not a single rumour holds the truth.
Only two people in this world know it—Merin and the soul inside the ring.
On the stage, Xiao Yun defeats a first realm disciple of the Zu family school, drawing cheers from the Xiao disciples.
The Zu family disciples remain silent, their faces dark.
Another first realm disciple from the Zu family steps up, and this time the fight drags out.
Xiao Yun's fragile energy burns away too quickly, and his body suffers from the strain.
He falls in defeat.
The first realm disciple of the Zu family continues, crushing three first realm martial artists of the Xiao family in a row.
The head of the Zu family school rises and declares, "Xiao Zhan, your martial art school has no first realm martial artist left. Admit defeat and hand over the Fire Demon Martial Art technique of your school."
Merin learns the wager is indeed the Xiao family's Blood Yang martial art technique.
Xiao Zhan sits in silence for a moment, his gaze fixed on Zu Kan.
At last, he sighs, preparing to surrender his family's technique.
Then, a woman's voice cuts through the tension.
"Who says the Xiao family has no first realm martial artist?"
A beautiful woman steps out from the Xiao family crowd.
Xiao Zhan looks up in shock. "Young Lady Gu…"
The woman smiles lightly. "Uncle Xiao, don't worry. I'll take care of this."
Xiao Yun calls out, "Sister Gu…"
Gu Yan'er glances at him. "Brother Xiao, wait. Let me teach this guy a lesson."
She steps onto the stage, bows slightly, and says, "Gu Yan'er, from the Xiao family martial art school. Please advise."
The referee signals, and the battle begins.
Moments later, Gu Yan'er emerges victorious.
Zu Kan's face twists with rage, and unable to contain himself, he releases his aura of half-step Blood Yang realm.
The crowd recoils under the crushing pressure.
For Merin, the aura feels like nothing, but to maintain his role, he too steps back with the others.
Then, Xiao Zhan and Gu Yan'er both release their own half-step Blood Yang auras.
The pressure collides.
Zu Kan freezes, realising that he is outnumbered. Opposite him stand two half-step Blood Yang cultivators, while he is alone.
The crowd gasps, their faces filled with shock as Gu Yan'er's true realm is revealed.
Even the Xiao family disciples did not know.
Merin narrows his eyes. This is becoming too much like the novel he once read.
This world must be a dream, he thinks, a hodgepodge created from someone's imagination.
Xiao Zhan steps forward. "Brother Zu Kan, you have lost the bet."
Zu Kan lets out a cold snort and tosses a box toward Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Zhan catches it, then solemnly hands it over to Xiao Yun.
Zu Kan flicks his robe and turns away. "Let's go."
He leads his disciples out of the arena, his face dark.
Slowly, the crowd disperses, leaving only Merin and his younger brother behind.
Merin exchanges a glance with his brother, and together they walk forward.
A Xiao family disciple steps up. "Do you need anything?"
Merin signals to his brother and replies, "I want him to join your martial arts school."
The disciple calls out, "Head, someone came to join our school!"
Xiao Zhan, who is speaking with his son, pats the boy's shoulder and turns. "Who wants to join?"
The disciple points toward Lin Zhu.
Merin says, "My brother, Lin Zhu."
Xiao Zhan studies him for a moment before saying, "Are you sure? He has already passed the best age to learn martial arts."
Lin Zhu freezes at the words, hesitation flashing in his eyes.
Merin's voice cuts through firmly. "I am sure. How much will it take to join?"
"Ten small silver per month," Xiao Zhan replies. "But if he eats here, then one large silver per month."
Lin Zhu leans close and whispers, "Brother, ten small silver."
Merin ignores him and asks, "What food will he get here, for a price ten times higher?"
Xiao Zhan lifts his chin. "Every other day in a month, he will be served medicinal food made from demon meat."
Merin narrows his eyes. "You can treat demon meat?"
Xiao Zhan's tone grows proud. "Our school once dominated Mulin City."
Merin asks again, "Then, if I bring demon meat to you, could you treat it?"
Xiao Zhan scrutinises him.
Merin moves his robe aside, revealing the four-gate badge hanging at his waist.
Xiao Zhan's eyes light up. "A Celestial Master… Do not worry. If you bring a demon body to our school, I will treat it for free."
Merin nods, pays the money, and Xiao Zhan says, "He can come tomorrow to join."
Merin and Lin Zhu step out into the street.
Lin Zhu looks uneasy. "Brother, ten small silver coins would have been better for me."
Merin shakes his head. "You've passed the best age to learn martial arts. If you want to increase your strength quickly, diet is more important."
Lin Zhu lowers his head and nods.
Merin places a hand on his shoulder. "Go home first. I'll come later."
He then turns away, heading toward the Four Gate building to take on a new task.