Lin Fan stood panting, the Dao Sect's lowest disciple now its rising star. The secret realm awaited—and with it, Chu Xue, the Blood Fang Sect's trap, and the first step toward his destiny. The cheers of the crowd faded as he stepped out of the arena, his tattered robes swaying in the mountain breeze. The weight of a hundred gazes—some awed, some envious—pressed on him, but his mind was elsewhere. The *Heaven-Defying Comprehension System* hummed, its cold voice cutting through his exhaustion:
> *"Inner Sect Competition victory achieved. Host's potential recognized. New task: Gain a foothold in the Dao Sect. Earn 200 Comprehension Points (CP) within one month. Current CP: 115."*
Lin Fan's lips twitched into a wry smile. "Two hundred points? You're not making this easy." His victory over Zhao Feng, a Core Manifestation Tier 5 disciple, had shocked the Dao Sect, but he was still Qi Condensation Layer 2—pathetic by sect standards. The Myriad Dao Secret Realm, a trial for inner disciples, was his chance to prove himself further. And Chu Hao's plot with the Blood Fang Sect meant danger was closing in.
---
The Dao Sect's Martial Hall was a maze of stone corridors and training yards, its walls etched with faded runes from its glory days. Lin Fan, now an outer disciple with inner sect potential, was assigned a small courtyard near the hall's edge. It was barely more than a shack, with a creaky bed and a cracked meditation mat, but to Lin Fan, it was a step up from Qingyang Town's squalor.
He sat cross-legged, opening the System Store. His 115 CP offered options to boost his growth:
- **Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 2)** (20 CP): Doubles Qi absorption for 48 hours.
- **Thunder Lotus Claw Enhancement** (30 CP): Upgrades to high-grade art.
- **Soul Refining Manual** (40 CP): Advances Soul Awakening to Stage 2.
- **Random Dao Insight** (50 CP): Grants partial comprehension of a random Dao (e.g., Fire, Sword).
The *Soul Refining Manual* called to him. His Soul Awakening Stage 1 gave him a ten-meter divine sense, a rare edge for a Qi Condensation cultivator. Advancing it could help him detect Chu Hao's schemes. "Purchase the Soul Refining Manual," he muttered.
> *"Purchase confirmed. CP -40. Current CP: 75. Manual integrated into host's memory."*
A torrent of knowledge flooded his mind—techniques to condense soul energy, sharpen divine sense, and project faint soul pressure. He closed his eyes, guiding his weak soul energy into a tiny vortex within his sea of consciousness. The vortex spun, emitting a soft hum.
> *"Soul Refining initiated. Soul Awakening Stage 2 reached. Divine sense range increased to 20 meters. CP +10. Current CP: 85."*
Lin Fan exhaled, feeling his perception sharpen. He could sense the Qi flows of disciples training a hundred meters away. "This'll make things interesting," he murmured.
---
The next morning, Lin Fan joined the Martial Hall's training session. Dozens of outer disciples sparred under the watchful eye of Elder Liang, a Foundation Forging Stage 6 cultivator with a scar across his cheek. His aura was heavy, but his eyes lingered on Lin Fan with grudging respect.
"Newcomers, pair up!" Elder Liang barked. "Show me you're not a waste of the sect's resources."
Lin Fan was paired with a lanky disciple named Wei Tao, Qi Condensation Layer 5, who wielded a *Wind Blade Art*. Wei Tao smirked, twirling his dagger. "Don't cry when I cut you, trash."
> *"Humiliation detected. CP +10. Current CP: 95."*
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed. "Let's see who's crying."
The spar began. Wei Tao's dagger flashed, slicing air with green Qi. Lin Fan activated *Dao Enlightenment*, his divine sense tracking the blade's path. He dodged, copying the technique mid-fight:
> *"Observed: Wind Blade Art. Copied as Wind Palm (Basic). CP +15. Current CP: 110."*
Lin Fan's palm glowed with faint green Qi, deflecting Wei Tao's next strike. He countered with *Thunder Lotus Claw*, lightning and flames crackling. Wei Tao stumbled, his dagger clattering to the ground. The other disciples gasped.
Elder Liang's scar twitched. "Enough! Lin Fan wins."
Wei Tao scrambled to his feet, face red. "You got lucky, trash!"
> *"Humiliation detected. CP +10. Current CP: 120."*
Lin Fan ignored him, catching Chu Xue's gaze from across the yard. She was sparring effortlessly, her *Ice Phoenix Palm* freezing her opponent's weapon. Her eyes met his, unreadable, before she turned away.
---
That afternoon, Lin Fan visited the Dao Sect's library, a dusty hall filled with crumbling scrolls. He hoped to uncover clues about Lin Dong's legacy or the Myriad Dao Secret Realm. The system's *Dao Enlightenment* guided him to a faded scroll titled *Records of the Martial Ancestor*. It detailed Lin Dong's rise in the Dao Sect, mentioning his mastery of the *Devouring Ancestral Symbol* and a relic hidden in the sect's secret realm.
> *"Observed: Ancient scroll. Comprehended historical knowledge. CP +20. Current CP: 140."*
Lin Fan's heart raced. The relic was real—and tied to his family. But a chill ran down his spine as his divine sense caught a faint presence. He turned, spotting a cloaked figure in the library's shadows—Venerable Shadow Fang, his Heavenly Fusion Realm aura masked but unmistakable to Lin Fan's soul-enhanced senses.
The system chimed: *"Detected: Hostile intent. Strategic insight gained. CP +10. Current CP: 150."*
Lin Fan slipped out, heart pounding. Shadow Fang was here, in the Dao Sect. The Blood Fang Sect's trap was closer than he'd thought.
---
Over the next weeks, Lin Fan threw himself into training. He used a **Qi Condensation Pill (Tier 2)** (20 CP, Total: 130), pushing his cultivation to **Qi Condensation Layer 3**. His *Soul Refining Manual* sharpened his divine sense, letting him eavesdrop on Chu Hao's whispered plans with a Blood Fang Sect spy in the sect's outer grounds. "The secret realm… we'll bury Lin Fan there," Chu Hao hissed.
> *"Eavesdropping successful. CP +15. Current CP: 145."*
Lin Fan's blood boiled, but he stayed calm. The system's *Skill Copying* let him steal techniques from sparring disciples: *Iron Mountain Fist*, *Shadow Step*, and *Flame Sparrow Kick*. He fused them with *Thunder Lotus Claw* to create *Storm Lotus Barrage*, a high-grade art that combined lightning, fire, and wind.
> *"Skill Fusion successful. Storm Lotus Barrage created. CP +30. Current CP: 175."*
His progress drew attention. Zhao Feng, the senior he'd defeated, approached him one evening. "You're no ordinary trash, Lin Fan," he said, voice low. "But watch your back. Chu Hao's got friends in dark places."
Lin Fan nodded, wary. "Thanks for the warning."
---
The night before the Inner Sect Competition's final rankings, Lin Fan meditated in his courtyard, refining his *Storm Lotus Barrage*. A soft knock broke his focus. Chu Xue stood at his door, her white robes glowing under the moonlight. "You're reckless," she said, voice cold but tinged with concern. "Chu Hao's planning something for the secret realm. Why do you keep pushing?"
Lin Fan studied her. Was she warning him or testing him? "I don't have a choice," he said. "The Lin Family's counting on me."
Chu Xue's eyes softened, just for a moment. "Don't die." She left without another word.
> *"Interaction analyzed. Potential ally detected. CP +10. Current CP: 185."*
Lin Fan frowned. Chu Xue was an enigma, but her warning confirmed his suspicions. The Blood Fang Sect's trap was set for the Myriad Dao Secret Realm.
---
The final rankings of the Inner Sect Competition arrived. Lin Fan faced a gauntlet of battles, his *Storm Lotus Barrage* overwhelming opponents up to Qi Condensation Layer 7. In the final match, he faced Chu Hao. The arena crackled with tension, disciples chanting for blood.
Chu Hao's *Blazing Tiger Fist* roared, flames surging. "You're dead, trash!" he snarled.
> *"Humiliation detected. CP +10. Current CP: 195."*
Lin Fan activated *Insight Surge* (CP -50, Total: 145), his mind blazing with clarity. He dodged Chu Hao's fiery punches, countering with *Storm Lotus Barrage*. Lightning, fire, and wind erupted, slamming Chu Hao into the arena wall. The crowd roared as Chu Hao collapsed, unconscious.
Elder Mo stood, voice booming. "Lin Fan, top rank! You'll lead the inner disciples to the Myriad Dao Secret Realm!"
> *"Victory achieved. CP +50. Task progress: 245/200 CP. Task completed early. Reward: Random Dao Insight (Fire Dao, Partial). CP +20. Current CP: 215."*
Lin Fan's body tingled as fire Qi pulsed in his meridians, amplifying his *Storm Lotus Barrage*. He glanced at Chu Xue, who nodded slightly, a flicker of respect in her eyes. In the shadows, Venerable Shadow Fang's cloaked figure vanished, his soul aura lingering like a predator's scent.
---
As the crowd dispersed, Lin Fan stood alone, gazing at the starry sky. The Myriad Dao Secret Realm was days away—a trial of relics, beasts, and traps. Chu Hao's defeat wouldn't stop the Blood Fang Sect. And the relic tied to Lin Dong's legacy called to him, a beacon of his family's lost glory.
The system's voice echoed: *"Prepare for the Myriad Dao Secret Realm. Danger awaits, but so does destiny."*
Lin Fan clenched his fist, the wolf core from the Ancestral Trial pulsing in his pocket. "Bring it on," he whispered. "I'll defy the heavens and carve my own legend."