The morning sun shined above the Ye Clan academy courtyard, casting soft light on the gathering students. Twenty-four young Gu Masters stood in uniform rows, their expressions serious as they looked toward the raised stone arena at the center of the training ground.
Instructor Ye Ming Chun stood before them with arms crossed behind his back, voice steady as he addressed the group.
"Today," he said, "we begin the internal tournament. Participation is optional, but the rewards… are not insignificant."
He let the words settle before continuing. "Whoever wins this tournament will serve as student council president. The runner-up will become vice president. As for the second vice president, that decision will be made jointly by the president and the first vice president — they may choose from either of the two semi-finalists."
"The student who becomes president will receive an increased stipend of thirty-five primeval stones per week," Ye Ming Chun announced. "The two vice presidents will each receive twenty-five."
A ripple ran through the students. Some shifted with interest, others looked down, clearly unsure or already resigned.
A short time later, Ye Xue Han stood before the instructor, placing his name on the application list. As expected, all three B-rank talents had applied as well — Ye Lan Feng, Ye Mu Lan, and Ye Hai Tong. Aside from them, four more students had joined, bringing the total to eight.
Out of twenty-four, only a third were willing to fight.
Most of the others had opted out without hesitation, believing it pointless to challenge the superiority of the three B-ranks. In their eyes, the outcome was already determined.
The first-round matchups were announced soon after.
Ye Lan Feng vs. Ye Luo Zhi.
Ye Hai Tong vs. Ye Xun Lei.
Ye Mu Lan vs. Ye Ping Rui.
Ye Xue Han vs. Ye Shen Fan.
Ye Xue Han allowed himself a quiet sigh of relief.
At least I don't have to fight one of the B-ranks in the first round… Though I wonder what the odds are they didn't get matched up either.
He glanced at the instructor. The arrangement was likely intentional.
—
The first battle was called.
Ye Lan Feng stepped into the arena with practiced ease, his dark green robes neat, his expression calm. Opposite him stood Ye Luo Zhi, a fellow C-rank — nervous, clearly aware of the gap between them.
"Ye Lan Feng, Rank 1 Initial stage," the elder's son declared firmly.
"Ye Luo Zhi, Rank 1 Initial stage," the other boy replied.
What followed was swift and merciless.
Ye Lan Feng raised his hand, and a jet of water burst forward from his Water Arrow Gu, the sharp stream piercing cleanly through Ye Luo Zhi's shoulder. The boy stumbled back, pale-faced, and surrendered without another move.
The courtyard was silent.
The academy's healing Gu Master — a Rank 2 Middle stage woman with calm eyes and steady hands — stepped forward, using a greenish soothing Gu to patch Ye Luo Zhi up. Within moments, he was stable and carried aside.
—
The second match was Ye Hai Tong against Ye Xun Lei.
Ye Xue Han didn't pay much attention.
He sat at the side of the courtyard, arms crossed, mind focused inward.
He thought back to his past life — the years of amateur taekwondo practice, starting from childhood and continuing until the day of his reincarnation. Recently, during his nightly cultivation sessions, whenever his essence ran dry, he had turned to physical training instead.
Strengthening his body had been a conscious choice. Today, that effort would bear fruit.
He would fight without using his Drip Step Gu.
He needed to conserve his essence for the next round — the semi-finals — where real challenges waited. If he wanted to become vice president or better, he'd need every advantage.
Ye Hai Tong's victory came as expected. His Water Arrow had pierced Ye Xun Lei's arm mid-strike. It was over soon after.
The third match was called.
"Ye Xue Han vs. Ye Shen Fan. Prepare."
Ye Xue Han stood, steadying his breathing.
The two boys stepped into the stone arena. Ye Shen Fan was taller, broader in the shoulders, and wore a confident smirk.
"Ye Shen Fan, Rank 1 Initial stage," he said, nodding slightly.
"Ye Xue Han. Rank 1 Initial stage," Xue Han replied.
Righteous Gu Masters always announced their rank and name before combat. It was a matter of pride and form.
Xue Han already knew Shen Fan's choice — Bubble Shield Gu. A solid, defensive Gu, able to block one or two attacks of the same rank, and even one weak attack of a higher rank.
The match began.
They circled each other warily, no one making the first move.
Neither had an offensive Gu.
This would be a battle of skill, not firepower.
Unfortunately for Shen Fan… Ye Xue Han had twelve years of taekwondo experience.
In a flash, Xue Han closed the distance, delivering a sharp kick toward Shen Fan's ribs. Shen Fan activated his Bubble Shield Gu, a translucent orb of energy wrapping around his body. The kick struck — but the bubble barely trembled.
Xue Han pulled back, recalculating.
Shen Fan smirked. "That all you got?"
Xue Han didn't respond.
He knew Shen Fan's essence pool wasn't limitless. With their C-rank apertures, even maintaining one Gu for long was a strain. Xue Han himself could barely run Drip Step Gu for a full minute.
Shen Fan charged with a punch, shield still active. Xue Han ducked under it and struck back with a roundhouse kick to the jaw. The shield held, but Shen Fan stumbled, dazed.
Xue Han moved behind him, wrapped an arm around his neck, and locked in a chokehold.
Shen Fan struggled wildly. The shield still blocked the damage, but the hold was inescapable.
The two toppled to the ground.
Xue Han gritted his teeth and held on, arms squeezing tighter with every second. The entire courtyard watched in tense silence.
Ten seconds… twenty… thirty…
Finally, at the thirty-fifth second, the Bubble Shield Gu flickered — and shattered.
Shen Fan gasped.
Xue Han didn't wait. He held the choke for another breath before the instructor called out, "Enough! Ye Xue Han wins!"
He let go and stood, panting softly.
His clothes were dusty, his medium-length dark-blue hair disheveled. But he hadn't used a drop of Primeval Essence.
As he walked back into line, the healing Gu Master went to check Shen Fan's vitals. Several students looked at Xue Han with surprise — including Ye Mu Lan, her gaze lingering with subtle curiosity.
But Xue Han ignored them.
His mind was already on the semi-finals.
He had won the first match, could he win the next?