In the 3rd day of March the Sun Clan's compound buzzed with activity. Disciples hurried to hang banners, elders oversaw the construction of raised arenas, and servants cleared long rows of tables in preparation for the flood of guests.
Sun Li strolled through the crowd, the chatter of children chasing one another mixing with the rich aroma of roasting meats and spiced wine. Mortals and immortals alike filled the courtyards, their colorful robes glinting under the spring sun.
A distant voice snapped Sun Li from the surrounding.
"Sun Li!"
He turned to see Sun Hao weaving through the crowd, his broad grin almost as bright as the silken banners swaying above. The older youth clapped a hand on Sun Li's shoulder with the easy familiarity of a brother.
"So," Sun Hao said, eyes narrowing with curiosity, "how was it? That water demon you took from me… did it help you make a smooth breakthrough, or was it just another tough fight?"
Sun Li's lips curled, but he didn't speak.
Sun Hao frowned. "Don't tell me you're going to be all mysterious now. I went through a lot of trouble to buy that thing, you know."
Still, Sun Li only smirked, his gaze drifting past Sun Hao toward the central arena, as if the question had never been asked.
"Hey—" Sun Hao started, but before he could press further, a sharp crash rang out from the western side of the courtyard.
The noise cut through the lively chatter like a blade, followed by the sound of angry shouting.
"Give it back, you arrogant brat!" a voice roared — deep and laced with fury.
Sun Li and Sun Hao both turned. Near one of the vendor stalls, a young man in dark-green robes and blue jade with "Li" inscription stood with his fists clenched, glaring at the person opposite him. That person, with a lazy smirk and a gold-embroidered tunic, was Sun Jian.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and carrying himself with the arrogance of one who had never been denied, Sun Jian held a small lacquered box in one hand, tilting it as if examining a trinket.
Sun Jian's voice was cold, yet dripping with mockery. "Looks like trash to me. I'll take it off your hands before you embarrass yourself."
The Li disciple's qi flared. "You dare—!"
In an instant, the two lunged at each other. Tables toppled, plates clattered to the ground, and startled mortals scrambled away.
A wave of killing intent surged into the air — only to be abruptly crushed beneath a far heavier presence.
"Enough."
The single word rolled across the courtyard like a thunderclap.
Two figures stepped into view from the edge of the crowd — Elder Liu, robed in plain grey with her hands clasped behind her back, and Elder Wei, his crimson outer robe billowing slightly as he walked.
Sun Jian froze, though his eyes still glittered with defiance. The Li disciple looked equally tense, his face flushed with restrained anger.
"Elder Liu," Elder Wei said quietly, his tone laced with restrained annoyance, "shall we deal with this before the guests start gossiping?"
Elder Liu's gaze swept over the two young men. Her eyes lingered on Sun Jian for a heartbeat longer than necessary — not with a scorn, but with a weight that made the boy avert his gaze.
"This is not the place for petty squabbles," Elder Liu said, her voice mild yet carrying an unshakable authority. "Hand over the item, apologize, and walk away. Both of you."
For a moment, no one moved. Then, reluctantly, Sun Jian tossed the lacquered box toward the Li disciple, his smirk never quite reaching his eyes.
Elder Wei's lips tightened, but he said nothing. Instead, he shifted slightly, glancing at Elder Liu. "The tension between the Sun Clan and the Li Clan grows. This—" His eyes flicked toward Sun Jian with sharp intent.
Elder Liu didn't answer immediately. Her gaze drifting over the bustling compound, to the raised arenas and the restless energy that filled the air.
"Perhaps," she said at last, "but there are other… greater storms gathering on the horizon."
"Are you referring to the demonic beast tide that has been wreaking havoc these past years?" Elder Wei asked, his tone measured but heavy.
Elder Liu shook her head. "I doubt this wave will resemble the last. Even Golden Core experts are recalling their men from the outer islands. Something far more dangerous is stirring beneath the sea."
The roars and jeers from the younger generation soon drowned into background noise as the elders' thoughts turned elsewhere.
The Sun Clan wasn't the only power on the scattered islands. Beside them stood the Li Clan and the Duan Clan. All three held some strength, enough to be called medium-sized forces.
But above them sat the Deep Wave Sect, a great power whose reach covered many islands. Every year, the Sun, Li, and Duan clans would send tribute—spirit stones, ores, beast materials—just to keep their place under the sect's shadow. Without that backing, even strong island clans could be crushed or swallowed overnight.
In the raised seats of the arena, two figures sat side by side. Elder Liu's long sleeves rested neatly over her knees, her posture straight and calm, eyes carrying the depth of someone used to silence. Beside her, Elder Wei leaned forward with a faint crease in his brow, watching the commotion below.
After a long pause, Elder Wei spoke in a low voice only his companion could hear.
"There's been word… sightings of the Three-Eyed Clan on the outer seas."
Elder Liu's gaze sharpened slightly. "Are you certain?"
Wei gave a slow nod. "My intelligence confirms it. Their ships have been sighted more than once in the outer seas."
Her eyes drifted over the crowd of young disciples below. Her tone carried no ripple of emotion, yet the weight in her words pressed down like an unseen tide.
"If that clan truly rises again… even Hundred Storm Island will not remain steady."
---
The sun climbed higher, and soon the great arena filled to its edges. Disciples, guests, and mortals packed the stands, their voices rising in waves of noise.
At the center stage, Elder Sun Tao rose. His dark robe was simple, but the way he carried himself drew silence across the vast arena.
"Welcome," Sun Tao said, his voice steady and carrying with qi. "Welcome to the great arena of the Sun Clan, where the younger generation competes for fame, wealth, and honor."
A cheer rolled through the crowd. Young disciples straightened their backs, their eyes sharp with ambition.
"This gathering," Sun Tao continued, "is not only for rivalry, but for growth. Today, the fire of youth will blaze, and from it, the strong will step forward."
He raised his hand, and the air quieted again.
"The Sun Clan's tournament begins now."
At Sun Tao's signal, the first trial was brought forward.
Servants rolled out three iron cauldrons, their surfaces dark and scarred from years of use.
One bore the mark of four hundred jin, the next a thousand, and the last stood like a looming wall of iron at two thousand jin.
Murmurs rippled through the arena. For the younger disciples, even two hundred jin was a wall they might never cross. But for others, it was only the first step.
Elder Sun Tao spoke again, voice calm.
"Strength is the foundation of all paths. Let us see who among you has the will to bear it."
---
Sun Li stepped forward when his name was called.
The three cauldrons loomed before him, their cold iron catching the faint sunlight. His palms felt damp, but he tightened them into fists.
Four hundred jin first. That much I should manage. If I can't even pass this, then what's the point of talking about cultivation?
He crouched, arms bracing around the cauldron's rim. The weight sank into his bones at once, but he gritted his teeth, breath steadying as he lifted. Inch by inch, the cauldron rose.
Cheers and claps rang out from the Sun clan's seats—four hundred jin, steady in his hands.
He set it down and looked toward the thousand. His heart thumped louder.
This one… will show the difference. If I can raise it, at least I won't be lost among the crowd.
The iron pressed down like a mountain. For a moment his knees shook, and a faint flush crept across his face. His vision blurred—but the cauldron rose, trembling, above the ground. He managed a breath before placing it back down with a heavy clang.
Murmurs spread through the spectators. Many had already failed at this stage.
Sun Li's gaze slid to the two-thousand-jin cauldron. His pulse quickened.
He could reach for it… but restraint held him back. Better to bide his time.
He stepped back, chest rising and falling.
---
As the trials went on, the true prodigies began to show. One by one, figures stepped forward and raised the thousand-jin cauldron high. Gasps spread like waves in the arena.
By the end, the results were clear: more than 120 youths lifted the four-hundred, 30 endured the thousand, and 10 prodigies managed the two thousand-jin iron mountain.
---
High above the arena, the patriarchs and envoys watched.
Patriarch Sun, his face calm but eyes sharp, stroked his beard in silence. Beside him sat the envoys of the Li and Duan clans, their gazes sharp as blades, weighing each youth.
At last, one envoy chuckled.
"It seems your Sun clan has no shortage of strong youths. But when the top ten are chosen… shall we see whether it is the Li, Duan, or Sun who claims more seats?"