The next morning, the Li Clan estate was abuzz with rumors. Servants whispered in the halls, disciples murmured in training yards, and elders frowned during their morning assembly.
The news spread like wildfire: the crippled Young Master Li Tianming had defeated Li Hao, the so-called new genius.
Some dismissed it as gossip. Others scoffed that Li Hao must have gone easy on him. But a few who had witnessed the fight swore by the heavens that Tianming had truly regained his ability to cultivate.
By the time the sun reached its zenith, the entire estate seemed to hum with tension.
---
Li Tianming sat cross-legged in his courtyard, sweat dripping as he practiced the Basic Sword Arts he had received from the System. His wooden practice sword slashed through the air with sharp, precise movements.
Each strike left faint afterimages, qi humming along the blade.
[Ding!]
"Sword Arts Proficiency: 13% → 19%."
Tianming exhaled, satisfaction in his eyes. "At this pace, I'll master the basics in less than ten days."
Just then, a servant rushed in, bowing nervously. "Young Master Tianming, the elders have summoned you to the main hall."
Tianming's brow furrowed. He already guessed the reason. "Very well. Lead the way."
---
The Clan Hall
The Li Clan's main hall was vast and imposing, carved from dark stone and adorned with banners of azure clouds—the clan's symbol. Dozens of elders sat in rows, their gazes sharp as knives.
At the center sat the Clan Patriarch, Li Zhengyang, a stern man with iron-gray hair and an aura of authority. His cultivation was said to be at the Golden Core Realm, enough to dominate the entire Northern Province.
Li Hao knelt before him, face pale but eyes burning with hatred.
"Father! Elders! This unfilial cripple ambushed me yesterday and humiliated me in front of servants!" Li Hao's voice trembled with indignation. "I beg the clan to punish him!"
Tianming stepped forward calmly, bowing. "Patriarch, elders, with respect… Li Hao entered my courtyard uninvited and attacked first. I merely defended myself."
A murmur rippled through the hall. Some elders looked surprised, others skeptical.
"Ridiculous!" Li Hao spat. "How could a cripple defeat me unless he used some underhanded trick?"
"Enough," Patriarch Li Zhengyang's voice thundered, silencing the hall. His sharp gaze fell on Tianming. "Tianming. Is it true that you have regained your ability to cultivate?"
Tianming met his eyes steadily. "Yes, Patriarch. My dantian has been restored. I am now at the Qi Refining 1st Stage."
Gasps echoed. Even the most doubtful elders looked shaken.
"This is incredible," one elder muttered. "If true, Tianming's talent may yet return. He was once the brightest star of our clan."
"Humph," another elder snorted. "Don't be naive. His dantian was shattered for two years. Even if restored, his foundation is crippled. He cannot compete with true geniuses anymore."
"Still, we cannot ignore this. If he truly rises again, it could bring great honor to the Li Clan."
"Honor?" Li Hao's mother, Elder Mei, sneered. "He is a disgrace. He already dragged us down when Zhao Yue annulled their engagement. If he shows his face at the Azure Cloud Sect trials, we will only be laughed at again!"
The hall fell into heated argument.
Tianming stood silently, listening. His heart was calm, but his fists clenched at the mention of Zhao Yue.
Finally, Patriarch Zhengyang raised his hand. "Enough. The Azure Cloud Sect's entrance trials will be held in one month. If Tianming truly has recovered, let him prove it there."
Li Hao's eyes gleamed with malice. "Then, Father, may I challenge him openly at the trials? To prove who is the true genius of the Li Clan?"
Zhengyang's gaze flickered, then he nodded. "So be it."
---
The System's Quest
As Tianming left the hall, the System chimed in his mind.
[Ding!]
"Main Quest Updated: Azure Cloud Sect Trials."
– Achieve Top 10 ranking
– Bonus Objective: Defeat Li Hao publicly
Reward: Spiritual Root Enhancement + Random High-Grade Treasure
Tianming's lips curved into a cold smile. "Perfect. The heavens themselves want me to crush him."
---
Su Ning's Concern
Back in his courtyard, Su Ning waited anxiously. When she saw his expression, she rushed forward. "What happened? I heard rumors that the elders called you—did they…"
"I'm fine," Tianming reassured her. "They gave me permission to attend the Sect trials. But Li Hao will challenge me there."
Her face paled. "Li Hao is already at the 4th Stage… and you've only just begun cultivating again. Tianming, it's too dangerous!"
He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "Don't worry. I won't lose. Not to him, not to anyone."
The firmness in his voice made her heart tremble. She bit her lip, then whispered, "If… if you really do rise again, promise me one thing."
"What is it?"
"That you won't forget the people who stayed by your side when you were at your lowest."
Tianming looked into her earnest eyes, then nodded solemnly. "I swear."
The System chimed faintly.
[Harem Bond Strengthened: Su Ning – Compatibility increased to 84%.]
Tianming almost choked, but Su Ning didn't hear the mechanical voice. She only felt warmth spread through her chest.
---
Night Training
That night, under the silver moonlight, Tianming trained relentlessly. His wooden sword sliced through the air again and again, his muscles straining, his qi surging.
Sweat soaked his robes, but his strikes grew sharper, his movements more fluid.
[Ding!]
"Sword Arts Proficiency: 19% → 36%."
He collapsed onto the stone platform, panting but smiling. "Good. At this pace, I'll be ready to fight Li Hao within a month."
Yet deep inside, he knew Li Hao was not his only obstacle. The name Zhao Yue echoed in his mind, fueling his determination like burning oil on a fire.
"Zhao Yue… at the Sect trials, you'll see what kind of man you cast aside."
---
Shadows in the Dark
Unbeknownst to Tianming, in another part of the Li Clan estate, Elder Mei spoke in hushed tones to her allies.
"Tianming's return is a threat to my son's future. We cannot allow him to shine again. Spread word to our contacts in Azure Cloud Sect. Ensure that no matter how well he performs, he will never be allowed to rise."
A shadowy figure bowed in the corner of the room. "It shall be done."
The game of fate had begun.