The Inner Courtyard buzzed with tension. Disciples gathered in the dueling arena, whispering excitedly. Word had spread fast—Li Ming, the "clown" who breezed through the trial, had been challenged.
"Finally, someone's putting him in his place."
"Yeah. He acts mysterious, but he's just at the early Qi Refining Realm. No way he can last."
"Meanwhile, Senior Brother Guo is already at Qi Refining 6th Stage. This'll be fun."
Li Ming stood in the middle of the stage, arms crossed. He yawned loudly. "Can we get this over with? I have buns waiting for me."
The crowd booed.
His opponent, Guo Wei, stepped onto the stage. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his qi surged like rolling waves. He sneered. "Li Ming, today you'll learn the difference between luck… and true strength."
---
The elder overseeing the duel raised his hand. "For fairness, both contestants will declare their levels. Begin."
Guo Wei smirked. "Guo Wei, Qi Refining 6th Stage."
Gasps filled the air.
"Sixth Stage! No wonder he's confident."
"That's already near the peak of Qi Refining. Most Inner Disciples take years to get there!"
All eyes turned to Li Ming.
He grinned shamelessly. "Li Ming, Qi Refining… uh… 2nd Stage?"
The crowd erupted in laughter.
"Second Stage?! That's it?!"
"And he dared step into the Inner Courtyard?"
"This will be over in one punch!"
Even the elder sighed. "Li Ming… you may forfeit now."
Li Ming waved his hand dismissively. "Relax. I've got this. Besides, who cares about numbers? Cultivation levels are just… suggestions."
The disciples roared with outrage.
---
On the high platform, Lan Yue watched silently. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. She whispered to herself:
Qi Refining 2nd Stage… yet yesterday he suppressed poison energy and saved me. His qi control was flawless. He's hiding something.
Her own cultivation level, though unspoken, was well known: Foundation Establishment 3rd Stage—a realm far beyond ordinary Inner Disciples. She stood on a peak Li Ming could barely see… and yet, somehow, she couldn't dismiss him.
---
The duel.
The elder shouted, "Begin!"
Guo Wei launched forward, fist blazing with qi. "Mountain Splitting Strike!"
The ground cracked as his punch flew at Li Ming's chest.
The crowd held their breath. It's over already!
But Li Ming… sidestepped casually.
WHOOSH!
The fist missed, smashing a crater in the arena floor. Dust exploded.
Li Ming wagged his finger. "Tsk, tsk. Careful. You almost hit me."
Guo Wei snarled and unleashed a flurry of strikes. Each punch cracked the air, carrying the power of boulders crashing down a mountain.
Li Ming ducked, rolled, hopped backward, his movements looking ridiculous—but somehow perfect. The crowd couldn't believe their eyes.
"Is he… dodging all of them?!"
"It looks clumsy, but none of Guo Wei's attacks are landing!"
Wu Jian, watching from the side, clenched his fists. "Damn it… how does this fool always slip away?!"
---
The Cool Moment.
Li Ming popped a Qi Condensing Pill into his mouth mid-roll. His qi surged, refined instantly by his jade slip. His aura erupted, climbing like a storm.
Gasps echoed.
"He's… breaking through again?!"
His body trembled as the barrier shattered. His dantian swelled with energy, and his cultivation surged to Qi Refining 3rd Stage—right in the middle of the fight.
Guo Wei froze, disbelief on his face. "Impossible… no one breaks through like this!"
Li Ming grinned, his black hair fluttering wildly, qi swirling around him like a dragon. His voice boomed across the arena:
"Sorry, Senior Brother Guo… but your cultivation is too soft."
In a blur, he vanished. When he reappeared, his fist glowed with concentrated qi, guided by the Nine Heavens Cloudstep he had just begun to comprehend.
BOOM!
His punch slammed into Guo Wei's chest, sending him flying across the arena like a ragdoll. The older disciple crashed into the barrier, coughing blood.
Silence.
The crowd gaped.
"He… won?!"
"With just one strike?!"
"But he's only 3rd Stage now!"
Wu Jian's face twisted with rage. How?! He's supposed to be trash!
---
Lan Yue's lips curved ever so slightly. She whispered, too softly for anyone to hear: "Interesting. You really are full of surprises, Junior Brother Li Ming."
---
Li Ming stood tall in the center of the arena, dust swirling dramatically around him. He raised his hand like a champion.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you should never underestimate a genius who eats buns."
The crowd groaned.
But no one could deny it—Li Ming had earned his place.
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