The arena was still trembling from the echoes of the clash. Wei Tian, the Golden Spear of the Inner Academy, had been broken. Kai stood bloodied but unyielding, and the name Kai now roared across every corner of the Outer Academy.
But even as the chants of the crowd filled the skies, the familiar cold chime whispered in his mind.
---
[System Notification]
Passive Skill: Pain Resistance (Lv.1) has been integrated.
Effect: Pain perception reduced by 15%. Focus in battle increased by 10%.
Next Level Requirement: Survive three consecutive battles at less than 20% Vitality.
[Experience Progress]: 76% → Realm Advancement Approaching
---
Kai's lips twitched. Three battles below 20% vitality? This damned System really wants to kill me.
His body finally gave in. The pain he had been holding back surged like a tidal wave. His knees buckled, and his vision went black.
The last thing he heard before darkness swallowed him was the roar of his name echoing across the arena.
---
Recovery
When Kai woke, he was lying on a jade bed in the medical hall. Threads of warmth coursed through his body from the healing formations inscribed into the walls. His wounds were wrapped in herbal-soaked bandages, the air thick with medicinal fragrance.
Every inch of his body ached, but it was a tolerable ache now—muffled by his new passive.
So this is Pain Resistance… useful.
His fingers curled, testing his grip. Though battered, his body was tougher than before, the System's enhancements knitting his flesh back together faster than normal healing.
"Kai…"
A timid voice called. He turned his head to see several Outer disciples—ones who had once mocked him—kneeling by the door. Their eyes shone with awe and fear.
"You… you've become our beacon," one said, voice trembling. "From now on, no one can look down on Outer disciples again."
Kai said nothing. He could see the fervor in their eyes. Worship… and ambition. Some of them meant loyalty, but others would surely try to use his name for their own gains.
---
Whispers in the Outer Academy
Outside, the Academy had erupted into chaos.
Outer disciples formed factions overnight, calling themselves Kai's Banner, Bloodied Fists, even The Outer Phoenix. They shouted his name in the courtyards, swore oaths to follow him, and beat down anyone who insulted him.
But for every supporter, there was an enemy.
Jealous disciples whispered in dark corners, muttering that Kai had humiliated them all by drawing the wrath of the Inner Academy.
"He won against Wei Tian, yes… but that only paints a target on our backs. The Inner Academy won't let this go unpunished."
"Better to remove him ourselves before he drags us all into ruin."
Plots began to brew.
---
The Inner Academy's Shame
Meanwhile, in the Inner Academy's marble halls, the humiliation of Wei Tian spread like wildfire.
"An Outer disciple defeated him?!"
"Impossible. That's a disgrace to the Inner!"
Groups of Inner disciples gnashed their teeth. Some demanded immediate revenge. Others sneered, calling Wei Tian weak.
But all of them shared the same thought—Kai could not be ignored.
And at the heart of it was Lu Chen, ranked twenty-third. His cold words in the arena still lingered in every ear: I will crush him myself.
---
The Elders' Closed-Door Debate
Deep within the Elder Hall, twelve figures sat in a circle.
"This Kai is a menace. If left unchecked, his arrogance will poison the Outer disciples."
"Arrogance? Nonsense. He has courage, will, and raw power. Qualities we haven't seen in decades. I say admit him to the Inner Academy immediately."
"To what end? To disrupt balance? The Inner disciples already seethe with fury at Wei Tian's defeat. Bringing Kai in now would ignite civil war between the ranks."
"And if we suppress him, we risk losing him. Do you think the sects outside these walls won't notice? He will be stolen away in an instant."
The Elders' voices clashed, each word sharp as blades.
At the farthest end, Elder Yun sat quietly. He sipped his tea, watching the storm unfold. Only when the voices began to wane did he speak.
"Geniuses are not caged birds," he said softly. "They are blades. Either we wield them… or they cut us instead."
His words left the chamber in uneasy silence.
---
Kai and the System
Days passed. Kai remained in the medical hall, his body healing slowly.
He used the time to dive deeper into the System.
Status.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Kai
Realm: Body Tempering (Peak – 99%)
Strength: 52
Agility: 47
Vitality: 46
Perception: 38
Passive: Pain Resistance (Lv.1)
Feature: Status Scan (Lv.1)
Free Points: 10
---
Ten free points. Kai spread them evenly, raising his body's foundation further. He could feel the shift instantly—muscles tightening, senses sharpening, blood flowing with vigor.
Still, his eyes lingered on the 99%. One step away from breaking into the Qi Condensation Realm.
But he knew crossing that step wasn't simple. Even with the System, the barrier between Body Tempering and Qi Condensation was like a wall forged from iron. Many disciples spent years at its edge.
He clenched his fist. I'll break through soon. I have to, or I won't survive against Lu Chen.
---
Rumors and Intrigue
The Academy seethed with rumors.
Some Outer disciples swore Kai would become the first in history to leap from Outer to Inner in mere months.
Others whispered that Lu Chen had already begun preparing to crush him publicly, to restore the Inner's pride.
Assassins from jealous factions tried to slip into the medical hall at night. Twice, they were found beaten unconscious outside the wards—rumors spread that Elder Yun himself had intervened quietly.
But the tension only mounted.
---
The Summons
On the morning of the seventh day, Kai sat cross-legged, his breathing steady, Pain Resistance dulling the ache of lingering wounds. He was finally able to stand without swaying.
The door creaked open.
A disciple in silver robes entered, bowing stiffly. His tone was respectful, but his eyes brimmed with disdain.
"Kai. The Elders summon you to the Grand Council Hall."
Kai's gaze sharpened. Finally.
He rose to his feet, bandages still wrapped across his chest, and followed the messenger.
Every step he took through the Academy grounds drew eyes. Outer disciples bowed or shouted encouragement. Inner disciples sneered, their stares sharp with hostility.
By the time he reached the massive black-stone doors of the Council Hall, he could feel the weight of the entire Academy pressing down on him.
The doors opened. Inside, twelve Elders sat in their circle. And standing before them, arms crossed, was Lu Chen.
His presence was like a mountain of ice, suffocating and cold.
Kai's blood stirred instantly.
The calm before the storm had ended.