The tournament grounds buzzed with energy long after the second round ended. Disciples whispered in every corner, some with awe, others with fear. The name "Lu Tian" had gone from being a joke to a storm spreading through the sect.
But Lu Tian himself walked away calmly, as though nothing unusual had happened. His steps carried him back to the outer courtyard, where the cheers faded into the rustling of mountain wind.
The Heaven-Devouring Meridian pulsed, a faint hum beneath his ribs. With a thought, he summoned its panel.
[Heaven-Devouring Meridian] - Bonds Active: 2/10 1. Lan Xue → Bond Level: 1 (Hostility) → Reward: Frost Qi Fragment 2. Zhao Mei → Bond Level: 2 (Hostility) → Reward: Flame Qi (15% compatibility bonus) - Devouring Progress: 7% of Qi Condensation Realm absorbed - Current Realm: Mid Qi Condensation (Devouring Path) - New Function Unlocked: [Bond Resonance] → Shared moments with bonded targets increase connection strength, regardless of hostility.
Lu Tian's brows rose. So I don't need to defeat them in battle every time. Simply being close… will deepen the bond.
That opened endless possibilities. Seduction, rivalry, trust—every interaction became cultivation fuel.
He chuckled under his breath. A harem isn't just pleasure. It's a ladder to the heavens.
"Lu Tian."
The voice was soft, carrying the coolness of falling snow. He turned to see Lan Xue standing under a pine tree, her white robes rippling in the mountain breeze. Her gaze was as sharp as ice shards, but for once, she wasn't glaring in front of a crowd.
She approached slowly, each step measured. "I don't know what sorcery you've grasped, but it isn't natural."
Lu Tian tilted his head, amused. "Sorcery? That's what you call my talent?"
"Don't twist words," she snapped, though her voice wavered slightly. "You've never shown affinity. Now you wield Frost Qi like it's your own. I want answers."
He studied her quietly. Her beauty was undeniable—frosty elegance, every strand of hair perfectly in place. But beneath the pride, he caught a flicker of uncertainty.
"Answers?" He smiled faintly. "Then come closer. You'll feel them."
Lan Xue hesitated, then stepped into arm's reach. The meridian pulsed instantly, threads of frost tugging at his veins. A faint chime echoed in his mind.
[Bond with Lan Xue Strengthened] - Hostility Level: 1 → 2 - Reward: Frost Qi deepened. Compatibility with Ice Arts increased by 10%.
Lan Xue stiffened, sensing the shift. "What… what did you do?"
"Nothing," Lu Tian said softly. "Merely stood with you. Perhaps the heavens want us connected."
Her lips parted, but no words came. She turned sharply, the tips of her ears pink. "Don't flatter yourself. Whatever trick this is, it won't make me accept you."
She strode away, cold aura swirling around her.
Lu Tian watched her go, the faint smile never leaving his lips. You don't have to accept me, Xue. The bond grows whether you will it or not.
Later that night, back in his quarters, the door slid open without warning.
Zhao Mei sauntered in, a mischievous grin curving her lips. She wore crimson silk lighter than usual, the fabric clinging to her curves like fire dancing in the dark.
"Breaking through mid-fight," she said, perching herself casually on his desk. "Crushing Wei Cheng with his own technique. You've grown quite entertaining, fiancé."
Lu Tian didn't rise from his mat. "And you came to congratulate me?"
She laughed, low and sultry. "Congratulate? No. Observe." Her gaze burned as she leaned closer, eyes glinting like embers. "Tell me, how did you absorb that dragon spear art? Don't lie—I felt the traces of it in your qi."
Lu Tian met her gaze without flinching. "Would you believe me if I said… I devour what I desire?"
Her pupils dilated, and for the briefest instant, her breath caught. Then she smirked, tilting her head. "Devour me, then. If you can."
The meridian flared wildly, tugging at the fiery bond.
[Bond with Zhao Mei Strengthened] - Hostility Level: 2 → 3 - Reward: Flame Qi Resonance unlocked. Fire techniques' power increased by 20%.
Zhao Mei shivered, a faint flush coloring her cheeks before she caught herself. She pushed off the desk, laughter ringing. "Careful, Tian. Play with fire, and you'll burn."
She vanished into the night, leaving only the lingering scent of smoke and perfume.
Lu Tian exhaled slowly, the meridian humming like a satisfied beast. Bond Resonance… so even playful words can feed me.
He closed his eyes, cycling frost and flame together. The energies swirled in perfect balance, devouring each other yet strengthening him.
But while he cultivated, the sect itself trembled.
In the elders' hall, three figures sat around a jade table. Elder Qin stroked his beard, frowning. "This boy's growth is abnormal. Mid-Qi Condensation already, after two battles? We must investigate."
Elder Hua's eyes gleamed. "Abnormal or not, power is power. The sect needs talent. Perhaps we should guide him, even… bind him closer."
The third elder, a stern woman with hawk-like eyes, cut in sharply. "Fools. His path reeks of demonic cultivation. If left unchecked, he'll bring disaster."
The debate raged, but one thing was certain: Lu Tian had shaken the sect to its core.
Morning came, bright and harsh. Disciples gathered once again in the arena, eager for the third round.
Lu Tian stood at the edge of the platform, hands folded calmly, as the brackets updated. His next opponent's name etched itself in glowing characters:
Third Round – Lu Tian vs. Xu Han.
A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd.
"It's him already?!""Xu Han—the sect's shining genius!""Lu Tian's rise ends here."
Across the arena, Xu Han smiled faintly, his white robes pristine, his aura as steady as a mountain. His gaze met Lu Tian's across the distance, sharp and eager.
Finally, the duel everyone awaited.
The cripple versus the genius.
The devourer versus the prodigy.
Lu Tian's pulse quickened, not with fear, but with hunger. The meridian purred in his chest, already tasting the feast to come.