Mu Waner reacted instantly. Her sword dropped to intercept.
*Bang!*
The impact echoed.
She was forced back several steps, her arms trembling slightly.
Her expression changed.
"Strong…"
---
Wang Li didn't stop.
He stepped forward again and threw a punch.
The air around his fist compressed faintly.
A basic technique—
Yet driven to its limit.
---
A ripple passed through the spectators.
"That's… Great Completion?"
"At Body Refinement?"
---
Mu Waner's eyes sharpened.
Her sword let out a clear hum.
*Zheng—*
The blade flickered, leaving behind afterimages as it thrust forward.
Clean.
Direct.
Precise.
---
"Perfected sword technique…"
Shock spread through the crowd.
---
The sword arrived in an instant.
Wang Li's pupils contracted slightly—
Then, he adjusted.
His body twisted at an unnatural angle, and his fist shifted just enough—
To meet it.
---
For a brief moment—
Everything stilled.
---
*Crack.*
---
The sound was clear.
Too clear.
The sword shattered.
Fragments scattered across the arena.
---
Before Mu Waner could react—
Wang Li's fist had already reached her.
*Bang!*
She was sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground.
---
Silence fell.
---
No one spoke.
No one moved.
---
Wang Li stood where he was, his breathing steady.
To him, this was expected.
Mu Waner… was strong.
But not strong enough.
---
At the edge of the arena, the elder overseeing the trial paused briefly before speaking.
"Number Seven… Wang Li wins."
There was a trace of surprise in his voice.
---
The crowd slowly erupted.
"Ninth level… he's at the ninth level!"
"He broke a perfected technique with his bare hands…"
"Who is he?"
---
Wang Li stepped down from the arena without a word.
To him, this changed nothing.
One victory did not guarantee survival.
---
The selection continued.
One match after another.
But for Wang Li—
None posed any threat.
---
By the end of the day, the trial elder's stern voice resounded:
"From the initial selection, only four hundred of you remain—out of the thousands who once stood here, vying for a place within the Outer Sect. Tomorrow, the second trial will commence. From this group, a mere one hundred will be chosen to step through the sect's gates."
A brief pause followed, the weight of those words settling over the crowd.
"The top ten among you will be granted contribution points—resources that may shape your future within the sect. Those who succeed in entering the Outer Sect shall also earn the privilege of selecting three Yellow-grade techniques, free of cost."
The voice grew colder, sharper.
"Alright! You should rest well for the coming two days and prepare for the secret realm trial two days from now on. Elders from the sect will be observing. Should you prove exceptional enough to draw their attention… your fate may be rewritten."
Wang Li's eyes narrowed slightly at the words of the elder.
He managed to grasp a few important information from his words, but he was more into the contribution points.
He needed to get his hands on it, after all he lacked new techniques and cultivation resources.
At his current level, what gold and silver could get him was no longer able to keep up with his needs. Rare resources were needed and he had no ways of getting them. Only a sect could give him this access.
Watching as the crowd dispersed, a figure caught his attention. It was a fat young looking girl in luxurious robes stood off to the side, looking relaxed, almost like in her backyard.
Wang Li glanced at her briefly, and she seemed to notice his gaze.
She hurriedly walked over, calling out to him.
"Wang Li! Brother Wang! Where have you been hiding? I didn't notice you all this time."
"Hehe! Zi Xuan! When did you learn to be so pretentious? With how everyone was cursing me on the stage, you couldn't notice me? Just say you where hidding from me! But then again, you haven't been elimated yet?" Wang Li looked at her as though he was seeing a unique creature for the first time.
"What are you doing? Stop moving around me. What is with that look you are giving me?" Zi Xuan looked at Wang Li wearily.
"Im just wondering how come I never noticed you are so thick-skinned!" Wang Li replied calmly.
The young lady blinked, then looked at Wang Li as though at a loss. She couldn't win in a verbal war.
Helplessly, she stood beside him and the two of them started to watch as the Young men and women around them formed groups.
While watching them, Wang Li asked, "Do you know anything about the secret realm mentioned by the elder?"
"How could I know about this? Have you forgotten I have almost followed you everywhere since I can remember!" The chubby Zi Xuan replied while rolling her eyes at him.
"True! You are indeed at the epitome of ignorance. Me asking such a question is putting you at a disadvantage!" Wang Li said this naturally as though it was the truth.
Chubby Zi Xuan standing beside him almost choked, especially seeing his serious profile.
Just as she was about to fight back, a female voice sounded beside them.
"The Spiritual Secret realm is a special space in the sect opened up by some strong expert, that can only accommodate those at Body Refinement stage."
Wang Li and Zi Xuan turned to see the person that had spoken was none other than his defeated opponent Mu Waner.
Seeing the way the two of them looked at her strangely, she didn't even bother to explain herself.
She just looked back at them, before Wang Li asked, "You are?"
"Mu Waner!" She replied with an unnatural expression.
"Oh! Just now you mentioned a special space. May I ask, what is the purpose of this space?" Wang Li asked calmy.
"Treasures! The special space has very valuable treasures inside. Each of them after being consumed js very beneficial to enhancing the spirit. You should know about the realm after body refinement right?"
She looked at them with her eyes shining.
Zi Xuan that had been silent suddenly spoke up.
"Off course we know! Qi gathering patriarch." Zhe replied without even a second thought.
She was indeed right.
Qi gathering realm was a real threshold and even in the Spirit Stream Sect, only inner disciples were at this level.
"Treasures in the Spiritual Secret realm can enhance the spirit, and the more one consumes the stronger the spirit becomes. With a stronger spirit gathering Qi becomes easier." The words from Mu Waner ignited something inside Wang Li.
He made up his mind to enhance his strength.
If what this woman had said was true, then competition for the treasures inside the Secret realm wouldn't be simple.