The dust from the arena fight still hung in the air, swirling with the morning wind.
Lin Tian walked calmly down the stone path, his robe stained with dust and blood. The crowd parted instinctively. No one dared approach. The whispers followed him like shadows.
"He… he beat Qin Hao!"
"Outer disciple… surpassing an inner candidate?"
"Has anyone ever seen this before?"
Even Su Yan and Mo Xue trailed at a distance, their expressions serious.
"Lin Tian," Mo Xue finally spoke, voice low. "You've drawn attention… dangerous attention."
"I know," Lin Tian replied calmly. "I expected it."
---
The Outer Sect Elders convened immediately after the fight. Inside the main hall, stone pillars lined the room, engraved with runes that faintly glowed.
Elder Tianfeng, a seasoned inner elder, was at the head of the table. His sharp eyes scanned reports from the arena.
"He defeated three outer disciples, broke the reinforced stone, and now overpowered Qin Hao… in full view of the sect?" he said quietly.
A murmur ran through the other elders.
"This boy… he's extraordinary," another elder said, stroking his beard. "And dangerous if left unchecked."
"Yes," Elder Tianfeng said, voice low but firm. "We cannot allow an Outer Sect disciple to rise this quickly. He must be observed, tested… and controlled if necessary."
---
Meanwhile, Lin Tian received his reward in the Outer Sect Hall.
A stack of contribution tokens and a small set of refined training tools were presented.
"Outer disciple Lin Tian," the referee said, bowing slightly, "you have performed exceptionally. These rewards are your contribution points and basic cultivation tools to stabilize your Body Refinement."
Lin Tian accepted them without a word.
He examined the tools briefly. Polished jade stones, training dummies, and a set of meditative manuals. Basic. Enough to stabilize his fifth layer, nothing more.
Expected, Lin Tian thought. The sect won't hand me resources beyond what they control.
---
By evening, Lin Tian returned to his quarters. He set up his small training space and began refining his new strength.
The Heaven-Defying Body Art reacted instinctively. Every bone, muscle, and drop of blood worked in harmony, converting pain into power, refining his speed, reflexes, and striking force.
Hours passed, and the moon rose high.
Then, a faint shadow appeared outside his window.
Lin Tian's eyes snapped open.
Two figures—small, nimble—moved silently on the rooftops.
Assassins.
Not sect disciples… he thought. But hired killers.
His senses heightened. He didn't panic. Instead, he slowly extended his palm, testing the air. A ripple of qi brushed outward, detecting the slightest movement.
The first figure leaped down, dagger glinting in the moonlight.
Lin Tian stepped aside—fast, precise, unerring. He grabbed the dagger-hand, twisted, and flipped the attacker across the courtyard. Crack! Bones shattered.
The second figure hesitated, recognizing Lin Tian's speed and power.
Lin Tian didn't waste time. He moved forward in a blur, his body a perfect combination of speed and strength.
Boom!
The assassin collided with a tree trunk and slid down, unconscious.
Lin Tian exhaled slowly.
"They underestimated me," he murmured.
---
The next morning, word of the assassination attempt had spread.
Even Su Yan approached him carefully.
"They weren't Outer Sect disciples," she said, voice low. "Someone from outside wants you dead."
Lin Tian nodded calmly.
"Then we have a bigger problem than Qin Hao," he said. "But I expected it. Strength attracts enemies."
Mo Xue's expression darkened.
"You're not just fighting for survival anymore," she said. "Your actions have consequences. Both within and outside the sect."
Lin Tian considered this.
He stood at the cliff behind the sect, overlooking the mountains. The wind whipped through his hair.
"Good," he whispered to himself. "The world is bigger than this sect. The stronger I become, the sooner I control my own path. No more weaklings, no more limits."
---
That night, Lin Tian meditated.
The Heaven-Defying Body Art absorbed his pain, strengthened his muscles, and refined his reflexes.
Qi surged within him, harmonizing with his Blood Refinement. His fifth layer stabilized, and hints of a sixth layer stirred within.
He knew one thing clearly:
The sect would now watch him closely.
Qin Hao would seek revenge.
And outside, powerful forces had already noticed the name: Lin Tian.
He opened his eyes, glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"The game begins," he said softly.
"And I will play to win."