The following day brought an air of unease to the Azure Sky Sect. The disciples were more restless than usual, their excitement from the tournament tainted by a sense of impending danger. Even those who usually thrived in the thrill of battle seemed subdued, their gazes frequently darting toward the elders and high-ranking members of the sect who had been unusually tense.
Li Xuan, however, remained focused. As the next round of the tournament approached, he stood in a quiet courtyard, preparing for what was to come. His battle against Wang Yue had earned him some notoriety, and now, other disciples regarded him with a mix of awe and suspicion. But it didn't matter to him. He had no time to worry about their opinions; his only concern was advancing his strength.
Sitting cross-legged beneath a large, ancient tree, Li Xuan guided his Qi through his meridians. The Ninefold Ascension Technique had already allowed him to break through multiple bottlenecks, but it was still a volatile and dangerous method. He knew that every session of cultivation carried the risk of disaster if he wasn't careful.
As the Qi circulated through his body, the Eternal Codex within him stirred once again. It was always present, always watching, though its guidance often came in whispers. Now, as Li Xuan meditated, the Codex revealed something new—an image of a looming figure cloaked in darkness, its eyes burning with a malevolent glow.
Li Xuan's eyes shot open, his heart racing. What was that? The Codex had never shown him visions before, only information, techniques, and warnings. This time, however, it had presented a direct threat. He could still feel the chill of the figure's gaze, as if it were watching him even now.
Was it a premonition? Or was this figure already among them?
Before he could dwell on it further, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Li Xuan!"
He turned to see Zhang Wei jogging toward him, his expression serious.
"What is it?" Li Xuan asked, standing up and brushing the dirt from his robes.
**"You're fighting Lin Mei in the next round," Zhang Wei said, a note of urgency in his voice. "She's already reached Core Formation, and she's not someone to take lightly."
Li Xuan nodded. He had heard of Lin Mei's prowess. She was one of the strongest disciples in the sect, known for her mastery over ice-based techniques and her ruthless precision in battle. Facing her would not be easy, especially with the gap in their cultivation levels. While Li Xuan was still in the Qi Refining realm, Lin Mei had broken through to Core Formation—a significant difference in power.
"I'll be ready," Li Xuan replied, his voice steady.
Zhang Wei gave him a skeptical look. "I don't know how you keep your calm in situations like this, but just be careful. Lin Mei isn't the kind of opponent who'll hold back just because you're the underdog."
Li Xuan appreciated the warning, but his mind was already turning over strategies. The Ninefold Ascension Technique gave him an edge that most people didn't expect, and the Eternal Codex had already revealed many secrets that could help him bridge the gap between his cultivation level and Lin Mei's.
As Zhang Wei left to prepare for his own match, Li Xuan turned his attention back to his training. He could feel the pressure mounting, but he refused to let fear or doubt consume him. Lin Mei was a formidable opponent, but she was not invincible. And if the sect's enemies were truly plotting something, he needed to be stronger—stronger than ever before.
The arena was packed with spectators when the next round of matches began. The noise from the crowd was deafening, with disciples cheering for their favorite fighters. But as soon as Lin Mei stepped onto the platform, a hush fell over the audience.
She was an imposing figure, her long black hair flowing behind her like a dark waterfall. Her robes were a brilliant white, adorned with silver thread that shimmered in the sunlight. But what truly caught everyone's attention was the cold aura that radiated from her body, the very air around her seeming to freeze under her presence.
Li Xuan stepped onto the platform, his expression calm but focused. He could feel the weight of Lin Mei's aura pressing down on him, but he refused to be intimidated.
"You're brave, I'll give you that," Lin Mei said as they faced each other. Her voice was as cold as her aura, and her eyes glinted with something almost predatory. "But bravery alone won't save you."
Li Xuan didn't respond. Instead, he activated the Cloak of Shadows, a technique he had recently mastered with the help of the Codex. Instantly, his presence diminished, his cultivation level becoming impossible to discern. The spectators, and even Lin Mei, furrowed their brows as they tried to sense his Qi, only to come up empty.
"Interesting," Lin Mei muttered, her eyes narrowing. "You're hiding something."
Without warning, she attacked. Ice formed in the air around her, condensing into sharp spears that shot toward Li Xuan with deadly precision. The crowd gasped as the temperature in the arena plummeted, the ice spears cutting through the air like frozen blades.
But Li Xuan was ready. He moved swiftly, his body flowing like water as he dodged the incoming attack. The Ninefold Ascension Technique had heightened his reflexes, allowing him to anticipate her movements even before she made them. His body twisted and turned, avoiding each spear by a hair's breadth.
Lin Mei's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she didn't hesitate. She raised her hand, and the air around her grew even colder. A massive wall of ice formed between them, cutting off Li Xuan's line of sight.
Li Xuan didn't hesitate either. He focused his Qi, activating the Third Cycle of the Ninefold Ascension Technique. His movements became a blur as he launched himself into the air, soaring above the ice wall. As he descended, he gathered Qi into his palm, forming a concentrated strike aimed directly at Lin Mei.
She barely had time to react. Her eyes flashed, and she created a shield of ice to block the attack. But the force of Li Xuan's blow shattered the shield, sending shards of ice flying in all directions. Lin Mei staggered back, clearly caught off guard.
For the first time, doubt flickered in her eyes.
The crowd erupted in cheers, astonished by Li Xuan's display of skill. But Li Xuan knew that the fight was far from over. Lin Mei was far from defeated, and the real challenge had just begun.