The arena was still bathed in silence as the realization of Li Xuan's victory sank in. Disciples and elders alike were frozen in their seats, their eyes wide with disbelief. The impossible had just happened. A Qi Refining disciple had taken down one of the sect's most prominent Core Formation cultivators, Lin Mei—the Ice Queen herself.
Li Xuan stood in the middle of the battlefield, breathing heavily, his mind still reeling from the sheer exertion it had taken to survive the fight. His body ached, his meridians screamed for relief, but he had emerged victorious. The frost from Lin Mei's Frost Domain still clung to his robes, tiny crystals of ice melting in the midday sun.
Inwardly, Li Xuan was far from calm. His survival had been nothing short of miraculous, and while the Eternal Codex had guided him to victory, he could feel the cost on his body. He was on the verge of collapse, his Qi reserves dangerously low. The Ninefold Ascension Technique had brought him to this point, but it had also pushed him to his limits.
The Ninefold Ascension was an ancient and forbidden cultivation technique, whispered of only in legends and feared by those who knew of it. It was a technique that defied the heavens, allowing its user to break through limitations that would stop even the most gifted cultivators. Unlike conventional techniques, it focused on nine key ascensions within the practitioner's body, each corresponding to a profound step in cultivation mastery.
Most techniques refined Qi in a single direction, concentrating on either the body, the soul, or the mind. The Ninefold Ascension Technique, however, encompassed all three, pushing the cultivator to hone their physical body, spiritual soul, and mental willpower simultaneously. The technique was dangerous because it forced open meridians and shattered bottlenecks with sheer will and power, often causing immense pain and bodily damage in the process.
For someone like Li Xuan, whose meridians had once been sealed, it was a lifeline. The technique worked by forging paths through even the most blocked channels, using the cultivator's Qi to tear through barriers that others would find impossible to overcome. Each stage of the technique required intense focus and control, as one mistake could lead to irreversible damage or death.
There was another reason the Ninefold Ascension Technique was feared—it demanded a significant toll on the practitioner's body. The more Li Xuan progressed, the more he could feel his body straining under the pressure. His muscles ached from the constant force exerted upon them, and his meridians often felt as though they were on the verge of collapse. But it was a price he had accepted.
In exchange, the Ninefold Ascension had given him strength far beyond his current cultivation level. Despite only being at the 7th level of Qi Refining, Li Xuan had managed to tap into power normally reserved for those at higher stages. The technique, combined with the wisdom of the Eternal Codex, made him unpredictable, and even formidable opponents like Lin Mei were caught off guard.
The Eternal Codex, as always, had guided him, offering not only techniques but also insights into how to fight and survive. In moments of desperation, it whispered secrets of forgotten arts, showing him how to channel his Qi more effectively, when to attack, and how to exploit the weaknesses of his enemies. Without the Codex, Li Xuan knew he would have never lasted this long in the tournament.
The Ninefold Ascension Technique also had a unique ability—it allowed him to recover faster than others. His Qi would regenerate at a quicker pace, and his physical wounds would heal over time, as long as he continued cultivating the technique. But it wasn't without risks. Every ascension came with greater pain and a deeper toll on his body. One misstep, and the technique could shatter him from the inside out.
As he stood there, panting and clutching his chest, Li Xuan could feel the weight of the technique pressing down on him. The fight had pushed him to the edge, and he would need time to recover before he could continue.
The crowd remained in stunned silence, waiting for the Elders to declare the outcome of the fight. Lin Mei was still on the ground, staring up at Li Xuan with a mix of disbelief and frustration. She had fought with everything she had, yet it hadn't been enough.
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed through the arena, breaking the tense silence.
"The winner of the match... Li Xuan!" one of the elders announced, his voice carrying over the crowd.
The moment the words left the elder's mouth, the arena erupted into chaos. Disciples shouted in disbelief, some cheering for Li Xuan's victory while others whispered rumors of his impossible strength. Many speculated about what kind of technique Li Xuan could possibly be using to hold his own against Lin Mei, a Core Formation cultivator.
As the noise grew louder, Li Xuan turned and began to walk off the stage, his movements slow and deliberate. Every step felt like a weight dragging him down, his body on the verge of collapse. But he refused to show weakness—not here, not in front of the entire sect.
As he descended from the stage, a figure emerged from the crowd and approached him. It was Zhao Chen, his senior brother and one of the few people in the sect who had been watching him closely.
"Li Xuan," Zhao Chen said in a low voice, stepping beside him. "That was… incredible. I've never seen anything like it. How did you—"
Li Xuan shook his head, cutting him off. "Not here. Later."
Zhao Chen nodded, understanding that now wasn't the time to ask questions. The two walked side by side, moving away from the chaos of the arena as disciples continued to shout and whisper behind them.
Li Xuan's mind raced as they walked. He knew that his victory today would not go unnoticed. The sect's elders were already keeping a close eye on him, and now, after defeating Lin Mei, he would be under even greater scrutiny. The Ninefold Ascension Technique was not something he could reveal to just anyone. Its very existence was forbidden, and if the wrong people learned of it, they would stop at nothing to seize the knowledge for themselves.
But the real threat wasn't just from within the sect. Li Xuan could feel it—the presence of something darker lurking in the shadows. The Eternal Codex had hinted at it, showing him visions of future challenges, conspiracies brewing in the highest ranks of power. He was not just fighting to survive in the sect. He was fighting against forces that stretched far beyond what he had ever imagined.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the sect grounds, Li Xuan knew one thing for certain: the path ahead was dangerous, filled with enemies both seen and unseen. And he would need every ounce of strength, every secret from the Codex, to survive.