Days passed in intense repetition, his body pushed to its limits as he balanced his energy between recovery and growth.
With each cycle of cultivation, he felt the flow of qi within him increase, his understanding of his techniques deepening as he repeatedly pushed against the edges of his abilities.
As the final day of his week-long seclusion arrived, Bai Jian sat in silence, the weight of his hard work settling within him like a calm, steady flame.
He had grown stronger, his techniques sharpened, his qi fortified. Opening his eyes, he felt a quiet confidence.
He could feel himself teetering on the brink of the middle stage of the 9th level, his energy condensing with each cycle of his breath, becoming more concentrated.
His mastery over the White Mist Step, Heaven-Shattering Fist, and Cloudrend Strike had aligned with this deepening of his cultivation.
The White Mist Step as well as Cloudrend Strike were now almost at Profound Mastery, while his Heaven-Shattering Fist furthered in the realm of Profound Mastery.
With a final, steady exhale, he opened his eyes, feeling his cultivation stabilize, stronger and more resilient than before.
A powerful voice suddenly echoed through the outer sect grounds. It was aged yet filled with strength and authority.
"Disciples of the White Cloud Sect, the tournament will commence in a few hours. Gather at the Cloudstone Arena. This is a time to prove your dedication, strength, and the mastery of your skills."
The words resonated through the walls, filling every corner with anticipation.
"The top five disciples shall ascend to the inner sect," the elder continued, "and for the first-ranked disciple, an Essence Solidification Pill awaits. This reward will aid your journey toward the Essence Forging Realm, paving the path to new heights in your cultivation."
….
At the Cloudstone Arena, Bai Jian met up with Wang Shao amidst the bustling crowd of disciples.
An elder stepped forward onto the platform, his voice resonating throughout the arena with authority.
"Disciples of the White Cloud Sect, today marks the beginning of the Outer Sect Tournament. This is your chance to prove your strength and earn a place among the Inner Sect." He paused, allowing the words to sink in before continuing.
"This tournament will follow an elimination format. Only the top five will advance to the final stage, and from those, only one will stand victorious. Let the matches begin!"
The crowd roared in response, and Bai Jian felt his veins pumping with energy.
Beside him, Wang Shao gave him a grin. "Ready to show them what you've got, Bai Jian? Don't hold back, this is our only chance to get into the Inner Sect!"
Bai Jian chuckled, nodding. "Let's give them a good show."
As he looked around, he noticed familiar faces among the crowd of disciples—Lin Fang, already eyeing him with a sneer; Shen Liang, who seemed indifferent; and Li Feng, who was calm, but had a steady gaze.
And there, standing apart with an air of arrogance, was Bai Ming, his cousin and the one everyone expected to come out on top.
The matches began swiftly, each round thinning out the pool of disciples. Bai Jian's first opponent was a disciple of moderate skill, but Bai Jian handled the match with ease, using his White Mist Step to dodge before finishing his opponent with a Heaven-Shattering Fist.
The crowd murmured in surprise, wondering how Bai Jian out of all people managed to easily overtake his opponent.
With each victory, Bai Jian's reputation as the dark horse of the tournament grew. He was able to defeat many disciples in succession, without even breaking a sweat.