Even as Lin Xue's cultivation advanced, her peers refused to respect her efforts. To most, she was still the girl with fragmented roots—a flawed cultivator doomed to failure. Whispers followed her wherever she went, sharp as knives.
"She's still stuck at Qi Condensation. Weak as ever."
"Does she really think she can compete with us?"
Lin Xue's frustration grew, but she used their disdain as fuel. She threw herself into the Sparring Arena, where disciples tested their skills to climb the sect's internal rankings. It was a dangerous gamble; a single failure could further tarnish her reputation. Yet Lin Xue was determined to prove her worth.
Her first match was against a fellow outer disciple with a solid foundation and superior cultivation level. "You'll regret stepping into the ring," he taunted, drawing laughter from the crowd.
The arena was a circular platform surrounded by an audience of disciples and overseen by senior sect members. As the match began, Lin Xue relied on her speed and precision. Her fragmented roots left her at a disadvantage in raw power, but she exploited her opponent's overconfidence. She feinted and struck at his blind spots, forcing him to retreat repeatedly. Though the match ended in a draw, Lin Xue's performance surprised many.
"She's resourceful," a senior disciple murmured. "But can that be enough?"
Undeterred, Lin Xue continued to fight. She lost as often as she won, but every battle honed her techniques. Slowly, the whispers turned from scorn to grudging respect.
One day, she faced a particularly strong opponent—a senior disciple known for his brute strength. The crowd jeered as Lin Xue stepped into the ring, but she remained calm. She danced around his attacks, using agility and timing to chip away at his defenses. Though her strikes lacked power, her persistence wore him down.
When the match ended, the senior disciple grunted in frustration. "You're like a flame that won't go out," he admitted begrudgingly. "Annoying, but impressive."
Lin Xue left the arena with bruises and aching limbs but also with a small spark of validation. She knew the road ahead was long, but for the first time, she felt a glimmer of hope. Each match became a stepping stone, each lesson learned an arrow in her quiver, preparing her for the greater challenges that lay ahead.