Jiang Chen walked through the grand halls of Silver Moon Cultivation Academy, his wooden disciple token clutched in his hand. He could feel countless eyes on him—some curious, some indifferent, and others filled with clear hostility.
As the doors behind him closed, the realization sank in.
He was no longer in his small village.
This was a world where only the strong survived.
The Outer Disciple Hall
The Outer Disciple Hall was a vast courtyard where hundreds of disciples trained, sparred, and cultivated under the watchful eyes of senior instructors. The moment Jiang Chen stepped in, several disciples turned to look at him.
"New recruit?" one of them murmured.
Another scoffed. "Hmph, another countryside brat who thinks he can make it big."
Jiang Chen ignored them. He had no time for petty insults.
"Hey, you!" A voice called out.
Turning, Jiang Chen saw a tall, broad-shouldered youth approaching him. His features were sharp, and his aura carried a faint trace of battle-hardened experience. Unlike the other disciples, this one wasn't looking at him with disdain.
"I'm Liang Fan," the youth introduced himself. "I saw you arrive with Elder Mo. You must have some skill to get his recommendation."
Jiang Chen nodded slightly. "Jiang Chen."
Liang Fan smirked. "You should be careful. The Outer Disciples aren't as welcoming as they seem. If you stand out too much, you'll make enemies fast."
Jiang Chen already knew that.
He wasn't here to make friends, but he wasn't foolish enough to turn away a potential ally either. "And you? Are you a friend or an enemy?"
Liang Fan laughed. "I don't judge people until I see them fight. If you're strong, we'll get along."
The First Challenge
Before Jiang Chen could respond, a mocking voice cut through the courtyard.
"A new disciple acting arrogant already?"
A young man dressed in the academy's uniform stepped forward, his arms crossed. His face carried a sneer, and behind him stood a few lackeys who were clearly used to throwing their weight around.
Liang Fan sighed. "Great. You just caught the attention of Shen Mu."
Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. "Who?"
Shen Mu smirked. "You don't even know who I am? Looks like we've got a real country bumpkin here."
One of his followers laughed. "Senior Brother Shen Mu is one of the strongest Outer Disciples. He's already at the 5th Stage of Qi Refinement. You should show some respect."
Jiang Chen wasn't impressed.
"So?" he asked plainly.
The laughter around them stopped.
Shen Mu's expression darkened. "You've got guts. But let's see if you have the strength to match."
Without another word, he stepped forward and sent a palm strike straight at Jiang Chen's chest.
Jiang Chen reacted instinctively. He sidestepped, his body moving as naturally as flowing water.
Shen Mu's attack missed entirely.
Gasps rang out.
Jiang Chen smirked. "Is that all?"
Shen Mu's face turned red with embarrassment. "You—!"
He charged again, this time throwing a series of rapid punches. But Jiang Chen had spent years being bullied—dodging was second nature. Each strike narrowly missed him, making it look almost effortless.
Then, in a single swift motion, Jiang Chen stepped in and delivered a sharp strike to Shen Mu's ribs.
CRACK!
Shen Mu staggered back, coughing. His lackeys ran to his side, their faces pale.
"You bastard!" one of them shouted.
Jiang Chen remained calm. "Are we done here?"
Shen Mu glared at him but didn't move. He knew that if they continued, he would lose.
"Let's go," he spat, turning away.
As his group left, the watching disciples murmured among themselves.
"Did you see that?"
"He defeated Shen Mu so easily…"
Liang Fan grinned. "Looks like you're more interesting than I thought."
Jiang Chen exhaled slowly. He had made his first enemy.
But he had also earned his first real ally.
And this was only the beginning.
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