That afternoon, the finals of the Youth Tournament officially concluded. Hong Nianyi took this year’s championship with zero suspense; there wasn’t a single match that forced her to use a second strike.

This also declared that among the students from the year above Xu Wuyi, Hong Nianyi was the undisputed number one—at least, for now.

Meanwhile, Xu Wuyi’s achievement of reaching the top 64 in the Youth Tournament gave everyone much to talk about. For a first-year student, this was a glorious accomplishment to be admired.

Xu Wuyi logged out of the Battle Network, his consciousness returning to the tranquility of Villa #7 in Hidden Dragon Garden.

His body felt no fatigue. Instead, the image of his brief clash with Hong Nianyi replayed itself in his mind again and again.

It wasn’t that she had overwhelmed him with strength or speed, but that there was a chasm between their Realms.

The profound concept contained within that strike, "Life and Death," was far beyond his current scope of comprehension.

’I have to admit, I was completely outclassed.’

There was no disappointment in Xu Wuyi’s eyes, only deep contemplation and an even more resolute goal.

Having witnessed the view from the summit, the path at his feet became all the clearer.

...

As expected, with the Federation Youth Martial Arts Tournament being such a high-profile event, the appearance of any dark horse was bound to trigger a media firestorm.

A first-year Martial Artist, not even a full year into his studies, had not only broken through to a new major Realm but had also fought his way into the top 64 of a tournament packed with experts.

This result instantly set the major media platforms ablaze.

[A NEW FEDERATION STAR IS BORN! STAR MARTIAL UNIVERSITY FRESHMAN XU WUYI REACHES TOP 64, A GLORIOUS DEFEAT!]

[IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN! THE ONLY FRESHMAN TO BREAK INTO THE SECOND ROUND OF THE FINALS!]

[IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS: THE RISE OF A COMMONER GENIUS!]

[...]

Similar headlines flooded the front pages of every major Martial Arts news outlet.

Recordings of Xu Wuyi’s fights in the arena were analyzed and dissected again and again. His steady combat style and the uncanny, tenacious, dark-gold flames became focal points of heated discussion.

His name spread at an unprecedented speed, breaking out from within Star Martial University and its corner of Dongjiang Province to truly resonate throughout the circles of the Federation’s younger generation.

...

「Dongjiang Province, Linjiang City.」

Inside the study of the Lin Family Manor, the atmosphere was less fraught with anxiety than during the recent media scandal, but it was filled with an indescribable, heavy gloom.

Lin Zhen sat at the head of the table, holding a digital report. It contained a detailed breakdown of Xu Wuyi’s performance in the Youth Tournament, along with an analysis of the resulting media hype.

He set the report down, his fingers unconsciously drumming a soft rhythm on the smooth mahogany tabletop.

"A Martial Artist... Top 64..." Lin Zhen’s voice was deep, betraying no emotion, but the gloom etched between his brows was undeniable. "Just how long has it been?"

Seated in a subordinate position, Lin Liren’s demeanor was more reserved than when he had resigned his post as councilman; he was also far more silent.

He looked at his father but did not reply.

"Xu Wuyi’s rate of growth has exceeded our expectations, and likely many others’ as well," Lin Zhen said slowly, his gaze sweeping over the other core family members in the study. "If he had accepted our sponsorship back then..."

He didn’t finish the thought, but everyone present understood what he’d left unsaid.

If Xu Wuyi had accepted the Lin Family’s sponsorship, they could have claimed a large share of the glory and fame he was now receiving. They could have even used it to reverse their negative public image.

But now, none of it had anything to do with the Lin Family.

The more brilliantly Xu Wuyi shone, the more it highlighted how blind the Lin Family had been, and the more awkward their subsequent, failed attempts to mend the relationship became.

Deeper still, a subtle thread of unease, like a slender viper, coiled around Lin Zhen’s heart.

He couldn’t help but recall certain figures from the Federation’s history—individuals who had made enemies of the Noble Families, only to rise up through their own supreme strength and deal a devastating blow in return.

The most famous of them was a commoner Grandmaster with the surname Lü from sixty years prior.

In his youth, that Grandmaster had been suppressed by the Noble Families. Though he later achieved the rank of Grandmaster, he was unable to overcome his inner demons. His actions grew radical, leading to violent conflicts with several Noble Families that culminated in tragedy. He himself ultimately met a grim end on the Star Realm Battlefield.

The incident had served as a cautionary tale for the great Noble Families ever since, a lesson to their descendants: either you don’t make an enemy of such a person, or... you don’t give them any chance to rise.

Unfortunately, the Federation had long since left those lawless days behind. Even with the Lin Family’s influence, they wouldn’t dare make a covert move against a student of Star Martial University.

If anything were to happen to Xu Wuyi, the Lin Family would inevitably be the first to be investigated. And oftentimes, when powerful Martial Artists decided to act, they didn’t need proof.

After all, the potential Xu Wuyi was now displaying was already extraordinary.

And while there was no deep-seated hatred between him and the Lin Family, the enmity from them "snatching" his spot had been sown.

"Patriarch, should we try to contact him again...?" a family member asked tentatively.

Lin Zhen waved a hand, cutting him off. "There’s no need. He’s in the spotlight right now and has Star Martial University’s protection. If we go to him now, we’ll only be humiliating ourselves."

He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. After a long moment, he spoke. "We’ll wait and see. If he ever hits rock bottom, that would be our chance to offer timely aid. We’ll just have to see... if that chance ever comes."

Despite his words, the grave undertone in his voice made the atmosphere in the study even more oppressive.

...

「Star Martial University, Hidden Dragon Garden #7.」

The clamor of the outside world and the anxieties of certain people did not penetrate this training sanctuary that belonged to Xu Wuyi.

He checked his personal account. The prize for reaching the top 64 of the Youth Tournament had already been deposited—a whopping 1,680 points!

This sum far exceeded the earnings of a typical first-year student; the bulk of it was a bonus for making it into the top 64.

It was a massive sum, enough that he wouldn’t have to worry about basic cultivation resources for a long time to come.

"Anna, pull up the university’s points exchange. Filter for A-Level Spear Techniques," Xu Wuyi ordered calmly, suppressing his excitement.

A holographic screen materialized before him, displaying a dazzling array of A-Level Spear Techniques, each listed with a staggering point cost and a brief description.

There was the Phantom Thunder Spear, which focused on extreme speed and unpredictable changes; the Overlord Earth-Sundering Spear, heavy and powerful, unmatched in its ferocity; and the Thousand Stream Green Wave Spear, with its dense, flowing style that excelled at defense and counterattacks...

Xu Wuyi’s gaze swept rapidly across the list, finally landing on a technique called the Shocking God Spear. Anna had specifically highlighted it as a recommendation.

[Shocking God Spear (A-Level): Focuses on instantaneous explosive power. It utilizes the Divine Spear principle; the stronger the user’s Spiritual Will, the fiercer the Spear Momentum and the more terrifying the burst. Includes the ’Splitting God’ trait, which allows the user to detonate spiritual imprints attached to a weapon or their own Qi and Blood, creating an intense spiritual shockwave and inflicting additional physical damage. Cost: 1,200 points.]

The price was steep, enough to nearly wipe out the points he had just obtained.