The group arrived at the Martial Arts Arena.

The Martial Arts Arena was extremely spacious, paved with hard black-iron rock. There were spectator stands on all sides, and at the edges stood weapon racks holding unsharpened practice weapons.

At this moment, a few disciples were sparring sparsely at the edge of the arena. When they saw Elder Qiao Hongyun and Elder Wu Hui arriving in person, followed by a group of Core Disciples led by Chen Lin, their hearts skipped a beat. They immediately stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully.

And when they saw Chen Qing walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Lin, they grew even more curious and began to whisper among themselves.

"It’s Senior Brother Chen Lin!"

"Elder Qiao and Elder Wu are here too!"

"Who’s that stranger? How can he walk beside Senior Brother Chen Lin?"

"Didn’t you hear the rumor? He’s a young elite from the Wutai Sect, here to spar with Senior Brother Chen Lin!"

"This is big news!"

....

The news spread like wildfire among the Haisa Sect’s Inner Sect Disciples.

"There’s another top-tier duel at the Martial Arts Arena?"

"Senior Brother Chen Lin is fighting personally this time?"

"Who’s his opponent? Senior Sister Mo or Senior Brother Zheng?"

"Neither! I heard it’s an outsider, the young chief of the Wutai Sect, named Chen Qing!"

In an instant, many disciples who were cultivating or resting were drawn in. They dropped what they were doing and flocked to the Martial Arts Arena.

Public duels between top geniuses were not common within the Haisa Sect. Each one was a rare opportunity to observe and learn.

...

Meanwhile, on a secluded sword practice ground.

Zhou Yu flicked her wrist, her long sword tracing a flower-like pattern. Her body followed the sword, her movements already showing considerable form.

Across from her, Zhao Yun also stood with a sword, breathing lightly. She smiled and said, "Junior Sister Zhou, congratulations. You’ve finally stabilized your Transmutation Force Cultivation, and your Flowing Cloud Swordsmanship has become much more refined."

Zhou Yu sheathed her sword and stood upright, fine beads of sweat on her temples. A genuine smile appeared on her face.

To have broken through to the Transmutation Force at her age was partly due to her own tireless, round-the-clock cultivation, but it was mostly thanks to the resources provided by her uncle, Li Yuan.

Zhao Yun wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve and asked, seemingly casually, "Junior Sister Zhou, Senior Brother Wang He said that in a couple of days, he’s organizing a trip for some of the brothers and sisters we know to go to the sea cliffs and enjoy the autumn scenery. Do you want to come along?"

Hearing this, Zhou Yu’s smile faded slightly. She shook her head gently. "Senior Sister Zhao, please thank Senior Brother Wang for me, but I won’t be going."

Zhao Yun looked at her and couldn’t help but lower her voice to persuade her. "Junior Sister Zhou, I’ll be blunt. Senior Brother Wang He is a really good man. He’s already reached the Early-stage Embrace Pill Power at such a young age, and his father is Steward Wang of the Law Enforcement Hall... We’re not getting any younger. You should think about your future. For Inner Sect Disciples like us, without a fortuitous opportunity, Embracing Pill is our peak. If you can find someone to rely on..."

Zhou Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. She unconsciously tightened her grip on her sword’s hilt and didn’t reply.

’She knew Zhao Yun meant well.’

Just then, a female disciple they knew ran over, panting, her face flushed with excitement. "Senior Sister Zhao! Junior Sister Zhou! Quick! To the Martial Arts Arena!"

"What’s wrong? Why are you in such a panic?" Zhao Yun asked.

The female disciple said excitedly, "Senior Brother Chen Lin! Senior Brother Chen Lin is at the Martial Arts Arena! He’s going to fight someone!"

"Senior Brother Chen Lin?!" Zhao Yun was, as expected, greatly surprised.

In the eyes of ordinary Inner Sect Disciples like them, Chen Lin was a genius to be looked up to. He was ranked third on the list of candidates for Sect Leader and was highly likely to become a high-ranking member of the Sect in the future, perhaps even competing for the position of Sect Leader itself.

A duel involving him was anything but ordinary.

"With whom? Senior Sister Mo or Senior Brother Zheng?"

Zhao Yun quickly pressed for an answer. ’The only ones who could fight Chen Lin would be the few ranked close to him.’

"Neither of them!"

The female disciple who brought the news had shining eyes. "I heard it’s an outsider, a young talent from the Wutai Sect! But to be able to fight Senior Brother Chen Lin, he must be an incredible figure!"

"Let’s go! Junior Sister Zhou, we have to go see! Watching a duel of this level will be hugely beneficial for us!"

Zhao Yun’s interest was also greatly piqued. She pulled Zhou Yu along, hurrying toward the Martial Arts Arena with the flow of people.

By the time they arrived, the area around the Martial Arts Arena was already packed with people, buzzing with a deafening clamor.

Not only were most of the ordinary Inner Sect Disciples present, but even the two geniuses ranked seventh and ninth on the Sect Leader candidate list were conspicuously watching from the sidelines.

Zhou Yu was pulled along by Zhao Yun, squeezing into a spot with a decent view.

She looked toward the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

Two figures stood facing each other in the center of the arena.

On one side was their Haisa Sect’s "pride of the heavens," Chen Lin. His posture was tall and straight, his aura calm and heavy. Though the sword at his waist was still sheathed, it already exuded an air of sharpness.

And on the other side...

When Zhou Yu’s gaze fell upon the other person’s face, her breath caught in her throat.

"Junior Brother Chen!?"

Zhou Yu cried out in shock as if struck by lightning, her voice cracking.

"What ’Junior Brother Chen’?! That’s Senior Brother Chen!"

Zhao Yun’s expression changed slightly. She quickly tugged on Zhou Yu’s sleeve and reminded her in a low voice. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

In the Haisa Sect, a disciple’s ranking represented their status and seniority. If someone with ill intent had heard Zhou Yu’s cry of "Junior Brother," it would have undoubtedly been seen as disrespect toward a senior.

But Zhou Yu seemed not to have heard. Her heart began to pound uncontrollably, and her mind was in chaos.

’Chen Qing?’

’The chief of the Wutai Sect’s Cyan Wood Institute?’

’Dueling Senior Brother Chen Lin?’

Each piece of information struck her heart like a heavy hammer.

’That quiet boy who used to practice his punches in the courtyard? That boy from a poor family!?’

’How did he become the chief of the Wutai Sect, someone who could stand on equal footing with the Haisa Sect’s top genius, Chen Lin, and even face him in a duel on stage?’

’This was so absurd it felt like a bizarre, fantastical dream!’

A tremendous sense of unreality washed over her.

The familiar contours of his brows and eyes were more sharply defined than they had been a few years ago. He had shed his boyish immaturity, and his figure was as tall and straight as a pine tree. This was a completely different Chen Qing from the one in Zhou Yu’s memory, as if he had been completely reborn.

"I wonder who will win."

"Is there even a need to ask? It’ll definitely be Senior Brother Chen Lin."

....