An ocean of stars swam across the black canvas of the night sky, their soft glow outshone only by the moon. Silver-blue light washed over the sprawling stone combat arena, painting the surrounding disciples in pale, sharp silhouettes.

  High above the courtyard, seated upon an ornate wooden throne, the Elder looked down in silence. By his side stood the pristine, royal figure of the Junior Elder, Han Weidao, his heavy red cape catching the night breeze. Deep within the peripheral shadows of the estate, the faint glint of eyes and the subtle shifting of fabric betrayed the presence of hidden guards, their attention locked on the open space below.

  A collective hum of anticipation buzzed through the gathered disciples. They pressed against the edges of the arena, eager to witness the spectacle.

  In the center of it all stood Ying Xia. The moonlight caught her jade-green eyes and her vibrant pink twin-tails, making her stand out starkly against the dark stone. Stripped of her golden spear, her stance was infuriatingly loose. She bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, an easy, arrogant smile playing on her lips as if her opponent were nothing more than a passing joke.

  Across from her stood Han Tiegang. He was a walking mountain. His uniform groaned against the sheer, condensed mass of his physique, the seams threatening to burst with every heavy breath he took.

  Bi Kan watched from the edge of the crowd, keeping his presence as muted as possible. A single bead of cold sweat traced the line of his jaw.

  Ying Xia, you better watch out, he thought, his analytical gaze dissecting the brute. He’s at the second stage of the Body Tempering Realm. Without the Dragon-Fang Spear, the gap between that and the eighth stage of Qi Sensing is a chasm.

  "Could she possibly bridge the gap between their realms?" Bi Kan whispered into the wind, the quiet words swallowed by the vastness of the dark atmosphere.

  "Are you ready, little girl?" Han Tiegang’s voice rumbled like grinding stones. He smashed a boulder-like fist into his open palm, the wet, meaty smack of flesh echoing sharply throughout the arena.

  He dropped his center of gravity, crouching low into a grounded martial stance. He tucked one fist tightly by his waist and shot his other arm forward, palm open and ready.

  "The immense gap between an Outer and an Inner Disciple," Tiegang declared, his aura flaring with a heavy, oppressive density, "is not something that can be bridged by talent alone!"

  Xia planted her hands firmly on her hips. Her easy-going smile widened into a mocking grin.

  "So you admit it, then? That I'm talented?" she chirped. She leaned forward, sticking her tongue out in a brazen display of disrespect. "I'll just have to make you eat your words and expand on that sentence. I'll prove that my talent is beyond comprehension—that it is immeasurable, and cannot be walled off by sheer status and realm alone!"

  High above the courtyard, perched upon the ornate balconies of the surrounding towers, the Five Bright Stars looked down upon the impending clash.

  Han Xingyue leaned back against a stone pillar, closing her eyes with a dismissive sigh. "This should be over quickly. Finish her, Han Tiegang."

  "It isn't over."

  Han Jing stood near the railing, his hand covering his mouth. Beneath his fingers, a wide, feral grin stretched across his face, his eyes blown wide with gleeful anticipation. "Do you really believe she'll lose that easily? Even stripped of her special weapon, she is by no means a pushover."

  A few paces away, Han Shuo sat atop a stone gargoyle, his chin resting heavily against his palm. A furious, irritated scowl darkened his features. "Hmph. I should've been the one to fight," he grumbled. "I would have put that girl in her place with my aura alone."

  "Then the fight wouldn't be fair, you half-wit."

  Han Chen stepped out from the shadows and into the moonlight, his hands neatly folded behind his back. The scholar’s eyes tracked Xia’s casual posture. "This is a true test. Yes, the matchup is inherently unfair, but it is required to measure just how deep her talents run. If she is able to bridge this gap with her bare hands, then she might become a problem even for you once she enters the Inner Court and touches the Body Tempering Realm."

  He's right, Han Yao thought, absentmindedly brushing his chin. This time, I can finally see it for myself. Is she truly that clumsy? I'm starting to doubt it...

  His mind drifted back to the dining room, replaying the moment Xia’s spear had sheared through Han Chen’s array with flawless, surgical precision. The frantic, bumbling girl who had supposedly caused a ruckus in the hallways earlier didn't match the deadly instinct of the warrior standing in the arena below.

  If that wasn't her making a mess...

  Yao’s amber eyes slowly drifted down from the combatants, sweeping through the sea of spectators until they locked onto a specific, tired-looking boy trying desperately to blend into the shadows of the crowd.

  Then it was you who caused that chaos in the manor, wasn't it? Yao’s gaze sharpened into a cold glare. You... nothing but an Outer Disciple leech.

  "Arrogant girl!"

  Stone splintered beneath Han Tiegang’s heavy boots as he launched himself forward, his massive frame closing the distance in three thunderous strides. He pulled his arm back, his open palm balling into a hardened fist. A dense, heavy layer of Qi coalesced around his knuckles, warping the air with raw physical pressure.

  "You'll be gasping for air after this, brat!" he roared, driving the blow directly toward her chest.

  Xia didn't block. She simply pivoted on her heel, letting the devastating punch graze the empty air beside her ribs. Using his forward momentum against him, she twisted her waist and whipped her leg up in a sharp, upward arc, slamming the heel of her boot into his exposed side.

  Thwack!

  The counter-attack lacked the bone-crushing mass of a Body Tempering strike, but the leverage was perfect. Tiegang grunted, his center of gravity shifting as he stumbled a few paces to the side.

  He caught himself quickly, his face twisting in indignation. "Hah?! What was that? A mere brush of the wind!" He puffed out his chest and pounded his fists against his pectorals, the hollow, booming thuds echoing across the arena like a war drum.

  Xia raised an eyebrow. She tapped a finger thoughtfully against her chin, a bright smile blooming on her face. "Alright then! I'll just treat this as warm-up practice for hunting Silver-White Apes!"

  Up on the balcony, Han Chen let out a soft, amused chuckle. "Indeed. The resemblance is uncanny."

  Han Xingyue shot him a venomous glare. "Stop making jokes, you brat!" She whipped her head back toward the arena, pointing a furious finger down at the brute. "And you! Stop acting like a wild animal and finish her already!"

  "You dare insult me, girl?!" Tiegang bellowed, the humiliation burning his face a deep red.

  High above, the night wind rustled Han Yao’s amber hair. He watched Tiegang slam a fist against the stone floor in frustration, spider-webbing the tiles where Xia had stood just a second before.

  Han Tiegang possesses no refined martial arts, Han Yao thought, his eyes narrowing, but his muscle density surpasses the average Inner Disciple. More importantly... I've watched him spar.

  Han Yao crossed his arms. He knows a specific technique. A basic Inner Court movement art. He hasn't mastered it, but he can replicate the burst of speed, however crudely. If he catches Xia by surprise with that sudden acceleration, she'll be crushed.

  Down below, a guttural roar tore from Tiegang’s throat. "Stop running around like a circus jester! Stand still if you're a true genius!"

  He threw a flurry of half-assed, sweeping punches, aiming to herd her into a corner. Then, his footwork abruptly shifted. His massive frame blurred, executing a jarring, fast-paced dash that defied his bulk.

  He closed the gap instantly, a sweeping backhand aimed directly at Xia's head.

  "Woah! Not bad! You actually know a few moves!"

  Instead of retreating, Xia dropped low. She threw her hands against the stone floor, kicking her legs up into a flawless handstand as the heavy fist sailed inches past her face.

  "Predictable! Slow!"

  Using her hands as springs, she launched herself upward, twisting mid-air to deliver a sharp, downward punch aimed right between Tiegang's eyes.

  Smack!

  Her knuckles connected with his forehead. It felt like punching a solid block of iron. Tiegang merely groaned, eating the blow through sheer Body Tempering resilience, and immediately countered with a vicious, rising uppercut aimed at her jaw.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "Whoops!"

  Sweat flew from Xia’s brow as she threw her weight backward, the wind from the uppercut ruffling her pink hair as she narrowly avoided having her jaw shattered. She landed lightly on her feet, immediately skipping backward to create distance.

  "And why would I take a hit from you if I'm a genius?" she taunted, though her chest heaved slightly. "A true genius never takes damage!"

  Hidden within the pressing crowd, Bi Kan bit down hard on his thumbnail, the nail cracking under the pressure.

  She doesn't know any formal martial techniques, Bi Kan analyzed, his eyes darting across her stance. How is she supposed to use this brute's strength against him if she can't pierce his defense? If you survive this, Xia, I won't let you slack off on hand-to-hand combat ever again!

  Then, Bi Kan noticed a subtle shift in Tiegang's footing. The brute was winding up, contemplating his next sudden burst.

  Bi Kan’s tense shoulders dropped a fraction of an inch. A soft, weary exhale escaped his lips. I see it now in her footwork. Mi Shui... on this day, you are Xia's benefactor.

  "You lucky brat!" Han Tiegang yelled, leveling a thick, scarred arm at her. "A true genius never runs!"

  "Except this one!" Xia shot back, her grin unwavering. "Because I'm not just a genius—I'm an unparalleled one!"

  High above the fray, the Elder’s eye twitched slightly. Her arrogance truly knows no bounds.

  Beside him, Han Weidao’s expression was carved from ice. He stared down at the Pink Whirlwind, calculating the ripple effect of her every word.

  You need to learn humility, Weidao thought, feeling the simmering hostility radiating from the Junior Elders in the shadows. You are sowing animosity among the crowd and the upper echelons alike. You need to be taken down a notch to quell their anger.

  His heavy red cape shifted in the wind.

  Even if you win or lose this duel, Ying Xia... you will not escape this arena unscathed. The politics of this family demand it.

  High on the balcony, Han Xingyue flared her Qi. The atmosphere instantly grew dense, pressing down on the onlookers like a physical weight.

  "What are you taking so long for?!" she shouted down at the arena, her voice ringing with impatience. "Just end that girl already!"

  Han Shuo let out a sharp laugh. His own Qi spiked, crashing violently against Xingyue's aura. He pushed himself up from his perch, his red bandana whipping in the night wind, his eyes burning with competitive intensity. "How about you let off some steam with me, Xingyue?" he taunted, stepping closer. "I'll show you that between us, I stand at the top. Not you!"

  Xingyue’s eyes narrowed into slits as she looked down at him. Slowly, her aura began to shift. The air warped and shimmered as a quasi-Spirit Lake Realm pressure exuded from her body, heavy and suffocating.

  "You want to go at it, then?" Her voice was a low, dangerous purr. "Because I can't promise you'll leave this balcony alive."

  A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Shuo's face, though his arrogant grin did not falter.

  Yet, Xingyue’s eyes immediately traced back down to the duel. Just end it already, she thought, mentally urging the brute on. With that movement technique, even if you utilize it like trash, it’s enough to crush an Outer Disciple. She dismissed Shuo entirely, her focus locked on the bloodsport below, brushing off his challenge as if he were nothing more than a buzzing insect.

  "Control yourselves." Han Chen raised a hand. A faint, intricate glow illuminated the stonework beneath his boots as he prepared to cast a suppressing array.

  "You even have arrays set up here?" Han Jing stepped into Chen's path, his usually calm demeanor cracking to reveal a manic edge. "Then I'll take you down first. You can't interfere in a duel between Bright Stars." He took another threatening step forward. "Stand back, you maniac. I can tell what you're trying to do!"

  Amidst the brewing chaos, Han Yao quietly retreated into the shadows. Hopefully, no one notices me...

  Then, a smile finally broke across Xingyue’s face. Noticing her expression, Yao immediately shifted his focus back to the battle below.

  Han Tiegang had closed the gap. He lunged, his knuckles clipping Xia with a glancing but heavy blow to her left shoulder.

  "D-Damn it!" she grunted. The sheer kinetic force of the Body Tempering strike carried her backward. She dug her heels into the stone to find her footing, her hand instinctively clutching her throbbing shoulder. Tiegang’s assault wasn't over.

  "You got too cocky, dumb little girl!" He loomed over her, a mountain of muscle blocking out the moonlight. He raised both fists and brought them slamming down onto the ground. The stone shattered, sending sharp debris flying.

  Shards of rock grazed Xia’s cheek as she threw herself out of the blast radius.

  "Hah... hah...!" She gritted her teeth, dodging desperately. I-I've got enough stamina for this—

  Her thoughts died in her throat as she looked up.

  Tiegang had thrown his massive bulk into the air. He came plummeting down feet-first, aimed directly at her.

  BOOM!

  The impact created a powerful shockwave. Even as Xia evaded the direct hit, the displaced air caught her, sending her tumbling violently across the rough stone.

  "You were saying, girl?!" Tiegang bellowed. Before she could recover, his huge hand clamped onto her robes. With a roar of exertion, he hoisted her up and hurled her toward the other side of the arena.

  "Woaaah!" Xia spun in mid-air, twisting her body to land hard on her boots. She skidded to a halt, her eyes shooting open as Tiegang began a slow, cocky march toward her.

  "Y-You bastard! I'll show you!" She forced her posture straight, bearing the pain radiating through her bruised limbs.

  In the crowd, Bi Kan held his breath.

  Then, in one swift, jarring movement, everything shifted. Tiegang executed the technique. He slid against the stone floor as if it were slick ice, moving in a jagged, erratic burst of speed. It was unrefined, but blindingly fast—quick enough that no ordinary Outer Disciple could possibly track it.

  He closed the distance instantly. His massive fist rocketed toward Xia’s chin.

  I've won.

  But his fist stopped.

  "H-Huh?"

  A wet pat sounded against the stone floor. Then another. Tiegang suddenly tasted a sharp, metallic tang of iron and copper flooding his mouth.

  "Why can't I..." His breath hitched into a wet, heavy heave. His thick legs trembled, threatening to give out completely.

  He looked down. It wasn't sweat or rain hitting the floor. It was a steady stream of crimson red, and it painted the entirety of his broad chest.

  "How did..."

  His vision began to blur. As his eyes rolled up, he saw Xia’s face. There was no panic, no fear. Her expression was a mask of absolute, terrifying focus—the apex glare of a predator who had anticipated the clumsy movement technique from the very beginning.

  Han Tiegang vomited a mouthful of dark blood. His knees finally buckled. He crashed face-first onto the cold stone, burying his head in a spreading pool of his own undoing.

  Xia stood over his fallen body. Her fists were tightly clenched, her knuckles stained dark with Tiegang's blood. Slowly, her lips curved into a triumphant smile.

  High on the balcony, Han Chen's hand twitched, his scholarly composure cracking. "I-Impossible... was she hiding her realm?"

  There's no doubt about it... even he noticed! Han Yao bit his lip, his mind racing through the physics of the clash. If she had relied on Tiegang's momentum alone, the impact would have knocked the wind out of him, but not enough to cause internal bleeding!

  His fists clenched, nails digging into his palms until they almost drew blood. She hardened her fists using concentrated Qi right before impact... exactly as if she were in the Body Tempering Realm!

  Down below, Han Weidao’s eyes widened. His heightened senses caught the subtle, murderous shift in the air. He stepped forward, his red cape sweeping behind him, preparing to intervene.

  But before his boot could touch the floor, the Elder raised a single, wrinkled hand.

  "Stand down."

  The command carried the absolute weight of the family’s patriarch. Weidao froze.

  In the next heartbeat, a flash of steel aimed directly at the back of Xia's neck. It wasn't the sickening sound of flesh being bisected that echoed through the courtyard, however. Instead, a dull, numbing vibration shot up Han Guichen’s arm as his blade clashed violently against the materialized shaft of the golden Dragon-Fang Spear.

  "A sneak attack?" Xia spat, gritting her teeth as she forcefully contested his downward weight. "Who are you?"

  "You dare cripple a disciple in front of the Elder?!" Han Guichen roared, his silk-pale yellow hair whipping around his face. "Within our Grand Family's manor! You deserve ultimate death! And I, Han Guichen, will behead you for our Elder and for Han Tiegang!"

  "He's the one who asked for it!" Xia shouted. With a surge of strength, she shoved Guichen off her, leaping backward to put a safe distance between them.

  She leveled the golden tip of her spear at his chest, her green eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "If you're so willing to die for this, then take a step closer. I'll make sure to pierce enough holes in your body so your brain finally gets the oxygen it deserves to function normally!"

  "Insolent brat!" Guichen shouted, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the hilt of his blade tightly. Xia shifted into a low stance, perfectly prepared to unleash a rapid succession of thrusts the moment he moved.

  In the crowd, Bi Kan stared up at the Elder. A cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

  You're letting this happen, aren't you? Bi Kan thought, his paranoia hardening into icy certainty. You want to see if she survives a blade in the back.

  Without hesitation, his consciousness dove into his Soul Sea. His spiritual fingers brushed past the herbs and scrolls, locking firmly onto the hilt of the forbidden Black Sword.

  Xia, it's time to ru—

  "Is this how we treat guests here?"

  The voice boomed from the heavens, echoing off every stone wall of the manor. The sheer, terrifying weight of the sound caused Guichen’s grip to slacken. His sword slipped from his fingers, clattering loudly against the pavement.

  "W-Wha?!" Guichen gasped.

  Han Weidao's eyes widened. A figure appeared in the sky above the courtyard for a mere split-second. The man looked down at Weidao, his gaze swimming with profound shame and disdain.

  What... have I become? Weidao’s inner turmoil clouded his mind, a heavy guilt crashing over him. Yet, bound by the Elder's command, he stayed his hand.

  "Old man, aren't you supposed to secure the future... of our Han Family?"

  The voice whispered right behind Guichen. The young swordsman tried to turn, but a casual smack to the back of his neck sent him instantly crumpling to the floor, unconscious.

  Up on the balconies, Xingyue's dense aura suddenly sputtered and died. The rest of the Five Bright Stars gulped in unison, raw fear seizing their throats as the newcomer lifted his gaze to them. He wore a lazy, effortless smile, but his amber eyes held nothing but absolute disdain.

  "Fools."

  He simply reached out an open hand and pulled downward.

  Invisible tethers of spiritual Qi wrapped around the necks of the Five Bright Stars. With a violent jerk, they were dragged from their high perches, sent crashing down to the stone floor at the man's feet.

  "Agh?!" Xingyue gasped, trying desperately to resist. But her quasi-Spirit Lake Realm power was less than nothing against him. The pressure bearing down on her was unfathomable—far beyond even Weidao's prowess.

  The proud geniuses of the Han Family were forced to their knees, clutching their throats and gasping for air like rabid dogs on short leashes.

  "What is the meaning of this?!"

  The Elder shot up from his throne, his composure entirely shattered. He pointed a trembling finger at the figure who dared to disregard not just his authority, but the authority of the Grand Elders themselves.

  "Why are you protecting an outsider, Han Jue?!"