The noise of the arena followed Fang Lin long after he left.
Rank 3.
The words spread through the outer sect like wildfire.
Fang Lin had defeated Chen Hao.
The young commander of the faction side had fallen in front of everyone, and the balance of the outer sect had shifted again.
But Fang Lin did not remain in the arena to enjoy the attention.
His shoulder ached.
His Qi had been consumed heavily.
And his sword—
Was broken.
Inside Room 53579, Fang Lin quietly closed the door behind him.
The room fell silent.
He walked to the bamboo bed and sat down slowly.
Only then did his breathing grow slightly heavier.
The battle with Chen Hao had not been simple.
Chen Hao was far stronger than the others.
His Qi control, battle instinct, and clan technique were all dangerous. If Fang Lin had not broken through to Late Qi Conjunction, the fight would have been extremely difficult.
Even now, Fang Lin knew he had not won easily.
He looked down at his right hand.
The broken sword hilt was still there.
After a moment, he took out the blade fragment he had collected from the stage.
The black iron sword had followed him since the marketplace.
It had not been precious.
Not truly.
But it had been his first real weapon.
Fang Lin quietly placed the hilt and fragment on the table.
For several breaths, he said nothing.
Then—
A faint fluctuation appeared in the room.
Fang Lin's eyes sharpened instantly.
He stood.
The space near the center of the room rippled slightly.
A red-robed old man stepped out calmly, his hands behind his back.
Elder Feng.
Fang Lin immediately cupped his hands.
"Elder Feng."
Elder Feng glanced at the broken sword on the table.
Then he looked at Fang Lin.
"You fought well."
Fang Lin replied calmly, "I was fortunate."
Elder Feng chuckled.
"Fortunate?"
He walked toward the table and picked up the broken fragment.
"Fortune does not defeat Chen Hao."
Fang Lin remained silent.
Elder Feng's eyes carried a faint smile, but there was also something deeper within them.
Observation.
Interest.
Perhaps even warning.
"You have climbed too quickly," Elder Feng said.
Fang Lin looked at him.
"I know."
"Do you?"
Elder Feng placed the broken fragment down.
"The higher you climb, the more eyes gather."
Fang Lin nodded.
"I understand."
Elder Feng studied him for a moment.
Then his smile returned faintly.
"At least you are not drunk on victory."
He waved his sleeve.
A long wooden box appeared on the table.
The box was dark brown, with simple silver patterns carved along its surface.
Fang Lin looked at it.
"This is…"
"A sword."
Elder Feng pushed the box slightly toward him.
"Open it."
Fang Lin hesitated briefly before opening the lid.
A cold light immediately filled the room.
Inside the box rested a sword.
The blade was dark silver, slightly longer than his previous black iron sword. Faint blue lines ran along the metal like frozen veins. The hilt was wrapped in black leather, and the guard was simple, shaped like two narrow wings.
The sword released a quiet chill.
Not overwhelming.
But sharp.
Clean.
Stable.
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed slightly.
This sword was far beyond his previous weapon.
Elder Feng said calmly, "Its name is Frost Wind."
Fang Lin slowly picked it up.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he felt the difference.
Balanced.
Light.
Cold.
The sword seemed to respond faintly to his Qi.
Especially his Ice attribute.
Fang Lin swung it once lightly.
The air split with a soft whistle.
Elder Feng nodded.
"It is a high-grade Mortal weapon, close to Earth grade. It should be enough for the remaining battle."
Fang Lin looked at him.
"Why give this to me?"
Elder Feng smiled faintly.
"Because watching you fight with a broken sword would be unpleasant."
Fang Lin did not believe that was the only reason.
But he did not ask further.
He cupped his hands again.
"Thank you, Elder Feng."
Elder Feng waved his hand.
"No need."
Then his expression became calmer.
"Tomorrow, you will face Su Wanqing."
Fang Lin remained silent.
Elder Feng continued, "She is not Chen Hao."
"I know."
"She has already stepped into Spirit Foundation."
"I know that too."
Elder Feng looked at him deeply.
"Then you should also know that there is no shame in stopping."
Fang Lin's gaze lowered briefly to the new sword.
Then he replied, "I understand."
Elder Feng smiled.
"Good."
He turned toward the window.
Before disappearing, he spoke one final sentence.
"Sometimes, keeping a card hidden is worth more than winning one battle."
The room became silent again.
Fang Lin stood alone.
Frost Wind rested in his hand.
For a long time, he did not move.
Then he slowly sat down and began cultivating.
That night, Fang Lin did not chase another breakthrough.
He stabilized his Qi.
Recovered his body.
Calmed his soul.
The grey stone pulsed quietly within his spiritual sea, but Fang Lin did not absorb the remaining spirit stones.
Not yet.
The next day arrived under a clear sky.
The outer sect arena was even more crowded than before.
Fang Lin versus Su Wanqing.
Rank 3 against Rank 2.
Many disciples knew the result already.
At least, they believed they did.
Su Wanqing was different.
She was not merely a higher-ranked disciple.
She had already entered the Spirit Foundation Realm.
That was a major realm difference.
A true difference.
When Fang Lin arrived, the crowd erupted.
"Fang Lin!"
"Senior Brother Fang!"
"Can he fight Rank 2?"
"Su Wanqing is Spirit Foundation…"
"It should be impossible…"
Fang Lin walked calmly to Li Shan's group.
Murong Yue immediately noticed the sword at his waist.
Her eyes widened.
"New sword?"
Luo Chen leaned closer.
"That aura…"
Han Zhi said quietly, "High-grade Mortal, nearly Earth grade."
Bai Qing looked at Fang Lin.
"Elder Feng?"
Fang Lin nodded slightly.
Li Shan smiled faintly.
"Then at least your sword will survive today."
Fang Lin said nothing.
His gaze had already moved toward the arena.
Su Wanqing stood there.
Pale blue robes.
Long black hair.
Calm expression.
Her aura was restrained, but Fang Lin could still feel it.
Spirit Foundation Realm.
Stable.
Deep.
Completely different from Qi Conjunction.
The referee elder stepped forward.
"Rank 3, Fang Lin."
"Rank 2, Su Wanqing."
The crowd quieted.
Fang Lin stepped onto the stage.
Su Wanqing looked at him calmly.
"You defeated Chen Hao."
"Yes."
"You climbed faster than anyone expected."
Fang Lin replied, "I had to."
Su Wanqing's eyes softened faintly.
"That is usually how dangerous paths begin."
Fang Lin did not answer.
The referee elder raised his hand.
"Begin."
Su Wanqing moved first.
She did not rush.
She simply lifted her hand.
A wave of blue Qi spread across the stage.
The air immediately became heavy.
Fang Lin's eyes sharpened.
This was Spirit Foundation Qi.
Denser.
Purer.
More oppressive.
He activated Flowing Wind Steps instantly and shifted sideways.
The blue Qi pressed down where he had stood, cracking the stage.
Su Wanqing's fingers moved again.
Three streams of blue light shot toward him.
Fang Lin drew Frost Wind.
The sword hummed.
He slashed.
Cold sword light cut through one stream.
Then another.
The third forced him back several steps.
The crowd erupted.
"He blocked it!"
"He can actually exchange moves with Su Wanqing?"
Su Wanqing's eyes flickered slightly.
"That sword suits you."
Fang Lin replied calmly, "I received it yesterday."
"I see."
Her aura rose slightly.
The pressure doubled.
Fang Lin's breathing tightened.
He could feel it clearly now.
The gap between realms.
Even though he had reached Late Qi Conjunction, even though his body and perception were monstrous, the difference remained enormous.
Su Wanqing had not used her full strength.
Not even close.
Fang Lin stepped forward.
Flowing Wind Steps carried him like wind.
Frost Wind slashed toward Su Wanqing's shoulder.
She raised two fingers.
Clang.
Her fingers stopped the blade.
The entire arena froze.
Fang Lin's pupils narrowed.
Her Qi had covered her fingers completely.
The blade could not move.
Su Wanqing looked at him calmly.
"Your speed is impressive."
Then she flicked her fingers.
Bang!
Fang Lin was pushed backward violently.
He landed several meters away, feet sliding across the stone.
His arm trembled.
Murong Yue's face changed.
"She stopped the sword with two fingers…"
Han Zhi said softly, "That is Spirit Foundation."
On the stage, Fang Lin slowly exhaled.
His body began to glow faintly beneath the skin.
Nine Nether Phantom Body.
Only a little.
Enough to stabilize himself.
He moved again.
This time, faster.
Frost Wind cut through the air.
Wind Break Palm gathered in his left hand.
Su Wanqing's eyes became more serious.
She stepped aside lightly.
Fang Lin's sword missed.
His palm followed.
Boom!
The compressed force exploded.
Su Wanqing raised her hand.
A blue barrier appeared.
The Wind Break Palm struck it and shook the air violently.
The barrier cracked faintly.
The crowd gasped.
"He cracked her barrier!"
"Against Spirit Foundation?"
Su Wanqing looked at the crack.
Then at Fang Lin.
"You are stronger than your realm."
Fang Lin's breathing became heavier.
That exchange had consumed a great deal of Qi.
He could continue.
He knew he could.
If he used more of the Nine Nether Phantom Body, he could push harder.
If he used Phantom Transformation, he might create openings.
If he used Soul Trasher, even Su Wanqing might be affected for a breath.
And if he revealed everything—
Perhaps he could force her to take him seriously.
Perhaps he could even make the battle look closer.
Inside his spiritual sea, the silver sea remained calm.
The Soul Metamorphosis Technique waited silently.
Then Fang Lin remembered a voice.
Uncle Wei's voice.
From long ago.
In Mylan Village.
The memory was faint, but clear.
"Little Lin, never reveal all your cards."
"If a hidden card is revealed, make sure no enemy lives to speak of it."
"If you cannot kill them…"
"Then never reveal it."
Fang Lin's eyes slowly became calm again.
This was not a life-and-death battle.
The entire sect was watching.
Elders.
Faction members.
Alliance members.
Unknown eyes.
If he revealed his soul arts or pushed the Nine Nether Phantom Body too far, the danger afterward would be far greater than losing one rank.
He looked at Su Wanqing.
She stood calmly, waiting.
She had not mocked him.
She had not humiliated him.
She had given him respect.
Fang Lin slowly lowered Frost Wind.
The arena became silent.
Su Wanqing's eyes flickered.
Fang Lin cupped his hands.
"I admit defeat."
The crowd froze.
For several breaths, no one spoke.
Then noise erupted.
"He admitted defeat?"
"Why?"
"He still looked able to fight!"
"But Su Wanqing is Spirit Foundation…"
"Maybe he knew the gap."
The referee elder looked at Fang Lin carefully.
"You admit defeat?"
Fang Lin nodded.
"Yes."
The elder paused, then announced, "Victory, Su Wanqing."
Su Wanqing looked at Fang Lin quietly.
"You still had strength left."
Fang Lin replied calmly, "Not enough to win cleanly."
Her gaze deepened.
"That is not the full truth."
"No."
A faint smile appeared on Su Wanqing's lips.
"You are cautious."
Fang Lin said, "I prefer living."
Su Wanqing nodded slightly.
"That is wise."
She turned and stepped down from the stage.
Fang Lin also walked down calmly.
The crowd continued murmuring, but many disciples understood.
A late-stage Qi Conjunction cultivator admitting defeat against a Spirit Foundation disciple was not shameful.
Especially after he had already reached Rank 3.
Li Shan looked at Fang Lin as he returned.
"You chose correctly."
Murong Yue frowned.
"But you could still fight."
Fang Lin nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why…"
Han Zhi interrupted softly.
"Because everyone was watching."
Murong Yue fell silent.
Bai Qing looked at Fang Lin with clearer understanding.
"You did not want to expose more."
Fang Lin did not deny it.
Luo Chen sighed.
"That is annoyingly mature."
Zhao Feng nodded.
"And necessary."
High above the arena, Elder Feng smiled faintly.
"He remembered."
Beside him, the Sect Master's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Remembered what?"
Elder Feng only smiled.
"Something an elder once told a child."
The Sect Master looked down at Fang Lin.
"He still has hidden cards."
"Yes," Elder Feng said softly.
"And he knows their value."
The remaining matches ended later that day.
No one expected Fang Lin to challenge Jian Wuji.
Jian Wuji had already stepped beyond ordinary outer disciples, and with Su Wanqing's victory, the ranking structure became clear.
Rank 1 remained Jian Wuji.
Rank 2 remained Su Wanqing.
Rank 3 became Fang Lin.
When the final ranking board glowed above the arena, countless disciples looked upward.
Rank 3: Fang Lin.
This time, the cheers were different.
Not wild shock.
Respect.
A newcomer had reached third place in his first outer sect competition.
He had defeated Chen Hao.
He had forced Su Wanqing to acknowledge him.
And he had chosen restraint over reckless glory.
The competition ended with the sound of a great bell.
The white-robed elder stepped forward and announced the final results.
"The Outer Sect Competition is concluded."
"Rewards will be distributed according to final rank."
The crowd erupted again.
Fang Lin stood quietly beneath the ranking board.
Frost Wind rested at his waist.
His expression remained calm.
But inside, he understood.
This was only the beginning.
Rank 3 gave him status.
Resources.
Attention.
And danger.
It would also give him spirit stones.
Enough, perhaps, to unlock more of the grey stone's potential.
Inside his spiritual sea, the grey stone pulsed softly.
The smoky mist stirred.
Fang Lin looked away from the ranking board and toward the distant mountains beyond the sect.
The outer sect competition was over.
His next path—
Was about to begin.