Morning sunlight poured over the towering peaks of the Azure Cloud Sect, casting long golden streaks across the mountain courtyards. The sect was already alive with activity as disciples moved between training halls, cultivation chambers, and lecture pavilions.
But today felt different.
Excitement buzzed through the Inner Sect like electricity.
Because the monthly ranking board challenge was about to begin.
At the center of the Inner Sect plaza stood a massive black stone pillar carved with ancient runes. Names were engraved across its surface in glowing characters—the current rankings of the strongest Inner Sect disciples.
The Inner Sect Ranking Board.
A place where strength decided everything.
Lin Ye stood near the outer edge of the crowd, staring up at the pillar with mild curiosity.
"…So that's it?"
Beside him, Gu Chen nodded.
"Yes."
"The top fifty Inner Sect disciples are recorded there."
Lin Ye leaned slightly to read the names.
At the top:
Li Tianxuan
Su Qingyue
Zhao Tian
Lin Ye blinked.
"…Wait."
He pointed at the second name.
"Su Qingyue is ranked second?"
Gu Chen crossed his arms.
"She's one of the strongest disciples in the entire sect."
Lin Ye whistled softly.
"…Remind me not to annoy her."
Zhao Tian's name being third wasn't surprising.
But Lin Ye noticed something else.
Wu Shan.
Rank 12.
"…Black Fang's leader," Zhao Tian said calmly as he stepped beside them.
Lin Ye glanced sideways.
"You move quietly."
Zhao Tian shrugged.
"I was already here."
Lin Ye studied the ranking board again.
"So how does this work?"
Gu Chen explained.
"Anyone outside the top fifty can challenge someone on the board."
"If you win…"
"You take their position."
Lin Ye's eyes gleamed slightly.
"…That's simple."
Zhao Tian nodded.
"But dangerous."
"Strong disciples guard their rank carefully."
Lin Ye smirked.
"I like simple rules."
Before they could continue, a loud voice echoed across the plaza.
"All disciples, gather!"
An elder in deep blue robes stepped onto the stone platform near the ranking pillar. His spiritual pressure spread across the plaza, instantly silencing the crowd.
"The monthly ranking challenge will begin now."
Murmurs rippled through the disciples.
The elder continued.
"New inner disciples may also participate."
Several eyes immediately shifted toward Lin Ye and the other trial survivors.
The elder gestured toward the arena beside the ranking pillar.
"If you wish to challenge someone…"
"Step forward."
For a moment—
No one moved.
Then a disciple stepped out from the crowd and pointed toward the board.
"I challenge Rank 47!"
The duel began quickly.
Two disciples entered the arena, their battle drawing cheers and shouts from the watching crowd.
Lin Ye watched for a few moments.
"…They're not bad."
Gu Chen nodded.
"Inner Sect standards."
The fight ended quickly, the challenger winning and claiming the rank.
Lin Ye scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"…Looks fun."
Zhao Tian crossed his arms.
"You're thinking about it."
Lin Ye grinned.
"Obviously."
Gu Chen frowned slightly.
"You just arrived in the Inner Sect."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"And?"
"Climbing faster gets better resources."
Zhao Tian studied him carefully.
"…Who are you planning to challenge?"
Lin Ye looked back at the ranking pillar.
His eyes moved slowly across the names.
Rank 45.
Rank 38.
Rank 29.
Then—
He stopped.
Rank 20.
A name carved in bright characters:
Liu Feng.
Lin Ye blinked.
"…Seriously?"
Gu Chen noticed the name too.
"He's still ranked twentieth."
Lin Ye smirked.
"That's convenient."
Zhao Tian chuckled quietly.
"You just defeated him yesterday."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"Guess I should make it official."
Gu Chen sighed.
"You really don't like taking things slowly."
Lin Ye stretched his shoulders.
"Slow is boring."
Then—
He stepped forward.
The crowd noticed immediately.
Whispers spread rapidly.
"That's Lin Ye…"
"The Blood Shadow…"
"He's stepping up…"
Lin Ye stopped in front of the elder overseeing the challenges.
"I'd like to challenge someone."
The elder looked at him calmly.
"Name your target."
Lin Ye glanced at the ranking pillar once more.
Then spoke clearly.
"I challenge Rank 20 — Liu Feng."
The plaza exploded into noise.
"He's challenging Liu Feng again?!"
"Didn't he already defeat him yesterday?"
"This will be interesting…"
Across the crowd, Liu Feng's face turned dark.
Wu Shan stood beside him, watching quietly.
His eyes were cold.
Lin Ye stepped toward the arena casually, rolling his shoulders.
"…Round two."
Behind him, Gu Chen sighed.
"He really doesn't know how to stay quiet."
Zhao Tian smirked slightly.
"But he does know how to make things interesting."
High above the plaza, watching from a balcony overlooking the arena—
Su Qingyue folded her arms.
Her gaze locked onto Lin Ye.
"…You're moving faster than expected."
But she also sensed it again.
That faint—
Growing—
Demonic aura.
Back in the arena, Lin Ye faced Liu Feng once more.
This time—
The fight would determine a place on the Inner Sect Ranking Board.
And Lin Ye intended to climb.
Fast.