The sun had barely reached its peak when the call spread throughout the outer disciple grounds.
All newly accepted disciples were to gather at the central arena.
Li Shen stood among the moving crowd, his steps unhurried, his expression calm. Around him, voices rose in anticipation, some excited, others tense. For many, this would be their first true test within the sect.
For Li Shen
It was simply the beginning.
The arena soon came into view.
It was vast, carved from stone, with a wide open platform at its center. Surrounding it were elevated tiers where older disciples had already gathered, watching with interest. Some leaned lazily against the railings, while others observed with sharp, assessing eyes.
Newcomers were always entertaining.
Especially when they didn't yet understand their place.
"…So many," Zhao Feng muttered as he stepped beside Li Shen.
Nearly two hundred disciples filled the arena floor those who had survived the trial and been selected despite its abrupt end. Though only fifty had officially passed, the sect had clearly decided to evaluate them further before finalizing ranks.
Li Shen's gaze swept across the crowd.
Most were at the Seventh to Ninth Stage of Body Refinement.
A few stood out, closer to the threshold but none felt dangerous.
"You see them?" Zhao Feng said quietly. "The ones near the front."
Li Shen followed his line of sight.
A small group stood apart from the others, their posture confident, their presence commanding. Unlike the rest, they weren't whispering or looking around.
They were waiting.
"They're the top candidates," Zhao Feng continued. "The ones expected to dominate this ranking."
Li Shen said nothing.
His attention lingered for only a moment before shifting away.
"…Irrelevant," Dao's voice echoed faintly.
Li Shen didn't react.
A sudden pressure descended over the arena.
The crowd fell silent instantly.
An elder had arrived.
He stood at the center platform, his hands clasped behind his back, his expression indifferent as his gaze swept across the gathered disciples.
"This will be your first ranking as outer disciples," he said, his voice calm yet carrying across the entire arena.
"No rules," he continued. "No restrictions."
A ripple passed through the crowd.
"You may challenge anyone," the elder said. "Win and you take their position. Lose and you fall."
Simple.
"Only strength matters here," he finished.
With that
He stepped back.
The silence lasted only a second then chaos erupted.
Two disciples rushed forward immediately, clashing at the center of the arena. Fists collided, bodies moved, and within moments, one was sent crashing to the ground.
More followed.
Challenges were called out, fights broke out across the platform, and the sound of impact filled the air.
Li Shen remained where he stood watching and observing.
"…You're not moving?" Zhao Feng asked, already stepping forward slightly.
"Not yet," Li Shen replied.
Zhao Feng smirked. "Suit yourself."
Without hesitation, he stepped into the fray.
Li Shen's gaze followed him briefly before returning to the arena as a whole.
Every movement.
Every technique.
Every weakness.
He watched them all.
"These are your peers," Dao said. "Do you see it?"
"Yes," Li Shen replied internally.
"They're inefficient," he continued quietly.
Their movements were rough. Their Qi unstable. Their strikes lacked precision.
Even those at the Ninth Stage
Were flawed.
"Good," Dao said. "Then you understand."
Time passed as more battles unfolded.
One by one, the weaker disciples were pushed aside, replaced by those with greater strength. The rankings began to take shape.
At the top
The strongest remained untouched.
Until a voice cut through the noise.
"Li Shen."
The arena stilled slightly.
Heads turned.
Li Shen lifted his gaze.
One of the top candidates stood at the center of the platform, his eyes locked onto him.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. His aura steady and oppressive.
Clearly at the Peak Ninth Stage of Body Refinement.
"I challenge you," he said.
A murmur spread instantly.
"He's going after him already?"
"Isn't that too soon?"
Li Shen stepped forward.
Calm and unhurried.
Zhao Feng, standing off to the side with a faint bruise on his cheek, raised an eyebrow. "…That was fast."
Li Shen stepped onto the platform, his gaze meeting his opponent's.
"…State your name," the man said.
"Li Shen."
The man nodded slightly. "Wang Jie."
Silence fell once more.
Zhooom
Wang Jie moved.
Fast.
His body shot forward with explosive speed, his fist cutting through the air with force far greater than the others Li Shen had observed.
But to Li Shen, his speed was still slow.
He shifted slightly letting the punch passed inches from his face.
Wang Jie's eyes widened slightly.
Li Shen stepped in. One movement.One strike. Was all he needed.
His palm collided with Wang Jie's chest.
A dull impact echoed across the arena.
Wang Jie's body froze, then flew backward.
He crashed to the ground, sliding several meters before coming to a stop.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Li Shen stood where he was unmoved.
"…Impossible," someone whispered.
Wang Jie coughed, struggling to rise, but his body trembled violently.
He couldn't.
The difference, was overwhelming.
The elder's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Winner," he announced.
Li Shen said nothing.
He simply turned around and stepped down.
Just like that
The arena erupted.