The minor competition for outer sect disciples of Qingxu Temple was an important occasion to examine the results of half a year of cultivation, and also one of the few opportunities for low‑level disciples to distinguish themselves and compete for more resources. The martial practice field was bustling with people, the atmosphere fervent. Nearly all outer sect disciples had gathered here, and even some inner sect senior brothers and sisters had come to watch.
Xiao Qi stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the fists and kicks flying back and forth on the stage, the shimmering spiritual light of the bouts, his palms sweating slightly. His cultivation was only at the second layer of Qi Refining, making him one of the lowest‑cultivated participants in this minor competition. He had held no expectations from the start, but since the rule required all outer sect disciples to participate, he could only brace himself and step forward. The drawing of lots came out, and Xiao Qi's heart sank. His opponent was Sun Yi, who had entered the sect two years earlier than him and had reached the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining. Sun Yi was stoutly built, primarily cultivated the "Earthen Shield Art", possessed steady strength, and his defense was quite outstanding among peers of his level—definitely not an opponent Xiao Qi could hope to match.
"First round, Platform Jia, Tang Xiao Qi versus Sun Yi!" the deacon disciple announced loudly. Under the surrounding gazes—some sympathetic, some curious, some gloating—Xiao Qi took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.
Across from him, Sun Yi stood with arms folded, a relaxed smile on his face, clearly not taking Xiao Qi seriously. "Junior Brother Xiao Qi, fists and feet have no eyes. If you can't hold on later, surrender as early as possible to avoid injury." Sun Yi's tone was casual, carrying a hint of "concern" from a senior.
Xiao Qi pursed his lips tightly and did not reply, silently assuming the starting posture of the "Body Forging Fist"—the only barely presentable combat method he currently possessed. "Begin the match!" Sun Yi shouted lowly. Without using a weapon, he pushed off with his feet, his whole body charging forward like a raging bull. A punch aimed straight at Xiao Qi's face, the fist wind whistling, accompanied by a faint earthy‑yellow spiritual light.
Xiao Qi dared not meet it head‑on. He hastily employed the "Swimming Fish Steps" honed through Senior Sister Liu Yun's rigorous training, twisting his body to narrowly dodge that fierce punch. At the same time, he mobilized the meager spiritual energy within him, launching a side kick toward Sun Yi's waist, trying to find an opening. Sun Yi neither dodged nor avoided it. His waist and abdomen slightly contracted, an earthy‑yellow spiritual light flashed, and Xiao Qi's kick struck it as if hitting a solid rock. Instead, the recoil made his own foot bones ache. "Too weak!" Sun Yi sneered, countering with a palm strike toward Xiao Qi's chest, the palm wind heavy. Xiao Qi again relied on agile footwork to retreat, but the stage space was limited; he was soon forced into a corner. Sun Yi's offensive was like a violent storm—fists, palms, elbows, knees, continuous and unrelenting. Each strike was powerful and heavy, forcing Xiao Qi intoin disarray dodging, with no chance to fight back. He tried to use the basic spiritual energy impact attached to the "Qi‑Inducing Art", but that trivial spiritual energy struck Sun Yi's protective spiritual light without even raising a ripple. The disparity in strength was too obvious.
The disciples watching below discussed among themselves. "Sure enough, second layer of Qi Refining against peak third layer—there's simply no contest." "Being able to dodge so many strikes, his footwork isn't bad." "After all, he's under the Discipline Elder, his foundation is solid; pity his cultivation is too low."
Liu Yun stood below the stage, brows tightly locked, her hands unconsciously clenched. She knew Xiao Qi had tried his best, but the chasm of cultivation could not easily be bridged by skill alone.
On the stage, Xiao Qi breathed heavily, sweat soaking his forehead, his internal spiritual energy mostly depleted, his footwork beginning to grow disordered. Sun Yi spotted an opening and swept in with a powerful leg sweep! Xiao Qi could not dodge in time and could only cross his arms to block hard! "Thump!" A tremendous force struck; Xiao Qi felt severe pain in both arms, his whole body lifted off the ground by the sweep, then heavily slammed down at the edge of the stage. A sweet taste rose in his throat, nearly making him vomit blood.
"It's over." Sun Yi withdrew his stance, shook his head, and waited for the deacon disciple to announce the result. The crowd below also thought the outcome was decided.
Yet, at this moment of defeat, intense pain and strong humiliation intertwined and surged up in his heart. Before Xiao Qi's eyes flashed again the soaring flames of Xu Lan Mountain Manor, the blood‑stained figures of his parents... An unwilling resolve suddenly erupted! He could not fall so easily! At the very least, he had to hold on a little longer! Subconsciously, his hand tightly clenched the jade pendant at his chest! In that instant, a familiar, cool and peaceful aura, like a trickling stream, flowed out from the pendant. It did not increase his spiritual energy but swiftly soothed his agitated mind, disturbed by the fierce fight and fear, dispelling part of the physical pain, restoring his head to instant clarity and calm!
His originally blurred vision from exhaustion and pain refocused. Sun Yi's somewhat relaxed figure clearly entered his sight. Almost by instinct, just as Sun Yi turned to signal to the crowd below, Xiao Qi suddenly rolled over, using his last strength to cast that minimally effective but extremely fast‑casting "Gentle Breeze Technique" that Second Senior Brother Luo Feng had taught him! A feeble current of air precisely swept up some sand and dust from the stage edge, blowing directly into Sun Yi's face! This attack had no power at all, not even qualifying as harassment. But Sun Yi had completely not expected Xiao Qi could still move, let alone such a move. With sand in his eyes, he subconsciously paused, subconsciously raising his hand to rub them. That very pause! Xiao Qi forced a final breath, his body sliding out like a fish close to the ground—not to attack, but to narrowly slip past Sun Yi's leg, escaping the most dangerous edge of the stage! Though he merely changed places to lie down, still unable to continue fighting, that split‑second adaptation and struggle made the entire martial practice field fall silent for a moment.
Sun Yi rubbed the sand from his eyes, looked at Xiao Qi who had lain down again but escaped the brink, his face alternating between green and white. He, a peak third‑layer cultivator, had been forced to pause by a mere second‑layer junior using this almost childish method! Though the victory was beyond doubt, his pride suffered a blow. The deacon disciple, startled, then loudly announced: "Sun Yi wins!"
The result was declared, yet the crowd's gaze turned more toward Xiao Qi struggling to get up. His face pale, a trace of blood still at the corner of his mouth, clothes disheveled, appearancein disarray—but those eyes were unusually bright, holding no dejection, only an unyielding spark. He had lost, lost without dispute. Yet that last unexpected counterattack, and that tenacity of persisting to the last moment despite knowing he was outmatched, made many junior brothers who had looked down on him show a different kind of expression in their eyes. "This kid... is interesting." "His cultivation is poor, but this unyielding spirit is rare." "Under the Discipline Elder, indeed no one is a pushover."
Liu Yun quickly walked onto the stage, supported the teetering Xiao Qi, shoved a healing pill into his mouth, and scolded in a low voice: "Showing off what? Don't you value your life!" But her tone carried a trace of barely detectable praise.
Xiao Qi swallowed the pill, feeling the medicinal effect spread, alleviating the pain in his body. Leaning against his senior sister, looking at those fellow disciples with complicated gazes below, he felt little joy, yet also little disappointment. This battle, he had lost. But he had not disgraced his master, nor disgraced himself. In his own way, he had won a bit of respect.
And that jade pendant at his chest, which had once again calmed his mind at a critical moment, filled his heart with an indescribable warmth and curiosity. The road ahead was long. This initial battle, honorable in defeat, perhaps was only a beginning.