The past three weeks had been relatively normal for Xian Chen. Well, as normal as things could be in a cultivation sect. They had started physical strengthening a while ago, along with meditation to detect their meridians. The baptism that Huo Bian had made him go through had really transformed his body. Exercises that he would never have been able to manage with his old body, he was able to do now. His body had not immediately reached the peak though, so he still had to train. It was more the fact it had become the best baseline possible, at least according to Huo Bian.

  Even sensing the meridians had become an easier task than usual. Though here he had a bit of a problem due to the various elements in his body. Usually people would have one, maybe two, and very rarely three attributes. Consequently, the meridians in that person’s body would be divided according to the ratio of the elements. But the more elements one had, the harder it would be to sense all of them during meditation, owing to the differing nature of the elements.

  Still, he had made good progress, and discovered meridians in both feet, being Metal and Earth. They were the easiest to sense in the glade they were meditating in.

  By now, it had been one month since he had joined Thundering Crane Sect. His routine was very fixed. He woke up, went to lessons, did some of his own meditation, ate dinner in a secluded corner of the dining hall, and slept. Rinse and repeat.

  Today was supposed to be the same. He had been sitting in his usual spot, having the fried pork with the rice, when a commotion caught his attention. Shen Yao’s band was with someone he had not seen in the sect before. He was wearing Outer Disciple robes, so he must be of their batch to be hanging here. A new recruit this late? That was unusual.

  But if he was hanging around with Shen Yao’s lot, he couldn’t be any good either. Shrugging to himself, he went back to his food, contemplating all the various ways he could fight Li Qian in the future.

  He was in the midst of a particularly righteous speech in his mind when Shen Yao’s silky voice drifted over the crowd, "You see Yu Feng, someone thought that they could reach above their station and inconvenience others. Xian Chen had the gall to claim that he was engaged to the True Disciple Ling Qi, and continued spouting that nonsense even as she was tested and showed incredible talent. It was only her master's mercy that his life was spared and he was allowed to cultivate. I would suggest not associating with his type, as it would only sully you."

  The crowd jeered at him like usual, pointing and laughing. Somehow, over the month, his engagement to Ling Qi had become a lie that he had constructed to sully her reputation. Every time he heard someone spout this rumor, he got infuriated. And this time was no different.

  Not wanting to cause a scene, he left his food at the table, and started to move out. He would show all these fools one day.

  Yes you will, Young Master, Hou Bian said in his mind. But do not forget our goal for now. You must reach solidification as soon as possible, so that I can pass down the cultivation art your mother made for you.

  “Yes, yes, I know,” Xian Chen muttered under his breath. “I’m already close to discovering the one in my right hand. Pretty sure it’s fire.”

  Good job, Young Master, Huo Bian praised. Xian Chen flushed a little, but his mind was still on the newcomer, and the kind of stories about him he was being fed by now.

  Xian Chen was fuming. This Shen Yao was truly a bastard. Was this how his life was going to be all the while he was an Outer Discipe?

  He had been talking to Cai Lingxin, one of the only people in their batch who did not seem inclined to make fun of him, when they were accosted by Shen Yao and his gang of cronies. Then his new lackey, the one named Yu Feng, turned up, and Shen Yao asked him to join in.

  But this new lackey seemed a bit smarter than the others. He actually managed to calm down the situation. But Xian Chen’s mind was still seething, and he was unable to keep his mouth shut, indirectly insulting Yu Feng’s family.

  He had never seen a person switch up so fast. One second, Yu Feng seemed like an amicable enough guy. The next, his face was inches from Xian Chen’s. The pure hate that was there in his eyes made Xian Chen take a step back involuntarily, to his utter shame. He was made to take a step back by a peasant, one that did not even seem to know anything about cultivation.

  He thought he was about to take a punch to the nose, but u Feng just made a threat and walked away, Shen Yao and the others trailing behind him.

  Soon, only him and Cai Lingxin were left there. Xian Chen’s heart still beat a little too fast for his comfort. He shakily took a deep breath, exhaling his tension away.

  He quickly bid Cai Lingxin a goodnight, and went back to his residence, where he lay in his bed staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.

  You must be careful of that Yu Feng guy, Young Master.

  “Why should I? He seems like a commoner with no talent, and he joined the sect a month late. He can never catch up now,” he grumbled, clearly not liking Huo Bian’s words.

  That may be true, Young Master, but he is dangerous because of something else. He clearly has some brains, but the savageness hidden within his heart was something you also noticed. That is a quality that leads a man to do stupid things. But oftentimes, they are devastating too. Especially towards those who provoked their ire, never mind the difference in strength.

  Xian Chen humph-ed, but did not argue. Not when he could still visualise Yu Feng’s face in front of his, that gaze that promised pain. No, this was an enemy that must be taken care of. So with a resolution of showing Yu Feng his place, he drifted off to sleep

  Xian Chen was ecstatic. They were to finally have an exercise where they could actually fight. He wanted to fight Yu Feng, Shen Yao and that Gong Wei, so he had naturally joined Cai Lingxin’s team. So, here they were standing in the forest, with Cai Lingxin giving them instructions timidly. Xian Chen could admit that she was cute, and that she was talented, but she needed to grow a spine.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “U-um, s-so, as f-far as I can predict, Sh-shen Yao and Gong Wei w-would be on the at-attack. Y-yu Feng is g-going to be their defense,” she managed to stammer out under the crowd’s watchful gaze.

  “I volunteer to go find the flag,” Xian Chen spoke up from the side, his saber clutched in his hand. Cai Lingxin looked at him strangely, and opened her mouth as if wanting to say something, but then nodded in a defeated way.

  Xian Chen pumped his fist inside his mind. He agreed with Cai Lingxin in that Yu Feng was probably going to be on defence, and the best chance of finding him was to go hunting for their base.

  Ma Ping and a couple others also joined him on the attack team. He had initially thought Ma Ping was another one like Yu Feng, but after speaking to him a couple times, he realised nothing could be further from the truth. Ma Ping was like a naive child that followed his orders without even questioning them. He did not even have a whit of the ruthlessness that Yu Feng had. But he could punch really hard. It was slightly endearing.

  But the preparations were made, a bugle sounded in the air, and the game had started. His team started bounding through the forest, hoping that the opposing team’s base was in that direction. There was not a singular attacking squad, but he wanted to be the one to find Yu Feng.

  After a few minutes of running, they came upon a group of people from the Red Team. Scouts, by the look of it. They descended upon them like a pack of wolves, swords flashing, steel ringing. None of them were particularly tough, and he managed to take down one of them while his group handled the other two. Using the rope that they all carried upon them, they tied up the slightly lacerated disciples, and continued on their way.

  This must have been the right path, if the scouts were placed there. And surely enough, a few minutes later, Xian Chen’s prize was revealed to him. There, in front of a large outcropping, stood Yu Feng with his other defenders, their swords drawn towards them. The flag was stuck in a spot way up into the rock, requiring a person to climb it. But they would have to defeat the defenders first, which Xian Chen would gladly do.

  Heart roaring for vicious retribution, Xian Chen called out to Yu Feng,"Looks like I get to kill two birds with one stone! I have been enduring for a month, to grow strong enough to beat you, Yu Feng, and now I finally have the chance."

  He knew Yu Feng was strong, at least physically, so did not want to take any chances. He reached inside himself, and let the Qi flow through his right arm, and down onto his saber blade, heating it slightly, making the air waver around its edge.

  "Come, let's finish the fight you wanted to start that day," he said with a victorious grin.

  Yu Feng stared at him with an unreadable expression, then shifted his stance slightly, his sword at the ready. There was a second of silence, then everybody in the clearing started moving at once.

  Xian Chen and Yu Feng rushed at each other, disregarding the others. Yu Feng’s larger stature allowed him to cross the space faster, and using his momentum, he thrust his sword at Xian Chen. The instructors were watching, so as long as they did not go too far, anything was allowed. Thus the real swords and sabers.

  He deflected the thrust with the flat of the saber, swinging it upwards, then bringing it down in a vertical slash. Yu Feng stepped backwards, allowing the saber to pass him by inches. But he flinched slightly as the heat accompanying the slash pricked his skin. Xian Chen blocked another swing as his adversary put distance between them, eyeing his saber warily.

  Xian Chen laughed. “I did not tell anyone this, but I started on Dantian Opening a few days ago, and managed to open the meridian in my right hand. Which means I can channel attributed Qi through it, enhancing my attacks. It would be better for you to surrender now.”

  Something akin to envy crossed Yu Feng’s face, and Xian Chen’s heart soared at that expression. Yes, let the untalented bastard know why he shouldn’t mess with Xian Chen.

  Yet, even at that revelation, Yu Feng shook his head. “I can’t do that. I don’t know what your problem is with me, but I can’t let you get that flag before Shen Yao succeeds.”

  Xian Chen grit his teeth. “You don’t know what my problem is?”

  In anger, he surged forward, swinging his saber in a cross slash, Yu Feng trying to block it. He managed to stop it, but the heat was weakening his ability to hold strong. A sudden kick caught Xian Chen in the cut, and he doubled over, the channeling of Qi interrupted for a few seconds.

  Yu Feng did not abandon the chance, and pressed his advantage. He sliced at Xian Chen’s arm, but was blocked by his saber. Xian Chen crumbled slightly under the weight, but using the force, managed to roll away to the side and spring to his feet.

  They met in a clash of steel, and continued exchanging slashes and thrusts. Slowly, but surely, Yu Feng started to lose ground, the weight of the saber’s attacks pushing him back. He mistimed a parry, and he caught a slash across an arm.

  “ARGHH!!” Agony coursed through him, as the wound that was made was also instantly burned by the heat of the saber. It was not a deep cut, yet the pain made him drop his sword.

  Finish him, Young Master.

  Elated, Xian Chen pressed forward, delivering a couple of quick slashes to his chest, opening two more new wounds, the sect robes blackened and frayed upon being instantly burnt. Yu Feng stumbled a little, and Xian Chen, seeing the opportunity, raised his saber high, intending to deliver the final blow.

  Yet, as he was about to carve through Yu Feng’s torso, he found that his hand could not move forward anymore, and that his Qi circulation was cut off.

  Beside him, in all his barbarian glory, stood Instructor Wu, with Xian Chen’s hand held lightly between two fingers.

  Xian Chen could not feel any force on his arm, but he was still unable to move his arm even slightly. What supreme control of power.

  “That will be enough, Disciple Xian,” the instructor said, in a tone brooking no arguments.

  Recognising that his fight was done, Xian Chen bowed slightly as Instructor Wu released his arms. He shot Yu Feng - who was curled up on the ground clutching his wounds - a mocking grin, relishing his victory.

  “Good job, Disciple Xian,” Instructor Wu boomed. “It is very rare that someone is able to open a meridian before this game every year. But this year we had not one, but three. You, Cai Lingxin and SHen Yao should be proud of your achievement.”

  WHAT? THAT SHEN YAO HAD ALSO MANAGED TO UNLOCK A MERIDIAN BEFORE THIS?

  Calm down, Young Master, Huo Bian placated him. Remember, you have five elements to look after, while they only have one or two.

  Hearing Huo Bian’s words, Xian Chen calmed down a little. But he was still miffed that his progress still had some markers to be compared to.

  “There was this one student, Li Qian, who managed to open four meridians before the exercise,” he continued on.

  Oh, and that guy, of course, Xian Chen thought. Every story he heard about him made him out to be better than everyone who had ever tread this earth.

  Done with Xian Chen, Instructor Wu turned to Yu Feng. “And you, Disciple Yu.” He touched Yu Feng’s head with a burly finger, and a blood red aura surrounded Yu Feng.

  The disciple gasped, as he felt his blood roiling inside his body. He could see the wounds on his body knitting themselves together, closing and leaving no trace that he had ever been harmed.

  “You did a very good job too,” Instructor Wu. “Even though Disciple Xian had managed to open a meridian, you managed to hold out long enough that your teammates were able to capture the flag. So congratulations for winning the exercise.”

  The world stopped around Xian Chen at that announcement.