The walk back from the Arena of Judgment was a profoundly different experience from the walk there. The crowd parted before Li Yu like water before a ship's prow. The whispers that followed him were no longer of mockery or disdain, but of a stunned, fearful respect. He had not just won a duel; he had shattered perceptions. He had proven that the gap between realms could be crossed, that status was not absolute, and that the quiet, unassuming Junior Steward of the Azure Serpent Lake was a dragon hiding in a pond.
He kept his expression placid, his head held high, projecting an aura of calm confidence that was the complete opposite of the turmoil he felt within. His victory was a double-edged sword. It had established his authority and sent a clear, brutal message to Elder Jin's faction. But it had also painted a massive target on his back. He was no longer a lucky brat; he was a genuine threat, a prodigy whose growth was terrifying. The attempts on his life and reputation would no longer be casual provocations; they would be calculated, lethal assaults.
Brother Kai and the two guards, Hu Jian and Lin Tao, flanked him, their chests puffed out with a pride that was almost comical. They were no longer just his subordinates; they were the retinue of a living legend. When they arrived back at the Azure Serpent Lake, the atmosphere was one of triumphant celebration.
"Junior Steward, your prowess is unbelievable!" Hu Jian, the more outspoken of the two guards, exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "To defeat a core disciple like Ma Long… it is a tale for the ages!"
Brother Kai, however, was more pragmatic. Once they were inside the main pagoda, his celebratory mood sobered. "That was a necessary victory, Junior Steward," he said, his voice low and serious. "But you have stirred the hornet's nest. Elder Jin will not take this humiliation lying down. Ma Long was one of his favored disciples, and you have not just defeated him; you have crippled his cultivation. His Qi Core is cracked. He is finished. That is a blood debt that will not be easily forgiven."
"I am aware," Li Yu said, his gaze distant as he looked out at the calm surface of the lake. "But to show weakness would have invited a fate far worse than a blood debt."
"You are wise beyond your years," Brother Kai acknowledged with a deep sigh. "But wisdom alone is not enough. You must be prepared. The inspections and public challenges will stop. The next attempts will come from the shadows."
Li Yu nodded. "Then I will have to grow stronger in the shadows."
His first priority was to take stock of his own performance. Later that night, in the security of his cultivation chamber, he replayed the duel in his mind, analyzing every move with a cold, critical eye. His strategy had been sound. The use of mist, the surprise attack with Crimson, and the final, decisive blow had worked perfectly. But he had also identified several flaws.
His control over the «Flowing Water, Still Shadow» art was still too crude. He had created a blanket of mist, but a more skilled opponent could have dispersed it with a powerful wind-attribute technique. His ice blades were sharp, but they lacked true killing power against a prepared expert. His coordination with Crimson, while effective, had been based on a single, surprise tactic. They had not yet achieved a true, seamless synergy in a prolonged battle.
Most importantly, his own combat experience was dangerously shallow. He had won through overwhelming, unexpected power and a solid strategy. But Ma Long had been an arrogant fool. He had charged in blindly, relying on his suppressed cultivation and fiery fists. He had never used a true movement technique, nor had he displayed any sophisticated combat arts beyond the simple fusion with his martial spirit. A more cunning, patient, or versatile opponent would have been a far greater challenge.
The victory had not made him arrogant. It had made him cautious. It had shown him just how much further he had to go.
The next morning, he received another summons from his master. He approached the nine-story pagoda with a calm heart. When he entered the study, Elder Ning was tending to a pot of rare, spiritual tea, the fragrant steam filling the air.
"You have crippled the disciple of a fellow elder," she said, her back still to him. Her voice was impossible to read.
"He accepted the terms of a life-and-death duel," Li Yu replied respectfully. "This disciple only defended himself."
"You did more than defend yourself," she said, turning around. There was no anger in her eyes, only a deep, calculating calm. "You made a statement. You have told the entire sect that my, Ning Yue's, lineage is not to be trifled with. For that, you have done well."
She poured a cup of the steaming, translucent tea and pushed it towards him. "Drink. This is Spirit-Cleansing Tea. It will help solidify your foundation after your recent battle."
Li Yu accepted the cup with both hands. "Thank you, Master." The tea was a clear sign of her approval. He took a sip, and a wave of pure, cool energy washed through his meridians, soothing the lingering strain from the duel and making his True Qi even purer.
"Your performance was adequate," she continued, her tone returning to that of a stern teacher. "Your tactics were sound, and your use of your companion was decisive. However, your reliance on a single, powerful strike is a weakness. Your control over spirit arts is rudimentary. Your movement is evasive, but lacks killing intent. You fight like a survivor, not a warrior."
Her assessment was identical to his own.
"You have proven your worth," she said. "And you have earned the right to greater resources." She waved her hand, and three items appeared on the desk: a small, exquisitely crafted porcelain bottle, a heavy, dark-blue ring, and a jet-black wooden token.
"The bottle contains three Qi Establishment Pills," she explained, her words causing Li Yu's heart to skip a beat. These were precious treasures designed to help a cultivator at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm break through the final barrier and successfully condense their Qi Core. For his master, who believed he was at the Eighth Stage, this was a generous gift to ensure his future success. "When you reach the Great Perfection, use these to ensure a smooth breakthrough to the Qi Condensation Realm."
She pushed the ring forward. "This is a mid-grade storage ring. It has a hundred times the space of a common satchel and can store inanimate objects. A disciple of my stature should not be seen carrying clumsy pouches for his herbs and stones. Your Beast Bag is still required for housing Crimson, as living creatures cannot survive in a normal storage ring."
Finally, she indicated the black token. It was carved with the image of a swirling vortex. "This is a pass to the Abyssal Water Pavilion. It is a special cultivation ground for the sect's elite water-attribute cultivators. Inside, the water-elemental Qi is incredibly pure and dense. It is the perfect place to practice your spirit arts. You are granted ten days of access per month. Use them wisely."
Li Yu was stunned into silence. He bowed deeply, collecting the priceless items. His heart was a placid lake on the surface, but a surging tide underneath. Qi Establishment Pills! For his master, this was an investment in his future. For Li Yu, who had already forged his Qi Core, they were something else entirely: a small fortune. He no longer needed them for his breakthrough, which meant these three precious pills had just become his first source of independent capital, a secret fund he could use to trade for other resources the sect might not provide. The thought was both thrilling and sobering.
"Master, this is… too much," he stammered, his performance of a grateful but overwhelmed disciple perfect.
"It is what you have earned," she said, her voice sharp. "And it is what you will need. Elder Jin will not make a move against you directly for now; it would be too obvious. But the sect is not a peaceful garden. There are missions, expeditions to demonic beast forests, and assignments in the sect's territories. He will find a way to place you in a situation where your death can be attributed to 'an unfortunate accident.' When that time comes, your only ally will be your own strength. Do not disappoint me."
"This disciple understands," Li Yu said, a fire of determination in his eyes. He was dismissed.
He returned to the Azure Serpent Lake, his mind racing. His master had not only rewarded him but had also given him a clear warning and the tools to face the coming storm. She expected him to reach Qi Condensation soon, and he had already secretly accomplished it. Now he had the perfect resources to rapidly advance his true cultivation while maintaining his disguise.
He knew his peaceful days were numbered. The victory in the arena was not an end, but a beginning. It was the first clap of thunder before a great and terrible storm. He looked at the treasures in his hand, then out at the deep, dark water of his lake. He had the resources, he had the talent, and he had the will. Now, all he needed was time to forge himself into a weapon sharp enough to cut through the coming darkness. The hidden dragon had won a battle, but the war for its survival had only just begun.