For the next three days, Li Wei did not stop.
He faced a spear wielder at Rank 589, whose thrusts darted like vipers, piercing the air faster than most eyes could follow. Li Wei's sword blurred, redirecting each strike by the slimmest angle until the opening came — a single slash that split spearhead from shaft.
The Stele flared. 640 → 589.
The following dawn, his opponent was a talisman cultivator at Rank 552, sheets of glowing paper igniting midair, each sigil spitting flame and frost in relentless waves. Disciples muttered that this time, Li Wei would falter. But Flowing Cloud Steps carried him through the barrage, his blade carving arcs of wind that shredded talismans before they could detonate. His final cut left the talisman master's sleeves in tatters, qi drained to nothing.
589 → 552.
By the week's end, he had climbed to 508.
Yet for Li Wei, the climb still felt shallow. None of these opponents had forced him beyond the surface of his strength. His sword was sharp, his steps light, but the storm within him had yet to meet a true mountain.
---
The square buzzed with expectation. For days now, Li Wei's climb had become the morning ritual of the outer sect. Each dawn, disciples gathered in swelling numbers, waiting to see how far the newcomer could go.
And today, whispers carried one name above the rest.
"Chen Long."
"He's like an iron fortress. I've seen spears snap against him."
"Rank four-twelve… no way a newcomer breaks through."
The Stele's black surface rippled as Li Wei pressed his token to its base. Glowing characters floated into view.
Opponent: Rank 412 – Chen Long.
A stir rolled through the crowd. Even veterans leaned in closer.
Heavy steps rang against the platform as Chen Long approached. Broad-shouldered, clad in dark iron mail that gleamed faintly with qi, he carried no flashy weapon — only a thick iron shield strapped to one arm, and a blunt, broad-bladed saber in the other.
His presence was steady, unmoving.
"You've climbed fast," Chen Long rumbled, his voice low, like grinding stone. "But this is where you stop."
Li Wei met his gaze, calm. "We'll see."
The array flared.
The duel began.
Chen Long did not rush. His shield came up, qi layering across it like a second skin. His saber swept out in slow, deliberate arcs — no wasted movement, each strike meant to drive back and wear down.
Li Wei advanced, Flowing Cloud Steps gliding him into range. His sword flashed, Tempest Fang Slash bursting in layered afterimages that clawed at Chen Long's defense.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The storm broke against the wall.
The shield absorbed each blow, qi rippling faintly with every impact. Chen Long's feet shifted only an inch at a time, stance rooted like a mountain.
Gasps rippled from the crowd.
"That was Tempest Fang Slash! He barely moved."
"Not just his shield — his qi reinforces every angle. That's Chen Long's style. You don't break him, you drown against him."
Li Wei's eyes narrowed. He pressed harder, his blade weaving, steps flowing, each strike sharper than the last. Sparks hissed where sword met iron.
But still, Chen Long endured.
Then, with a sudden roar, Chen Long surged forward. His shield slammed outward like a battering ram. The force struck Li Wei's guard, qi flaring as he staggered back, boots scraping against stone.
The saber followed, hacking downward in a brutal arc.
Li Wei twisted aside at the last instant, the edge grazing his sleeve and splitting the fabric. His counterstroke lashed out — but again, steel met shield.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Finally, someone's stopping him!"
"Li Wei's fast, but what good is speed against a wall?"
Even Meng Yao, standing at the edge of the square, frowned faintly. She could see it clearly. Li Wei's sword was sharp, his steps light — but every storm needs a break in the mountain to pass. Chen Long offered none.
Another clash. Another block. Another shield slam that rattled Li Wei's arms to the bone.
Sweat traced his brow. His breathing remained steady, but he could feel it — this was different. Every exchange cost him more qi, while Chen Long's fortress-like defense drank it in without faltering.
If I keep trading like this, he'll wear me down.
Li Wei's gaze sharpened. Then I need to make my own opening.
Flowing Cloud Steps carried him in a sudden surge, his figure flickering left, then right, blade darting in deceptive feints. He struck from an angle, qi layering in a compressed Tempest Fang Slash.
Clang!
Chen Long's shield twisted, catching the strike at the last instant. The backlash jolted Li Wei's arm numb.
But for the first time, the shield shuddered.
Gasps erupted.
"He… he forced it back!"
Chen Long's eyes narrowed. His stance shifted, heavier. "Not bad. But still not enough."
His saber swept in a brutal overhead cleave. The force shook the platform, air whistling from the blow.
Li Wei's blade snapped up to meet it — and the impact drove him to one knee, qi flaring wildly to hold the line. His teeth grit as pain lanced his arm.
The crowd roared.
"Chen Long's overwhelming him!"
But Li Wei's eyes glimmered faintly beneath the strain. His free hand shifted subtly, qi gathering at his feet.
Flowing Cloud Steps ignited — not in retreat, but forward.
He vanished beneath the crashing arc, slipping inside the range of the shield. His sword surged upward, Tempest Fang Slash roaring at point-blank.
The impact tore across Chen Long's chestplate. The iron screeched, qi sputtering under the focused burst. Chen Long's eyes widened as the force staggered him back three full steps.
The square fell silent.
In that gap, Li Wei's blade pressed in again, slashing with relentless precision. Chen Long's shield jerked up to catch it — but the earlier crack had weakened the flow of his qi. Each blow now rattled through, bleeding into his arm.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Step by step, the fortress buckled.
With a final layered burst, Li Wei's sword split past the shield's edge, tracing a shallow line across Chen Long's shoulder before halting just short of his throat.
The array flared.
Rank 600s→ Rank 412.
Silence blanketed the square.
Then, slowly, the crowd erupted.
"He broke through…"
"Chen Long fell? His shield's never been broken!"
"He's not just sharp — he's relentless."
Li Wei lowered his blade, chest rising with steady breaths, though his arm still throbbed from the exchanges. His expression did not change, but inside, the clash rang clear.
That was no ordinary fight. That was a wall.
And even walls can crack.
Chen Long exhaled heavily, then let his shield drop. Blood trickled from his split shoulder, but his gaze held no shame. He studied Li Wei, then gave a short nod.
"Not bad, newcomer. You've earned this one."
Li Wei returned the nod in silence.
As Chen Long left the platform, the murmurs surged louder, names and rankings spilling into the square. But Li Wei's gaze had already lifted higher.
Four hundred. Beyond that, two hundred.
And beyond still, the true peaks of the Stele.
This climb was not finished.
Not yet.