Xiao Ke shelled out five gold coins for five hours in a private cultivation chamber. The moment the steel door locked, he chugged all six bottles of the legendary Fountain of Primal Power. Instantly, his Dantian—his core energy sea—was flooded with an ocean of Primal Force Water, a boost that would have taken him six months of grueling practice to achieve naturally.
Using this much Primal Power at once to force an immediate rank-up was a luxury reserved almost entirely for the heirs of the great Noble Houses. Xiao Ke was only able to attempt this because of the sheer generosity of his second and third sworn brothers, Ling Feng and Ye Yun, who had pooled their weekly rewards to fund this desperate sprint to the next level.
He closed his eyes and pushed his will inward. The Dantian, normally a placid lake, instantly turned into a raging sea. It was an internal tsunami.
The first wave hit his unlit fifth Meridian Node—the key to his breakthrough—with cataclysmic force. CRASH! His body convulsed, but the physical upgrade from hitting the Commander rank helped him absorb the shock. He endured.
The next two waves crashed and receded, stronger each time. He was close. His supply of Primal Force was vast, and the power behind the waves was immense. He just needed a few more impacts to shatter the node and advance to Fifth-level Commander.
But as the colossal third wave gathered its energy, a rude BANG! BANG! echoed from the heavy steel door.
The sudden, violent interruption shattered his focus. The Primal Force wave, meant to strike the node, instantly veered off course and slammed directly into his internal organs instead.
The pain was electric. He convulsed as if hit by lightning, and a sudden, hot mouthful of blood exploded from his mouth, staining his robe crimson.
Fury and shock warred inside him. He'd paid for security! He'd rented a private chamber specifically to prevent this! Did this idiot not know that interfering with a cultivator during a breakthrough could cause permanent damage, even death?
Though shaken and internally injured, Xiao Ke refused to stop. If he did, the six bottles of priceless Primal Force would be wasted. Worse, he would fail to close the gap with Gao Wenyan, fail to defeat him, and fail to secure his spot in the combat top three. That failure meant letting down his brothers, and worse, showing weakness to his comrades back in the sidelined Black Shark Legion.
He grit his teeth, forcing his willpower to wrestle the chaotic energy back on track toward the Meridian Node.
The BANG! BANG! BANG! Continued, loud as a war drum. It was a vicious, calculated assault on his concentration, each knock ringing in his ears like thunder. Blood began to seep from his eyes, nose, and ears as he fought to maintain control.
He pushed every ounce of belief he had into the task.
Then, finally—a concussive BOOM!
The fifth Meridian Node shattered, absorbing the surging energy. Five of his twelve nodes were now active. Xiao Ke had done it. He was a Fifth-level Commander.
The rude hammering continued, now joined by an arrogant shout: "Hey! Open up! I'm breaking this door down!"
Xiao Yuanhong, a Fifth-level Commander and one of Gao Wenyan's flunkies from the elite class, raised his hand to pound again. But the door suddenly slid open. His palm swung into empty air, his momentum carrying him forward right into Xiao Ke's space.
Xiao Ke grabbed the man's wrist. Though he'd wiped the blood from his face, the dark crimson stain on his chest was a gruesome testament to the interruption.
Xiao Yuanhong, seeing the blood, smirked—he thought he'd won, thinking he'd successfully crippled Xiao Ke for his boss. He tugged his arm back, still pretending to be outraged.
But his arm didn't budge. Xiao Ke's grip was like a steel vise.
"You—" Xiao Yuanhong stammered, his bravado crumbling into genuine fear.
Xiao Ke didn't let him finish. His right fist launched instantly, connecting squarely with the flunky's face. PULP! Xiao Yuanhong's nose instantly collapsed, blood spraying everywhere.
Before the downed man could even cry out, Xiao Ke delivered a vicious kick to his chest. Xiao Yuanhong flew backward like a rag doll, slamming into the wall before collapsing on the floor. His chest was deeply caved in—ribs shattered. With a single punch and a single kick, Xiao Ke had neutralized the Fifth-level Commander.
(Xiao Ke held back only because he refused to murder on school grounds.)
The chamber guards, led by Captain Zhan Peng, finally arrived, rushing to interpose themselves. "Student Xiao, please don't be angry!" Zhan Peng pleaded.
Xiao Ke fixed his freezing gaze on the captain. "Explain. I rented this chamber for security. Why was someone allowed to pound on my door, interrupt my breakthrough, and cause me injury?"
Zhan Peng sweated profusely under the intensity of Xiao Ke's gaze. He stammered out the official lie: "Uh, this room was reserved by Student Xiao Yuanhong earlier. We made a mistake, assigned it to you, and he insisted on coming in. It was a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding that cost me an internal injury?" Xiao Ke's voice was dangerously low. "And where were your guards when he was causing a scene? Don't you guarantee the safety of those who rent these chambers?"
Zhan Peng's eyes darted toward Gao Wenyan, who was standing nearby. The truth was, the chamber business was outsourced to Gao Wenyan's family, and all the guards were the Gao family's hired hands.
Gao Wenyan, seeing his captain crumble, cursed him silently as "useless" and stepped forward. "What seems to be the trouble?"
He addressed Xiao Ke directly: "Student Xiao Ke, my family oversees the business here. These men are my subordinates. I sincerely apologize for the conduct of our staff. We will cover all medical expenses for both you and Xiao Yuanhong and refund you double the rental fee."
The words were apologetic, but the look in Gao Wenyan's eyes was arrogant, bordering on triumphant.
Xiao Ke's eyes narrowed. He looked at Gao Wenyan, then at the nervous guards, then at the half-dead Xiao Yuanhong. "So," Xiao Ke stated flatly, "this was all you."
Gao Wenyan managed a humorless smile. "Easy, Student Xiao Ke. Words can be actionable. I'd hate to accuse you of slander."
Xiao Ke simply nodded. "Fine. I accept your compensation. Send it to my dorm. But this isn't over. I'll see you on the next Battle Day."
Xiao Ke walked away. Though he'd just broken through, he was internally injured, and Gao Wenyan was a Seventh-level Valiant Commander. Now was not the time. He'd settle the score properly on the weekend.
Gao Wenyan watched Xiao Ke walk away and let out a soft, contemptuous chuckle. "Heh. You were already outclassed. Now you've been interrupted and injured? Dream on if you think you'll beat me on the final Battle Day."
Ling Feng's face went white when he saw the blood-stained robe and heard the whole story.
"The Gao family is just small-time, even here in Qilin City!" he roared. "How dare that snake try to pull something like that on you, Brother? I'm going to grab Third Brother now, and we'll go cripple that bastard Gao Wenyan ourselves."
"Hold on," Xiao Ke said, grabbing his arm. "Gao Wenyan is the heir of the Gao family. They're minor now, but they're growing fast—they'll be Upper Gentry soon enough. If you and Ye Yun touch him, the fallout will be a disaster. Plus, private fighting is banned here, and he's the Chief Instructor's golden boy. If we move on him, Instructor Di Shitian will be furious."
"So we just let him get away with it?" Ling Feng challenged.
"Don't worry. I made it," Xiao Ke smiled. "With your help, I'm a Fifth-level Commander now. My Primal Power is at 3,000 Carh. And my 26 vertebrae give me a 5,300-catty punch. My combat power is already around 8,300. I think if I faced him now, I'd have a four-in-ten shot."
He paused, his eyes hardening with determination. "But by Battle Day? I'll push my power to 9,000. I'll make it fifty-fifty. I'll beat him then, fair and square, in the arena. You can wait for that."
Ling Feng was somewhat reassured by his brother's confidence. "Alright. We'll save the debt for Battle Day. If you need anything between now and then, just ask."
"You and Third Brother have done enough," Xiao Ke chuckled. "The rest is on me."
That night, Gao Wenyan actually sent Zhan Peng and the guards with several dozen gold coins for compensation. Xiao Ke accepted it coolly, but Ling Feng's glare was enough to terrify the guards. Knowing Ling Feng was a son of an Upper Gentry house, Zhan Peng made a hasty, panicked retreat after dropping the money.
For the next few days, Xiao Ke kept up his daytime routine—eating, studying, and cultivating with his brothers.
But he avoided the public cultivation chambers. Instead, Ye Yun offered his private Mu Wu Yaju (Wooden Lodge) for evening training. It was peaceful, and no one would dare disturb them.
Xiao Ke accepted immediately. Why be formal with a sworn brother?
The only oddity was Ye Yun's maid, a sassy girl named Xiao Huixiang, who fixed him with a skeptical glare every night. She clearly wasn't happy about the guest. Still, a sharp word from Ye Yun always sent the pouting maid off to reluctantly brew tea.
Every evening, Xiao Ke cultivated until midnight, successfully tempering another bone, before preparing to leave. Since Ye Yun and the maid always stayed up waiting, Xiao Ke played a tune on his transverse flute for his brother before drifting off into the night.
It was now Saturday night—his final night to train before tomorrow's Battle Day.
The moon was high. Xiao Ke was in the guest room, focused on his last-minute cultivation.
Outside, Ye Yun, dressed in white, sat with Xiao Huixiang, delicately trimming rose branches and sipping tea to pass the time.
Ye Yun placed a finished rose in a vase, instantly brightening the room. She noticed her maid, chin in hand, staring off into space.
"What's wrong, Xiao Huixiang? If you're sleepy, go rest," Ye Yun asked.
"I'm just worried about you, Miss," the maid whispered, glancing toward the guest room. "You snuck into the Glory School—in disguise, no less—and now you're sworn brothers with commoners like Xiao Ke? If the Master finds out, you'll be in serious trouble."
Ye Yun snapped. "Stop with the 'upper class' and 'lower class' nonsense! Am I inferior just because I'm a woman? You've been with me for years; I expect better than this antiquated thinking!"
Xiao Huixiang quickly apologized, realizing her mistake. "I didn't mean it, Miss! I'm just afraid for your safety."
Ye Yun's expression softened. "Don't worry. Father may be strict, but Grandmother, the Old Ancestor, dotes on me. She'll protect me, even if they find out about my study."
Xiao Huixiang nodded but looked as if she had more to say.
"What else is on your mind?" Ye Yun asked lightly.
Xiao Huixiang pressed her luck. "But, Miss, you ignore every noble suitor. You show so much favor toward this Xiao Ke. Do you... like him?"
Ye Yun's cheeks flushed pink. "Of course not!" she denied, pausing. "Xiao Ke, Ling Feng, and I—we all share a fight. They're struggling against being a concubine's son; I'm fighting against being a woman in an antiquated family. He is honest and determined, and I admire his struggle. I share his belief. If he can change his destiny, I can change mine."
Xiao Huixiang nodded obediently, but she thought to herself: That's what she says, but the way she treats Xiao Ke is miles gentler than the way she treats Ling Feng. It's not just about 'shared struggle' at all.