The Azure Heaven Sect glimmered under the early morning sun, but the serenity was deceiving. Whispered schemes circulated within the Inner Sect halls like poisonous mists, their reach stretching across the floating peaks.
Qiu Jian, still smarting from his earlier defeats, paced the polished jade floors, silver hair glinting. Around him, several Inner Sect disciples, all top-tier geniuses, leaned in, forming a council of whispered plotting.
"He's gone too far," Qiu Jian hissed. "The Outer Sect can no longer contain him. Baiyu cannot remain unchecked. If we act now, we can either crush him—or force him into exile."
A tall disciple, with an energy core at the nascent soul stage, nodded. "His techniques… the shadows, the tendrils… they're unnatural. If we underestimate him, even the Outer Sect elders will be powerless to intervene."
Qiu Jian's eyes narrowed, glowing faintly with suppressed fury. "Prepare the challenge arena. Tomorrow, I will face him in the Sect's First Official Duel. If we fail… then all of us risk humiliation."
The council dispersed, leaving only tension and dread in the air. Word of the impending duel spread quickly, whispers reaching Outer Sect disciples and even elders, who exchanged uneasy glances. Jin Baiyu, however, was already several steps ahead.
Jin's Observation
From his private balcony, Jin Baiyu's crimson eyes scanned the Inner Sect complex. The aura of conspiracy was thick, palpable even through the walls.
So they plan to use arrogance and numbers against me… predictable.
He allowed his shadow tendrils to curl lazily around the balcony, testing the morning air. Faintly, he could feel the qi of the plotting Inner Sect disciples—tentative, constrained, fearful even.
"Let them come," he whispered softly. "Let them test me. The more they struggle… the stronger I become."
Even Wu Hao, standing nervously beside him, could sense the aura of power emanating from Jin. "Baiyu… they're Inner Sect… top-tier geniuses… even you—"
Jin cut him off with a faint smile. "Fear is a tool. And today… I sharpen my blade."
The Challenge Arena
The Sect's Challenge Arena was a floating stone platform suspended high above the clouds. Spiritual energy pulsed through every crack and crevice, amplifying techniques and providing a stage worthy of Inner Sect elites.
When Jin arrived, he noticed the crowd of onlookers—Outer Sect disciples, Inner Sect candidates, and a few curious elders. Every pair of eyes reflected awe, fear, or ambition.
Qiu Jian stepped forward, silver hair glowing, his sword shimmering with condensed elemental energy. "Jin Baiyu. Today, we settle this. No tricks, no interference. The duel is yours to survive—or fail."
Jin's crimson eyes flickered faintly, shadows curling like a living aura. "Then let us see which of us the sect truly respects," he said, voice calm yet menacing.
The Duel Begins
The duel started with a single step. Qiu Jian lunged, sword slicing through the air with the precision of an Inner Sect master. The tip glowed blue, a condensed wind-qi blade capable of severing stone.
Jin didn't move forward or back. He tilted his head, faint shadows crawling along the stone platform. As Qiu Jian struck, shadows rose, absorbing and redirecting the strike. The sword hit nothing but air, leaving Qiu Jian off-balance.
Before he could recover, Jin extended a shadow tendril that coiled around Qiu Jian's sword arm, crushing the flow of energy within it. Sparks of spiritual backlash erupted, forcing the silver-haired disciple to stagger back.
The crowd gasped. The duel, meant as a test, had already escalated to life-threatening precision.
Showcasing Terrifying Abilities
Jin Baiyu's next movements were faster than the eye could track. His shadows extended and split, striking at multiple angles simultaneously:
One tendril pinned Qiu Jian's feet to the stone.
Another wrapped around his chest, pushing him backward.
A third flickered in the air, siphoning qi from the blade.
Even seasoned elders whispered among themselves. This is no ordinary Outer Sect disciple… this is a living weapon.
Jin did not raise his voice, nor did he overtly attack with destructive force. Each movement was controlled, precise, and devastating, demonstrating not just skill but the terrifying depth of his understanding of combat and spiritual energy.
Qiu Jian's eyes widened, struggling to maintain control of his scattered qi. "Impossible… you—how can one mortal body—"
Jin cut him off with a faint, cold smile. "A mortal body is nothing but a vessel. True power… is in the mind, the soul, and the will."
With a subtle gesture, Jin drew the ambient spiritual energy of the arena into his shadows. Crimson light surged from his dantian, coating the tendrils in flickering, demonic energy. The arena itself seemed to bend around him, the floating stones resonating with his power.
Qiu Jian staggered, barely blocking the next series of strikes. The duel was no longer a contest—it was a demonstration of absolute dominance.
Inner Sect Schemes Thwarted
As the fight continued, the scheming Inner Sect disciples realized their plans had failed. The duel was intended to humiliate Jin Baiyu, perhaps even force him into retreat or exile. Yet every move they had anticipated was countered before it could materialize.
Even subtle interventions—attempts to manipulate the platform's spiritual energy—were nullified by Jin's awareness and shadow manipulation.
The whispers among the crowd turned into stunned silence. No one dared move; the air was thick with awe and fear.
Qiu Jian, pushed to his limits, barely managed a defensive stance. "I… cannot…" he muttered, sweat and blood staining his robes.
Jin tilted his head, expression calm. "Then concede. Or fall. Your choice."
With a final, controlled motion, the shadows lifted Qiu Jian into the air, immobilizing him completely, while a faint pulse of crimson energy made his spiritual core scream in pain.
The duel ended without a mortal strike. Jin Baiyu's victory was absolute, merciless, and undeniable.
Aftermath
As Qiu Jian was escorted back, humiliated but alive, the Inner Sect elders convened privately. They realized that their schemes had failed, and the Crimson Reborn was no longer just an Outer Sect anomaly—he was a threat to the very balance of the sect hierarchy.
Even the Outer Sect disciples whispered in awe. Wu Hao, trembling, approached Jin. "Baiyu… that was… terrifying. No one… has ever—"
Jin placed a hand on his shoulder, crimson aura flickering faintly. "Do not be afraid of my power. Fear is a tool, not an obstacle. And soon… even the Inner Sect will learn their place."
He stepped back, shadows receding but still faintly present, like a warning to all who would challenge him.
The Crimson Reborn's Reputation
By nightfall, the tale of Jin Baiyu's duel had spread throughout the sect.
He had defeated an Inner Sect prodigy without killing him, showcasing control, strategy, and power.
He had exposed the limitations of Inner Sect politics, proving that schemes could be countered with intelligence and skill.
He had introduced a new threshold of fear, a warning that no ordinary cultivation level could challenge him directly.
The sect hierarchy was shaken. Outer Sect disciples whispered his name reverently, while Inner Sect disciples now plotted in secret.
Jin Baiyu returned to his quarters, crimson aura flickering faintly as he meditated. The duel was a warning… not a declaration. The Inner Sect may scheme, but their defeat is inevitable.
Every step I take, every shadow I weave, brings me closer to control of this world.
The floating peaks of the Azure Heaven Sect shimmered under the moonlight, unaware that a storm—shaped in shadow and crimson energy—was quietly rising.