Two days had passed since she attacked Kresa. Every minute, Kira feared sect officials would come to punish her. But no one seemed to care—at all.
She had continued her training relentlessly. Every morning, she'd head to the river and cultivate the Thunderstorm Tempering Technique. In the afternoons, she practiced her martial and movement techniques until late at night.
She survived solely on those heavenly peaches she had stolen.
Yesterday, she broke through to Body Tempering Stage Two. She had cleansed her muscles—and it hurt even more than the skin cleansing. But thanks to the addictive sensation the Qi gave her, she once again drowned in the pleasure, blocking out the pain entirely.
She'd also made great progress in her martial arts. With her muscles now refined, her physical strength had skyrocketed. She could crush a rock her size with raw force—even without using any technique. If she were to use Windy Hands on Kresa in her current state, Kira was certain she'd tear the girl apart.
The power she'd gained in just three days frightened her. But one thing was clear:
She loved it.
She craved more.
The fire of ambition burned in her chest—telling her to reach for the heavens, to let no one stand in her way. No matter what she had to do.
Everything… to get stronger, she vowed.
Just as she was about to leave for her daily routine, a voice echoed across the entire outer sect—clear, gentle, yet commanding. It stretched from the nine mountain peaks to the valley and down to the river. The voice alone told Kira that the woman behind it must be incredibly powerful.
"Attention, disciples of the outer sect! Now that you've had a few days to settle in, your true life in the sect begins. All new outer disciples are required to gather in the Arena in two hours for announcements regarding the upcoming Outer Sect Tournament."
There goes my training routine for today, Kira grumbled.
She pulled a peach and the sect map from her pouch. While munching her makeshift breakfast, she studied the map to find the arena's location.
A frustrated sigh escaped her lips when she found it—it was located partway up the second peak, also known as Moonlit Summit. Her quarters, meanwhile, were all the way near the river—about as far as one could get from the mountains.
I better get going or I'll never make it in time, she decided and stepped outside.
It was still early. The cool spring wind blew through her robes, sending a pleasant shiver up her spine.
All around her, other disciples began stepping out of their quarters—many of them also unlucky enough to be stationed far from Moonlit Summit.
It was the first time she really saw her neighbors. Strangely, many of them shot her odd glances. Some looked at her with hate. Others with disdain. But most… most of them looked at her with something she hadn't expected.
Fear.
Why are they afraid of me? Is it because of what happened with Kresa? she wondered.
No one walked beside her. The others seemed to actively avoid getting close.
Then, one face stood out in the crowd—a boy with a wide, friendly smile.
Kira raised an eyebrow as he approached.
"Hi. Kjell's the name," said the sandy-haired boy with a grin that could melt ice.
"Kira," she replied cautiously.
"Ah, don't be so suspicious," he said, chuckling. "Let's just say… I'm a fan of your, ehm, work."
"My work? You mean the reason everyone walks around me like they've pissed their pants?" she asked.
"Exactly."
A small smile tugged at the corners of Kira's lips.
"I gotta say—crippling your roommate on the second day? Now that's a statement," Kjell laughed.
Some disciples turned to look at them, whispering.
"I'm sure you had your reasons," he continued. "And honestly? I can't feel sorry for some rich noble girl getting put in her place. Especially by someone like us—someone from the lower class."
He flashed her a proud smile.
Kira smiled back, genuinely.
They walked side by side toward the arena, chatting along the way.
Well—mostly he talked. Kjell was endlessly talkative, and to her surprise, Kira found herself enjoying it. He had an easy, infectious energy and a voice you could listen to for hours.
He told her about his village, not far from the sect, and about his family—especially his six siblings.
He complained constantly about working the fields of his family's farm. But it was obvious that life had forged his broad, muscular frame.
Kira couldn't help but wonder what it would've been like to grow up in a big, loving family like his.
When they arrived at the arena, their eyes nearly popped out.
Two gigantic statues of cultivators clashing swords were carved directly into the mountainside. At their feet lay the head of a massive dragon, its jaws wide open—the entrance to the arena.
Hundreds of disciples were streaming into the dragon's mouth.
Kira and Kjell fell silent, stunned by the sight.
Inside, the stone dragon's throat branched into several pathways leading to the seating areas. Near the back, next to the entrance to the pit, was a small office built into the wall where disciples could register private duels.
"Let's take this one," Kjell said, pointing to a path on the right.
Kira nodded and followed.
The path led to a long staircase, which finally opened into the full view of the arena.
Even after everything she'd seen, the scale still took her breath away.
The arena could hold at least a hundred thousand people. Every part of it was carved into the mountainside, illuminated by glowing stone veins that pulsed with light—like the arena itself was alive.
It was the most impressive thing Kira had ever seen.
I have to get used to things like this. I'm not in the mundane world anymore, she reminded herself.
"Kira! Over here!" Kjell called. He'd found two free seats.
She joined him. He resumed his endless chattering.
The arena slowly filled with thousands of disciples—but it still felt mostly empty.
Twenty minutes later, a gorgeous young woman in an all-black robe appeared in the center of the arena pit.
The moment she did, silence fell like a curtain.
The invisible pressure she exuded was overwhelming.
"I am Elder Rina," she said, her sweet, melodic voice carrying effortlessly across the arena. "The tournament will be held in exactly three months' time. Use this time to train and cultivate. Special rewards will await the best-performing disciples—but only those who make it into the top 100."
"Place 100 to 50 will receive 50 spirit stones each.
Place 49 to 11 will receive 50 spirit stones and 3 Cleansing Pills.
Place 10 to 4 will receive 100 spirit stones, 5 Cleansing Pills, and one week of private training with an Elder.
Places 3 and 2 will receive 300 spirit stones, 5 Cleansing Pills, one week of training, and one Qi Enhancement Pill.
And finally, the disciple who ranks First will receive 500 spirit stones, 5 Cleansing Pills, 3 Qi Enhancement Pills, special training with a core elder, and a personal reward from the Sect Head himself."
A wave of murmurs and excited whispers swept through the crowd.
Three cultivators in purple robes appeared behind Elder Rina.
"My disciples will begin calling your names. When called, come down to receive your participant token and number."
Then, just as suddenly as she had arrived, Elder Rina vanished.