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Night in the outer sect rarely held silence. There was always a clash of blades echoing in the distance, the groan of metal training equipment, and the low whispers of ambition between disciples dreaming of inner court status.
But tonight… the world hushed.
Because an invitation to the Duelist's Midnight Hall was not ordinary. It was a secret domain known only to outer disciples whose potential had set them apart—not by background or status, but by battle merit alone.
And Li Xuan had received one.
—
System Notification:
—Secret Domain: Duelist's Midnight Hall [Unlocked]
—Entry Conditions: Solo Only
—Time Remaining: 2 Days, 14 Hours
—Note: Survival Required.
Li Xuan stood outside the black stone arch that led to the hidden grounds, deep in a fog-wreathed cliff face.
His brothers had begged to follow, but he refused.
["This place will test you, brat,"] Long Chen muttered. ["Not your sword. Not your fist. You. The version of you that doesn't beg or cry when everything's gone. You ready?"]
Li Xuan exhaled and stepped through.
The stone gate shimmered. A ripple of starlight passed through his body—and the world flipped upside down.
—
He landed in silence.
A massive dome of dark steel stretched into the sky, dotted with glowing sigils. Beneath him, the ground was obsidian glass, scorched with old blood. Dozens of shadowy figures stood around the circular stage.
Some looked like disciples. Others… not.
Duel Protocol: Initiated
—Format: Single Elimination
—Opponents: 7
—Victory Rewards:
• 400 LCP
• Low Heaven-Grade Combat Manual (Choice of 3)
• Recognition Mark (Sect Internal Use Only)
A figure stepped into the center.
Wearing a disciple robe, face hidden, aura deadly.
"Draw your weapon," it said.
Li Xuan didn't hesitate.
The Heaven-Shearing Executioner saber gleamed in his hand.
The fight began instantly.
—
The first opponent was a speed cultivator. Vanished from view in a blink, appearing behind him like a ghost. Most would panic.
Li Xuan didn't. He spun mid-air, saber clashing with a shriek of sparks.
CLANG!
A foot lashed out, catching the enemy in the chin. As he staggered, Li Xuan elbowed his spine and drove his blade through his thigh.
"Next," he whispered.
—
Second, third, and fourth opponents—each tested a different aspect.
— One was brute force.
— One was illusion-based.
— One mimicked Li Xuan's own shadow.
By the fifth, Li Xuan's robes were shredded and soaked in sweat. His breathing shallow, but focused.
["Don't activate the Nine Star now,"] Long Chen warned. ["Not unless you want to give away your hand."]
So Li Xuan didn't.
He fought like a demon without his greatest weapon, relying purely on instinct, system-earned techniques, and brutal grit.
—
The sixth opponent was different.
A woman. Masked. Silent.
She moved with elegance, each blow sharp enough to kill. For ten minutes, they danced in a blur of slashes and parries—until Li Xuan caught her ankle mid-flip and slammed her into the ground.
She vanished before impact. A clone.
The real one appeared behind him—blade inches from his neck.
But Li Xuan had already set a trap.
Face-Slapping Divine Art: "You Talk Too Much" – Counter Activated.
The blade shattered against a wall of condensed star energy. He backflipped and kicked her off the platform.
Victory.
—
The seventh and final opponent stepped forward.
But… there was no aura.
It was a mirror.
It looked like Li Xuan.
Same face. Same saber. Same scars.
"This is your real enemy," Long Chen said flatly. ["Your past, your fear, your self-pity. Beat it—or you'll never step into the path I carved."]
The fight was brutal.
Everything he had learned was used against him. Every hesitation punished. Every prideful strike countered.
But then… something in him snapped.
His phantom star ring ignited, even though he tried suppressing it. His broken dantian trembled. His feet sank into the glass floor, cracking it.
Nine Star Hegemon Body Art: Partial Activation
—Warning: Overload Threshold Nearing
—System Override Paused
He surged forward.
One strike. Then another. Then a scream from deep within.
"I won't be held down. Not by fear. Not by you!"
The final blow shattered the mirror image.
And the arena turned silent.
—
System Notification:
—Victory Achieved
—LCP Earned: +400
—Low Heaven-Grade Manual Added: [Star-Tearing Saber Flow]
—Recognition Mark Engraved: Outer Disciple (Elite Tier)
—Title Acquired: [Midnight Duelist]
—System Respect Level: Moderate+
The dome faded.
And he woke up in the same position outside the arch. Bloodied, but alive.
His saber hummed softly.
The system interface flickered.
["Not bad. That version of you in there? Strong. But you're still weak. Climb."]
Li Xuan looked up at the night sky.
"I will."
But this time, he meant it not as a wish.
As a vow.