The match had just ended, and the crowd was still murmuring about the outer disciple who won with clean blade work and calm footwork.
But not everyone was watching that stage. A different kind of pressure was built on one of the inner platforms near the center.
It was time for one of the core advancement duels.
A name was called.
"Inner disciple match—stage two. Jin Kai versus Ru Fen."
People in the nearby seats started leaning forward. These weren't outer-rank names. Both had fought before and earned their spots near the top of the inner disciple rankings over the last few months.
Jin Kai was the one most of the spectators focused on. He was tall, quiet, and serious. The kind of person who always finished his missions cleanly and never spoke more than needed.
His style was built on steady strikes and defensive awareness. He didn't rush. He didn't gamble. He just wore his opponents down.
