The warm sun cast long golden shafts across the village as Tian Jue returned, the scent of crushed herbs and faint blood still clinging to him.
At home, he cleaned the Wind Deer and Blood Rabbit with precision that betrayed his age. The beast cores were carefully extracted and sealed in small jade containers lined with medicinal wax.
"Especially the Wind Deer's core… Rare elemental affinity—wind-based. An alchemist could refine a pill to boost movement speed for three days. It's not something common in these parts."
He wrapped the meat in preserved leafskin and headed for the village market.
Qingyuan Village's market was modest but lively, mostly visited by traders and cultivators due to its renowned ores and weapons—among the top three quality sources in the Southern Greenwood Region. Miners and smiths gave the village its edge, and as such, cultivators came often for blades, armor, or refined materials.
As Tian Jue approached the butchers' stall with the cleaned Wind Deer meat, a young cultivator in loose brown robes passed by—and abruptly stopped.
He narrowed his eyes at the meat, then at Tian Jue.
"You—did you kill this Wind Deer?" he asked, barely hiding his surprise.
"Yes," Tian Jue answered plainly.
The cultivator's expression lit up. "Stay here! I need to call my senior brother. He's in Blacksmith Street."
Tian Jue raised a brow but nodded. "Go."
Minutes later, the young cultivator returned with a taller man behind him—1.8 meters tall, long hair tied back loosely, and a scar running across the bridge of his nose like a blade had once greeted him head-on.
The man looked at the meat first. Then at Tian Jue.
"You sell the core?" he asked.
"Depends," Tian Jue said. "I know what it's worth."
The tall man's lip curled into a grin. "Elemental affinity, right? You know your stuff."
"I also know you just spent most of your spirit stones on weapons," Tian Jue added, glancing at the fresh gleam on the cultivator's boots and gauntlet pouch.
A short silence.
"What do you want in exchange?"
"A recommendation letter to your sect," Tian Jue replied.
The younger cultivator behind him blinked. "That core's worth that much?"
Tian Jue's eyes were calm. "If you know pills, you know how rare wind-aligned cores are for movement-type concoctions."
The older cultivator scratched his chin. "You're not wrong. But I can't just hand out letters to anyone. Spar with my junior first. If you impress me, you've got a deal."
They headed out to the edge of the village, beneath the shade of a Spirit Pine, its twisted bark humming faintly with ambient qi. The grass shifted gently in the wind.
"No rules," the senior said. "Fight until someone yields."
Tian Jue nodded and faced the junior—Wang Zai Ru. He looked about thirteen, built solidly, likely at the 5th or 6th Qi Refinement. Not bad for a common outer sect disciple.
Without warning, Tian Jue threw his needle—a silver flash aimed with deadly accuracy.
Zai Ru dodged in time, but the moment his feet landed, Tian Jue's knee was already driving toward his chest.
He blocked with crossed arms—but the impact made him skid three steps back, boots grinding the earth.
"Don't underestimate him!" Qiang Di called out. "He killed a Wind Deer—he's got real bite!"
Zai Ru's playful smirk faded. He reached into his pouch and donned a pair of polished gauntlets, each etched with small runes.
Tian Jue's eyes narrowed.
"So that's a true sect-grade weapon."
Zai Ru dashed forward with sudden speed, fists blurring.
Instinct screamed.
Tian Jue twisted, his body melting into wind—Silent Wind Steps.
He glided around the punches, dodging through the rhythm like a leaf in a storm.
Step left—bait the punch.
Hook right—draw the motion.
And—now.
Tian Jue caught Zai Ru's wrist, his own punch slamming into the boy's jaw with clean, decisive force.
Zai Ru flinched, stepping back—
But the chain had already coiled around his neck.
By the time he realized, Tian Jue was behind him, calm, one leg braced on the tree trunk, ready to snap the chain taut.
"…Yield," Tian Jue said.
Zai Ru froze—then exhaled. "I yield."
Tian Jue released the chain and stepped back, letting it recoil along his arm with a faint clink.
Qiang Di stared for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"That was beautiful," he said. "Zai Ru's stronger than you, but you read him like a book. Technique, movement, timing… You're dangerous."
Tian Jue didn't respond. He only glanced toward the Wind Deer meat in the satchel.
"I'll give you that letter," Qiang Di continued. "You're worth more than that core anyway."
He offered a small jade token from his sleeve and handed it over.
[Item Acquired: Shenxian Sect Recommendation Token]
Impress this upon the recruitment deacon to bypass outer testing tier.
Qiang Di placed a hand on Tian Jue's shoulder. "Recruitment for Shenxian Sect begins in three weeks at Qingyuan Town. Don't be late. Miss it… and you'll have to wait three years."
Tian Jue nodded.
"Three weeks… Enough time to finish the first cycle of my enhancement plan. And maybe earn a few more cards to play."
He looked up at the mountain beyond the trees.
He was no longer just surviving.
Now… he was stepping onto the stage.
To be continued…