The crimson-robed man stood like a statue on the stone bridge, his spear planted beside him, violet eyes glowing in the dim light of dusk.
"Li Wei," he repeated, his tone calm but sharp as broken glass. "Step away from my sister."
Li blinked. "Wait. Sister?"
Shen Ruo stepped forward, her face pale as winter.
"Brother... I thought you were dead."
The man didn't smile. "No. I was just discarded by the Temple after you betrayed them."
Yue Xiaolan's eyes narrowed. "He's from the Temple of Scarlet Hands?"
Lana Qi adjusted her goggles. "Didn't they get disbanded for ritual blood arts?"
Li glanced at Shen Ruo, whose expression had crumpled into guilt and pain.
"I didn't betray them," she said softly. "I escaped them."
The man gripped his spear tighter.
"And now you hide behind a boy with more charm than skill."
Li stepped forward.
"I don't care who you are. You don't talk to her like that."
The man's eyes narrowed.
"I am Shen Zian, prodigy of the Scarlet Spear Path. And I came to see if the fool clinging to my sister's shadow was worth her loyalty."
System Alert: Major Encounter Triggered
❗Rival Detected – Shen Zian (Level 23)Relation: HostileStatus: Emotionally volatileKnown Skills: Spear Dao, Blood Seal Techniques
Optional Quest: Survive Zian's TestReward: +1 Level, Shen Ruo Affection +10, Unique Counter Technique
Duel on the Bridge
Guards tried to step in, but Shen Zian raised a hand.
"This is personal."
Li's heart thudded.
Yue whispered, "Don't underestimate him. He's faster than he looks."
Lana tossed him a shock-band. "You got this, Tiger Boi."
Shen Ruo whispered, "Be careful. His spear aims for the soul."
Li drew in a deep breath, centering himself.
"I don't care who you are," he said. "You threaten her, you fight me."
Shen Zian smiled.
"Good. I wanted to hate you. Now I can justify it."
The battle began in an instant.
Zian vanished.
BOOM!
His spear slammed down like lightning, cracking the stone under Li's feet.
Li barely dodged, rolling to the side and activating Adrenaline Overclock.
Zian moved like water—fluid, relentless.
Slash, jab, twist.
Each strike carried spiritual pressure that made Li's bones ache.
He parried one, twisted, and countered with Tiger Claw.
Zian dodged and sliced his forearm.
Health -12%
The spear gleamed red. Blood-Tracking Qi.
System Hint: Break his stance or you'll be slowly drained.
Li clenched his fist.
"Let's try this."
He dashed forward, baited a strike, then slid under and grabbed Zian's waist.
He flipped him.
Zian hit the ground—briefly stunned.
Li activated Focused Strike and smashed his palm into Zian's ribs.
CRACK.
Zian rolled back, coughing.
Then smiled.
"Not bad. But you're not strong enough to protect her."
Li stood tall.
"I don't need to be strong enough. I just need to be there."
Shen Ruo stepped between them, voice firm.
"That's enough."
Zian looked at her.
"You've changed."
"I'm not yours to protect anymore," she said. "I chose my own path. And he—he's part of it."
Zian stared at her.
Then turned to Li Wei.
"Make sure she doesn't regret it."
He vanished into the gathering shadows.
DING! Duel Complete: You Withstood Shen Zian's Test
+1 LevelNew Technique Gained: "Flow Breaker" – Disrupts enemy stance with momentum reversal
Shen Ruo Affection: 91 → 97Title Gained: "Heartshield" – Increases bond durability with Fate-Bound allies during emotional conflicts.
Aftermath
The team walked in silence back to the dormitories inside the arena grounds.
Yue Xiaolan kept glancing sideways at Shen Ruo. Lana kept muttering to herself about "emo spear guys."
Li felt like his lungs were made of sandpaper.
In the courtyard, Shen Ruo gently wrapped his arm.
"You didn't have to do that," she whispered.
"I know," Li said. "But I wanted to."
She touched his shoulder. "You've already done more than you know."
Tournament Rules Announcement
The next morning, a grand gong echoed through the sky.
Cultivators gathered in the central amphitheater, where a platform rose from the ground. An old man in golden robes floated down.
"I am Grandmaster Hu Lin, Head Overseer of the Heaven's Chosen Trials."
He waved a hand.
Massive screens of spiritual energy hovered above, revealing brackets and names.
"This year's rules are simple."
Round One: Territory Duel
Fighters are grouped into 16-person zones.
Only 4 may advance from each zone.
Alliances permitted.
Defeat by KO, surrender, or being tossed from the arena field.
Fighting begins at dawn. Good luck, Chosen."
Group Reveal
Li stared at the bracket.
GROUP 7: BONE CLIFF PLATFORMParticipants:
Li Wei (Unaffiliated)
Yue Xiaolan (Glacial Wyrm Sect)
Lana Qi (Tech Rogue)
Shen Ruo (Scarlet Palm Healer)
Ren Yu (Sword Saint's Disciple)
Hua Ling (Beast Whisperer)
Jiro Fen (Lightning Crane Sect)
Kuro Mori (Dark Whisper Valley)
Others...
Lana whistled. "Okay, these are NOT rookies."
Yue frowned. "Ren Yu is a swordsman prodigy. Hua Ling controls spiritual beasts."
Li nodded slowly. "So we're not in a bracket… we're in a battlefield."
Campfire Tension
That night, as they camped near their assigned dueling platform, tension bubbled.
Yue Xiaolan stood beside the fire sharpening her blade.
Lana hummed while tuning her energy gauntlet.
Shen Ruo knelt beside the fire, brewing calming tea.
Li sat in the middle, pulse climbing.
System Notification:Affection thresholds are rising. Competition will influence bonds.
Tip: Jealousy Events may occur.Bonus Quest: Resolve emotional conflict during tournament.
"Great," Li muttered. "Now I'm in a battle royale and a soap opera."
Lana flopped down beside him.
"You and Ruo looked pretty cozy after Spear-Bro left."
Yue's blade paused.
Shen Ruo blinked. "We talked."
Lana smirked. "I bet."
"I don't see how that's relevant," Yue said flatly, still not looking at him.
Li raised his hands. "Okay! We are literally going into battle tomorrow. Can we not do this now?"
Lana poked him in the ribs. "Fine. But I'm claiming your right side during sleep formation. I need your warmth."
Yue: "I'll be on the left. It's strategic."
Shen Ruo just smiled. "I'll be behind you. For protection."
Li groaned. "I'm the blanket now, aren't I?"
System Alert:
You are now the designated warmth provider.Buff: Morale Aura (+5% stat boost to allies who share sleeping formation with you)
Morning of the Trials
The sun rose over the jagged cliffs of the Bone Platform.
The dueling ground was massive—stone, spikes, ruins, and high cliffs.
All 16 fighters stood in position.
Li felt his blood sing.
This was it.
Grandmaster Hu's voice echoed.
"Begin."
The platform trembled.
Fighters lunged.
Lightning cracked.
Beasts roared.
Yue drew her blade.
Lana activated her boosters.
Shen Ruo focused, eyes glowing.
Li smiled.
"System. Let's cause some chaos."