Silence descended over the Battle Hall, heavy and absolute.

Chen Pei stared blankly at the flying sword hovering inches from his neck. His Adam’s apple bobbed convulsively, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out along his temples.

Defeated… just like that?

It had been less than three years since this kid entered the sect. Back then, Han Yu was a scrawny runt, barely more than a bean sprout. How had he become this terrifying?

Tian Ziyue stepped forward and retrieved Chen Pei’s knocked-away flying sword. “Junior Brother Chen, the match is concluded. Please step aside.”

He then turned to Han Yu, offering a faint, appreciative smile.

Eighteenth Junior Brother is indeed sharp.

Chen Pei, a cultivator at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, hadn’t lasted a single exchange. Even granting Han Yu the advantage of striking first, the gap in skill was monstrous.

As Chen Pei offered a stiff, trembling salute and retreated, the spell of silence broke. The hall erupted into noise.

“Did you see that speed?”

“First place among the Outer Disciples… the title is well-deserved.”

Murmurs of amazement filled the air. Finally, one disciple couldn’t hold back. “Junior Brother Han, you are only at the fourth layer of Qi Refining. How did you knock away Senior Brother Chen’s blade and shatter his defensive ward with a single strike?”

Han Yu lowered his sword, his expression calm and professorial. “The reason is simple. I applied the ‘Sharp Gold Technique’ to my blade before striking.”

He gestured to the weapon. “When released as a spell, the Sharp Gold Technique is not much different from a standard Wind Blade. However, when attached to a Magical Artifact, it fundamentally alters the weapon’s cutting power.”

“Furthermore, I have studied a specific sword cultivation method. By stacking the sword art with the Sharp Gold enchantment, breaching Senior Brother Chen’s defense became a matter of calculation, not brute force.”

Realization dawned on the faces of the crowd.

It wasn’t just raw power; it was technical mastery. Layering spells on artifacts was a delicate art, yet Han Yu made it sound effortless.

“No wonder Master praises you endlessly,” a voice cut through the chatter. “To possess such ability at the fourth layer… it is indeed extraordinary.”

Han Yu turned. It was Ye Shinian.

The pieces clicked into place. Ye Shinian wasn’t just arrogant; he was jealous. His master, Sect Leader Qi, had likely been lauding Han Yu’s talent, sparking resentment in the older disciple’s heart.

Han Yu met his gaze evenly. “Come then, Senior Brother Ye. There are still two others waiting their turn after you.”

Ye Shinian’s eyes flashed with anger. He slowly drew a long jade flute from his waist. “Do you really think that little trick is enough to defeat me? I placed third in the Inner Disciple Grand Competition. Do not mistake me for the rabble.”

“Let me see your true ability!”

Han Yu noted the unusual weapon—a sonic artifact? He raised his guard.

The two faced off. Tian Ziyue raised his hand. “Begin!”

Ye Shinian instantly raised the foot-long, bluish-green jade flute to his lips.

Spirit Breath surged. He blew a sharp note.

Whoosh!

A crescent Wind Blade materialized from the soundwave, screaming toward Han Yu.

In the same instant, the air behind Han Yu exploded with motion. The three crows—one large, two small—launched themselves into the sky.

The large crow opened its beak, spitting four Wind Blades. The smaller crows flanked from the side, firing three more. Seven blades of compressed air tore through the hall.

Boom!

Two of the crow’s blades collided with Ye Shinian’s sonic attack. The energies detonated into a chaotic vortex of turbulence, roaring like a trapped beast and whipping the hair and robes of the onlookers.

The remaining five Wind Blades punched through the chaos, rushing toward Ye Shinian without pause.

A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Shinian’s eyes, but he remained calm. He slid backward, his footwork precise, temporarily evading the sharpest edge of the assault. He brought the flute to his lips again.

Another note, another Wind Blade. This one intercepted two of the incoming attacks.

But he was out of time.

With his left hand, Ye Shinian swiftly crushed a Talisman. A shimmering barrier of protective light sprang up. With his right, he wielded the jade flute like a short staff, flooding it with Spirit Breath to reinforce its structure.

Crack!

The protective barrier tanked two Wind Blades before shattering into motes of light.

The final Wind Blade struck the reinforced flute. Clang! The jade sang with a crisp, bell-like tone as it deflected the attack, unharmed.

Ye Shinian had used every tool at his disposal—movement, spells, talismans, and weapon durability—to neutralize the barrage.

He exhaled, relief washing over him.

But the assault wasn’t over.

A ball of searing fire descended from above—the crows’ Flame Technique.

Ye Shinian gritted his teeth, gripping his flute with white-knuckled intensity. He channeled his Spirit Breath, preparing to bat the fireball aside, relying on the high-grade material of his artifact.

He never got the chance.

A cold glint flashed in his peripheral vision.

While the crows had suppressed him with elemental fury, Han Yu had closed the distance. The tip of a flying sword, humming with the golden aura of the Sharp Gold Technique, hovered millimeters from Ye Shinian’s throat.

It was the exact same checkmate he had delivered to Chen Pei.

“Senior Brother Ye,” Han Yu said softly. “I concede.”

Ye Shinian froze. He stared at the blade, then up at Han Yu.

“Your attacks… they didn’t stop for a single breath,” Ye Shinian muttered, dazed. “Were you afraid you wouldn’t kill me?”

“Senior Brother, a duel is meant to determine a winner,” Han Yu replied, his tone serious. “Since the goal is victory, one must use every tool available.”

“If we were facing true enemies in a life-and-death battle, holding back would be suicide.”

As he spoke, Han Yu subtly twitched his finger.

A thin, silver-white thread—invisible to everyone else—slithered back into his sleeve. The Star Luo Thread had been coiled tight around Ye Shinian’s jade flute. Had the fight continued for even a second longer, the weapon would have been ripped from the senior disciple’s grasp.

Ye Shinian had been completely oblivious to the fact that he had been disarmed before the sword even reached his throat.

The Battle Hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

Ye Shinian looked down at the sword at his chest and sighed, his shoulders slumping. ” ‘Beat him, then beat me’… You really meant it.”

He shook his head. “I am convinced.”

Han Yu sheathed his sword and bowed with genuine respect. “Senior Brother Ye’s artifact is marvelous, and your reactions were calm and calculated. Such composure is rare. I truly had to give it my all to secure this win.”

The words were polite, giving the loser distinct face. Ye Shinian’s expression softened.

The rest of the disciples, however, were boiling with excitement.

Defeating Chen Pei was one thing. But Ye Shinian? A Qi Refining ninth layer cultivator? The Sect Leader’s disciple? Third place in the Grand Competition?

Han Yu had dismantled him.

A Qi Refining fourth layer disciple was now effectively the strongest cultivator in the Qi Refining stage within the sect.

It was terrifying.

Han Yu didn’t let the momentum die. He called up the next two challengers. He defeated them efficiently, then spent the remaining time answering questions about combat theory.

Finally, gauging the time, Han Yu addressed the crowd. “The two hours are up. I must return to cultivate.”

“If you have further questions or wish to spar, we can continue tomorrow.”

The disciples of the Battle Hall bowed in unison, their posture carrying a newfound deference. “Yes, Junior Brother Han.”

As Han Yu left with his crows, one disciple blinked, realization dawning. “Wait. We are the seniors. He is the Junior Brother. Why are we treating him with such respect?”

Tian Ziyue scoffed from the side. “Why don’t you bring that up to my Eighteenth Junior Brother’s face tomorrow?”

He smirked. “Maybe he will teach you with… extra care.”

The disciple paled. “Actually, respect is good. Junior Brother Han is our instructor, after all. We admire him from the bottom of our hearts.”

Ye Shinian, however, stood apart, lost in thought. He walked over to Tian Ziyue and lowered his voice. “Did Junior Brother Han speak the truth? Did he really give it his all against me?”

“That, I do not know,” Tian Ziyue shrugged. “Eighteenth Junior Brother only recently joined our lineage. I haven’t interacted with him enough to gauge his depths.”

Ye Shinian looked disappointed. “I thought you would know. You keep calling him ‘Eighteenth Junior Brother’ so affectionately.”

Tian Ziyue chuckled. “It’s better than your approach. The Sect Leader praised him, and you got jealous. You stepped up to challenge him and got slapped down immediately.”

Ye Shinian gritted his teeth. “You and Han Yu are cut from the same cloth! No wonder you share a Master!”

Back at Elder Lu’s courtyard, Han Yu was greeted by the old servant, Shang Lu. The man’s face was beaming with relief.

“Immortal Master Han, you’ve returned!”

“Immortal Master Lu has been waiting for you!”

Han Yu nodded. “You are safe now?”

“Yes!” Shang Lu cried out, tears welling in his eyes. “Thanks to Immortal Master Lu, the restriction on my body was lifted. He even sent the market Deacon to rescue my wife and children!”

“Deacon Wan… that man not only cursed me but kidnapped my family to force me to harm you.”

Han Yu looked at the frail old man. Under such immense pressure—threatened with the death of his entire lineage—Shang Lu had still found the courage to whisper a warning.

That kind of loyalty was rare.

Han Yu reached into his storage bag and retrieved a bottle of Qi Condensation Pills. He extended it to the servant. “Thank you for the warning. Please, accept this.”

Shang Lu’s face went pale. He waved his hands frantically, backing away as if Han Yu had offered him a viper.

“Immortal Master Han, I cannot accept pills! Absolutely not!”

“For mortals like us without Spirit Roots, the pills of Immortal Masters are not treasures—they are death warrants! If I hold such a thing, it will only invite thieves and murderers. I cannot keep it!”

“Please, Immortal Master Han, do not give me such a heavy burden!”

Han Yu paused, stunned.

He hadn’t considered it. To him, it was a casual reward. To a mortal, it was a calamity waiting to happen. The gap between their worlds was so vast that even his kindness could induce terror.

He fell silent for a moment, then put the pills away.

He reached into his bag again and pulled out a different item. “You are right. Your family cannot use pills. But this… this you can definitely use. Take it.”