The 7th Prince took a deep breath, gripping his wooden training sword tightly. Across from him, Wei Shen stood calmly, his expression unreadable.
The students formed a circle around them as Grandmaster Leo Chang raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Wei Shen moved first—fast, like a shadow cutting through the wind. The 7th Prince barely had time to react before a sharp strike landed against his shoulder. He staggered back, pain surging through his arm.
"Too slow," Wei Shen muttered.
The 7th Prince gritted his teeth. He charged forward, slashing downward. Wei Shen sidestepped effortlessly, spinning his sword around and striking him in the ribs.
Thud!
The impact sent the 7th Prince crashing to the ground. Dust rose around him as the crowd murmured.
"That was fast…"
"Did he really think he could win against a Level 5 cultivator?"
"A prince, yet so weak."
The whispers stung more than the pain in his body. He clenched his fists, forcing himself to stand.
"Again," he said.
Wei Shen raised an eyebrow but nodded.
The second round began, and once again, the 7th Prince failed to land a single hit. Wei Shen's sword struck him multiple times, and within moments, he was on the ground again.
"That's enough," Leo Chang declared.
The training field fell silent.
The 7th Prince struggled to his feet, his body aching, his pride shattered.
As he met Grandmaster Leo Chang's gaze, he expected disappointment. But instead, the old man's eyes were filled with something else—expectation.
"You lost today," Leo Chang said. "But defeat is the foundation of strength. If you want to grow, you must learn from it."
The 7th Prince nodded, his heart burning with determination.
---
A Silent Moment with Lian
Later that evening, the 7th Prince sat alone under the Valor Tree, replaying the battle in his mind.
"Are you alright?"
He looked up to see Lian, standing a few steps away.
He forced a smile. "I'm fine."
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she sat beside him.
"I heard what my father said to you," she said softly. "He wouldn't have let you fight Wei Shen if he didn't believe in you."
The 7th Prince sighed. "But I didn't even come close to winning."
Lian looked up at the sky. "Strength isn't just about winning. Sometimes, it's about getting back up, no matter how many times you fall."
Her words lingered in his mind long after she left.
That night, the 7th Prince made a silent vow.
He would train harder. He would surpass everyone. And one day… he would never taste defeat again.
___________________________________