Su Yan and Ling Han soon stepped onto the arena floor, drawing an eruption of cheers from the crowd.
Su Yan's eyes briefly swept across the sea of faces, and almost instantly, she found Itachi sitting among the honored guests. Their eyes met for only a moment. She smiled lightly, small, but genuine, before turning her full attention back to Ling Han, who was already standing across from her. Ling Han caught the exchange, and his frown deepened.
'I refuse to see him as a rival…' Su Yan thought, her displeasure growing at Itachi's words. He had dared to suggest Ling Han could be her rival. But her eyes were locked on Itachi—not on Ling Han—and she would prove her worth by defeating Ling Han while remaining a level below him.
"Are you two ready?" the overseeing Elder called out. Both Su Yan and Ling Han nodded in response. Satisfied, the Elder signaled for the match to begin.
Su Yan wasted no time. Determined to end the match quickly, she suddenly vanished, her movements so fast they escaped the naked eye.
In the blink of an eye, Su Yan appeared before Ling Han, aiming a swift kick at his leg. But Ling Han reacted quickly, stepping back to avoid the strike before moving in for a counterattack. Su Yan, using her hands for support, twisted her body midair and launched another kick toward him. Ling Han immediately abandoned his counterattack, crossing his arms to block the incoming blow.
The impact caused Su Yan to flinch slightly; it felt as if she had struck a slab of metal. Wasting no time, she kicked off the ground and leapt backward, putting some distance between herself and Ling Han.
'It's like his body is made of grade one metal… no, not quite as hard, but his control of Qi reinforces his body to that level,' Su Yan thought, her sharp eyes scanning Ling Han carefully.
There were five pillars that measured a person's strength: cultivation, techniques, items, enlightenment, and, lastly, control.
Cultivation encompassed the Qi, Body, and Soul. Techniques referred to the various cultivation arts and martial skills one could use in battle. Items included treasures that could boost a cultivator's combat capabilities, among other things. Enlightenment measured one's understanding of the Dao, and lastly, Control reflected one's mastery over Qi.
Qi couldn't be wielded perfectly from the start; those new to cultivation, like themselves, often wasted a lot of it and struggled to draw out its full potential. The greater one's control over their Qi, the more power they could display, without harming themselves or wasting energy.
'How is his Qi mastery so high? We both just started cultivating… and I even had more resources.' Su Yan gritted her teeth, frustrated with herself.
'That kick… her body is strong… and her Qi, it's evolving into something far greater than ordinary Qi.' Ling Han thought as he rushed toward Su Yan, unwilling to give her too much time to think. Yes, he loved her—but he knew his wife well. Holding back against her would only make her hate him.
Su Yan also flashed forward, channeling Qi into her eyes. Instantly, the world seemed to slow, and she could easily follow every movement Ling Han made. Unlike Itachi, who had only reached Level 1 of Body Tempering in the Primordial Uchiha cultivation art, she had already reached Level 6.
Levels 1 through 3 focused on strengthening the eyes, while Levels 4 through 6 sharpened them. With her heightened perception, even the slightest twitch of Ling Han's muscles revealed his next move. This allowed her to go toe-to-toe with him, despite his superior battle experience and greater mastery over Qi.
The two flashed across the arena, moving so fast that no one dared to cheer. Everyone realized that these two could already contend with an early-stage Qi Refinement cultivator. Su Yan's sharp reflections and reaction time allowed her to hold her own against a Level 1 Qi Refiner for a time, while Ling Han's reinforced defense let him withstand blows from a Level 1 Qi Refiner without falling behind.
'What the…' Ling Han thought as he suddenly found himself standing in a world of flowers. The blossoms around him stirred to life, lifting into the air before shooting toward him like countless blades, slicing through his body. Ling Han frowned, immediately realizing it was an illusion—but what shocked him was how easily simply looking at Su Yan had trapped him in such a powerful hallucination.
Still, he broke free just in time to block Su Yan's incoming attack. Su Yan's eyes widened slightly, clearly stunned that he could break her illusion so quickly. But as soon as their eyes locked again, she cast him into another illusion without hesitation.
This illusion was far more complex. At first, it seemed as if Ling Han had broken free and was still fighting Su Yan—but everything within the illusion was delayed, almost causing Ling Han to suffer a critical blow. If not for the Black Tower snapping him back to reality, he would have been seriously injured. With the warning, Ling Han reacted just in time, blocking Su Yan's attack, much to her shock.
'What kind of illusion technique is this?' Ling Han thought, narrowing his eyes. 'She's sending Qi directly into my mind and controlling my senses through mere eye contact… but it looks like it has drawbacks.' His gaze sharpened, noticing the subtle tremble in Su Yan's eyes—the clear signs of strain and pain from overextending her technique.
Su Yan's sword danced through the air, sometimes slicing across Ling Han's body and drawing blood, while at other times, Ling Han would catch her off guard, landing a heavy counterattack that sent her flying backward, coughing up blood.
Although Ling Han's body was covered in wounds and blood, those with sharp enough eyes could tell—his injuries were superficial, something he could push through. Meanwhile, Su Yan's wounds, though less visible, were slowly weighing her down, weakening her with each passing moment.
"…" Su Yan gritted her teeth, hating the look in Ling Han's eyes—that painful mixture of respect, love, and regret. She didn't want to see that from him, not now, not ever. Her heart twisted painfully as her gaze shifted toward Itachi, who stood watching with an unreadable expression. But to her, it felt like disappointment.
Forcing herself upright through sheer will, Su Yan locked eyes with Ling Han, fury and pride burning inside her. She drew in Qi from the air around her, pulling it into herself with desperate intensity. Without hesitation, she poured every drop of it into her sword. She hadn't mastered the technique Itachi had given her, but mastery didn't matter. Right now, she had to prove herself, no matter the cost.
Slowly, the temperature around Su Yan plummeted, a thin layer of ice crystallizing along the surface of her sword. Ling Han's brow lifted slightly in surprise, noting how the ice wasn't just forming around her weapon, it was sealing her wounds as well, halting the blood flow and reinforcing her battered body.
Without hesitation, Ling Han surged forward, rocketing toward her like a cannon shot. Su Yan reacted instantly, summoning spears of ice in the air and hurling them at him. Ling Han weaved through the barrage, smashing the spears apart with his fists or narrowly slipping past them.
But just as he closed the distance, his eyes widened, Su Yan had used one of the ice spears as cover. She flashed out from behind it, her blade aimed straight for him with chilling precision.
Ling Han drove his fist forward, clashing directly against Su Yan's sword. The blade sliced into his skin, but no blood spilled—only a chilling surge of Ice Qi poured into his body, gnawing at his warmth and slowing his movements.
Both staggered back from the impact, but Su Yan didn't hesitate. Gritting her teeth, she lunged forward again, flooding the space between them with bitter cold. Her sword blurred with speed, weaving around Ling Han's counters as she forced him onto the defensive. Ling Han quickly realized her plan—she was trying to wear him down, using endurance and Ice Qi to slowly claim victory.
Determined to end it before the cold could truly sap his strength, Ling Han struck back with all he had. Yet Su Yan, battered and bloodied, refused to yield. She endured every blow he landed, her body trembling but her will unbreakable.
Bit by bit, Ling Han's speed faltered, the creeping Ice Qi spreading deeper through his veins, freezing him from the inside out. Across from him, Su Yan stood trembling, her body battered and barely holding together. The injuries she had ignored—frozen over by her own Ice Qi—were taking their toll. Worse, her lack of full mastery over the ice had allowed some of it to invade her body too, though she resisted it far better than Ling Han. She had even used it to seal her wounds, buying herself precious moments.
Su Yan pushed herself beyond reason, forcing her body to move despite its desperate cries to stop. Every heartbeat screamed in protest, but she refused to fall—yet Ling Han, though still standing, had become a statue, his body locked in place by the cold within.
The crowd held its breath, the arena utterly silent. Both fighters stood at the edge of collapse.
And then, at last, Su Yan's body gave out. She fell backward, her limbs finally refusing to obey her will. Ling Han remained upright… but he didn't move. Though his spirit still fought, his body was frozen stiff, as lifeless as stone.
"Itachi, did you know your servant was this capable?" the Outer Sect Master asked, unable to hide his shock. Itachi rose calmly to his feet, offering only a slight nod in response.
"Call it a draw," the Sect Master said after a moment, his voice firm. "If this continues, it could damage their foundations and cripple their future cultivation."
The elder on the stage nodded solemnly. After studying the two battered youths, he lifted his hand, bringing the match to a decisive and final end.
"I shall declare this match a draw," the Elder said with a smile. "Ling Han has displayed impressive skills throughout the match, showing remarkable defense, combat instincts, and Qi control far beyond others in his age range. Meanwhile, Su Yan, even while a level below Ling Han, proved she is not someone to be underestimated. Her unmatched reaction speed, her ability to read Ling Han's slightest movements, her indomitable spirit, and her mastery of ice arts have all been outstanding. These two represent the future of the Seven Lotus Sect."
He looked over the crowd before continuing, "Thus, for this year's Outer Sect Tournament, first place shall go to two people: Su Yan and Ling Han."
The crowd erupted into cheers, only for the excitement to halt abruptly when, without warning, Itachi appeared. Calmly, he picked Su Yan up and threw her over his shoulder, causing a wave of stunned silence to ripple through the arena.
"Itachi, Su Yan's injuries are serious. Wait for a doctor to heal her first," the Elder said respectfully, causing the crowd to grow increasingly curious about just who Itachi was.
"She'll be fine. Send the first-place prize to my residence," Itachi said casually. Without waiting for a response, he disappeared like a ghost slipping between the cracks of reality, leaving only a faint ripple of Qi behind.
Those sharp enough to sense his cultivation level were left frozen in shock. A level 1 Body Tempering cultivator… moving faster than a level 1 Qi Refinement realm cultivator? That wasn't just skill—it was a monstrous anomaly.
Meanwhile, Ling Han clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked. He had shut his eyes, not out of fear, but out of pure rage, afraid that if he dared to keep watching Itachi for even a second longer, he might explode right there on the spot.
"Such quiet footsteps… It's almost like he's an assassin," the Sect Master said with a faint smile. He had to admit, he hadn't even sensed Itachi move until he was already standing on the stage. Itachi's movements were too stealthy, no presence, no shift in the air, not even the slightest ripple of Qi. It was frightening. And it only made the Sect Master even more curious. What kind of life forced a child to master such deadly skills before even stepping into the wider world?
Far from the cheers of the arena, in the quiet of Itachi's courtyard, Su Yan rested weakly on the bed. Itachi sat beside her, carefully working to heal her injuries.
"I can't believe I lost," she whispered, her voice barely strong enough to carry the words. It wasn't just frustration—something bitter and sharp gnawed at her chest. Sure, the Elder had called it a draw. But to her, it was a loss all the same.
Anything less than victory meant she might never catch up to Itachi. And that thought hurt more than any injury she had suffered today.
"Ice Qi splilling into your body like that can act as a poison," Itachi said calmly, his hands glowing faintly as he worked to heal her. "Especially when you're still awakening your physique. Avoid doing things like that. You were only supposed to use Ice after reaching level seven body tempering."
Her injuries were nothing serious under his care. With his past life's experience and his natural talent in this life, Itachi was a better healer than even Tsunade, the greatest medical ninja of his old world.
"Yeah…" Su Yan whispered, covering her face to hide her tears.
"You lost today because Ling Han has far more battle experience," Itachi continued, his tone unchanged. "Just gain more experience than him. In six months, you'll both take part in the inner sect tournament. Defeat him then."
Su Yan nodded faintly, her hands trembling against the blanket. Itachi stood, leaving the room without another word, though Snow stayed behind, quietly keeping her company.
"I will win," Su Yan whispered, her voice trembling but firm. She lowered her hand, revealing her eyes—now a deep, burning scarlet. The moment Snow saw them, she froze, her heart skipping a beat.
Itachi had once spoken of this. A cultivation art wasn't just a way to grow stronger, it rewrote the blood, reshaped the soul. Under the right conditions, it could awaken these eyes..
Centuries ago, Snow had watched Itachi's mother awaken those same eyes. And now, before her, history repeated itself—but not perfectly. Unlike Itachi's mother, whose scarlet gaze had been marked by three spinning tomoe, Su Yan's eyes burned blank and pure, without a single mark.
"W-why is everything red?" Su Yan whispered, fear creeping into her voice. She looked around, heart racing, seeing the world tinted in scarlet hues. Strange specks drifted through the air, Qi, she realized, but the sight only made her panic more. Without thinking, she rushed toward Itachi, seeking comfort.
Meanwhile, far from her, Ling Han stood under the open sky, clenching his fists with a proud smile.
"I have to get stronger… or else Su Yan will defeat me," he said to himself, feeling a rare sense of pride in just how powerful his wife had become. He had six months, six short months, to reach the strength needed to fight a level 10 Qi Refinement cultivator. It wasn't much time, but he had no doubt in his heart. He would catch up. No, he would surpass even the impossible.