The Spirit Gathering Pavilion's door creaked open as Lin Chen stepped out, squinting against the harsh midday light.
His robes clung to him, damp with sweat. His breathing was steady, but every muscle in his body throbbed faintly from hours of grinding cultivation.
"Two layers now…" he murmured, rotating his shoulder with a quiet crack. "At this rate, I'll reach the Third Layer before the year ends... If no idiots interrupt me."
As if the heavens heard and found it amusing—
A crowd's distant roar echoed through the sect courtyard.
Shouts. Laughter. Jeers.
Lin Chen's brow twitched. "...Of course."
When he rounded the corner, the sight waiting for him was all too familiar.
Disciples crowded together, forming a loose ring in the training ground's open space.
Excitement buzzed in the air, thick enough to choke on.
And at the center, waiting like a predator poised for the kill—
Zhou Kang.
The tall youth stood with his arms crossed, lips curled into a smirk sharp enough to cut glass.
Muscles bulged under his sleeves, and faint pulses of spiritual energy shimmered around him.
"Qi Condensation, Fourth Layer," Lin Chen assessed at a glance. "Two layers above me… and twice as stupid, probably."
Zhou Kang's eyes locked onto him the moment he appeared.
"Lin Chen!" he bellowed, voice echoing across the courtyard. "Finally crawled out of your hole?"
The crowd parted, every pair of eyes swiveling to Lin Chen.
Whispers rippled like waves.
"That's him…"
"The guy who flattened Wang Fei yesterday?"
"No way he beats Zhou Kang… Fourth Layer is no joke."
Lin Chen exhaled slowly through his nose.
His mind ticked over possibilities, tactics, escape routes.
"Too many witnesses. If I lose here, it'll stick. But if I win…"
His lips curled in a faint, amused smile.
"Then my climb gets steeper."
Zhou Kang stomped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"I'll give you one chance, Lin Chen," he sneered. "Kneel now, kowtow three times, and call me grandfather. Maybe I'll only cripple one arm."
Laughter exploded from the crowd.
Even a few outer sect elders standing at the edge chuckled darkly, their eyes gleaming with amusement.
Lin Chen lifted a brow.
"Grandfather?" he echoed, voice calm. "Zhou Kang, I didn't know your family tree was so short."
The courtyard fell silent.
Then—
"Pfft—"
A few stifled chuckles slipped out before being smothered.
Zhou Kang's face darkened instantly.
"You—!"
"If you're going to fight, fight," Lin Chen said, rolling his shoulders. "If you just want to bark, find a tree."
The entire atmosphere shifted.
It wasn't arrogance.
It wasn't bluster.
It was… steady. Confident.
"Is… is he serious?"
"No way a Second Layer can beat Zhou Kang… right?"
Luna Yue stood at the edge, hands clutched to her chest.
Her eyes shimmered with worry, but beneath it… a spark of hope.
"Please… Senior Brother…"
Zhou Kang roared, unable to bear the humiliation.
"I'll shut your mouth forever!"
He lunged, spiritual energy flaring around his fist like a small cyclone.
His punch cracked the ground, sending dust and pebbles flying.
"Fourth Layer strength. Heavy. Brutal. But…"
Lin Chen's eyes narrowed.
"Wild."
At the last instant, he pivoted.
The punch missed by a hair's breadth, smashing into empty air.
"Too slow."
Lin Chen's palm darted forward, sharp as a snake's strike.
But instead of Zhou Kang's chest—he hit the inside of his elbow joint.
Crack!
The arm twisted unnaturally. Zhou Kang's eyes bulged with pain.
"Agh—!"
"Overextending against someone smaller? Rookie mistake." Lin Chen's tone was dry.
He didn't stop.
His leg swept low — precise, like a blade — taking out Zhou Kang's footing.
The bigger youth staggered.
Lin Chen's fist drove upward, slamming into his stomach like a piledriver.
Boom!
Zhou Kang hit the ground hard, coughing violently, spit and bile spraying from his lips.
The crowd… went deathly silent.
"No way…"
"He… he just folded Zhou Kang…"
"What the hell is Lin Chen…?"
Zhou Kang groaned, trying to rise —
But Lin Chen's foot pressed lightly on his chest, pinning him down without effort.
"Remember this," Lin Chen said quietly.
His eyes gleamed, calm but cold.
"Strength without control… is wasted. Train harder. Or don't bother challenging me again."
Zhou Kang's face flushed red — from pain and humiliation.
The crowd shifted uncomfortably.
Many of them had mocked Lin Chen only days before. Now… they weren't so sure.
From the distance, one of the observing elders narrowed his eyes.
"That technique… too refined for an outer disciple."
"His footwork… that's no street brawler's dance. Who taught him?"
Luna Yue's heart thumped wildly.
She bit her lip, her face burning.
"Senior Brother… he's really… amazing…"
Her small hands curled tighter around the cloth bundle she'd brought.
Her cheeks pinkened when Lin Chen's eyes flicked her way — even if just for a second.
Lin Chen finally lifted his foot, letting Zhou Kang roll away in disgrace.
"Next time, bring your brain along with your fists," he muttered.
As he turned and walked away, the whispers erupted like wildfire.
"Lin Chen… he's dangerous now…"
"His rise… it's too fast…"
"Do you think the inner sect will notice him?"
Lin Chen's back remained straight, his steps unhurried.
But inside, his heart was steady — cold and calculating.
"This is only the first ripple," he thought. "Beyond these petty bullies are greater beasts."
His fists clenched at his sides.
"And beyond them… the ones who plotted my fall in the last life."
"You're still out there. Smiling. Thinking I'm dead."
His eyes darkened.
"But I'm coming. Step by step… I'll climb."
Far beyond, across the void of the stars…
A woman in violet flames stirred atop a dying star.
Her golden eyes flickered open.
"Chen'er…? That pulse…"
"Are you… still alive…?"
[End of Chapter 5]