The air inside the **Hall of Celestial Eminence** had shifted. The banquet, once filled with whispered predictions and hushed admiration, had reached its moment of reckoning. The grand battle stage, woven by Yue Zhen's mastery, stood at the heart of the room—waiting to be claimed.
From his elevated seat, Yue Zhen observed the assembled sect disciples, his gaze sharp yet unreadable. The elders of each sect murmured among themselves, exchanging glances, while the younger generation fidgeted, anticipation thrumming beneath their skin.
Then, a confident voice split the silence.
"I, Ren Zixuan of Crimson Hawk Sect, step forward to claim my battle!"
His entrance was nothing short of theatrical—his crimson robes flaring behind him, his Qi pulsing with heat, dancing across the air in flickering embers.
Yet, instead of issuing a proper challenge, Ren Zixuan turned, his eyes locking onto Lou Tianyu, seated in quiet composure beside Yue Feiyan.
A smirk twisted his lips as he hurled his mockery across the room.
"Lou Tianyu, stand and fight! Or do you plan to continue leeching off the Yue Clan's generosity?"
Several guests exchanged surprised glances. Even among rivals, decorum was expected—but Ren Zixuan's words rang with raw arrogance and desperation.
His gaze flickered toward **Yue Feiyan**, bold and unrestrained.
"Feiyan, you should have chosen me." His laughter carried through the hall. "Not some child with milk still on his lips!"
Yue Feiyan, trembled and almost spoke but was held back by Tianyu who only stared at her. It was like there was a silent agreement between the two of them and only nodded to answer each other's thoughts.
The statement sent an uncomfortable ripple through the room.
Even **Elder Houyan** of Crimson Hawk Sect sighed, closing his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He nearly slapped himself in frustration, already regretting bringing Ren Zixuan along.
"Once we return to the sect," Houyan muttered under his breath, "this fool won't set foot outside until he reflects on his disgraceful conduct."
At the Yue Clan's table, Lou Tianyu remained still, watching the exchange unfold. His eyes caught the heavy sigh of Elder Houyan, and Tianyu immediately understood **Ren Zixuan's** predicament.
He almost pitied him.
Almost.
Without a word, Tianyu stood, his movements steady yet deliberate. He descended toward the battle stage, the sound of his steps lost beneath the thick anticipation that now drowned the hall.
A spectator whispered hurriedly.
"Lou Tianyu is accepting the challenge?"
Another noble scoffed.
"Ren Zixuan has reached Nascent Soul Stage. Tianyu is only at Qi Coalescence. He must be mad."
Yet, those who truly understood battle remained silent.
They had seen how Tianyu moved at the banquet, how he spoke little yet carried unseen dominance.
The match was about to begin.
----
Ren Zixuan wasted no time. Flames roared around him, his Qi unfurling into sharp, spiraling bursts of heat.
**"Burning Sky Talons!"** he barked, his palms igniting as he slashed toward Tianyu, crimson energy tearing through the air llike molten claws.
The attack was fast, explosive—but Tianyu did not move.
Not yet.
As Ren Zixuan's blazing talons neared him, Tianyu vanished.
The moment the flames were about to strike, Tianyu shifted—his body weaving effortlessly through the gaps. His newly cultivated agility skill, **Phantom Mirage Steps**, allowed him to slip between attacks like **a wraith**—his figure **blurring**, flickering from one position to another.
Ren Zixuan missed.
And again.
His frustration boiled, his Qi growing wild as he launched another technique.
**"Inferno Burst!"**
A shockwave of fire erupted from Ren Zixuan's core, expanding outward in an attempt to catch Tianyu mid-dodge.
But Tianyu's speed only increased.
With effortless grace, he sidestepped, his movements fluid yet unpredictable, shifting directions so fast it seemed as if the air itself bent around him.
Ren Zixuan's breath grew ragged, his fury building as his attacks failed time and time again.
"Coward! Stand still and fight me directly!"
But Tianyu did not respond.
He simply waited.
Waited for Ren Zixuan's emotions to cloud his judgment.
And then, in a single blink, Tianyu vanished entirely.
In less than a breath, Tianyu reappeared—standing behind Ren Zixuan, his presence emerging like a phantom.
Ren Zixuan's eyes widened in horror.
He barely had time to register the shift, let alone defend himself.
Tianyu did not use his sword.
He merely raised a single palm—then struck.
His attack was not simple—it was calculated, devastating, imbued with Heaven's Rebirth technique.
A blunt force smashed against Ren Zixuan's ribs.
The impact was monstrous.
Ren Zixuan's body twisted midair, flying at terrifying speed until his back slammed into the protective array with a deafening boom.
The energy shield rippled, absorbing his crashing form.
And then—he plummeted downward, his limbs folding awkwardly, landing face-first in a heap upon the battle stage.
The scene was almost comedic in its brutality
----
Not a single soul spoke.
Not even the elders, those who had witnessed centuries of battles, could process what had just occurred.
A Qi Coalescence cultivator had effortlessly crushed a Nascent Soul warrior.
Bao Xinjun of the Iron Horizon Sect was the first to react, laughter booming through the hall.
"Marvelous!"he roared, clapping his hands together. "Simply marvelous!"
Like a chain reaction, applause erupted through the crowd.
Astonishment, admiration, disbelief—all merged into roaring praise for Tianyu's mastery.
Yet Tianyu did not react.
He simply stood among the cheering crowd, unmoved, his voice sharp yet calm.
"So much for a Nascent Soul warrior, huh?"
And with that, he turned, walking away from the stage without challenging another opponent.
He had already made his statement.
Ren Zixuan was carried away by attendants, unconscious.
And even as his body was dragged from the stage, the audience remained flabbergasted.
How did Lou Tianyu do it?
----
Though Tianyu's dominance had left its mark, the banquet was far from over.
The first wave of battles saw disciples of lesser renown testing their strength, clashing in bursts of radiant techniques. Qi infused blades met fiery palms, elemental mastery contended with sheer physical prowess, as challengers hurled themselves into the fray. The clashes were fast, brutal, yet full of elegance—each battle a dance of discipline and cultivation.
A disciple from the Celestial Blade Sect, Jian Lin, wielded a Saber so fine it seemed woven from moonlight itself. His movements were flawless, each strike forming ethereal arcs in the air, slicing through his opponent's defenses before landing a decisive blow—ending the match in mere breaths.
Among the warriors of Northern Frost Valley Sect, Lu Han demonstrated chilling precision. His Ice Qi surged, freezing the very air around the battlefield as he deflected every blow aimed at him. His final strike—a concentrated frost spear—pierced through his opponent's defenses, sending them tumbling backward, overwhelmed by the sheer force of his spiritual mastery.
A fighter from the Iron Horizon Sect, Huang Wei, who specialized in sheer endurance, absorbed strike after strike. His battle-hardened body radiated defensive Qi as he tanked incoming blows, waiting patiently for his opponent to tire before delivering a single devastating punch—sending his rival cratering into the stage floor.
One by one, the lesser-ranked disciples fell, defeated yet honored by the challenge.
And then, only the top warriors remained.
The crowd buzzed with excitement as only the elite disciples of each sect stood tall, unshaken by past battles.
Xiang Tianyi of Thousand Peaks Sect, the pride of Silverleaf's sword cultivators, stood with unwavering confidence, his weapon humming softly with suppressed power.
Ren Zixuan had already been humiliated and carried away unconscious, but his sect's second most talented warrior, Luo Ying, remained. She wielded Phoenix Flare Talons, her hands glowing with molten Qi, eager to redeem the reputation of Crimson Hawk Sect after their disgrace.
Lu Han of Northern Frost Valley Sect remained steady, his frost spear shimmering as he prepared to face new challenges.
Jian Lin of Celestial Blade Sect maintained his eerie silence, his sword drawn, his posture like that of a predator waiting for the right moment to strike.
Bao Xinjun of Iron Horizon Sect cracked his knuckles, his towering form radiating raw physical energy. He had been watching Tianyu closely, observing his movement, measuring his prowess.
Then, stepping forward with a steady, commanding presence, Bao Xinjun lifted his gaze toward Lou Tianyu.
His voice carried across the grand hall with clear intent, devoid of arrogance—only recognition.
"I took a liking to your battle skill, Lou Tianyu. I want to experience it firsthand."
The banquet fell silent once more, as Tianyu—who had remained seated, watching every duel with analytical precision—finally rose.
With deliberate steps, he descended toward the battle stage, his aura shifting slightly, the air around him growing heavy.
Bao Xinjun observed him carefully, noticing the calm yet unyielding presence Tianyu carried—a warrior's temperament, measured yet filled with unseen dominance.
----
The grand hall of Celestial Eminence pulsed with untamed energy, the protective arrays humming with anticipation as the duel between Lou Tianyu and Bao Xinjun prepared to unfold. What had started as a banquet had now transformed into a spectacle of raw power and elegance, where warriors either cemented their legacy or crumbled beneath the weight of supremacy.
The cheers of thousands watching from viewing talismans mingled with the murmurs of sect elders as two mighty figures took their stance upon the shimmering battle stage.
Bao Xinjun, the Iron Colossus, stood like an immovable fortress, his muscles taut with Nascent Soul energy, his stance grounded like the very foundation of the earth. His Qi surged—golden waves expanding outward—an undeniable declaration of his strength.
Tianyu, in contrast, remained serene, his movements precise, his aura unwavering. No wasted energy, no unnecessary theatrics—only the quiet presence of mastery, waiting to be unleashed.
Then, Bao Xinjun thundered forward
Bao Xinjun opened the fight with Titan's Force—Unyielding Might, his Qi condensing into his fists, transforming them into weapons of destruction. The ground beneath him fractured, each step carrying the force of a stampeding war beast.
With a single swing, his right fist tore through the air, its golden glow turning into a blinding arc, aiming straight for Tianyu.
But Tianyu was already gone.
Tianyu's Phantom Mirage Steps activated, his body flickering like a phantom between realms, sidestepping the incoming force with elegant ease.
Bao Xinjun grinned, his mind racing. "Fast! But let's see how you handle a warrior who adapts!"
With a roar, he shifted his stance, his Qi reversing flow, molding the golden force of his strike into a counter-blow, targeting Tianyu's blind spot.
Yet, Tianyu was already weaving through the strike's momentum, turning battle into guidance. His fists did not meet Bao Xinjun's force head-on—they adjusted, redirecting, shaping movement rather than resisting.
The audience watched in awe.
"Is Tianyu… correcting Bao Xinjun's techniques mid-fight?"
As the exchange continued, Tianyu's Qi shifted, his presence intensifying. From his palms, ethereal energy began to swirl, forming the early stages of the Yin-Yang Seal—the manifestation of Heaven's Rebirth.
Bao Xinjun narrowed his eyes, sensing the shift. This was no ordinary attack—it was something beyond his understanding.
Tianyu did not rush the strike. Instead, like the teacher he had unknowingly become, he allowed Bao Xinjun to recognize the flaws in his own defenses—to see, feel, and understand the weight of cultivation beyond brute strength.
Then—Tianyu struck.
The Yin-Yang Seal fully manifested, descending upon Bao Xinjun's defenses. He raised his arms, pouring everything into resisting the surge of energy.
But the moment Tianyu's palm slammed into him, the battle was already decided.
BOOM!
The collision resounded through the grand hall, sending shockwaves through the protective array. Bao Xinjun's massive frame was hurled backward, crashing into the barrier with monumental force.
Gasps echoed. Disbelief hung in the air.
Yet, as the dust settled—Bao Xinjun stood once more.
Breathing heavily, he straightened himself. Then, without hesitation, he bowed deeply toward Tianyu.
"Thank you for your teachings.
A moment of silence.
Then—the entire banquet erupted into cheers, sect elders nodding in approval, mortals watching through talismans marveling at the spectacle.
Tianyu did not bask in the praise. He simply turned, returning to his seat beside Yue Feiyan, as if the battle had never even challenged him.
And beyond the applause, beyond the admiration—the top disciples knew the truth.
Lou Tianyu was a force unlike any they had seen before.
The banquet was far from over. But now, the stakes had changed.