Dawn broke over the Black Crane Sect with a shrill cry of bells.
Li Yun stood at the edge of the Vulture Grounds, blood dried on his sleeves, his breathing steady despite the faint ache still pulsing through his ribs. The night's kill lingered in his mind—not as guilt, but as clarity.
Xu Ren had not begged.
That was what stayed with him.
A sect guard approached silently and tossed a cloth bundle at Li Yun's feet.
"Clean yourself," the guard said. "You're summoned."
Li Yun nodded once.
Inner Grounds
The path led upward.
Each step brought denser Qi, the air itself pressing against Li Yun's skin like invisible currents. His meridians stirred instinctively, absorbing traces of energy without conscious effort.
So this is the inner territory…
Stone bridges arched over mist-filled chasms. Pavilions floated on carved pillars, arrays faintly glowing beneath them. This was a different world—one built for cultivators, not expendable outer disciples.
Li Yun was brought to a circular hall.
Inside stood six elders seated in silence.
Instructor Han stood at the side, his expression unreadable.
Li Yun bowed.
One elder spoke.
"You were ordered to eliminate Xu Ren," the elder said. "You succeeded."
Li Yun said nothing.
"Do you know why he was marked?" another elder asked.
"He disobeyed," Li Yun replied.
The elder nodded.
"He refused an assignment," the elder said calmly. "Refusal is rot."
A pause.
"Would you refuse?"
Li Yun lifted his gaze.
"No."
Several elders exchanged glances.
"Good," the first elder said. "Then listen."
He flicked his sleeve. A jade slip floated toward Li Yun.
"You will be granted one opportunity," the elder continued. "A door."
Li Yun caught the slip.
"Whether you step through it," the elder said softly, "depends on your ability."
The Condensation Chamber
The chamber lay deep within the mountain.
Its walls were carved with ancient runes, and a faint mist of condensed Qi swirled constantly through the air. At the center stood a stone platform etched with formation lines.
A Qi Condensation Chamber.
Li Yun's breath slowed.
Instructor Han gestured.
"You have one night," Han said. "Break through—or fail."
"And if I fail?" Li Yun asked.
Han's eyes were cold.
"Then you return to the Vulture Grounds."
The door sealed shut behind Li Yun.
Silence fell.
At the Edge of a Realm
Li Yun sat cross-legged on the platform, jade slip dissolving into light as its contents flooded his mind.
It was not a technique.
It was guidance.
A path describing how Qi must be compressed, refined, and bound—not forced.
Li Yun inhaled slowly.
He circulated Qi.
The difference was immediate.
Where before Qi had rushed wildly through his meridians, now it flowed deliberately, gathering at his dantian like mist drawn toward a whirlpool.
Pain followed.
Compression was agony.
Qi resisted confinement, tearing at his meridians as pressure built. His body trembled, sweat soaking through his clothes.
Cracks echoed within him.
Blood trickled from his nose.
Not enough, he thought grimly.
He remembered Xu Ren's eyes.
He remembered his father's last breath.
Li Yun clenched his fists.
Again.
He forced the Qi to condense further.
The mist thickened.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Until—
Boom.
A violent shockwave rippled through his body.
Li Yun's vision went black.
Then—
Silence.
Qi settled.
Dense. Obedient.
Li Yun's eyes snapped open.
Qi Condensation — Initial Stage.
He exhaled shakily.
Then coughed blood.
His body was wrecked—but the realm had changed.
Immediate Consequences
The chamber door opened before dawn.
Instructor Han stepped inside and froze.
"You succeeded," Han said quietly.
Li Yun stood, unsteady but upright.
"Yes."
Han studied him for a long moment.
"You will regret this realm," Han finally said. "Qi Condensation invites attention."
Li Yun nodded.
"I know."
Inner Disciples Do Not Smile
Li Yun was issued new robes.
Black, trimmed with silver.
Inner disciple candidate.
He was led to a new compound—cleaner, quieter, and infinitely more dangerous.
Eyes followed him everywhere.
Whispers spread.
"That's him."
"The one from the Vulture Grounds."
"He killed Xu Ren."
Li Yun ignored them.
That night, as he cultivated, a knock came at his door.
He opened it to find a woman standing calmly outside.
She wore inner disciple robes, her posture relaxed, eyes sharp and unreadable.
"Li Yun," she said. "I'm Mu Qian."
Her aura brushed against his senses.
Qi Condensation — Mid Stage.
"I heard you like dangerous paths," she continued lightly.
Li Yun met her gaze.
"And I heard," he replied, "that inner disciples like watching people die."
Mu Qian smiled faintly.
"Good," she said. "Then we'll understand each other."
She turned and left.
Li Yun closed the door slowly.
Enemies are evolving, he realized.
So must I.
The First Inner Trial
Three days later, all inner disciple candidates were summoned.
A stone arena loomed ahead, its surface scarred by countless battles.
An elder addressed them.
"The inner trial begins now," he announced. "Pairs will fight. Victory advances."
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Li Yun's name was called early.
He stepped forward.
His opponent followed.
A lean man with pale eyes and a calm smile.
"Zheng Hao," the man said. "Qi Condensation (Initial)."
Li Yun nodded.
The gong rang.
Zheng Hao attacked immediately, Qi flowing smoothly through his strikes. He was trained, disciplined—nothing like the chaos of the outer arenas.
Li Yun retreated, analyzing.
Zheng Hao pressed harder, techniques unfolding cleanly.
Li Yun took a hit to the shoulder, pain flaring.
He smiled.
Then he changed.
His movements sharpened. His Qi surged violently—not refined, but overwhelming.
He closed the distance abruptly, ignoring defense.
Zheng Hao's eyes widened.
Too late.
Li Yun slammed his forehead into Zheng Hao's face.
Crack.
Before Zheng Hao could recover, Li Yun drove a palm strike into his chest, Qi detonating on impact.
Zheng Hao flew backward, crashing into the arena wall.
Silence.
The elder raised a hand.
"Victory: Li Yun."
Li Yun stepped back, chest heaving.
He felt it now.
The difference Qi Condensation made.
This is only the first step.
Watched from Above
High above the arena, an elder watched silently.
"So," the elder murmured, "the blade has entered a sheath."
Another elder replied calmly.
"For now."
The first elder smiled faintly.
"Let us see who cuts whom first."