Night fell like a lid over the Black Crane Sect.
Clouds smothered the moon, and even the ever-present glow of formation lights seemed dimmer, as if the mountain itself was holding its breath.
Li Yun felt it the moment he opened his eyes.
Killing intent.
Not sharp.
Not reckless.
Controlled.
He sat up slowly, keeping his breathing even, Qi circulating in a calm, steady rhythm. The jade badge from Elder Fang rested against his chest, faintly warm.
Protection doesn't mean safety, he thought.
It only meant the knives would come quietly.
The First Cut
The sound came from the ceiling.
A whisper of displaced air—so faint that only a Qi Condensation cultivator could detect it.
Li Yun rolled sideways.
A thin blade pierced the stone bed where his throat had been, sinking deep before vanishing back into the shadows.
The ceiling cracked.
Two figures dropped down simultaneously, dressed in matte black robes that swallowed light. Their faces were hidden, auras completely restrained.
Qi Condensation — Mid Stage.
Professionals.
Li Yun didn't hesitate.
He kicked the lamp over.
Darkness swallowed the room.
The assassins moved instantly, blades flashing where they predicted Li Yun would be. Stone shattered as their strikes missed by inches.
Li Yun moved against expectation.
He leapt toward them.
His Qi surged violently, intentionally unbalanced, flooding the room with chaotic pressure. One assassin faltered for a split second, his senses overwhelmed.
That was enough.
Li Yun seized the man's wrist and twisted.
Bone snapped.
Before the assassin could scream, Li Yun drove his elbow into the man's throat and hurled him into the wall.
The second assassin struck from behind.
Pain exploded across Li Yun's back as a blade tore through flesh. He staggered—but did not fall.
Instead, he grabbed the blade with his bare hand.
Blood poured between his fingers.
The assassin froze.
Li Yun turned slowly, eyes cold.
"You're late," he said.
He headbutted the assassin.
Crack.
Both bodies hit the ground.
Silence returned.
Li Yun stood in the ruined room, blood dripping steadily onto the stone floor.
Elder Wei, he thought calmly.
You've chosen your method.
No Witnesses
Li Yun dragged the bodies into the corridor and activated the jade badge.
Within minutes, sect enforcers arrived—expressionless, efficient. They removed the corpses without a word, leaving behind only faint bloodstains that were quickly erased by formation light.
One of them paused briefly.
"Senior Brother Li," he said neutrally. "Elder Fang is aware."
Li Yun nodded.
"Good."
Pressure from Above
The next morning, the sect buzzed with suppressed tension.
Rumors spread quickly, though details were scarce.
Two inner disciples had vanished overnight.
No records.
No explanation.
Li Yun walked openly through the inner compound, back straight, gaze level. The cut on his back had been treated hastily, but pain still flared with every step.
Eyes followed him.
Fear this time.
Not curiosity.
Mu Qian appeared beside him near the training grounds, matching his pace effortlessly.
"You didn't die," she said lightly.
"Disappointing?" Li Yun asked.
She smirked.
"For some."
Her gaze flicked to his shoulder.
"Elder Wei won't stop," she continued. "He doesn't like variables."
Li Yun exhaled slowly.
"Then he'll have to remove me himself."
Mu Qian glanced at him, her expression sharpening.
"That might happen sooner than you think."
The Secret Test
The summons came at noon.
This time, it wasn't official.
A single slip of paper appeared in Li Yun's room, carried by a formation array so subtle he almost missed it.
Come alone.
No signature.
No seal.
Li Yun crushed the paper.
They want to measure me.
He went anyway.
Below the Mountain
The passage led downward, deeper into the mountain than Li Yun had ever gone. The air grew cold, heavy with stagnant Qi and the faint scent of blood.
The chamber was circular, its walls carved with old battle marks.
Three figures stood waiting.
Two elders.
And one disciple.
Li Yun recognized him instantly.
Shen Rui.
The man who had first approached him on Elder Fang's behalf.
Shen Rui's aura was fully released now.
Qi Condensation — Peak Stage.
One of the elders spoke.
"Li Yun," he said calmly. "This is not a punishment."
Li Yun said nothing.
"This is clarification," the elder continued. "Elder Wei believes you are uncontrollable. Elder Fang believes you are necessary."
The second elder stepped forward.
"Tonight," he said, "we decide who is right."
Shen Rui drew his blade.
Peak Against Mid
The pressure was suffocating.
Shen Rui didn't rush.
He circled slowly, Qi flowing smoothly around him like a coiled serpent.
"You fight like someone with nothing to lose," Shen Rui said. "That's dangerous."
Li Yun lowered his stance.
"I already lost everything."
Shen Rui attacked.
His sword moved like flowing water, precise and merciless. Li Yun barely managed to block, the impact numbing his arms instantly.
He was driven back step by step.
Each clash sent shockwaves through his body.
This is the gap, Li Yun realized grimly.
Peak Qi Condensation wasn't just more Qi—it was control, efficiency, experience.
Shen Rui pressed harder.
Li Yun was cut.
Again.
And again.
Blood soaked into his robes.
Then—
Li Yun stopped retreating.
He stepped forward.
His Qi flared violently, abandoning refinement entirely.
Shen Rui's eyes widened slightly.
"You're burning yourself."
"Yes," Li Yun replied.
"And you're standing too close."
He struck.
Not with a technique.
With intent.
Their blades collided.
The backlash ripped through Li Yun's arms, bones screaming—but Shen Rui staggered.
For the first time.
Li Yun didn't let up.
He attacked relentlessly, turning the fight into chaos. Stone cracked. Qi detonated wildly. The chamber shook.
Shen Rui's expression hardened.
He unleashed a technique.
A silver crane formed behind him, wings spreading wide.
Li Yun met it head-on.
Jade Severing Slash.
The incomplete technique tore through the chamber, unstable and destructive. The silver crane shattered, backlash slamming both cultivators backward.
Li Yun hit the ground hard.
Shen Rui slid to a stop, coughing blood.
Silence fell.
The elders exchanged looks.
Shen Rui straightened slowly.
"…Enough," he said hoarsely.
He sheathed his blade.
The test was over.
A Decision Made
The first elder nodded.
"You didn't win," he said.
Li Yun wiped blood from his mouth.
"I didn't lose."
The elder smiled faintly.
"Correct."
He turned.
"Elder Fang's position stands."
Shen Rui looked at Li Yun for a long moment.
"You're unstable," he said quietly. "But you don't break."
Li Yun met his gaze.
"Neither do you."
Shen Rui gave a single nod.
The Price of Survival
That night, Li Yun returned to his room barely standing.
His body screamed in protest as he collapsed onto the bed, meridians burning, Qi in chaos.
He forced himself upright.
Not yet.
He circulated Qi slowly, painfully, stabilizing the damage.
Hours passed.
Then—
Something shifted.
His Qi grew denser.
Sharper.
Not a full breakthrough.
But close.
Very close.
Li Yun opened his eyes, breath steady.
Late Stage is within reach.
Outside, the sect remained quiet.
But the balance had changed.
Far Above
In a high pavilion, Elder Wei stared into the distance.
"So," he murmured. "They chose him."
An attendant bowed.
"What are your orders?"
Elder Wei's eyes were cold.
"Prepare the long knife," he said calmly.
"Let him grow."
A Blade That Won't Bend
Li Yun stood at his window, looking out over the sleeping sect.
Assassins had come.
Tests had been passed.
Factions had chosen sides.
And still—
He was standing.
He clenched his fist, Qi responding instantly.
Come, he thought.
I'm ready.