The evaluation grounds did not return to calm after Black Ridge Sect withdrew.
If anything, the silence became heavier.
Disciples whispered in clusters. Elders moved with rigid expressions, pretending order had not been shaken. The shattered formation was repaired, but the feeling that something irreversible had happened remained.
Li Fan walked away from the central platform without looking back.
Every step drew eyes.
"He really blocked a Level 6 strike."
"No, he disarmed him."
"I heard Black Ridge Sect never forgets."
Li Fan ignored them.
He did not need admiration. He needed information.
As he reached the outer rest area, a hand grabbed his sleeve.
"Li Fan."
He turned. It was Elder Qin, one of the supervisors of the evaluation. His expression was complicated, a mix of suspicion and forced restraint.
"Follow me," Elder Qin said quietly.
Li Fan nodded and followed.
They entered a side hall reserved for elders. Sound isolation formations activated the moment the door closed.
Elder Qin turned around sharply.
"You acted without permission," he said.
Li Fan replied calmly, "I followed the challenge presented."
"You provoked Black Ridge Sect."
"They provoked the evaluation."
Elder Qin stared at him. "You are aware what kind of sect they are."
"Yes."
"Then why step forward?"
Li Fan met his gaze. "Because retreat would mark me."
Silence.
Elder Qin frowned. "Explain."
"If I hid," Li Fan said evenly, "they would investigate me later. If I lost, I would be crushed. By standing and showing control, I became expensive."
Elder Qin narrowed his eyes. "Expensive?"
"Yes. Killing me now would draw attention."
Elder Qin exhaled slowly.
"You think like someone far beyond Qi Condensation."
"I think like someone who has died once," Li Fan said.
Elder Qin's expression stiffened.
"That was not a joke."
"I was not joking."
Another silence followed.
Finally, Elder Qin said, "You realize Black Ridge Sect scouts talent to either recruit or erase."
Li Fan nodded. "Which means they will approach me again."
"And if they recruit you?"
"I will refuse."
"And if they try to erase you?"
Li Fan's eyes hardened slightly. "Then they will fail."
Elder Qin studied him for a long moment.
"You are dangerous," he said quietly.
Li Fan bowed slightly. "Only to enemies."
Elder Qin waved him away. "Return to the rest area. Evaluation resumes tomorrow."
As Li Fan exited, he sensed several spiritual scans sweep over him.
Not hostile.
Curious.
---
That night, the outer disciple dormitories were unusually tense.
Li Fan sat cross legged on his bed, eyes closed, circulating qi slowly. His foundation remained stable, Level 3 firm and unmoving.
He was not rushing.
A knock came at the door.
"Li Fan," a voice whispered. "Are you awake?"
He opened his eyes. "Come in."
The door creaked open. The girl from earlier stepped inside, hesitating. She clutched a small cloth pouch in her hands.
"I brought this," she said, placing it on the table. "Healing powder. You were injured."
"I was not," Li Fan replied.
She froze. "But your robe was cut."
"Only fabric."
She looked embarrassed. "I still wanted to thank you."
"For what?"
"For standing there," she said softly. "If they did that to me, I would not have survived."
Li Fan studied her.
"You are stronger than you think," he said.
She shook her head. "I am not. I am only Qi Condensation Level 2. My techniques are unstable. My family sent me here because they had no choice."
Li Fan nodded. "Names matter. What is yours?"
She hesitated. "Yan Ruo."
He remembered.
In his previous life, Yan Ruo had died during a sect purge. At that time, she had already become someone feared.
Now she stood here, nervous and unsure.
"Sit," Li Fan said.
She sat.
"You should not rely on random courage," he said. "You should rely on positioning."
She blinked. "Positioning?"
"You attach yourself to someone dangerous," Li Fan said calmly. "Someone who draws fire away from you."
Her eyes widened slightly. "You?"
"Yes."
Silence.
"That is not romantic," she said quietly.
Li Fan replied bluntly, "Survival rarely is."
She looked down at her hands. "Black Ridge Sect will come for you."
"Yes."
"And if they kill you?"
"They will not," Li Fan said flatly.
She looked at him, searching his face.
"…Why are you so sure?"
Li Fan did not answer directly.
"Because," he said instead, "they revealed their hand too early."
---
The next morning, evaluation resumed.
Combat tests were postponed. Instead, spiritual perception and control were tested.
Li Fan stepped into the qi sensing formation. Lights flared.
"Qi flow stable."
"Meridians clean."
"Control above expected range."
An elder frowned. "This is Qi Condensation Level 3?"
"Yes."
"Again."
They tested again.
Same result.
Whispers spread.
Xu Kai's words echoed in several minds.
Remember this name.
At midday, a disturbance erupted outside the evaluation grounds.
Li Fan sensed it before the alarms rang.
Heavy footsteps. Suppressed killing intent. Organized movement.
Black Ridge Sect had returned.
This time, they did not come as evaluators.
They came as guests.
Three elders entered the grounds, their cultivation masked but oppressive. Behind them stood Xu Kai, expression cold.
City guards moved to intercept, but a token was presented.
Joint authority.
Elder Qin cursed under his breath.
"They are pushing."
The lead Black Ridge elder smiled. "We wish to observe."
Observation was an excuse.
Xu Kai's gaze locked onto Li Fan instantly.
"There," he said quietly.
Li Fan met his eyes without flinching.
Yan Ruo stood beside Li Fan, hands trembling.
"They came back," she whispered.
"Yes."
"What do we do?"
Li Fan answered calmly, "We let them make the next mistake."
The elders announced a paired combat demonstration.
Li Fan was selected.
Xu Kai volunteered as observer.
The match began.
Li Fan faced a city disciple at Qi Condensation Level 4. The fight was clean and short. Li Fan won by ring out.
Applause followed.
Xu Kai clapped slowly.
"Impressive control," he said loudly. "Such talent wasted in a minor evaluation."
He turned to the elders.
"Black Ridge Sect formally invites Li Fan to join us as an inner disciple."
Gasps erupted.
Elder Qin's face darkened.
Li Fan stepped forward.
"I refuse," he said clearly.
Silence.
Xu Kai's smile froze.
"You should reconsider."
Li Fan replied evenly, "I already did."
The Black Ridge elder's aura surged slightly.
"Boy, you do not understand what refusal means."
Li Fan lifted his chin.
"I understand perfectly."
Xu Kai's eyes turned murderous.
"So be it," he said quietly.
The elder raised a hand.
Before he could speak further, the city inspector's voice echoed again.
"This evaluation is concluded for Li Fan."
All eyes turned.
The inspector appeared above the platform.
"He will be escorted under city protection," the inspector continued. "Any further interference will be treated as provocation."
The Black Ridge elder's face hardened.
"This is not finished," he said.
The inspector replied calmly, "Neither is the city."
Li Fan exhaled slowly.
External conflict had fully surfaced.
He had drawn attention from a major sect, city authority, and multiple elders.
Perfect.
Because now, every move mattered.
And Li Fan had already planned the next ten.
(Chapter Ended)