The sky above the Wuji Arena was cloudless — a rare blessing in Ironwood.
Dozens of disciples had gathered in the viewing platforms, while the Elder Judges sat in silence, their eyes half-lidded but sharp as blades.
At the center, ten circular dueling platforms floated over the ground — each carved with ancient patterns that shimmered faintly with Qi.
A voice rang out like a gong.
"The First Trial: Breath and Blade. Combat is permitted, but life must be spared. We will judge not only who wins… but how they win."
The crowd grew still.
Fang Xi's name was the seventh drawn.
His opponent: Lan Geng, the Wild Flame disciple who wielded no sword, only his fists.
A brawler. An idiot, by rumor.
But Fang Xi's instincts said otherwise.
They want to test me against a chaos type. No predictable pattern. No clean rhythm.
Perfect.
Duel Begins
Fang Xi stepped onto the stone.
Lan Geng smiled wide, stretching his arms.
"No sword? No flames? Just little you?" he cracked his knuckles. "I almost feel bad."
"Then kneel and save us both time," Fang Xi said.
Geng roared, launching forward.
He moved like a rockslide, no technique — just brute force and raw speed.
But to Fang Xi, his body sang with breath rhythm.
Inhale before shifting right. Drop shoulder just before low sweep. No feints — too simple-minded.
He dodged two blows, then stepped into the third.
The fist grazed his shoulder — barely.
Fang Xi let it push him off balance.
Then, as Lan Geng committed to the next strike, Fang Xi twisted beneath the arc, brought up his foot, and—
Struck his solar plexus with perfect timing.
Lan Geng gasped.
Fell.
And didn't rise.
The Silence After Victory
It had taken three breaths.
One to provoke.
One to observe.
One to end it.
Elder Qian stood and nodded once. "Fang Xi — passes with distinction. Control, reading, precision."
The crowd murmured.
But Fang Xi noticed something else.
Near the edge of the arena stood a robed man with no faction sigil — a guest, perhaps.
He didn't watch the match.
He watched Fang Xi's wrist.
They noticed. But how much do they know?
New Alliances and Eyes
Back in the waiting chamber, Wei Lian sat beside him for the first time.
"You baited him into dropping his stance."
"I only let him play to his strength," Fang Xi replied.
"Clever."
She didn't smile. But she stayed beside him.
Across the room, Han Yuren won his match — effortlessly. He made sure Fang Xi saw.
Lan Geng was taken away on a stretcher.
And above it all, the elder with the hidden mark did not blink once during Fang Xi's match.