Reon stirred from meditation at the sound of knog, his footsteps eg through the quiet room as he approached the door.

  When he opehe door, a familiar figure stood before him—Xu Yang.

  The m light framed him, casting a soft glow over his posed features.

  "Greetings, Big Brother." Xu Yang’s voice carried its usual warmth, apanied by a gentle smile.

  "I came to see you after you returned from the Frost Mountain Cave, but notig you were in deep cultivation, I chose not to disturb you."

  He paused briefly before tinuing, his eyes alight with excitement.

  "Today is the Outer Sect's Weekly Dueli. The disciples will be peting, wageri Points oro tenders. Would you like to join?"

  Reon studied him for a moment before nodding.

  "Alright, let's head to the Dueling Arena," he said, his gaze sharpening with a quiet iy.

  .

  .

  The Outer Sect’s Weekly Dueli.

  A battlefield of ambition, a stage where outer disciples cshed to sharpen their bdes, rise in the rankings, and cim precious Sect Points.

  But this particur duel would be more than just another match.

  In the inal novel, Xue Taiyang—still seething from the humiliation he had suffered during the Sect Disciple Sele Ceremony—had thrown down a life-ah challenge.

  His goal?

  Revenge.

  His hatred buroo fiercely to be sated by anythihan his enemy's death.

  To ensure victory, he had been given a Rare-Grade Artifact—a secret gift from an unknown beor.

  Brimming with potent energy, the item was meant to tip the scales, to guarahat his bde would be the st oanding.

  Yet despite his arrogance—despite his painstaking preparations—he had still fallen.

  Cut down in front of the eer Sect, his dreams of redemption shattered in the very arena where he sought to recim his pride.

  But Xue Taiyang had never realized the truth.

  He was merely a pawn.

  A disposable pie the intricate game of a hidden maniputor.

  One of the top ten Core Sect disciples had pulled the strings, orchestrating this csh from the shadows.

  His grudge against Yang Lie, the protagonist, ran deep—his hatred rooted in jealousy, rese, and wounded pride.

  Yang Lie had risen too quickly.

  He had seized the spotlight during the Sect Disciple Sele Ceremony, seg third pd drawing the attention of not just the elders—but even the Great Elders themselves.

  For that person's ambition, Yang Lie wasn’t just an obstacle.

  He was a threat.

  A thorn that o be plucked before it could grow too sharp.

  And worst of all... he had drawn the gaze of the very woman the mastermind had long coveted in silence.

  Unfivable.

  Thus, the pn had bee into motion.

  Using his influence, he had instructed Niu Ling—one of the top fifty Inner Sect disciples—to have one of his ckeys test the oppo’s strength.

  Niu Ling had been the oo push Xue Taiyang into provoking Yang Lie during the Sect Disciple Sele Ceremony.

  And when disgrace tainted his was also Niu Ling who whispered vengeao his ear, ving him that the only way to restore his honor… was through blood.

  A life-ah battle against Yang Lie—one from whily one of them would walk away.

  And so, blinded by his thirst for vengeance, Xue Taiyang had walked willingly into the noose.

  He had been nothing more than a sacrificial pawn, thrown onto the board to test Yang Lie’s strength, to create chaos—and ultimately to fall.

  Reon’s fingers curled slightly.

  "Siaking over this body, I've sworn to live on my own terms… not as anyone's pawn."

  He exhaled slowly, his resolve like steel.

  "That’s why I’ve pushed myself to the limit this past week."

  "At the very least, I ow stand my ground against Niu Ling’s ckeys from outer sect."

  His expression remained calm, but his mind was calg.

  "From what I remember of Niu Ling’s character in the novel, he won’t bother dirtying his hands dealing with someone like me personally."

  "Not yet."

  And if he did?

  Simple.

  Reon had no iion of leaving the Sect’s prote until he had enough strength to crush his enemies ht.

  Within the Sect’s boundaries, without a justifiable reason, even Niu Ling couldn’t kill him.

  .

  .

  As he walked alongside Xu Yang, deep in thought, the t Dueling Arena of the Outer Sect came into view.

  Despite having read about it in the novel, seeing it firsthand stole his breath away.

  It was a moo power.

  Carved into the mountain’s heart, the coliseum stood like an aitan, its massive stone pilrs etched with turies of battle.

  At its ter, the jade dueling ptform pulsed with spiritual energy, alive with an eerie beauty.

  Above it, a shimmering protective barrier hummed softly, safeguarding the audience from the sheer force of the uping cshes.

  But what caught Reon’s attention the most—

  The sheer magnitude of the crowd.

  Thousands of Outer Sect disciples filled the colossal stands, their voices rising in a chorus of excitement.

  The air was electric with anticipation, the murmur of bets being pced adding to the charged atmosphere.

  All around the arena, the bettior buzzed with activity—disciples eagerly wagering precious Sect Points on their chosen champions.

  Peddlers shouted out odds.

  The thrill of bat, of staking it all on strength and skill, coursed through the air like wildfire.

  And at the very ter of it all—

  A voice rang out, amplified by spiritual energy.

  "Now! The match between Lin Jie and Yang Lie is about to begin!"

  The annou ighe crowd.

  "On one side—Lihe ued champion with nine secutive victories!"

  Cheers erupted, a roar of support for the dominant fighter.

  "Oher—Yang Lie! A promising newer to the Sect!"

  The atmosphere crackled with energy.

  All eyes locked onto the two figures stepping onto the ptform.

  "The match would begin in five minutes."