The registration process was quick and easy. Once Chen Ren was done, he turned around and headed straight to meet Tang Xiulan. He wanted to talk about their plans for the upcoming tournament.
She had been single-handedly managing the noodle stall during his recent busy days. To his pleasant surprise, she had not only maintained their regular customer base but also managed to increase it significantly. It was mainly due to the influx of travellers in the city who’d created a rush, and she had smartly capitalised on it.
On the other hand, their partnership had grown stronger. She continued to give him daily records every night once he was free, and she even suggested ideas regarding the business.
One idea she brought up stood out to him. She had proposed that they actually hire the street kids that had been helping them around.
That was an interesting proposition, and initially, Chen Ren hesitated, unsure of the idea of formalising their roles. But after giving it some thought, he realised that it made sense. The kids were already involved in the business, and giving them proper jobs would keep them away from dangerous paths like theft and banditry. Even though he didn’t like to admit it, the kids gave him a sense of responsibility.
Regardless, beyond that, with the tournament drawing closer and the crowds expected to swell, he would need every available hand to maximise profits and not get overwhelmed in the process.
Therefore, after considering the logistics, he set their wages at three silver wen a month. It was a modest sum but would suffice for their needs. And, alongside the salary, they would receive free meals.
Chen Ren smiled at the thought. It was a fair deal for now, though he planned to increase their pay once the business expanded further. The kids would become an important part of the business's operations, just like Xiulan, whose contributions since the beginning had proven invaluable.
While Xiulan handled the stall and prepared for the tournament rush, Chen Ren focused his attention on his cultivation. He knew that if he wanted to make an impact in the tournament, his skills would need to be razor-sharp. His lightning techniques remained his ace, but he wasn’t content to rely solely on them. So, he threw himself into learning talismans and array formations.
Tournament rules forbade the use of pills, but talismans and arrays were permitted—but only if the competitors themselves created them. That stipulation worked in his favour, as it allowed him to lean into his growing expertise in the disciplines. Even so, the speed with which he was learning them wasn't enough to satisfy him.
According to Qing He, he was making decent progress and might even be talented in the disciplines, but until he learnt to apply arrays and talismans into battles, he wouldn't be able to make full use of them.
To circumvent that, he decided to intensify his training.
On a crisp morning just days before the competition, Chen Ren went deep into the forest. Yalan walked behind him, keeping track of his steps. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and rustling leaves, and the eerie feeling of the beasts who roamed inside it. But the location was perfect, no prying eyes, no one to disturb—he could simply practise his combat techniques, test the limits of his talismans and sharpen his arrays.
Chen Ren inhaled deeply and felt the pulse of his qi as he centred himself. He was crouched low in the undergrowth while his heart thudded in his chest. He turned his head slightly as he looked at the cat behind him.
“Do you really think this is a good idea? We could just find something else, you know?”
Yalan flicked her tail lazily in a nearby branch. “If you can’t handle a Tier 1 duskwolf, you’re not going to defeat anyone in the tournament.”
Chen Ren sighed, his gaze shifting back to the clearing ahead.
Just beyond the underbrush, a wolf stood over a torn unrecognised carcass, its sharp fangs tearing brutally through flesh. Its dark, mottled grey coat was streaked with blood, which dripped from the raw meat it savoured. It was the sheer size of the creature—twice that of a normal wolf, with the girth of a full-grown cattle—that sent a chill down his spine, combined with the feral glint in its eyes and the blood-stained maw.
Why does she always find the scariest ones? Chen Ren wondered, his jaw tightening. This may be Yalan's way of toughening his mental state, forcing him to confront his fears head-on. If that was her goal, it wasn’t helping.
Turning back to Yalan, he conversed through his mind, “You know very well that a Tier 1 beast just means it’s in the body forging realm. That thing looks like it’s at the peak of it.”
Yalan yawned, unbothered. “It’s around your level,” she replied, her voice sounding as if it was almost mocking his fears. “You’ve got your tricks. Try not to act so scared every time. We both know you have the confidence to beat it—especially after that rhino.”
Chen Ren winced at the mention of the rhino. The memory of the terrifying beast was still a fresh wound, but Yalan’s words struck a chord. Compared to that monstrous creature, this wolf seemed... manageable. Probably.
But staying here, hidden, wouldn’t do any of them any favours. He had to move forward to fight it.
He let out a long breath, pushing the fear aside. “Yeah, I know.”
He shifted his focus, replaying the lessons he’d learned from the rhino fight in his mind. Then, steeling himself, he rose from his hiding spot and stepped out into the clearing.
The duskwolf immediately snapped its head up, blood dripping from the sides of its mouth as it locked eyes with him. Its lips curled into what could only be described as a cruel smirk, as though it had just found its next meal. It leaned backwards and aimed at Chen Ren without hesitation, and leapt towards him. The snarly thing clawed the air, wanting to catch Chen Ren.
Just then, his hand shot into his pocket, pulling out a Tier 1 fire talisman. He infused it with a spark of his lightning qi. The talisman burned with an intense black smoke, and for a fleeting moment, he felt as if his own hand was on fire—a surge of energy washed through him.
Then, nothing.
The energy disappeared into the air without a trace. His eyes widened in horror as he realised what had just happened. “Fuck!” he cursed, leaping to the side using [Lightning Step] just as the duskwolf’s claws raked the spot where he’d stood.
Chen Ren saw the long nails scraping the dirty soil and leaving marks in its wake.
Landing in a crouch, Chen Ren turned to see the duskwolf pivoting, its glowing eyes locked on him as it prepared for another attack. Its speed was relentless, and it was already on him before he could fully regain his footing.
He sidestepped its swipe at the last moment, his fist snapping out in retaliation. His strike connected with the beast’s flank, sending it tumbling away. The impact left a slight scorch mark on its fur from Chen Ren’s lightning qi.
The duskwolf rose again, growling, its fur now singed but the monster didn’t seem to care. Chen Ren straightened, his breathing steadying as he met its gaze. “Alright, you mangy mutt,” he muttered, his eyes narrowing. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Although he knew the brainless beast didn’t understand his words, the duskwolf’s actions spoke otherwise. It charged toward him, its claws slicing through the air and blood that was previously on its face, splattering everywhere.
Chen Ren’s pulse quickened but he didn’t hesitate.
He pulled the small pouch from his belt and sprinkled a fine white powder onto the ground in front of him, forming a circle. His hands moved quickly, reaching for the two talismans he’d created earlier.
As the duskwolf neared, he began chanting softly under his breath. His heartbeat thudded in his ears as he concentrated, praying that everything would go as planned this time. The powder on the ground turned orange as it began to burn. The scent of it rose in the air like incense.
He looked up from the circle and saw that the angry duskwolf almost had him. But before it could reach him, it slammed into an invisible wall with a loud thud. The transparent barrier shimmered before it, crackling faintly from the impact, holding the wolf back.
Chen Ren’s face lit up with a satisfied grin. The array had worked.
Quickly, he held one of the talismans and activated it. This time, the talisman ignited correctly, forming a fireball. He did the same with the second talisman, and two fireballs materialised in the air, their flames roaring and flickering as they hurtled toward the wolf.
The duskwolf howled in pain as the fireballs struck its side, scorching its fur and skin. The beast stumbled back, trying desperately to retreat, but its movements were sluggish, weighed down by all the burnt marks. It could only stagger for a few moments before collapsing, its body twitching as it lay motionless in the dirt, a charred carcass.
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Chen Ren stood there, his breath coming in heavy gasps, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He watched the remains of the duskwolf, the fireballs having done their work. As he slowly relaxed, he glanced down at the array’s barrier, now cracking and fading.
He let out a long breath. “Well, that’s not as good as I expected."
Yalan emerged from the underbrush, her tail swaying in the air. She glanced at the shattered duskwolf carcass and then at the barrier’s cracks. “At least, unlike last time, you didn’t trap yourself in the barrier and have to break it to get out.”
Chen Ren gave a wry smile, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, my chant was wrong, then. This time, I messed up with the first talisman too. I’m not sure if I did something wrong while burning it, or if the rune was just messed up. Probably the latter.” He shook his head in frustration. “I need more practice with these before I can use them in the tournament.”
“Do you really think it’ll work against cultivators?” she asked. “You were able to kill the wolf because it was distracted by the barrier, but cultivators would have movement techniques, and your fireballs are still pretty slow.”
Chen Ren exhaled through his mouth as he thought about her words. It was true. Cultivators could move at incredible speeds, and his fireballs, while effective against a distracted, brainless beast, would be likely easy to dodge in a real fight. But this was just the beginning. He still had a lot to learn and refine before he could stand toe-to-toe with skilled cultivators in the tournament.
“I’ll figure something out.. I have to. I’m not going to let something like speed stop me from winning this.”
Chen Ren stood silently for a moment, his mind racing as he stared at the remnants of the duskwolf’s carcass. His eyes drifted from the deceased beast towards Yalan who was laid next to it. Slowly, he began to form an idea in his mind, a strategy that didn’t rely solely on brute force. He turned to Yalan, speaking as though he had come to a realisation.
“Actually,” he started by saying, a small smile already forming in his lips. “I’m not going to use arrays or talismans necessarily for direct attacks. They’ll be more like distractions.”
“Distractions?”
Chen Ren nodded, glancing down at the white powder that was still scattered on the ground. He gathered the remaining powder into a small pouch. Unlike talismans, which could be prepared ahead of time, arrays required specific materials, precise placements, and proper chants to activate. They were more like rituals, complicated and needing extra caution.
The tier-1 arrays, at least, were straightforward. They only needed the powder, a bit of qi from the air, and a chant. But even that was tricky. He had to position the powder just right for the array to function, and even the slightest disturbance could ruin everything. Chen Ren didn’t fully understand how they worked, but that didn’t bother him much. What mattered to him were the results.
Till now, he’d only been able to study barrier arrays.
Although he had made progress in talismans, he knew he needed to learn more about how to use them… creatively.
Yalan had talked about it a lot, but battles weren’t really time-consuming. He also had experiences in the fights he’d taken part in. A well-paced strike or a clever use of resources could decide the outcome in just a few moves. Especially against weak cultivators. And that’s why he needed to focus on innovation.
He had to find a way to break through any challenge that he might face during the tournament using more than just the expected techniques.
As Chen Ren continued to ponder his strategies, his gaze shifted to Yalan, who was casually swiping at the air with her claws to kill a bug that had been bothering her. She did it fluidly and effortlessly, her eyes momentarily gleaming before returning to their usual calm. It was a sight that momentarily distracted him, but then something clicked in his mind.
"Hey, Yalan," he asked, his eyes squinted as his curiosity got the best of him. "Don't you know a lot of techniques?"
Yalan tilted her head slightly, her gaze meeting his as she replied nonchalantly, "Yes, but I don't know any lightning techniques. As you know, the element I mostly deal with is fire."
Chen Ren nodded, already knowing about her fire affinity, but a thought sparked in his mind. "But don't you have other techniques that don't require a fire affinity?"
Yalan paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. She fluttered her tail irritatedly. "I do, but they aren't easy to learn, nor would you be able to master them in such a short time before the tournament. Most of the techniques I know are quite advanced."
Chen Ren smiled, the excitement in his eyes clear. "That's okay. I can take it easy with the martial techniques, but I would like you to teach me a small trick before the tournament."
***
Li Xuan's sword cut through the air, the blade loudly striking the massive, ancient tree. Each hit sent splinters of lightning into the branches, yet the tree stood firm, barely even dented. Sweat beaded on his brow, but he didn't stop, swinging his blade again and again.
With every strike, his mind focused inward, tracing the steps of his martial dao, the path of the sword.
Every cut had to be precise, every movement had to have exact intent. If there was no reason behind the strike, then it was nothing but aimless flailing, a waste of energy. The strikes needed purpose. They needed to be driven by the desire to cut through everything in their path. This was the essence of the first art of the Seven Sword Arts— One Slash Strike!
He had been working tirelessly toward mastering it, trying to use every movement with clarity. To know and face anyone or anything that’d come across him and his sword. It wasn’t easy, but he pushed himself forward.
His sword rang out as it struck the bark again. The tree’s wood cracked slightly, but it did not give. Li Xuan's jaw tightened, frustration bubbling up.
He had to push past this barrier. He had to make this tree fall.
Then, a shout interrupted his rhythm, cutting through the tension of the moment.
"Senior Li Xuan, you have been called by master!"
Li Xuan’s blade froze mid-swing. With a deep breath, he stepped back, sheath in hand, and turned to see one of his fellow disciples standing a few feet away. He nodded and placed the sword across his back, straightening his posture.
"Alright," Li Xuan said.
He moved through the familiar corridors of the Soaring Sword Sect's training grounds. The path to his master’s room felt heavy, knowing there was always something behind his words—an intent, a goal, a lesson, and most of the time, a sense of superiority. His master’s presence always made the disciples feel small, not only because of his vast knowledge and experience but also because of the high expectations he set for his favourite disciples.
Though, he prided himself in overcoming each one of his expectations.
When he reached his master’s chambers, he paused to bow, lowering his head in deference. “Master Xiaosheng, you called for me.”
Master Xiaosheng, one of the core elders of the sect, sat in a chair, his robes flowing elegantly around him. His eyes were sharp as he looked at Li Xuan, trailing his eyes down the tall frame. His presence was as commanding as ever, his cultivation level firmly rooted in the core formation stage. His long, silvery beard swayed slightly as he breathed deeply.
“Ah, Li Xuan, you are here. I’ve heard of your request to go back to Cloud Mist City to participate in the city tournament. I’m allowing you to go, but I want you to promise me something.”
Li Xuan straightened, concerned, flickering in his eyes, but he kept his voice steady. “What is it, master?”
Master Xiaosheng's gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing as he stroked his beard, slowly. “Win it. You are a core disciple of mine, Li Xuan. If you lose, it will bring shame to both me and the sect. I am only allowing you to interact with the mortal world because you have shown great progress in your cultivation. Otherwise, you would have remained isolated until you entered the foundation establishment realm. You know that we cultivators must remind the mortal population that we are above them.”
Li Xuan winced, the weight of his master’s words sinking in. The sect’s disdain for the mortal world and their belief in their superiority was something he had grown accustomed to, though it still stung. He lowered his head respectfully. “I understand, master. I will make sure to win.”
Master Xiaosheng nodded approvingly, but his expression remained stern. “Good. Also, there is something else.”
“Yes, master?”
“A demonic cultivator has recently been on the rise in the city. While it is unlikely you will cross paths with him, if you do, I want you to kill him and bring his head back here. A mere demonic cultivator should be easy for you to handle, and it will curry favor with the sect leader.”
Li Xuan’s eyes hardened, a cold flicker of recognition crossing his gaze. The idea of dealing with a demonic cultivator wasn’t a new one. Such threats were often dealt swiftly within the sect, but he understood that this wasn’t just a matter of duty—it was an opportunity to show his worth.
Although his master had talked about it casually, he knew that he only did so because he wanted Li Xuan to kill the demonic cultivator. Speaking straight to the point wasn't his master's way of doing things and he had gotten used to it during his time in the sect.
But, some questions arose in his mind when he thought about the demonic cultivator.
Li Xuan hesitated for a moment, then looked up at his master.
"How will I find him, master?"
Master Xiaosheng scoffed, his expression hardening. The corner of his lips turned upwards as his hands flew into the air. "You can figure that out yourself," he said with disdain. "Do I have to tell you everything? You have a brain of your own, so use it."
Li Xuan immediately nodded, and bowed again. “Will do, master. I will find that demonic cultivator and bring the head back here.”
When he lifted his head up, Master Xiaosheng waved his hand dismissively, signalling the end of the conversation. "Now go. It will take time for you to reach the city.” Li Xuan nodded, but the next part of his words made him wince. “And remember to stay away from mortals... Even if your mother is one.”
Li Xuan barely held back a frown from covering his face. He couldn’t help but let the bitter feeling of those words sting his throat. He flinched at the tone and the intent, his grip tightening around the hem of his robes.
His mother, a mortal. That reminder never failed to sting. To him, it was not a big deal, but for his master, it only meant that half of his blood was dirty, having barely any worth.
His heart felt heavy. He wanted to talk against his master and reveal his true feelings about the matter, but he simply nodded obediently.
“Yes, master,” Li Xuan said.
With that, he turned and exited the room, the weight of the conversation settling on his shoulders. His footsteps were heavy as he moved through the familiar halls of the sect. The path ahead was clear but difficult. He had to participate in the tournament, face whatever challenges it brought, and, in the meantime, figure out the whereabouts of the demonic cultivator his master wanted him to eliminate.
But that didn’t stop the last words of his master from bothering him. Instead of heading straight for the exit, Li Xuan found himself walking back toward the tree where he had been practising earlier.
The ancient tree still stood, its bark unharmed by his previous attempts.
“My mother being a mortal doesn't mean she's lowly or dirty,” he muttered, picking up his sword and continuing his spar with the tree. “I will prove you wrong. I will prove everyone wrong.”
Training always made his head weigh less and his thoughts numb—which was exactly what he needed after talking to Master Xiaosheng.
***
A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon.