The door to Li An's small home burst open and You Mei stormed in, her nostrils flaring with fury. Li An looked up from her meditation, raising an eyebrow at the sudden intrusion.

"You Mei, what's wrong?" she asked, rising to her feet.

You Mei shook a fist in the air while baring her teeth. "It's my senior brother, Jian Feng! That bastard told me that I should just act obediently and help him become the sect leader, that I should give up my own ambitions!"

Li An stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on You Mei's shoulder. "You Mei, you're stronger than that. Don't let his words shake you. Congratulations on reaching the fifth stage of the Foundation realm. You're halfway to the Spirit realm."

"Thank you, Li An." A tinge of shyness replaced her anger. "But enough about me. I heard you've reached the third stage of the Foundation realm. That's incredible!"

Li An sneered inside. "Incredible? Most of the Grade 4 talents had already reached it two weeks ago. I have been too busy with the artificial hexagonal meridian system, so my cultivation is falling behind."

However, outside she clenched her fists and showed a determined gaze. "I don't wish to stay behind you, You Mei. I plan to show my martial arts talents and advance to the inner sect."

You Mei's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you going to ask for an Advancement battle against an inner sect disciple of the same generation?"

"Yes," Li An said indifferently, shrugging her shoulders. "Since Elder Jiang dared to scheme against us, I will challenge and beat her disciple, Ning Bing."

"Ning Bing?!"

You Mei pursed her lips and moved closer to her. "Li An, Ning Bing recently advanced to the seventh stage of the Foundation realm. She's incredibly powerful. Are you sure about this?"

"You Mei, who am I?" Li An gave her a playful smile.

You Mei remembered the many times her friend had beaten her into a coma and her lips twitched. "You're Li An."

"Trust me. I have to do this. We can't let fear hold us back against our enemies."

You Mei sighed but did not try to convince her anymore. She honestly admired Li An for her courage. "Alright, but please be careful. I will be there to watch, and I'll make sure the sect leader sends someone strong to manage the battle."

Li An smiled kindly, and her eyes were filled with gratitude. "Thank you, You Mei. Your support means everything to me."

You Mei nodded as if it were obvious that she would help her.

"Can you guide me to the sect leader's residence?" Li An asked.

"Ah, yes of course."

The two girls left the room and closed the door behind them with a bang.

The sky above was a canvas of dark gray clouds, hinting at the rain that would soon drench the lands. Li An took a deep breath and could smell the scent of moisture in the air.

They walked side by side through the empty streets of the sect, chatting loudly. Many disciples were cultivating at home, not willing to receive the blessings from the rain.

"You should have seen the look on Jian Feng's face when I told him I wouldn't just obey him," You Mei said with a grin. "He looked like someone had stolen his favorite sword."

Li An chuckled. "Maybe he should focus less on being a tyrant and more on improving his own skills. I heard Wen He is stronger than him."

"Exactly! Honestly, he's so full of himself. I wonder if he even realizes how ridiculous he sounds." You Mei rolled her eyes and laughed.

Soon, they arrived at the sect leader's residence. The temple-like building featured sweeping curved roofs with parallel tile patterns, supported by carved wooden beams. Red lanterns hung at intervals along the eaves, and the entrance was flanked by guardian lion statues.

You Mei knocked on the heavy wooden door, and after a moment, it creaked open.

"Good afternoon, Miss You." A servant bowed and gestured for them to enter.

They walked through a large courtyard filled with meticulously trimmed bonsai trees and koi ponds, and into the main hall.

"Wow, this sect leader is quite extravagant for an ascetic." Li An stared with wonder at the decorative screens painted with scenes of famous mountains and rivers.

The sect leader was sitting behind a large wooden desk, grabbing his white flowing beard with one hand. He looked up as they entered, blinking at them.

"You Mei, Li An," he greeted them warmly. "What brings you here?"

He already saw the two girls as part of his faction, so he was naturally kinder to them.

Li An stepped forward.

"Sect Leader, I wish to request an Advancement battle. I want it to happen as soon as possible, preferably this evening."

The sect leader raised an eyebrow. "An Advancement battle? Very well, we can arrange that. But who do you wish to fight?"

He did not think Li An had high chances of succeeding, but all the disciples had the freedom to choose what they wanted to do with their lives.

"I want to challenge Ning Bing." There was a pin-drop silence in the main hall.

The sect leader's eyes widened in shock, and he almost fell from his chair. "Ning Bing? She's at the seventh stage of the Foundation realm! Are you certain about this?"

"I am certain."

You Mei and the sect leader exchanged worried glances. "Li An, maybe you should reconsider," You Mei said gently. "There are other, less dangerous opponents you could challenge."

The sect leader nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Ning Bing is formidable. Why not choose someone else?"

Li An shook her head with an ominous glint in her eyes. "No, I want revenge for what Elder Jiang did. This is my choice and I will not regret it."

The sect leader sighed and a hint of annoyance crossed his face at her stubbornness.

"Very well. If this is your decision, I will respect it. I will send one of my strong subordinates to ensure the battle is fair and that you are not permanently harmed or killed."

Li An bowed deeply. "Thank you, Sect Leader."

As she left the building, Li An's expression was like a calm before the storm. Her doll face exuded a chilling aura, making You Mei instinctively shiver next to her.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

Li An stood alone on the battle stage of the outer sect, her eyes fixed on the dark, rumbling sky above. The tension in the air was palpable, and the sound of distant thunder echoed threateningly.

"I can't remember the last time I experienced winter in my life." She took a deep breath and centered herself on the impending battle. She knew Ning Bing would arrive soon.

You Mei sat in the podium with her hands clenched tightly in her lap. Her eyes were glued to the stage, and her heart pounded faster than usual.

She trusted Li An's abilities, but the gap between the third stage and the seventh stage of the Foundation realm was enormous.

You Mei's body suddenly relaxed as she remembered Li An's martial arts while they were training, and a wave of calm washed over her.

"Li An can do this," she reassured herself. "Even without trees and shadows to hide in, she has a good chance of winning."

A flash of white lightning tore apart the skies and Ning Bing appeared at the edge of the stage, walking forward with a sleepy gaze. However, her presence alone exuded an intimidating aura.

The gap between stages increased the higher the cultivation realm, which meant Ning Bing was much stronger than before, although she had only advanced one stage.

Ning Bing stopped right in front of Li An, her eyes locking onto hers.

Suddenly, a powerful air pressure filled the stage and Elder Jiang appeared on the podium as if she had teleported there. Her eyes scanned the empty pavilion before settling on Li An and You Mei. A disturbing smile played on her lips, sending chills down the spine of the girl next to her.

"So this is Elder Jiang." You Mei had goosebumps all over her skin. "She is much scarier than I thought."

Elder Jiang's spiritual energy flared subtly, and she sent a mind message to Ning Bing. "Do not go too hard on Li An. Test her limits, but do not play foul or hurt her too much."

Those at the Core Formation realm or higher could use their condensed spiritual energy to transmit their voices directly into the minds of others weaker than them. This ability allowed for private communication even if the arena was crowded with cultivators.

Elder Jiang's voice was heard again in Ning Bing's head. "However, make sure she does not win and advance to the inner sect."

Just as Elder Jiang was about to turn her focus to You Mei, a loud crack resounded through the podium, forming a crater in the granite floor. Liu Yi landed in front of You Mei, making the platform tremble. His cold gaze was fixed on Elder Jiang.

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"Do not play games in this duel, Elder Jiang," Liu Yi said, his voice laced with a warning. "Traitors will not be tolerated."

Elder Jiang's smile did not waver.

"I am here only to watch the battle of my personal disciple," she assured him.

Liu Yi's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "Ensure that's all you do."

As the tension between Liu Yi and Elder Jiang dissipated, Li An and Ning Bing remained focused on each other.

The wind picked up, carrying with it the first tentative whispers of rain. Soft drops began to fall, pattering gently against the ground. Li An remained still and watched the rain fall.

As moments slipped by, the raindrops grew more insistent, their rhythm quickening like the hurried footsteps of someone running through a lifetime of recollections. Each drop was a fragment of the past, falling faster and harder, bringing with it the emotions Li An had left behind in her pursuit of power.

The once gentle rain intensified, transforming into a relentless cascade that hammered against the earth with the weight of the heavens.

"The rain... it is beautiful." Li An could feel the rage of the world, purifying all beings with endless torrents of water. She finally understood what it meant when someone said, "Cultivators go against the heavens."

"The path of a cultivator is fraught with challenges," she reflected silently. "One must fight others, fight their hearts, and fight the rage of the world."

As the rain began to pour even harder, the signal to start the battle was given.

Everything seemed to slow down for Li An.

She felt the cool raindrops against her skin, each one falling like a sharp, icy dagger. She saw Ning Bing's fist coming towards her, the power behind it evident in the way it sliced through the air. In the distance, she could see the sneering face of Elder Jiang and the worried expression of You Mei on the podium.

Li An's mind became a calm, emotionless void. She dodged the incoming fist and redirected its force with the Cosmos martial arts. Li An grabbed Ning Bing's arm, using her opponent's momentum to flip her over and slam her into the ground with even greater speed.

Boom!

The ground shook slightly from the force of the impact. Ning Bing's eyes widened and she struggled to get up, but Li An was already moving.

"She is pretty fast," Li An thought without a change of expression.

Ning Bing had regained her footing before she could reach her, but her face was twisted in anger. She lunged at Li An with a series of rapid punches and kicks, each one faster and stronger than the last.

However, it was useless. Li An remained calm as she deflected each and every blow to the side.

"Impressive..." Liu Yi couldn't help but lean forward in his seat. "She knows she cannot parry Ning Bing's attacks, so she is just making slight adjustments to make them miss. Her mastery of martial arts is far above Ning Bing's."

It was as if Li An were dancing around Ning Bing, using her opponent's energy to fuel her own movements. Ning Bing lunged forward with a powerful right punch to her head, but Li An just twisted her body gracefully to her left.

She caught Ning Bing's wrist mid-punch and pulled, using her own momentum to spin her off balance.

As Ning Bing staggered, Li An delivered a sharp elbow strike to her ribs.

Urgh!

The so-called genius had a ragged breath and was bleeding from her nose after it was smashed in the earlier collision against the ground.

Li An grinned at the fear etched on her face and stepped closer.

"Your teacher, Elder Jiang, is a coward and a fool," she spat, her words like daggers. "She hides behind her disciples because she's too afraid to face her own failures."

Ning Bing's eyes blazed with fury. She threw a spinning back kick, her leg whirling towards Li An's head.

"Ha ha." Li An leaned back just enough for the kick to miss by a hair's breadth. Seizing the moment, she stepped forward and drove her knee into Ning Bing's abdomen, doubling her over in pain.

"Is this the best you can do, trained by such a pathetic excuse of a teacher? You're a disgrace, just like her."

On the podium, Elder Jiang's face seethed, akin to a kettle about to boil over. She gripped the railing so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her aura flared with barely contained wrath, but Liu Yi stepped in, his presence representing the authority of the sect leader.

"Do not interfere, Elder Jiang," Liu Yi said, his voice icy. "Follow the rules of the duel. This battle will proceed as it should."

Despite his displeasure for Li An's foul mouth, Liu Yi maintained his stance, suppressing Elder Jiang's spiritual energy with his own. Elder Jiang glared at him, but she knew better than to challenge the sect leader's faction directly. "I cannot wait to see your bodies squirming on the ground as I pull out your tongues."

Li An circled Ning Bing like a predator, a cruel smile playing on her lips. "Is this all you've got, Ning Bing? Trained by the great Elder Jiang, and yet you can't even touch me. Pathetic."

Ning Bing staggered to her feet, blood dripping from her mouth and nose. She wiped her face with the back of her hand.

"First You Mei and now you. I curse you to a million years of torture, monsters," she yelled with a hoarse voice.

Ning Bing could barely contain her anger at Elder Jiang's instructions to go easy on Li An, which now seemed like a mockery of her abilities.

"Your master must be so proud," Li An continued, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're just as useless as she is. All talk, no substance."

Ning Bing's eyes turned bloodshot as she struggled to hold back her rage. Her fists clenched tightly, and she tasted blood as she bit down hard, trying to keep herself from breaking down.

She could feel the humiliation burning inside her. Every hit she had taken, every taunt from Li An, was like salt in a wound.

"Elder Jiang told me to go easy on her," Ning Bing thought, her jaw clenched. "But who's the one going easy now?"

With a guttural growl, Ning Bing threw herself at Li An like a wild beast, abandoning all technique and strategy. Li An's eyes twitched as Ning Bing's rage-fueled assault knocked her off balance.

Ning Bing landed on top of Li An, straddling her and lifting her fist high. "You will pay for humiliating me!"

Elder Jiang gasped when she saw the amount of spiritual energy in Ning Bing's hand. "Fuck! This little shit went insane!"

Liu Yi's aura flared as he charged towards the battle stage, but he was too far away. The punch was already coming down.

Li An desperately raised her right arm to protect her face. Ning Bing's fist connected with a sickening crack, shattering Li An's arm. The force of the punch drove spiritual energy into Li An's meridians, causing them to rupture and burn.

"AAAAARRRGGHHHHHHH!"

Li An's scream of pain could even be heard over the sound of the heavy downpour.

Ning Bing's eyes widened as she realized the extent of the damage she had caused. She stumbled back and was sent flying against the wall of the arena by a furious Liu Yi.

Li An lay on the ground, cradling her broken arm, her face pale and twisted in agony. Blood seeped through the sleeve of her black cultivator robes, dripping onto the ground. The pain of having her meridians destroyed was nothing short of atrocious.

Elder Jiang, watching from the podium, had gone still. She could barely believe what happened, from Li An dominating her personal disciple to Ning Bin crippling her in one quick move.

Liu Yi's eyes were cold as he looked at Ning Bing, who stood frozen in place. "Enough," he said, his voice a low growl. "This battle is over."

He had a headache thinking about how he would answer his master when he asked about Li An's condition. "What kind of irredeemable grudge does Elder Jiang have against this kid?"

Ning Bing staggered back and turned to look at Elder Jiang, seeking some form of reassurance or guidance. However, she only found a gaze without emotion, as if Ning Bing was already a dead person.

"Ha."

It was just a small sound, but everyone turned to look at Li An. She had her eyes locked on the figure of Elder Jiang on the podium.

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Li An laughed with a large smile, making everyone feel like the raindrops were ants crawling down their soaked clothes.

Gritting her teeth against the excruciating pain, she forced herself to stand. The smile had vanished.

"You know, Elder Jiang," she began. Li An's voice was terrifyingly calm. "Even the most precious forest in the north can be brought to its knees by a single, determined fire."

"This whore!"

Elder Jiang stood abruptly, her chair exploding into smithereens as she fully unleashed her aura. The intense spiritual energy surged toward Li An, a palpable force of annihilation that devoured rain, wind and stone in its way.

Just as the spiritual energy was about to hit Li An, Liu Yi stepped in front of her and waved his palm, deflecting the attack as if it were a child's throw.

Bang!

The laser-like aura drilled through the arena ground, forming a narrow hole twenty meters deep.

"That's enough." Liu Yi's eyes narrowed towards Elder Jiang. "Be aware you will have to answer for your demonic actions. Crippling sect cultivators is not an acceptable action."

Elder Jiang's face contorted with rage, but she did not push further. She reined in her aura, though her eyes remained fixed on Li An with a hatred that could almost scorch someone on the spot.

On the podium, there was someone even angrier. The tendons and veins on the backs of You Mei's hands stood out prominently, like taut wires ready to snap. Her fingers occasionally twitched, itching to unleash all her wrath on Elder Jiang.

You Mei's glare at the old woman carried a promise. "I will kill you."

Liu Yi sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing heavily on him. "I need to stop this. I cannot protect both You Mei and Li An at the same time."

He gently took Li An's good arm, helping her down from the stage. "Come," he said softly. "We need to get you to the Medicine Elder's healing chambers."

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

The medicine elder moved quickly, his hands glowing faintly as he channeled his healing qi into Li An's wounds. "Why is this lass always getting injured?"

He applied a green herbal paste to the minced flesh and the wound immediately began to close. Beside him, Liu Yi watched intently the treatment process.

"Her resilience is impressive," the Medicine Elder murmured, pressing the poultice against a particularly deep gash on Li An's lower shoulder.

Liu Yi stepped closer and his gaze shifted from the Elder's hands to Li An's face. "Will she be able to fight again?"

"The physical wounds will mend," he replied, securing a strip of gauze around Li An's arm. "But there's more to healing than just closing wounds."

The medicine elder carefully unwrapped a section of Li An's left arm, exposing the dark, bruised skin beneath. Placing his fingers lightly along the meridians, he closed his eyes and focused on his energy. A faint glow emanated from his fingertips, but quickly faded.

"The meridians..." he began, pausing to look directly at Liu Yi. "They're beyond repair."

Liu Yi's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "There must be something we can do," he insisted. "Is there no technique, no remedy that can help?"

It would be seriously bad if the sect leader knew that Li An was crippled under his watch. He didn't want to see his master's gaze of disappointment.

Unfortunately, life often does not go according to one's wishes.

"Meridians are delicate pathways. Once they're damaged like this, especially in the arm of a cultivator, it's nearly impossible to restore them to their full function."

The medicine elder sighed. "There's nothing more I can do."

Little did they know that Li An couldn't care less about her broken meridians.

"Those who cannot sacrifice will never achieve anything of worth." Li An felt joy despite the searing pain in her arm. "The law of life is pretty simple: to rise above the ordinary, you must be willing to part with the very things that make you ordinary."

She had already experienced a path to greatness. Li An knew it required choices that are not easy, decisions that cut to the very core of who you are.

Thus, she embraced the pain of letting go. She could give up everything as long as it was not the goal of standing above the heavens.

· · ────── ·𖥸· ────── · ·

In the village outskirts, nestled among the trees, stood an old house. The night was stormy, the sky filled with dark clouds that unleashed torrents of rain.

Thunder rumbled ominously, and the occasional flash of lightning illuminated the house's worn exterior. The windows rattled with each gust of wind, and the wooden door creaked eerily, as if whispering secrets to the night.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of the door, almost materializing from the shadows.

Li An stood there, her face pale and expressionless, her hair plastered to her head by the rain. Her eyes were cold, reflecting no emotion, making her look like a supernatural entity. Her clothes clung to her body, soaked through, and her skin seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, adding to her otherworldly appearance.

A broken arm could be healed quickly, so the medicine elder had allowed her to leave the healing chambers.

She raised a hand, and the door creaked open with a slow, agonizing groan. The wind howled, blowing rain into the house as Li An stepped inside. The wooden floorboards creaked under her weight, but Li An cared less about being silent. Her wet clothes whispered against her skin with every step.

A candle flickered as she passed, casting fleeting shadows that twisted and writhed on the walls. The smell of damp wood and musty air permeated the room.

Tip... tap...

Drops of water leaked from the gaps in the ceiling. The cold air brushed against Li An's face, chilling her skin.

As Li An approached the backroom, the narrow hallway seemed to stretch endlessly before her.

She reached out and lightly ran her fingers along the rough, damp surface of the wall, feeling the texture beneath her skin.

The door to the backroom loomed ahead, slightly ajar, a sliver of dim light spilling out. She pushed it open gently, but the hinges groaned in protest. The room was small and sparsely furnished, with a simple bed against the far wall.

Li An walked over to the bed, her eyes fixed on the figure lying there. The woman below the blanket had many identities: a Grade 2 genius, a peak stage Essence Condensation expert, You Mei's mother.

But Li An had no interest in any of them.

She stood above the woman, her expression devoid of emotion just like a doll's face. Her hand hovered momentarily before making contact. Her fingers were cold and wet against the woman's forehead.

The storm raged outside, the thunder rolling and the lightning flashing, casting an eerie light into the room.

Rumble!

Li An opened her mouth.

"I wonder, You Meihong, what did you see in the depths of that haunted forest?"