The arena trembled as Tae-Won's newfound focus manifested in a surge of power. Gone were the scattered thoughts about timeline changes and the Heavenly Demon's health. Gone were the questions about Cheon Ma-Ryong's presence. There was only this moment, this battle, this opponent who burned with the pure desire for combat.

[System Notice: Combat Protocol Integration Complete

- Mental Interference: Eliminated

- Combat Focus: Optimal

- Warning: Power Surge Detected]

Another thunderous clash sent shockwaves rippling through the protective barriers, causing even the most seasoned tournament proctors to shift uneasily. In the viewing platforms, the gathered elders of every major clan watched with measured interest. Most paid only casual attention to the match – after all, this mysterious young fighter from the Jin clan was an unknown factor against the Ancient Sword Sect's rising star.

Cheon Ma-Ryong's blade whistled through the air, trailing crimson qi that painted deadly arcs in its wake. "Magnificent!" he roared, eyes blazing with battle-lust as his assault drove Tae-Won back another step. "You're lasting far more than the last one did!"

[System Notice: Combat Analysis

- Current Status: Severe Pressure

- Opponent's True Level: Partially Concealed

- Warning: Power Differential Critical]

The impact of their next exchange cracked the arena floor. Fragments of stone danced in the air, caught in the crossfire of their clashing sword qi. To the wide-eyed audience, it seemed like watching a tiger toying with its prey – the gap in their power was obvious, overwhelming.

But among the sea of indifferent faces, Elder Ming's weathered features told a different story. His eyes tracked every movement, every subtle shift in technique, seeing what others missed. Where the crowd saw desperation in Tae-Won's retreating steps, he recognized something else entirely.

"Just what are you thinking, Jin Tae-Won?" Elder Ming muttered, fingers drumming thoughtfully against his walking staff. "Your current level is far below his, yet you're clearly holding back. Unless..."

[System Notice: Advanced Technique Adaptation Beginning

- Foundation Integration: 23% and Rising

- Azure River Path: Resonating

- Hidden Potential: Stirring]

Sweat gleamed on Tae-Won's skin as he deflected another earth-shattering strike. Each impact sent jarring tremors through his arms, yet his eyes remained clear, focused. Where before his movements had been purely defensive, now they carried an almost experimental quality – as if he were testing something.

"Oh?" Cheon Ma-Ryong's eyes narrowed, his casual brutality taking on a sharper edge. "There's something different about your technique just now. Show me more!"

His next assault came like a storm of crimson blades, each strike powerful enough to shatter stone. The protective barriers flared brilliantly as sword qi lashed against them, drawing concerned murmurs from the tournament officials. Never in the competition's history had they needed to reinforce the barriers during a preliminary match.

[System Notice: Technique Evolution Detected

- Original Foundation Adapting

- Combat Pressure Accelerating Integration

- Warning: Process Highly Unstable]

The first sign that something was changing came when Tae-Won began pushing back. Not obviously – but enough that Cheon Ma-Ryong's expression shifted from casual amusement to genuine interest. His crimson qi, previously bright and controlled, began to take on darker undertones as he loosened his restraint.

"To think you'd force me this far..." Cheon Ma-Ryong's laughter echoed across the arena, but now it carried an edge that made several spectators shudder.

Stolen story; please report.

And then, to everyone's surprise, Tae-Won smiled.

"Oh?" Cheon Ma-Ryong's eyes lit up with newfound excitement. "So you can show emotion after all. Here I thought you were just a puppet dancing to my blade."

In that moment, watching the future Heavenly Demon's heir acknowledge him as a worthy opponent, Tae-Won felt the weight of his journey. From a mere puppet of the Heavenly Demonic Cult in his past life to standing here, holding his own against Cheon Ma-Ryong himself. The irony almost made him laugh.

[System Notice: Combat Pattern Analysis

- Opponent's Restraint: Decreasing

- Technique Fusion: 31% Complete

- Hidden Potential: Emerging]

It was then that the elders began to notice something unusual in Tae-Won's movements. His foundation technique was changing, flowing like water finding new paths down a mountainside. Something ancient stirred beneath the surface, barely noticeable but growing stronger with each exchange.

"Those movements..." Elder Liu murmured, leaning forward slightly. "They almost resemble..."

Elder Ming's eyes never left the battle, but his lips curved into a knowing smile. The boy wasn't just fighting – he was transforming his very foundation in the midst of combat.

Their blades met in another thunderous clash, but this time something was different. Where before Tae-Won had been purely defensive, now his sword moved with a strange, liquid grace. For a brief moment, azure qi flickered along his blade – not the usual pale blue of his technique, but something deeper, more primal.

Several of the Jin clan elders straightened in their seats.

[System Notice: Critical Threshold Approaching

- Foundation Reconstruction: Imminent

- Dragon Resonance: Emerging

- Reputation: Rising]

The azure qi grew stronger with each exchange, coiling around Tae-Won's blade like living water. His movements began to carry an ancient majesty that made the oldest among the Jin clan elders lean forward, eyes wide with recognition.

"Those movements..." Elder Liu whispered, his earlier dismissiveness replaced by disbelief. "They're almost like..."

"The Sacred Flowing Dragon Art," Elder Ming stated quietly, causing nearby elders to draw sharp breaths. "Just like what we were taught about as children."

Elder Hong, who had remained silent until now, gripped his armrest tightly. "To think the so-called failure of the Jin clan has replicated even a fragment of that technique..."

"You were right, Hong," Elder Liu admitted, watching as azure qi danced through the arena. "This brat is different."

Meanwhile, more elders began to notice the change in Cheon Ma-Ryong's presence. His crimson qi had taken on an increasingly dark quality, almost black at its edges. The casual restraint in his movements was giving way to something more primal, more dangerous.

"That qi nature..." someone muttered. "It's almost like..."

"We'll observe for now," Elder Ming cut in, his voice carrying just enough authority to stay the growing murmurs. But his eyes never left the arena, where two forces were about to collide.

The air itself seemed to grow heavy as both fighters gathered their power. In the stands, spectators pressed back against their seats, overwhelmed by the pressure. The protective barriers hummed ominously, struggling to contain the growing energy.

[System Notice: WARNING

- Power Surge Detected

- Multiple Techniques Converging

- Reputation: Soaring]

As Tae-Won settled into a stance that seemed to flow like water yet hold the majesty of a dragon, azure qi swirled around him in patterns that made the Jin clan elders' eyes widen. Elder Ming shook his head in amazement. "Either you're a genius, boy, or the biggest fool I've ever seen."

The arena held its breath as two titans prepared to clash once more. But now, beneath the surface of their battle, currents of destiny had begun to shift, guided by a plan that only one old man in the audience had begun to grasp.

And in the heart of the storm, Tae-Won's eyes remained clear and focused, even as his very foundation began to transform.

[System Notice: Initialization Complete

- New Path Unlocked

- Reputation: Sacred Arts Awakening

- Warning: Point of No Return]

The real battle was about to begin.