The lightning had settled down, and yet, Wu Jian still hadn’t moved from where he sat cross-legged in meditation. An overwhelming surge of power coursed through his meridians. In the wake of his breakthrough, his perception of reality seemed to have expanded, allowing him to grasp the intricate dance of chi on a much grander scale. It was as if he had been confined within a small room and suddenly found himself standing atop a towering mountain, finally able to see the vast panorama spreading out below.

Every breath felt deeper, more resonant, like the even the air held the secrets of the heavens. The chi within him, the vast lake of his chi sea, had expanded once again, now extending on forever. He could sense the eb and flow of his chi with newfound clarity. What’s more, he could control it far better.

Finally, he opened his eyes.

He stood up.

So this is the Deva Realm. I can see why so many believed Mei Xilan and I would lose… there’s simply no comparison between this realm and the Human Limit Realm.

His emotions, like celestial bodies, danced through the vast expanse of his being. Elation swept over him like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, while the weight of responsibility his newfound cultivation brought anchored him like a tree taken root.

He looked upon the battlefield and realized his gaze now transcended the physical realm, much like the light from distant stars that traveled across space and time to reach humanity’s eyes. A glance to his left. The ebb and flow of energies wove a beautiful tapestry, creating minute distortions that the average cultivator could not see. Was this what other cultivators saw upon reaching this realm? It was almost overwhelming.

“I believe congratulations are in order.”

Wu Jian directed his attention toward Huǒ Yulie. Her veil still remained, preventing him from seeing her face, but he could somehow tell she was smiling. It was like he could see her smile, not in the literal sense, but as though he was reconstruction an image of what was happening within that specific space.

“That was a most magnificent showing. None in our history have ever received nine strikes of tribulation lightning. Even I only received three. How are you feeling?”

“Thank you. And I feel… good. Powerful.”

Hup Yulie nodded. “Tis a heady sensation, but you’d best be careful. Many people who reach the Deva Realm become drunk on their own power. It causes them to act out in ways they hadn’t before, and they become someone entirely different from who they were. I do not want to see that happen to you.”

She’s right…

Wu Jian had sensed the elation building within him, the feeling of omnipotence, like he could do anything he set his sights on, achieve any goal he wished with ease… but that’s all it was. Just a feeling. He might even call it an illusion.

The Deva Realm was called the Realm of True Strength only because it was at this point where many cultivations failed. Some refused to move beyond this realm. However, many also died in the attempt. That was the reason there were so few cultivators who reached it, even in larger nations like the Xia Dynasty.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath to center himself. When he opened his eyes again, he felt much calmer.

Huǒ Yulie nodded approvingly. “You catch on quick. I like that. Now, then, I believe it is time we ended this battle.”

“I agree.”

While he was feeling calmer now, he still wanted to test his newfound strength, and Huǒ Yulie would make the perfect sparring partner.

Yet that was not what happened.

“I forfeit,” Huǒ Yulie raised her hand, stunning not just the crowd, but Wu Jian as well. She was… giving up? Their battle hadn’t concluded, neither of them had been injured much, and they both had plenty of chi. Why would she give up like that?

“What--but why?”

“I understand why you might be baffled, but you must consider your cultivation. That power you feel right now is unstable. Fighting while in that state is unwise as it could result in a sequela. I recommend you take at least a day to stabilize your cultivation.”

Frustration welled up inside of Wu Jian for a moment but vanished just as quickly. Huǒ Yulie was correct. The reason he felt like he was overflowing with power was because his body wasn’t used to it and his cultivation was unstable from having just broken through. The wiser move would be to take some time to do as she suggested.

Yet someone else was not pleased with this.

“Huǒ Yulie, what are you doing?!”

Huǒ Yulie’s entire body froze as though she’d been frozen solid in a block of ice, and her eyes quivered with intense fear. Wu Jian glanced at the stands. Her father stood on his feet, hands on the railing as he leaned over, glaring down at the girl with an expression he had trouble fathoming. It was cold. His eyes were dead. Just how anyone could look at their own daughter like that was beyond him.

“Father, I… um…”

“Do not stop this battle. It is not over.”

“But…”

“Do not talk back to me. I am your clan head. My word is law. You will continue this battle.”

While the words were not spoken with anger, the spine-chilling coldness in them was enough to freeze a person’s blood.

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He glanced at the person he’d been fighting. Up to now, Huǒ Yuli had acted like a self-assured young woman with an ancient manner of speech, yet now she resembled a frightened child who knew her father was about to beat her.

What should I do? Should I intervene? This is a matter between father and daughter, clan head and clanswoman… I have no place here.

There was a certain etiquette that all people of the Xaio Continent followed, which was to never interfere in the affairs of other clans. What a clan head did with his clan and the people who made it up were theirs to decide. Outside interference was not only unwelcome but often invited trouble for the one intervening… and yet, when he looked upon Huǒ Yulie and realized her body was trembling, he felt drawn in.

He took a step forward.

“You shall do no such things,” a voice suddenly boomed. It echoed around them like an explosion of passion and fire. It also had the same dialect and inflection of Huǒ Yulie.

At the same time, a sensation swept through the arena, hot like a powerful flame, and yet, soothing like gentle rays of sunshine blessing the land. The people in the stands looked around as though expecting to see the owner of the voice suddenly appear.

Huǒ Huangdi gasped, but then he knelt, as did the other phoenix clansmen--all except Huǒ Yulie.

“Lord Phoenix,” Huǒ Huangdi said. “I beg your forgiveness. However, this is a tournament. My daughter--”

“Has performed very admirably. She has decided to graciously bow down in acknowledgement of that young man’s accomplishments. Do not dishonor yourself by forcing her into battle after what just transpired.”

Wu Jian narrowed his eyes as he stared at Huǒ Huangdi. The man was kneeling, so he could not see him with his eyes. Instead, he cast his perception into the ether and viewed this man’s visage from a three-dimensional plain, reconstructing exactly what was happening in the booth within his mind’s eye. Huǒ Huangdi looked mad. His fists were clenched, teeth gritted, and a vein throbbed on his forehead. Yet the man took several deep breaths, then calmed down.

“Of course… Lord Phoenix. Forgive me. I merely wanted my daughter to show off her talents.”

“Of course. However, do not let your passion for victory cloud your judgment.”

“Yes, Lord Phoenix.”

The voice and sensation sweeping over the crowd vanished. Huǒ Huangdi remained kneeling for several seconds longer, then slowly stood to his feet. He coughed into his hand once. With slow deliberation, he glanced at Huǒ Yan, who got the signal.

“The winner of this round and the tournament is… Jian Wu!”

A moment of silence passed through the arena, but then, with a burst of energy, the entire crowd went wild. Cheers and cries of adulation echoed so loudly in Wu Jian’s ears that he thought they might burst. He almost missed the sound of someone shouting.

“Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaa--”

Almost.

“Steeeeeeeeeeeerrr!”

“Youme--oof!”

The magical panther had emerged from a shadow near the arena, bounded onto the stage, and plowed into him with the force of a truck. Wu Jian was certain he could have avoided being knocked off his feet were circumstances different. However, he realized only now that despite being full of chi, he simply had no energy. The match had worn him down physically and, with the tension drained out of him, he was exhausted.

“You did it, Master! You won! You won! That’s incredible, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Yes, it is… and I’m grateful you think so, but please, can you not slobber all over me?”

Youmei didn’t listen to Wu Jian and continued to give him plenty of affection… which meant his mask became covered in fluids. Maybe it was a good thing he wore it? He was used to being slobbered on by this point, but that didn’t mean he liked it.

Huǒ Huangdi began speaking again, but Wu Jian struggled to listen. He only got the gist of what the man was saying. They were going to take a day to prepare for both the award ceremony and the opening of the Realm of Sacred Flames. Wu Jian planned on using that day to stabilize his cultivation.

He did not get to speak with Huǒ Yulie, who was swept away from the arena by the other Phoenix Clansmen, and so, he met up with Hua Xue, Mei Xilan, and the others. The group congratulated him on a job well done. Yu Chenguang looked happier than Wu Jian remembered seeing him. When asked, he said it was because their nation hadn’t had a Deva Realm cultivator in many generations. The last one had been Hou Jingshu’s great grandfather, who had died under mysterious circumstances.

That night, the entire inn where Wu Jian and his group stayed celebrated his victory. Even Hua Xue let her hair down, if only a little. She had toasted to his victory and breakthrough, then downed an entire casket of wine by herself. Wu Jian was impressed. He was even more impressed that she didn’t appear the least bit drunk.

Youmei had somehow gotten into the alcohol as well, but unlike Hua Xue, she had no immunity and got herself drunk. It was a disaster. The giant panther was a whirlwind, lashing out at people with her power over shadows. She had latched onto several men and women and somehow stripped the poor people of their clothes… and then laughed in their faces. Fortunately, she passed out relatively quickly.

In order to make those people who’d been stripped not feel ashamed of themselves, a slightly drunk Wu Jian leapt onto the table and stripped off his own clothes. All of it sans his mask was removed and he began dancing with all the grace of a cultivator who’d mastered the drunken fist style of cultivation. The people loved it. Their cheers had grown louder. Only Mei Xilan had reacted with shame and covered her face. Even Hua Xue had stared at him with a look he didn’t think her capable of making.

It was much later at night and Wu Jian was lugging a massive black cat on his back. Said cat was snoring away, drooling on the back of his neck as she mumbled something about mice and meat and her sleep. He didn’t care to know. Opening the door to his room, he sensed her presence before he saw her.

“Mei…”

“It looks like you had a fun night,” Wu Meiying said with a bright grin.

Wu Jian paused, then smiled. “It was hectic, but yeah, it was fun. Hold on a sec while I put this big baby down.”

He set the snoring Youmei in a corner of the room, then prepared to receive Wu Meiying’s hug.

“Uh…”

He became surprised when she grabbed his shoulders, moved him over to the bed, then stepped back until she was standing by the door.

A premonition suddenly swept through him.

“WU JIAAAAAN!!!!”

“GOOFUCK?!”

Wu Jian felt the wind get blasted from his lungs. His ribs felt like they’d been smashed. He was launched off his feet, hit the bed, and bounced several times. The girl who’d plowed into his chest didn’t care as she rubbed her face against him.

“That was so exciting! You were amazing, Jian! I can’t believe you got hit by lightning nine times! That’s more times than any of your previous reincarnations! Did you know that?! You were incredible! And you smell really good right now? Like really good. I can understand why Huǒ Yulie loves your scent. Tee-hee, I imagine she’d be quite jealous if she knew I was smelling you! Maybe I should tell her the next time I see her. What do you think? It’s a good idea, right? Oh, gosh! I’m just so happy right now!”

Wu Jian was unable to say even a single word as the woman spoke in such rapid succession that he was tempted to believe she had manipulated time to get twice as many words out in half the time it normally took. She was taking the term blabbermouth to a whole new level.

With a soft chuckle, Wu Jian settled down, placed a hand on the woman’s lower back, and listened as she began a point by point retelling of his fight from her perspective. He briefly thought about telling her that he knew about the battle but… well, it was nice seeing her so excited like this. He decided to let it slide.