Lin Dongxue pressed her advantage relentlessly, her footwork unfolding as she pursued the attack.

Zhao Yuqian wasn’t weak by any stretch. She quickly steadied herself and met the challenge head-on.

Two stunning beauties clashing fiercely on the stage captivated every onlooker.

As the fight wore on, the crowd was stunned to realize that Zhao Yuqian—whom they’d pegged as the sure winner—was being outmatched by this Cloud City girl.

“Sharp, decisive strikes—both of these young women have been forged in the fire. But Lin Dongxue’s got the sharper eye. Most of her moves hit her opponent’s weak spots—truly impressive,” Mo Bin remarked from the judges’ platform with a nod of approval.

“You’re too kind, Elder Mo. Tingxiang is brimming with talent—my daughter still has a long road ahead,” Lin Xiao replied modestly.

Onstage, Lin Dongxue landed a deft, cunning strike. Zhao Yuqian faltered, exposing a flaw. Seizing the moment, Lin Dongxue slammed a palm into her, sending Zhao Yuqian crashing to the ground, unable to rise.

“Cloud City’s Lin Dongxue wins!” the red-robed elder announced, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Cloud City’s showing this year was anything but ordinary.

“Well fought,” Lin Dongxue said with a clasped-hand salute before heading offstage.

“Congrats!” Tang Yan grinned as she returned.

Fresh from the intense bout, Lin Dongxue’s breaths came quick, her cheeks flushed with triumph. “Tang Yan, you watched me fight—what did I do wrong?” she asked with a smile.

Tang Yan paused, taken aback. Gazing at the radiant Lin Dongxue, his estimation of her rose even higher. With her talent and drive, her future was boundless.

“Overall, solid work—few glaring flaws. Take the fifth move: Zhao Yuqian’s spinning elbow left an opening mid-motion. A well-timed kick could’ve crippled her right there. You missed that chance, letting her claw back some ground when she was on the ropes. Then, at the ninth move, she was slipping again, desperate to turn it around. Her rushed attack weakened her power. You had the edge in strength there, but instead of tanking it, if you’d stepped back, waited for her force to fade, then hit with a charged strike, you could’ve ended it outright…”

Tang Yan broke down each move, and Lin Dongxue nodded along, soaking it in.

Though they hadn’t known each other long, she’d come to trust Tang Yan’s combat insights implicitly.

Over the next fifteen matches, Tang Yan and Lin Dongxue dissected every fighter’s strengths and weaknesses.

They easily picked out the standout contenders.

The Eastern Domain’s Four Young Masters lived up to their hype. Without even going all out, their seasoned techniques secured swift victories.

Beyond them, a few other strong players caught their attention, etched into their memories.

The first round stretched into the afternoon before wrapping up.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

The next round was slated for tomorrow.

Cloud City, the eternal underdog, had stunned everyone this time.

They might just climb to fourth place this year!

Of course, fourth was the ceiling. Against the Four Young Masters, their strength still fell short.

Back at the courtyard, Tang Yan was about to resume training when a knock interrupted him.

Opening the gate, he found Lin Dongxue standing there. “What’s up, Miss Lin?” he asked with a smile.

“What, not welcome?” Lin Dongxue teased, her smile blooming like a flower after rain, stirring his heart.

Tang Yan blinked, momentarily dazed, then ushered her in. “Cloud City’s famed beauty gracing my doorstep? The honor’s all mine.”

“Flatterer,” she huffed smugly, then turned serious. “Tang Yan, thank you.”

“For what?” he asked, puzzled.

“Before I met you, I thought beating someone above my rank was near impossible. But you showed me that when the power gap isn’t insurmountable, skill and speed can bridge it.”

“Upsetting the odds has happened since ancient times—nothing new,” Tang Yan said, waving it off.

“I’m not just here to thank you,” she said, a sly glint in her eye. “I want to spar with you—full-on, until I’m completely spent!”

*Oh, a sparring partner… Good thing she said this in daylight, or I’d be untying my belt by now.*

Lin Dongxue wasn’t just beautiful—her elegance was magnetic. Tang Yan, a man with normal tastes, couldn’t deny his fondness for her.

When a beauty asked, he had no reason to refuse.

Plus, if Lin Dongxue snagged an Azure Dragon Academy spot, it’d be a feather in his cap. Strengthening ties between the city lord’s mansion and the Tang family would pay off down the line.

Even if he left Cloud City, having the lord’s backing was an extra layer of security.

“If you’re serious about improving, I won’t hold back. Don’t cry if it stings,” Tang Yan warned sternly.

“Bring it on,” Lin Dongxue replied, her delicate face set with determination.

They moved to the courtyard’s center. With a sharp cry, Lin Dongxue clenched her fists and charged.

After a few probing exchanges to gauge her level, Tang Yan nodded inwardly. She’d made solid progress.

No more kid gloves. Spotting an opening, he stepped forward, hooked her leg, and sent her tumbling to the ground.

“Keep your footing solid—don’t neglect your lower half while focusing up top. Aim precisely, and watch for counterattacks,” Tang Yan said evenly.

Lin Dongxue scrambled up, rubbing what looked like a swollen ankle. “Did you have to go that hard?” she grumbled.

“If you can’t take it, head back,” Tang Yan replied, unyielding.

Only real pressure—treating this as more than a game—would unlock her potential.

“I’m not leaving!” Lin Dongxue shot back, diving in again.

Eight moves later, Tang Yan landed a heavy punch to her back. She staggered, blood surging, nearly spitting it up.

“Your pivot was too slow…” Tang Yan pointed out another flaw.

“Again!” Lin Dongxue charged once more.

…

She lost count of how many times Tang Yan struck her, but her hits on him? Zero.

As night fell, Lin Dongxue collapsed, utterly drained, gasping for air.

Tang Yan, though, was floored by her resilience and talent.

Her growth was striking. She absorbed his lessons fast—maybe not mastering them fully, but grasping the basics in such a short time? Her comprehension was uncanny!

And for a city lord’s daughter, she had no trace of pampered fragility. That grit promised a long journey on the martial path.

At peak third-rank Mysterious Stage, she could even hold her own against a fourth-rank fighter!

*What’s Lin Xiao been doing all these years? Carving an unpolished jade for over a decade and leaving it rough?* With earlier honing, the Four Young Masters would’ve been the Five Prodigies by now.

…

In Zizhu City, a courtyard lined with purple bamboo stood serene. A woman in white, her brows like distant hills and eyes like crystal, gazed eastward from a pavilion.

Graceful and poised, she was a living painting.

“Miss, a scout reports news of Cloud City’s Tang Yan. He’s in Fang City, competing in the Eastern Domain Competition for an Azure Dragon Academy spot,” a maid hurried in, her voice crisp.

The maid’s curiosity burned. Her mistress—young, yet a Heavenly Stage powerhouse—why care about someone from a backwater like the Eastern Domain?

“Relay my orders to our Eastern Domain contacts: support Tang Yan fully if needed. Report any updates on him immediately!” Zi Yun instructed softly, her tone urgent.

“At once, ma’am,” the maid saluted and withdrew swiftly.

“We agreed to head to the Azure Dragon Academy together—don’t let me down,” Zi Yun murmured to herself.