A few weeks had passed since Zhen received the system’s mission, and no guests had appeared in that time, but he wasn’t worried.

“How am I going to become an elder of the Azure Sky Sect?” Zhen sighed, disheartened, unsure of how to accomplish his mission.

While Zhen pondered how to fulfill the system’s task, Yue, his disciple, was practicing the Eternal Sword Technique he had taught her.

“It’s still not the same as the master’s technique…” Yue sighed as she tried to imitate Zhen’s movements, who was watching her.

“Yue, you’re too focused on trying to do it exactly like me. Listen, everyone has their own path. Even if we use the same techniques, we won’t be the same. And it’s not just about the amount of internal energy each person has but also about the style each one possesses,” Zhen said, with a tone of wisdom that made Yue admire him even more.

“Yes, master, I understand,” Yue responded, feeling encouraged and grateful to have the guidance of a senior.

Yue still hadn’t realized that her cultivation had regressed to the Refinement Realm and that her energy had become purer and denser. She was focused on improving her cultivation and sword technique, but something was on her mind…

“Master, I would like to participate in the Dragon’s Battle that will take place in a year. I wanted to ask for your permission to represent my sect,” Yue said, nervously, fearing that Zhen might not allow her to participate in the Dragon’s Battle, considering it irrelevant.

“Dragon’s Battle? Ah, I remember you mentioned something about that…”

“Yes, master, it’s the battle of this generation’s disciples, determining the strength of each sect’s next generation, where the best disciples gather,” Yue explained.

“What realm are the best disciples in?” Zhen asked, concerned for his disciple.

“I believe the strongest are at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, perhaps in the early stages of the Turbulence Realm, master.”

“Hmm… Then, if you reach the Golden Core Realm in a year, I’ll allow you to participate.”

“Golden Core Realm? But I’m already in the…” She stopped mid-sentence, realizing that her cultivation had regressed to the Refinement Realm but with the energy of someone in the Golden Core Realm.

“M-Master, why did my cultivation regress? And why do I still have the energy of someone in the Golden Core Realm?” Yue asked, worried and confused.

“Yue, don’t panic. Your master compressed your cultivation to make it stronger and more efficient. Even though your realm has regressed, your strength hasn’t diminished. On the contrary, it has become much more powerful than it was,” Zhen explained with a confident expression, even though he knew it was the system that had done all this.

“Compressed my cultivation? Is that even possible?” Yue thought, confused by everything that had happened, but relieved because she knew her strength was indeed stronger than before.

“I understand, master. I’ll work hard to reach the Golden Core Realm again in a year,” she said, exuding confidence and eager to become stronger.

“All right, all right. Go to the city and buy some things for your master.”

“Yes, master.”

Yue then headed to the city to buy things for Zhen. Meanwhile…

“Elder Xueyu, we’re going to visit that so-called expert you mentioned, but we won’t bring any gifts. My presence alone, just to meet him, should be an honor for him,” said the Master of the Azure Sky Sect, exuding arrogance and disdain toward Xueyu, as she still didn’t believe her words. On the way to Zhen’s house, they saw a fight near the city. Elder Xueyu, feeling the energy and recognizing it as Zhen’s disciple, hurried with her master to see what was happening.

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Some time earlier…

“I can’t forget to buy everything the master asked for,” Yue thought as she headed towards the city when suddenly…

“Stop right there!” A deep and threatening voice echoed ahead of her. Turning around, Yue realized she was surrounded… It was the Chaos Sect.

“What do you want? Still trying to stop me from participating in the Dragon’s Battle?” Yue exclaimed, feeling the weight of the situation. Ten disciples of the Chaos Sect, all in the Golden Core Realm. A fight against them seemed like a suicide mission, but Yue knew she needed to find a way to escape and report back to her master.

“Oh, Yue, we’re not here for something so insignificant. Do you really think I wouldn’t be able to defeat you in the Dragon’s Battle?” Mo Tianyun sneered. “We’re after the Chaos Medallion you stole from our sect… Hand it over, and maybe I’ll consider letting you go.”

“Chaos Medallion?” Yue asked, surprised and confused.

“Ahh, I see you won’t cooperate…” Mo Tianyun said, losing patience. In an instant, he lunged forward, drawing his sword infused with chaos energy. The attack came fast and deadly, aimed at Yue’s left side.

“Chaos Strike!!” he shouted, his voice full of murderous intent.

“I need to defend myself, but… without my sword, it will be hard to stop this blow with my hands,” Yue thought, her heart racing. Even so, she channeled all the energy she could into her right hand and raised it to intercept the strike.

The impact was deafening. The chaos energy crackled in the air, but to Mo Tianyun’s surprise, his blade was stopped by Yue’s bare hands, without leaving a single scratch.

“W-What? How is this possible?” Mo Tianyun was incredulous, cold sweat starting to drip down his forehead.

“Is that all?” Yue taunted, though her thoughts were racing: “The difference between me and ordinary cultivators has really become immense…”

“What are you waiting for? Attack all at once!!” Mo Tianyun roared at his brothers, who immediately rushed forward, striking from all directions.

Yue spun and defended herself with agility, but the numbers weren’t in her favor. Every blow she blocked required more energy, and she felt her strength waning with each passing second.

“Damn… I’m running out of energy…” Yue thought as several cuts began to appear on her skin, not fatal, but enough to weaken her further. She needed a way out, and fast.

Back to the present…

“Look, master, it’s the veteran’s disciple,” Xueyu exclaimed to the Sect Master.

“She has talent, but she’s in trouble against so many Golden Core cultivators. Should we help her?” Xueyu asked, concern evident in her voice.

“Yes, let’s help her quickly,” the Master agreed, though reluctantly.

A suffocating aura filled the air, making everyone present on the battlefield, including the Chaos Sect disciples, fall to their knees instantly.

“What kind of overwhelming presence is this…?” Mo Tianyun could barely speak, the pressure forcing him to the ground.

“The Chaos Sect has become quite arrogant… Daring to cause trouble in my territory,” the voice of the Azure Sky Sect Master was cold, filled with disdain.

“Our issues are only with Yue Ling…” Mo Tianyun tried to justify, but the pressure he felt was overwhelming. “This pressure… is from someone in the Supreme Realm. No wonder she’s the leader of a great sect…”

“You’re the disciple of Elder Hei Tian, correct?”

“Y-Yes, we have no grudge against…” Mo Tianyun began to speak, but was interrupted by the Master.

“Since you dared to cause trouble in my territory, this has become my problem as well. As long as this girl is under my protection, no one will dare to harm her. Go back and tell your master that, and if he has the courage, let him come face me.”

Lan Qingyun let them leave with a simple warning, not out of kindness, but because starting a war with the Chaos Sect wasn’t ideal, especially with the Dragon’s Battle so close. The losses would be immense.

“Are you okay, girl?” the Sect Master asked, turning her attention to Yue.

“Y-Yes, thank you so much for saving me, senior,” Yue replied, trying to catch her breath.

“I only did it because you were in my territory. Be more careful, but… I heard you’re the disciple of an expert,” the Master commented, still evaluating Yue.

“Yes, I’m the disciple of Zhen Lu. He is someone I can’t even imagine how high his cultivation realm is,” Yue said proudly.

“If your master is so incredible, why didn’t he come to your rescue?” the Master asked with a hint of disdain.

“The master must have had his reasons. I’m sure of it,” Yue replied, confident in her master’s strength and wisdom.

“Hmph…” the Master scoffed, still skeptical.

“Anyway, we’re going to visit this expert. I want to meet him,” the Master said, now with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

“Senior, I suggest you lower your pride if you’re going to see the master,” Yue advised, with a respectful but firm tone.

“Let’s see if he’s worthy enough for that,” Lan Qingyun continued, as arrogant as ever.

As they approached Zhen’s house, Lan Qingyun began to feel something strange. Her look of superiority was replaced by an expression of shock and apprehension.

“What is this? Why does this house exude so much energy? Could what they said really be true?” The Master of the Azure Sky Sect, a cultivator in the Supreme Realm, could instinctively sense that this residence was nothing like a mortal’s house.

The pure aura emanating from there was indescribable, even for someone of her level. At that moment, Lan Qingyun realized that if she continued acting arrogantly in that place, her sect could be in great danger.