Thud.
Zheng Yunfeng's body toppled backward and crashed onto the stone platform. Even in death, his eyes remained wide with disbelief, staring blankly at the sky.
That look of unyielding resentment sent a chill down the spines of all who beheld it. He died with his eyes unclosed, unable to comprehend how he, a fellow Third Layer True Essence cultivator, had fallen so utterly—slain by a single sword strike.
Given a second chance, he would never have crossed Gao Han again.
Silence. Not a sound rose from the spectators below; a pin dropping would have echoed clearly. The breeze that swept across the dueling platform turned frigid as it passed over Zheng Yunfeng's corpse, lingering in the air.
Everyone stared at the platform in stunned astonishment. They could scarce believe their eyes. Zheng Yunfeng had been at the Third Layer of True Essence, same as Gao Han, and had mastered the unpredictable Eight-Step Traversal.
This movement art was a top-tier Mortal Rank technique, and many disciples within the sect had taken it up. Yet few at the Third Layer of True Essence had mastered it to Zheng Yunfeng's level—so few as to be nearly unheard of.
With his cultivation and his movement art, Zheng Yunfeng would have ranked among the top hundred inner-sect disciples, perhaps even higher.
The inner-sect disciples boasted numerous powerhouses; the top ten could hold their own among true disciples. Yet some chose not to join any of the five great peaks, and thus could not attain true disciple status.
Others refused to be subordinate to the peaks, remaining inner-sect disciples until they broke through to the Sixth Layer of True Essence, whereupon they would take the examination for elite disciple rank.
Such disciples were rare, numbering fewer than fifty across the entire Misty Sect. True disciples enjoyed far greater authority and privileges, and the peaks nurtured them extensively. Gao Han's younger sister, Gao Yang, for instance, had been raised to the Third Layer of Qi Condensation in under six months through medicinal support—a pace even Gao Han could not match.
"Ya, what do you think of this boy?" In a shadowed corner of Death Duel Valley, a young man in a green scholar's robe smiled and spoke to the figure beside him.
This was the very man Gao Han had sensed as one of the strongest present. His eyes, visible through his blue mask, held a solemn expression, and the killing intent around him had vanished entirely.
At the scholar's question, a harsh, metallic voice grated from behind the mask. "He has remarkable talent, but his power is still far beneath mine. He is hardly worthy of your notice, Hen."
With that, he turned and strode away, ignoring the scholar.
Ling Hen, the green-robed youth, smiled indifferently. A folding fan appeared in his hand, which he flicked open gently. He fixed a deep gaze upon Gao Han, still standing motionless on the platform.
"His strength is lacking… but his talent is extraordinary." He tilted his head upward toward the sky. "The weather grows sweltering. Standing beside him would be pleasantly cool. A most unusual momentum."
He then followed after Chi Ya.
"Wait—isn't that Chi Ya, fifth among inner-sect disciples, and Ling Hen, sixth?"
"Why have they come today? Rumor has it both have reached the mid-stage of the Sixth Layer of True Essence! And they are close companions."
"It is strange to think one so steeped in killing should befriend someone so gentle and refined."
The man who spoke this immediately regretted his idle chatter. Those beside him shrank away at once.
Whoosh.
An invisible surge of qi flew from nowhere and struck the speaker. His body froze instantly, rigid as a statue.
"It is unwise to speak ill of others behind their backs. Consider this a light punishment—you shall not move for three hours." A soft, warm voice drifted over from afar.
"Acupoint sealing! There it is—Ling Hen's acupoint art! Incredible!"
"The top hundred inner-sect disciples are monsters among monsters. Do not cross them!"
"Their power rivals that of true disciples. It is baffling why they remain inner-sect disciples."
The attacker was none other than Ling Hen, already over a hundred zhang away. To strike an acupoint with such precision from that distance spoke of unparalleled control over his true essence.
The human body contained over seven hundred acupoints: more than thirty fatal ones, over a hundred vital ones, and the rest capable of paralyzing or immobilizing a person. Most were harmless, making Ling Hen's feat all the more extraordinary—he was a master among masters.
The presiding elder overseeing the duel was momentarily stunned to see Gao Han slay a prodigy like Zheng Yunfeng with a single strike, but he quickly regained his composure.
To him, the victor mattered little; only that the duel had been fair and without cheating.
Li Changtian had watched the entire battle from afar. Though the outcome had been within his expectations, he was still astonished by the sheer power of Gao Han's sword strike.
Indeed, Gao Han had woven his minor-attainment Ice Momentum into that strike, and the result had exceeded his satisfaction.
Others did not know, but Gao Han understood: his sword had landed too far to be fatal on its own. Zheng Yunfeng had not died from the wound—he had frozen to death, killed by Gao Han's Ice Momentum.
"Gao Han, you are truly a prodigy. Yet you have removed a pawn planted by another peak. That lord will not let this pass. Should you join his peak after becoming an inner-sect disciple, you will suffer dearly."
With those words, Li Changtian flew back toward his Drifting Peak, eager to check on his most beloved young disciple, Gao Yang.
He also intended to let slip the news of Gao Han's victory, prompting her to urge Gao Han to join his peak—securing yet another supremely talented disciple for himself.
Gao Han turned toward Fan Xiaoniu. He had one more task to complete that day: the inner-sect disciple examination.
He intended to finish both matters in a single day, then claim the private courtyard granted to inner-sect disciples. He could not live crammed with Fan Xiaoniu and Yue'er in the single cramped room assigned to outer-sect disciples.
"Senior Brother! I beg your forgiveness—grant me another chance!" No sooner had Gao Han and his companions begun to leave than a figure dropped to his knees before him.
It was Wu Yan. Having witnessed Gao Han's power, he realized he had nearly missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When Nian Hua and the others told him Gao Han had won the Spirit Kingdom Grand Tournament, he knew he had squandered his fortune.
He recalled how Gao Han had stood up for him against the Gu clan, ensuring he would not be humiliated. Without Gao Han, he might still have been a mere gate guard. The endless bullying after Gao Han's departure had not been Gao Han's fault—it was his own weakness that had allowed it.
Without hesitation, he chased after Gao Han to apologize and swear his eternal loyalty.
Gao Han did not even glance at him, speaking coldly. "How can I trust you?"
Wu Yan hesitated for a moment, then his gaze fell upon Fan Xiaoniu, and a plan formed. "I swear allegiance to you as my master. From this day forth, I serve only you."
Wu Yan now understood that Gao Han trusted the two beside him above all else. If he wished to regain Gao Han's favor, he must follow their example and become his sworn follower.
He cared nothing for status. To walk the path of martial greatness at Gao Han's side was all that mattered.
Gao Han finally lowered his gaze to him. "Very well. I shall give you one last chance."