Journey of true Cultivation

The moment his name was called, Alex stepped forward.

His red robe swayed slightly as he moved, his crimson eyes gleaming with confidence.

There was no hesitation in his steps, only the steady, arrogant stride of someone who believed the outcome of this match had already been decided.

Across from him, the second name was called.

A boy in a plain gray robe slowly walked forward, his posture stiff, his expression tense.

His name was "Daoist Pressuring Books."

Unlike Alex, there was no arrogance in his steps.

Only nervousness.

His fingers twitched at his sides, his breathing uneven, his entire being screaming uncertainty.

The blond haired judge observed them with mild amusement.

Then, he gave the signal.

"Alex Icen, Daoist Pressuring Books,you may begin."

At those words, both boys took their stances.

Alex's lips curled into a smirk as he stared at his opponent, eyes filled with condescension.

Then, he spoke, his voice dripping with mockery.

"Just give up.Why even try?Look at you. So weak-willed, so uncertain."

He tilted his head slightly, red eyes flashing with disdain.

"Have you even reached the peak of the Mortal Awakening Stage?"

His words hit like a hammer.

Daoist Pressuring Books flinched.

His mind wavered.

Doubt crept in.

Should I just surrender?

I already secured a place as an unofficial outer disciple…

Isn't that enough?

As hesitation gripped him, Alex moved.

With explosive speed, he lunged.

His fist, aimed directly at Daoist Pressuring Books' face, cut through the air with force.

A split second before impact, Daoist Pressuring Books snapped out of his thoughts.

His body reacted instinctively, taking a hurried step back.

But it wasn't enough.

Alex had anticipated it.

A wide, predatory grin stretched across his face.

"Too slow."

He didn't stop.

Didn't pause.

Didn't hesitate.

With one powerful step forward, he closed the gap again.

His red eyes locked onto his opponent.

Then

He struck.

His fist connected with Daoist Pressuring Books' face.

A sharp impact.

A muffled gasp.

A body crashing to the ground.

Dust scattered.

Daoist Pressuring Books groaned in pain, his vision spinning.

But Alex wasn't finished.

He crouched down, gripping his opponent's throat with an iron grip.

Then, with a cold, emotionless gaze, he whispered two final words.

"I win."

With that said, the blond haired judge clapped his hands together, his usual amused smile returning.

"Congratulations, Alex , on securing the first victory in today's tournament!"

His voice echoed through the training grounds, but then, his smile dimmed slightly.

"However, please remember,this is merely a test of strength and skill, not a battle to the death. Next time, try to show a bit more restraint."

It was a light warning, nothing more.

Alex merely scoffed, rolling his shoulders as he turned away from the judge. Without acknowledging the words, he walked back toward the other disciples, his crimson robe swaying behind him.

Meanwhile, Daoist Pressuring Books gasped for air, coughing as he rubbed his sore neck. His breath came out in ragged gasps, his body trembling from both pain and humiliation.

The moment his coughing fit subsided, he staggered to his feet, wobbling slightly before retreating to join the other disciples.

A heavy silence followed.

Then

"Hah… What a pathetic fight."

A disciple in the crowd sneered, his voice laced with disdain.

"He lost before he even threw a single punch."

Another scoffed, crossing his arms.

"Why even cultivate with that kind of attitude? He should just live as a mortal instead."

"Boring." A third disciple shook his head. "Not even worth watching. He didn't even TRY."

The disappointment was palpable.

All around, the expressions of the disciples showed the same thing,contempt, disinterest, and even irritation at the wasted match.

Yuan, who had silently observed the fight, was equally unimpressed.

A single glance at Daoist Pressuring Books told him everything,this boy had never fought for survival.

Weak willed. Easily intimidated. No sense of battle instinct.

He lost before the fight had even begun.

A sigh rippled through the crowd.

The blond haired judge, who had watched the match with mild disappointment, shook his head and let out a soft sigh of his own.

Then, he clapped his hands again, his voice ringing out with renewed energy.

"Now then, let's move on!"

His sharp green eyes swept over the remaining disciples before he called out the next match.

"Junior Scholar Felix and Junior Lucy of Sword's Tiger Forest! Please step forward!"

The crowd stirred again, anticipation rising.

They hoped this time

The fight would actually be worth watching.

The first to step forward was a girl.

She had striking orange hair, matching orange eyes, an oval-shaped face, and a slim, petite frame. Draped in an orange robe adorned with delicate yellow lines, she carried herself with elegance, her every step measured and graceful as she approached the blond-haired judge.

Then, another figure stepped forward.

A boy, taller than the girl, with brown hair and deep brown eyes. His features were above average—handsome in a scholarly way. He wore a pristine white robe, the kind often associated with intellectuals, and bore a confident smile that radiated assurance.

Both of them came to a stop before the blond-haired judge, nodding in respectful acknowledgment. Their gazes met, and without hesitation, they exchanged a formal salute—a display of discipline rarely seen in first-round matches.

The blond-haired judge chuckled at their politeness but chose not to comment on it.

After a brief pause, his lips curled into a bright smile. "Alright, the fight can begi—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the brown-haired boy, Scholar Felix, suddenly spoke up.

"Excuse me, Senior," Felix said, his tone polite but firm. "May I ask a question?"

The blond haired judge raised a brow, slightly puzzled, but nodded. "Go ahead. Is something unclear?"

Felix's smile widened. "I would like to request permission to use weapons, as I am a trained swordsman."

A trained swordsman?

A murmur spread through the crowd. The other disciples, who had assumed this would be a barehanded match, exchanged uncertain glances.

The blond haired judge blinked at Felix for a moment before coughing lightly, his expression turning slightly awkward. "Ah, yes… Of course. Everyone is allowed to fight in whatever style they prefer. I have a selection of wooden swords, spears, axes, and other practice weapons available."

The air turned momentarily stiff.

Up until now, everyone had assumed that these duels would be fought without weapons. For the judge to casually mention that weapons were allowed… It was almost embarrassing that no one had thought to ask before.

Unlike the stunned disciples around him, Felix's excitement only grew. His brown eyes lit up as he spoke, "Then, Senior, may I have a longsword?"

The blond haired judge wordlessly tossed him a wooden longsword. Felix caught it in one smooth motion, gripping it with practiced ease.

Then, the judge turned to Lucy, the orange-haired girl, and asked, "Do you want a weapon as well?"

Lucy, who had remained silent up until now, simply nodded. Without hesitation, she pointed at the same type of sword Felix had chosen.

Seeing this, the blond haired judge tossed her a wooden longsword as well. She caught it, adjusting her grip with precision.

A satisfied nod from the judge.

"Alright," he announced, his voice carrying across the arena.

"The fight can now… begin!"

The moment the blond haired judge gave the signal

Lucy lunged.

She wasted no time, her body shooting forward like a wild beast let loose. With both hands gripping her wooden sword, she swung down with sheer force, a blow that could easily shatter bones if it were a real blade.

Felix, however, did not panic.

Instead of blocking head on, he took a single, calculated step back.

Wham!

Lucy's sword struck the ground, sending a sharp crack through the cave as stone dust scattered. She had put too much force into her swing.

A mistake.

Felix saw the opening and immediately countered.

His wooden sword flashed forward in a swift, precise thrust,aimed directly at Lucy's exposed ribs.

Lucy's eyes widened. At the last second, she twisted her body, barely dodging the attack. But Felix was not done.

His movements flowed like water. With a simple twist of his wrist, he redirected his sword mid-strike and swung diagonally toward her shoulder.

Lucy gritted her teeth and raised her sword to block

Clack!

Wood met wood, but the impact sent a jolt through her arms. She staggered back, her grip nearly loosening.

Felix pressed forward.

A horizontal slash. A quick thrust. A feint to the left before smoothly shifting to the right

His swordplay was elegant and controlled. Every movement deliberate, every strike precise.

Lucy, on the other hand, relied purely on brute strength. She swung wildly, using her sheer power to match Felix's speed. But she lacked technique. Her swings were wide, her footwork unstable.

Felix sidestepped another reckless slash, his expression calm.

Lucy growled in frustration and swung again,this time, an overhead strike with everything she had.

Felix's eyes narrowed.

He didn't retreat.

Instead, he stepped in.

Lucy's sword came crashing down

And Felix deflected it with a smooth upward parry, redirecting her force to the side.

Lucy stumbled forward, off balance.

Felix acted instantly.

His sword swept toward her exposed side,fast and clean.

Thwack!

The wooden blade struck Lucy's ribs.

A clean, decisive hit.

Lucy gasped, her body tensing from the sharp pain. She tried to swing again

But Felix had already moved behind her, his sword lightly pressing against the back of her neck.

The fight was over.

A moment of silence.

Then, the blond haired judge clapped his hands.

"Winner,Junior Scholar Felix!"

Felix lowered his sword, stepping back with a respectful nod. Despite his victory, his breathing remained steady, as if the fight had been nothing more than a simple sparring match.

Lucy, panting heavily, clenched her fists in frustration. She turned to Felix, her orange eyes burning with something fierce

But then, she exhaled and forced herself to nod.

"You're strong" she admitted, though the bitterness in her voice was clear.

Felix gave her a polite smile. "You are too. But your movements are too open. If you refine your technique, you'll be much harder to beat."

Lucy scoffed, crossing her arms. "Tch. Technique, huh?"

The blond haired judge chuckled at their exchange before stepping forward. "Good match. Though, Lucy,brute strength alone won't always carry you through battles. Consider his advice."

Lucy didn't reply, only looking away with a frown.

Felix simply adjusted his grip on his wooden sword before turning back to the watching his fellow disciples. and just smiled lightly.

He had proven his strength.

the now truly began tournament.

That thought came to the minds of all the disciples as they watched the fight between Felix and Lucy.

Although Lucy lacked proper technique, she was far from weak. Had she faced an opponent who didn't emphasize smooth and clean swordsmanship, she might have won. But luck was not on her side,she had the misfortune of encountering Scholar Felix.

With that match concluded, the tournament continued.

One disciple after another stepped forward to fight.

Four battles passed, yet Yuan had not been called.

Then, for the fifth match, a familiar name echoed through the cave.

"Junior Emilia!"

At that moment, Emilia, who had been smiling and cheering for various fights, suddenly perked up. She had been having the time of her life, enjoying the battles and even making a few connections with other disciples.

Hearing her name, she blinked in mild surprise. "Huh? Already?" she muttered before grinning.

With a confident stride, she walked toward the blond haired judge.

Her opponent soon stepped forward as well.

A young girl, seemingly around Emilia's age, with black hair and black eyes. She wore a purple robe adorned with yellow patterns. Her presence wasn't particularly imposing,just another competitor among the many.

Her name was Amalia.

Now standing face to face, the two girls exchanged glances before turning to the judge.

"I would like a rapier," Emilia requested, her voice brimming with excitement.

"A long spear," Amalia added calmly.

The blond haired judge simply smiled, retrieving their requested weapons before tossing them forward.

Both girls caught their weapons with ease, their grips tightening as anticipation filled the air.

The judge's smile widened.

"Very well,let the fight begin!"

With that declaration, both combatants took their stances, waiting for the first opening.

--------------------

AN:

Hey, LazyRedMoon here.

A reader recently commented "that the cultivation world is cruel, which is common knowledge, and that the way you wrote it made it seem forced,causing no one to sympathize with the MC, making it feel like dumb plot force."

So, I want to clarify things a bit more because it seems I didn't write it properly.

This refers to the part where Yuan was betrayed by Old Man Viktor. What I wanted to convey with this act of betrayal was to confirm that Basilisk's memories are real,that the world truly is full of betrayal and schemes.

To better explain how Yuan sees the world, imagine this

You read a book with thousands of chapters filled with death, deception, and schemes. But your own life has always been peaceful, without conflict. Then, one day, you leave your peaceful life and step outside,only to realize that the book you read might actually be how the real world works.

Would you believe it immediately?

Probably not.

You'd think, "Maybe the book was exaggerated, or maybe the content wasn't true at all." After all, if a novel stated, "The moment you step outside, someone will manipulate and kill you," would you believe it? No, right? You'd dismiss it as nonsense.

This is exactly the situation Yuan was in.

He only had memories,memories so vast that no book could contain them. But without real life experiences to verify them, he couldn't be sure whether to trust them or not. So, he was cautious, always on guard, yet still unsure.

Then, Viktor's betrayal happened.

At that moment, Yuan realized that the world truly is like the thick book he had "read." It was no longer just memories,it was reality.

That's the realization I wanted to bring across with this betrayal.

Maybe I didn't execute it well, or maybe my writing still needs improvement, as I have limited experience as a writer. But I'm doing my best to express the story I have in my mind.

I'll work harder to make things clearer in the Volume and improve my writing.

Even though my writing might not be perfect right now, the things I have planned for this volume are big, and I hope I can bring them to life with the right words.

Thanks for reading!