Yuan dashed forward from the front, engaging three opponents at once. The sudden move shocked them, none had expected Yuan to hold his ground against all three. Seeing this, the remaining two members of Group Three rushed in to assist, hoping to overwhelm him quickly.
But before they could reach Yuan, Haoran and Meilan intercepted them. Though both were still recovering from exhaustion, they were, apart from Yuan, the group's strongest remaining fighters.
With that, all five members of Group Three were occupied, each matched by someone from Group Four. This left Tianyu and Yuxin at the rear. They held their position, ready to support whoever needed it most.
Their teamwork paid off, once they saw an opportunity, they rushed in and helped take down one opponent quickly.
This shift gave Group Four the upper hand. With one enemy down, they turned their numbers on Yuan's three opponents, steadily breaking their formation until they were overwhelmed.
And then came the final call:
"Group Four wins!" the teacher shouted, his voice echoing across the training field, followed by a round of loud applause.
Only a few students stayed quiet. Haodao, for example, simply stared at the match in silence, moving only his head to track the action.
"We did it!" Haoran shouted, laughing loudly with no restraint. The others joined in, laughter and relief filling the air. Tianyu collapsed to the ground, finally letting himself rest, his face showing the deep exhaustion he'd been holding back.
Seeing his teammates so overjoyed, Yuan smiled brightly. But his thoughts turned inward:
"Finally, it's coming to an end. After this... I can truly begin to set my plan in motion."
"Haa…" the teacher sighed, seeing his students laughing and celebrating. He shook his head slightly, then paused for a moment.
A small smile appeared on his face as he stepped forward, approaching Yuan's group.
"Alright, alright, listen up!" the teacher called out, drawing everyone's attention. "Training doesn't end here! We still have two months until the Young Talent Tournament, and by then, each of you is expected to awaken your Third Sense! With the support of the family, you must prove yourselves worthy to represent us. At the very least, you should have that much achieved. So don't disappoint me, or the Luolong family!"
At his words, the students nodded, eyes shining with determination and fire. All except Yuan. His dark eyes didn't glow like the others, they only grew deeper, more unreadable.
The teacher continued, "Anyway, you're all exhausted. Take the rest of the day off. Starting tomorrow, you'll receive personal training from me, every single day. You'd better feel honored. And don't be late! Not even by a minute. Show up at my pavilion on time, or else."
He waved them off, turning his back to face the rest of the students. A grin spread across his face.
"As for the rest of you who didn't make it to the finals, congratulations!" he said, his voice turning sharp. "You now get to train even more intensely! Aren't you lucky?"
The look on his face made several students flinch. His laughter at the end sent a few scattering in retreat. But no matter how they felt, none dared defy him. They simply obeyed.
With that, Yuan and his teammates were finally dismissed. Worn out and barely standing, they used the last of their strength to return to their houses.
And so, time began to pass.
The next two months weren't especially eventful for Yuan. He focused on cultivating, attempting to awaken his Fourth Sense, but failed. Though he came closer, he couldn't cross the threshold.
For the rest of his group, however, these months were anything but uneventful...
But thanks to the support of the Luolong Family, everyone in Yuan's group managed to awaken their Third Sense.
Each of them had already been close to a breakthrough, and the resources provided helped push them over the edge, but it wasn't just their cultivation that improved, over the course of two months, they also hardened their bodies, refined their martial techniques, and even learned entirely new skills.
It could be said that all of them had undergone a small transformation.
Aside from training, there had been other... complications.
Haoran and Haodao clashed several times during this period. Haodao, increasingly resentful and erratic, began straying from the righteous path.
He even attacked Haoran without issuing a proper challenge, a disgraceful act that enraged the teacher. As punishment, Haodao was disciplined harshly and eventually expelled from the training camp.
He was sent back home, forced to leave the Loose Long camp entirely.
The scandal rippled through the Luolong Family.
After all, Haoran's family lineage was known for its upstanding values and moral integrity. Now whispers spread throughout the sect, had the Haoran line produced a disgrace? The gossip was unavoidable.
Even Haoran wasn't spared from it and as a result, he spent less and less time with the other students, choosing to train mostly alone.
That incident had happened a little over a month ago, but for today, none of that mattered.
Today was a different kind of day.
Today, the youth of the Allied Sects were about to prove themselves. Today, at the Martial Cloud Sect, representatives from every allied family, sect, and clan had gathered.
The Young Talent Tournament had arrived.
Yuan and his team rode together with their teacher in a large, sturdy carriage, making their way toward the Martial Cloud Sect's main mountain. Yuan had been here once before, a year ago, alongside the old man. But this time was different.
Back then, he'd come with small schemes brewing in his mind. Now, he returned with something far more dangerous.
This time, he intended to bring chaos to the entire alliance.
Still, for now, he laughed and chatted with the others, blending in effortlessly. Excitement filled the air as they talked about the tournament, who might be their opponents, what kinds of talents would emerge, and how far they could go.
They even gossiped about famous young geniuses from other sects, trading rumors they'd heard along the way. The teacher joined in too, occasionally confirming or debunking their tales with a shake of his head or a rare chuckle.
The weather today wasn't ideal, at least not for Yuan. It was a little too warm for his taste. He preferred a balanced climate: not too hot, not too cold. But with summer in full swing, it was only natural for the temperature to rise.
Though Yuan disliked the heat, he didn't let it bother him too much. At best, he chose to ignore it. Complaining about it in his mind was all he allowed himself. Beyond that, he turned his focus inward, letting his thoughts drift to the important matters ahead.
The Young Talent Tournament.
From what he had learned through books and the teacher's explanations, this tournament wasn't just about fighting others. Unlike most martial competitions, this one was far more... unconventional.
If anything, it stood out as the most unique among all the contests held within the Allied Sects.
For instance, the last Young Talent Tournament had been a beast-hunting event. Participants were placed in a vast forest filled with demonic beasts. Their goal: hunt as many beasts as possible. Each one was worth a certain number of points, and the group with the highest score would win.
It sounded simple in theory, but the reality was far from it. A group of young cultivators, thrown into a wild, hostile environment with no protection, forced to survive for an entire week? It was a brutal challenge. Strength mattered, yes, but so did strategy, teamwork, and endurance.
Even if someone won purely through luck, that too would be a form of victory. After all, surviving such a trial with luck alone was an achievement.
And yet, no two tournaments were ever the same. Some years focused on gathering rare herbs or spiritual treasures. Others tested participants through exploration, puzzle solving, or secret missions, but according to the records Yuan had read, demonic beast hunts were among the most commonly repeated formats.
He pondered all of this as he rested, eyes closed, pretending to sleep.
A soft voice broke through his thoughts.
"Brother Luanyuan, wake up! Wake up, Brother Luanyuan, we've arrived!"
It was Yuxin's voice, gently shaking him out of his thoughts. Yuan slowly opened his eyes, let out a small yawn, and gave her a nod. They had finally arrived, at the base of the main mountain used by the Martial Cloud Sect.
Looking up, Yuan couldn't help but smile slightly. His heart beat a little faster in anticipation before settling into its steady rhythm again.
It all begins now, he thought.
Without a word, he stepped out of the carriage, last as always and followed the others up the long staircase that wound its way toward the peak.