Ishin released his Indigo Sky Bolt at his opponent. The technique caught his adversary square in the stomach, flinging him out of the arena. Ishin breathed heavily as he watched the defeated light cultivator crash onto the ground.

  This is the strength of the fourth layer.

  “Victory!” Elder Song pronounced. “Ro Ishin of the Eight Oaths Resolve School!”

  A soaring cheer reverberated throughout the Golden Arena.

  The semifinals. I’ve made it to the semifinals.

  Ishin felt his shoulders relax, and he wiped away the accumulation of sweat across his forehead. His meridians were sore from using his Indigo Sky Bolt four times throughout the match, but it had been necessary.

  If I hadn’t reached the fourth layer last night, this would have been more challenging.

  But he had reached the fourth layer—and won as a result. Ishin turned his focus toward the Eight Oaths Resolve private balcony, where Rhee was watching from.

  We’re both in the semifinals now. I wonder if we’ll meet in the finals.

  Of course, Ishin knew that was easier said than done. Rhee’s fight tomorrow would be against Dong Jing, and Ishin’s… well, that would be decided shortly. Either way, his prospects were grim.

  Ishin shouldered his spear and departed the stage. He was greeted by Bo immediately upon his descent.

  “Well done, Ishin. To think you only joined our school a few weeks ago, and you’ve already brought us such honor.”

  “It’s nothing that Rhee hadn’t already accomplished,” Ishin replied as the two walked away from the elevated stage. There were still a handful of minutes before Bo’s fight would begin.

  Bo shook his head. “The quantity of our disciples who reach the semifinals matters. Currently, the whole city knows that half of the final four this year came from our school. Proportionately, it shows that our school can produce more elite disciples than any other. The noble clans will surely send us more of their youth next year than to either of the other Martial Schools.”

  Ishin didn’t really care about the local politics involved in the tournament—at least not beyond drawing the attention of the recruiting sects.

  “With any luck, you’ll be joining us in the top four,” Ishin said. “Wouldn’t that look impressive?”

  “With the Heavens’ fortune, maybe.” Bo’s eyes traveled to Chu Winxi, who stood gracefully at the northern edge of the stage. She looked completely at ease, as though there was nothing to fear from the fight ahead.

  “Are you concerned?” Ishin asked, noticing Bo’s shift in demeanor.

  “She’s an impressive opponent. Her Gliding Leaf Blade technique is… challenging to overcome.”

  Ishin understood what his friend meant. The technique conjured leaves as sharp as blades that surrounded an opponent and assaulted them from all sides. So far, it was the only technique that Ishin had seen Chu Winxi utilize in the tournament—a testament to its effectiveness.

  “For this next match,” Elder Song began, “we have Wan Bo of the Eight Oaths Resolve School versus Chu Winxi of the Three Blessed Petals School!”

  “That’s me.” Bo gave Ishin a reserved smile. “Congratulations again on your victory.”

  “I’ll see you in the top four,” Ishin replied.

  Bo nodded before turning and moving onto the stage.

  *  *  *

  As Wan Bo stood atop the Golden Arena stage, staring across at the prodigy of the Three Blessed Petals School, he considered the path that had brought him so far.

  The Wan Clan was a prestigious clan, like the Zhu Clan. However, unlike the Zhu Clan, they had gained their status through service in the City Guard, with Bo’s great-uncle being the Deputy Commander of the City Guard. As a member of one of the clan’s branch families, Bo had been expected to join one of the Martial Schools and later join the City Guard like most of his cousins. The only other recourse was to join one of the local sects or be recruited by one of the Notable Sects.

  Growing up, Bo had heard tales about the Notable Sects of the West Falcon Province. The Sea Farer Sect was famous for its exploration of the ocean. The Righteous Mantle Sect concerned itself with maintaining order and justice around Yellow Dome City. The Flame Devil Sect was busy trying to govern Crossway City. The Void Wrath Sect was renowned for feats of espionage and more shadowy operations. And then there was the Radiant Spear Sect.

  Famous for its origins as a regiment of commoners, the Radiant Spear Sect had evolved to serve as a force to defend the entire province and empire. Oftentimes, the sect would dispatch disciples to deal with dangerous spirit beasts or emerging bandit kings. Unlike the more isolated justice of the Righteous Mantle Sect, the Radiant Spear Sect was active throughout the province. To Bo, they seemed like a version of the City Guard—but for the entire province instead of just one city. That was who Bo wished to join. A true calling that fit his sense of justice.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Having reached the top eight, Bo was already likely to be recruited by any sect he wished. Reaching the final four, though, would ensure his chances. He looked across the stage at his only remaining obstacle to a sure path for recruitment. Chu Winxi met his gaze, her expression tranquil.

  Bo considered the long slender sword at her side. He’d watched several of her fights already and was well aware of her skill.

  My shields should be able to block the sword. The real problem will be her leaves.

  That was a problem Bo hadn’t solved yet.

  Maybe if I had reached the fifth layer.

  Late last night, he’d received the promised elixir from Master Zhu Qing, who visited him in the Combat Hall’s recovery bay. He’d barely managed to process its contents by the morning, resulting in him barely getting any sleep. Now, he felt like he was at the peak of the fourth layer. Despite the significant progress he’d made in his cultivation, Bo couldn’t help but feel disappointed that he hadn’t reached the next layer like Rhee had.

  No point in dwelling on that. Focus on the fight before you.

  Elder Song’s voice rang out like a bell. “Let the match begin!”

  Chu Winxi drew her sword in a fluid motion and lunged at Bo. Her speed was impressive, but Bo had no difficulty bringing his shields up in time.

  The Three Blessed Petals prodigy didn’t stop with just one attack. She made multiple slashes at Bo, each coming from a different angle. The constant onslaught forced Bo to remain on the defensive, pivoting to meet every new attack. That was fine. Bo was a patient man who would wait for the right opportunity.

  A cut came from the right and Bo moved his shield to intercept. A second after their weapons met, Chu Winxi spun around and swung at Bo from the left. With his second shield, Bo blocked the follow-up strike.

  There!

  Forming his right hand into a spear while using his Steel Forged Fingers technique, he thrust at Chu Winxi as she pulled her sword back. Bo’s strike was fast, but Chu Winxi leaped back before he could reach her.

  Chu Winxi appeared unbothered by the near hit and began circling around Bo, twirling her sword in the process.

  “Not bad,” she complimented. “I thought surely one of my twelve attacks would get you, but your shields are truly impenetrable.”

  Bo brought both his arms back up in a defensive stance. “They have to be, to survive your skill with a sword.”

  A sly smile crossed Chu Winxi’s lips. “Shall we see which fails first? Your shields or my sword?”

  She darted forward with such impressive speed that Bo was certain she was using a movement technique of some sort. In a flurry, five successive attacks came at Bo, but he was able to read her movements. When he parried the fourth attack—an uppercut slash—Bo was surprised to find that the force of the swing pushed his right shield off to the side, exposing his flank.

  Chu Winxi reversed her swing, bringing her sword down on the forced opening.

  Iron Temple!

  When her sword met his body, a soft clang resounded from the impact. Bo felt the force of the strike, but it only felt like being struck by a metal rod instead. Far better than being cut in two. Chu Winxi’s brow furrowed at the failed attack, and she stepped back to avoid Bo’s own counterattack.

  “What an impressively annoying defense. And here I thought I got the better of you just then.”

  You nearly did.

  “I can’t make it easy for you to enter the top four.”

  Chu Winxi pressed the tip of her sword against the stage. “So it seems.”

  Bo felt a sudden swirl of air around him, and he instinctively opened his third eye. Green tendrils of wood qi flowed from Chu Winxi, and Bo knew what was coming.

  Dozens of dancing leaves began to manifest in the air around Chu Winxi. After several, there were over fifty of the wood qi constructs. A second burst of qi came from her, one that dispersed the leaves throughout the stage. Bo peered around, trying to track them all as they glided through the air, but he couldn’t.

  It’s okay, he told himself. I’ll use my Iron Temple to avoid being cut. As long as I’m careful to avoid them for the most part, they’ll only be an annoyance.

  The one limitation of the technique that Bo and the rest of his team had observed was that the leaves moved randomly once dispersed. Even Chu Winxi had to be cautious not to accidentally cut herself on them—but of course, she’d trained for years to avoid that mistake.

  Bo decided to switch to the offensive and ran forward through the gap in the leaves. Chu Winxi brought up her sword, blade pointed at Bo. He struck out with his Steel Forged Fingers technique, but was blocked by Chu Winxi’s sword. Fortunately, Bo had another hand to attack with.

  The two traded blows again and again. Despite Chu Winxi only having a single weapon, she was still able to keep up with Bo’s double assault.

  I can’t keep this up much longer.

  One downside to his Steel Forged Fingers technique was that it made his arms feel much heavier than normal. Even if his meridians and chakra could withstand the strain, his muscles couldn’t.

  Bo released his technique and brought up his arms defensively, expecting Chu Winxi’s counterattack. Like he suspected, she executed a single-arm thrust the moment he let up, but his shields were ready and blocked the attack.

  “Not bad,” she remarked.

  Bo watched over his shield as she curled two fingers with her free hand. He didn’t understand what that gesture meant and refocused on the blade pressed against his shield.

  Suddenly, Bo felt multiple sharp objects slice against his back.

  “Ahhg!”

  His back burned with pain, and he could feel the back of his robes fall apart. The unexpected attack caused him to falter, and Chu Winxi leaped at the opening. Her sword snaked around Bo’s shield and pierced through his right shoulder.

  Another groan of pain escaped from Bo. He staggered backwards, trying to avoid another attack from Chu Winxi, but was once again set upon by the slicing attack from behind.

  The leaves! It has to be the leaves!

  He turned to get a glimpse of the blade-like leaves, but Chu Winxi used that chance to make a clean slice across his chest. Bo was knocked back to the ground, a diagonal cut drawing blood across his torso. When he landed, agony spread throughout his wounded back, blood seeping onto the cold stage floor.

  A cold sweat spread over Bo’s aching body. His heart was pounding, and breathing was becoming difficult. When he had the strength to tilt his head forward, he saw the tip of a blade directly under his chin.

  “Do you yield?”

  Bo let his head fall against the floor. “I surrender.”

  “Victory goes to Chu Winxi of the Three Blessed Petals School!”