After his arena triumph, Linfei roamed the bustling markets of Azure Mist Pavilion with purpose. Despite his exhaustion, his spirit was high, eager to strike while the iron was hot. Venturing past rows of shops packed with rare herbs and spirit stones, he soon found what he was searching for—a display of radiant blue Cloud Root Essence pills.
ShopKeeper, the keen shopkeeper, greeted him. "Ten gold for each, young master," he said, pointing to the prized pills. "A wise investment if you're seeking to climb higher realms."
Linfei, moved by momentum and opportunity, paid for several at once. The transaction sent a murmur through onlookers—few newcomers could afford such a bounty. But before the deal was sealed, chaos erupted.
A brash, arrogant cultivator named Wei Jian barged in, the crowd parting at his swagger. "Out of my way, trash," he spat disdainfully at Linfei. "Those pills should belong to cultivators who matter, not those who stumble into luck!" His followers snickered behind him.
Linfei's eyes, once calm and humble, now glittered with confidence. Wei Jian, scowling, threw a wild punch, intent on humiliating Linfei in public and claiming the pills by force. Linfei's battle instincts shone—he sidestepped in a blink, caught Wei Jian's arm, and delivered a crisp, controlled punch to his chest, sending him tumbling out of the shop onto the dusty street.
Wei Jian staggered up, red-faced and furious. "You'll regret that! I'll finish you in the tournament—I swear it!" he shouted, scampering off as the crowd burst into laughter, his authority shattered.
Linfei brushed off his sleeves, the onlookers' respect clear in their murmurs. He took his precious pills and turned to the tournament registration hall, banners declaring: Azure Mist Tournament—All Aspirants Welcome.
Without hesitation, Linfei wrote his name on the roster. This tournament was the grand opportunity he needed—to gather resources, prove his strength, and show his rivals the true extent of his progress. Sooner or later, he knew he would need to return to the Lin family, to restore their legacy with his newfound abilities and courage. This tournament would be the first step.
Resolved and invigorated, Linfei left the market behind. He was no longer the young man forced to swallow insults, but a cultivator on the rise—one who would challenge, defeat, and inspire all who underestimated him.