The morning sun bathed the Inner Sect's northern arena in golden light as Long Tianyan stepped onto the dueling platform for his first official Inner Sect battle. He wore the fresh robe of an Inner Sect disciple, but his eyes remained distant, calm. His breath was steady, his posture relaxed.
All around the platform, Inner Sect disciples gathered—dozens of cultivators, all stronger than those in the outer sect, many already in the Heavenly Passage and Marrow Washing Realm. Curious whispers echoed through the air.
"That's him… Sect master Qing Wuyou's only disciple."
"I heard he crushed Liu Yan in the finals of the Outer Sect Competition."
"Don't judge too fast. Today he's up against Duan Rong, 3rd Layer of the Marrow Washing Realm."
Up in the air, a few elders hovered silently. Though they didn't speak, their gazes lingered on Tianyan with quiet focus. Everyone wanted to see how the Sect Master's sole disciple measured up.
On the opposite end of the arena, Duan Rong cracked his knuckles, a confident sneer on his face. He was tall, muscular, and wielded a heavy warblade etched with lightning-shaped runes.
"No tricks," he said, pointing the blade at Tianyan. "No sect master watching from the shadows. Just you and me. Let's see if the stories match the strength."
Tianyan didn't reply.
The bell rang.
Duan Rong charged forward, blade raised high.
"Steel-Crushing Strike!"
The blade came down like a collapsing mountain, generating an explosive gust of force. The arena trembled slightly under the weight of the blow. Several disciples flinched in surprise.
But Tianyan was already gone.
He sidestepped with fluid grace, his movement almost lazy.
Duan's blade struck the stone, sending sparks and splinters flying.
Tianyan's palm shimmered with faint azure flame—quiet and elegant, but unnaturally cold.
"Flame trick?" Duan spat. "Let's test it!"
He spun around, sweeping his blade with a low arc.
"Raging Wolf Slash!"
Blades of spiritual energy tore through the air toward Tianyan.
Tianyan calmly raised one hand. The azure flame swirled, forming a thin wall of flickering blue fire. The moment the energy blades touched it, they dissolved silently—without sound, without resistance.
The audience leaned forward.
"That flame... devoured his attack."
Duan's smirk twisted. He leapt into the air and shouted, "Thundercrash Descent!"
Lightning symbols on his blade glowed, and he plunged downward, blade blazing with thunder and force.
Tianyan looked up.
Then lifted his hand.
He pointed two fingers.
The azure flame surged, spiraling up like a dragon tail, and struck the blade mid-air.
BOOM!
A ripple of force exploded out, rocking the platform. Dust and light blinded the arena.
When the smoke cleared—
Duan Rong was on one knee, panting, his blade half-melted. His arms were trembling.
Tianyan stood untouched. The azure flame danced lazily around his fingers.
"You... monster..." Duan growled. He stood, trying to summon his energy again.
Tianyan took a single step forward.
The flame grew brighter.
The pressure dropped.
"Azureflame Palm."
In a blur, Tianyan's palm pressed into Duan's chest—barely touching.
The flame burst forward—not in an explosion, but in a gentle whoosh, like a candle being lit in still air.
Duan staggered back—
—and collapsed.
Not burnt.
Not bleeding.
But his spiritual energy... sealed. Scattered. His eyes went wide in horror as he realized his cultivation had been suppressed temporarily by a single blow.
Silence.
The crowd didn't cheer.
They just stared.
Even the elders above narrowed their eyes.
"That... wasn't a technique from the sect."
"His flame has a devouring property. It's like it burns spiritual essence directly..."
"What realm is he really in?"
One inner sect disciple whispered, "That was Duan Rong. He destroyed three opponents last month... and was crushed without even pushing Tianyan."
"He didn't use any weapon... just flame..."
High above, Sect Master Qing Wuyou observed quietly. He said nothing, but a faint nod escaped him.
Tianyan turned away and walked down the stage without expression.
The disciples moved aside, many unconsciously.
He wasn't arrogant.
He hadn't even looked back at Duan Rong.
But that was what made him terrifying.
In a sect filled with proud geniuses, thunder-wielders, and blade dancers, Tianyan had used nothing but calm steps, silent fire, and an unreadable face... to dismantle a higher-realm opponent.