The results of the first stage, glowing in golden script upon the ethereal cauldron, sent a wave of excited murmurs through the massive amphitheater. The crowd buzzed, discussing the expected brilliance of Chen Jianxin, the arrogant confidence of Huo Liling, and the surprising perfection of Liu Meiying. In the Green Mountain Sect's seating area, the atmosphere was one of quiet pride. Their disciples had performed honorably, securing a solid position.
When Su Lin of the Pale Orchid Clan's name appeared with a perfect score of ten, a moment of confused silence fell over the stands. Then, a ripple of applause started in one section and slowly spread. It wasn't the thunderous roar given to Chen Jianxin, but a sound of genuine surprise and appreciation. Whispers erupted as thousands of people turned to their neighbors, asking the same questions: "Who is Su Lin? What is the Pale Orchid Clan?" An unknown competitor from an unknown clan had just matched the top geniuses of the generation. A true dark horse had emerged, and the story of the tournament had just become far more interesting.
Before the excitement could even die down, the elderly host floated back to the center of the stage, his presence immediately recapturing the arena's attention. The brief interlude was over; the competition was moving forward without delay.
"An excellent display of perception and knowledge from all our competitors!" his amplified voice boomed. "But the eye is only the first tool of an alchemist. Now, we shall test a far more fundamental skill, one that separates the novice from the master. We will test your control! Welcome to the second stage: The Spirit Flame Calibration!"
The energy in the arena, which had just begun to settle, surged anew. The competitors on the stage, who had only just processed their results from the first trial, visibly tensed. Their moment of relief was fleeting, replaced by a fresh wave of nervous anticipation. This next test would be a direct measure of their spiritual power and finesse, a challenge of endurance and stability that would quickly weed out those with weak foundations.
Verdant Cauldron disciples once again moved across the stage with practiced efficiency, clearing away the herb trays and placing a strange device at each of the hundreds of alchemy stations. It was a black, crystalline pillar about two feet tall, with a flat, circular top that was cool to the touch.
The elder explained the rules. "This device is a Spirit Flame Calibrator. When activated, its surface will display a complex and ever-changing pattern of light and heat. Your task is to summon your own spiritual flame and hold it one inch above the device's surface. You must then precisely match the fluctuating temperature and intensity of the pattern for a full quarter of an hour. This is a test of finesse, stability, and endurance. Raw power will not aid you here; only absolute control will prevail. Points will be awarded for accuracy. Let the second stage begin!"
A deep chime, sharper than the last, signaled the start. The surfaces of the black pillars at each station lit up, displaying a soft, gently pulsing orange light.
A wave of heat washed over the arena as hundreds of competitors summoned their spiritual flames. It was a breathtaking sight. A sea of fire, each flame unique in color, size, and intensity, bloomed across the white jade stage. There were simple, golden-yellow flames of pure spiritual energy, fierce, crimson-red flames born from aggressive fire-attribute arts, and even strange, ethereal blue and green flames that hinted at unique bloodlines or techniques.
Li Yu watched, fascinated. As a cultivator who was attuned to the dao of water after awakening his martial spirit, the creation and manipulation of fire was a completely alien concept. To him, it was a force of pure opposition, yet here were hundreds of cultivators holding this volatile element in the palms of their hands, preparing to make it dance to their will.
On the stage, the challenge began in earnest. The orange light on the calibrators began to shift, its intensity slowly increasing, the color deepening to a steady, solid red. The competitors had to respond in perfect sync, carefully feeding their spiritual energy into their flames to increase their temperature without overshooting the mark.
Huo Liling, the heir of the Crimson Crucible Sect, scoffed. Her flame was a thing of violent beauty, a miniature sun of blazing, crimson-red energy. It was innately powerful, far hotter than a normal alchemist's flame. When the device called for a steady red, her flame was already burning a furious scarlet. She had to actively suppress her power, a task that clearly grated on her arrogant and aggressive nature. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, not from the difficulty of producing the heat, but from the indignity of restraining it. Her flame visibly wavered, a wild beast struggling against its chains.
Then there was Chen Jianxin. His flame was a pure, steady gold, a perfect sphere of light that hovered above his hand. As the calibrator's pattern shifted, his flame shifted with it, a perfect mirror. When the device called for a soft orange, his flame became a gentle, golden glow. When the pattern intensified, his flame brightened in perfect, instantaneous sync. There was no struggle, no visible effort. It was less an act of control and more an act of perfect harmony.
Liu Meiying, the now-recognized contender from the Silver Stream Clan, was equally impressive, though her style was completely different. Her flame was a soft, silvery-blue, almost cool to the eye. Her control was fluid and adaptable. Where Chen Jianxin was a picture of perfect, unmoving stability, she was a picture of effortless flow. Her spiritual sense, like cool water, seemed to surround her flame, guiding and coaxing it rather than commanding it. As the calibrator's patterns became more complex, her flame ebbed and flowed in a beautiful, hypnotic rhythm.
Li Yu's attention then turned to the more unorthodox competitors. Xiong Shan of the Roaring Beast Mountain was struggling mightily. He slammed his hand on his station, and with a guttural roar, spat a gout of flame from his mouth. It was a wild, untamed jet of orange and black fire, clearly a beast flame he had somehow absorbed. It was incredibly powerful, but also chaotic. When the calibrator called for a gentle warmth, his flame sputtered and raged, completely incapable of such subtlety.
The Green Mountain Sect's disciples were performing as expected. Brother Shen, the veteran, was a pillar of stability. His flame was not powerful, but it was steady. He focused on maintaining a stable average, a wise strategy. Lin Xue, the sharp, focused junior, was doing better. Her control was more precise, her small, yellow flame dancing in near-perfect sync with the device. Young Yao Fei, however, was having a difficult time. The pressure was getting to him, and his flame flickered and sputtered, his hand trembling slightly.
From the stands, Li Yu watched, his expression unreadable. He felt a sense of camaraderie with them, a genuine desire for them to succeed. This was his sect, his home, and their honor was his.
His gaze then drifted to the quietest corner of the stage, to Su Lin of the Pale Orchid Clan. Her performance was, once again, a silent miracle. Her flame was a pale, soft green, the weakest on the entire stage. Yet, its control was absolute. It did not matter how quickly the calibrator shifted; her small green flame was a perfect, unwavering echo. Her unique, life-attuned Qi gave her a connection to her spiritual energy that was more intimate and direct than anyone else's.
The quarter-hour felt like an eternity for the competitors. When the final chime rang out, a collective sigh of relief went through the arena. Many of the competitors were pale and sweating, their spiritual energy reserves heavily drained by the intense, prolonged period of fine control.
The results were once again projected onto the ethereal cauldron, showing both the score for the current stage and the new cumulative total. Chen Jianxin: 10 points. (Total: 20) Liu Meiying: 10 points. (Total: 20) The crowd roared for them both, recognizing the two masters of control. Huo Liling: 9.4 points. (Total: 18.6) Her control was better than many, but still flawed, and the furious scowl on her face showed she was anything but pleased. Xiong Shan: 6.5 points. (Total: 15.5) A disastrous score that sent him plummeting in the overall rankings.
Then Su Lin's score appeared: 10 points. (Total: 20). This time, there was no confusion. A wave of cheers, even louder than before, erupted from the crowd. This was not an anomaly. This was a pattern. The girl from the unknown Pale Orchid Clan had just perfectly completed two stages back-to-back, matching the two greatest geniuses of the competition. She was a true monster, the biggest mystery of the tournament, and she now had the full, undivided attention of the entire arena.
The Green Mountain Sect scores were respectable. Brother Shen earned a solid 8.6 (Total: 17.1). Lin Xue's precision netted her an impressive 9.1 (Total: 18.1). Yao Fei, due to his struggles, received a 7.5 (Total: 15.7), and he looked utterly dejected as he left the stage.
After the scores were posted, the elderly host floated to the center of the stage once more. "An incredible display of control and endurance! The demands of this stage have been great, and many of you are nearing your limits." His voice softened slightly. "The dao of alchemy requires not just skill, but a clear mind and a stable core. To that end, the competition will now be suspended. Rest, meditate, and recover your strength. The third stage, the Trial of Power, will commence tomorrow at dawn!"
A cheer of approval went through the crowd. The decision was wise and merciful. As the delegation walked back to their courtyard, Li Yu fell into step beside the young alchemist, Yao Fei. The young man was staring at the ground, his fists clenched, clearly ashamed of his performance.
Li Yu walked beside him in silence for a few moments before speaking, his voice calm and even. "There is no need to be dejected, Junior Brother Yao."
Yao Fei looked up, startled and embarrassed to be addressed by the renowned Senior Brother Li Yu. "But I failed. I lost points for the sect. My control was a mess."
"You are here to learn," Li Yu stated simply. It was not a question, but a fact. "Did you learn anything today?"
The young man blinked. "I… yes. I learned that my foundation is unstable. That my control wavers under pressure. I learned how far I have to go to match the true geniuses."
"Then today was not a failure," Li Yu said. "It was a success. You found your weaknesses. Now you know what to work on. As long as you are learning, you are always stepping forward. That is all that matters."
Yao Fei stared at him, Li Yu's simple, undeniable logic cutting through his haze of shame. A new, determined light sparked in his eyes. He stopped, turned, and gave Li Yu a deep, formal bow. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I understand."
Later that evening, in the quiet of his room, Li Yu sat in contemplation. The spectacle of the flames had sparked a deep curiosity within him. His Koi Qi was the Universal Sea, a power that could, in theory, encompass all elements. He had never tried flame arts before because he was more naturally attuned to water. Fire was the natural opposite of his water-based dao, but was it truly impossible?
He held out his hand, palm up, and focused his will. He reached into the boundless ocean of his spiritual sea, searching for a spark of friction, a hint of heat. He found it, a tiny, almost imperceptible warmth, and he tried to draw it out.
With immense concentration, a tiny, flickering light appeared above his palm. It was a flame, no bigger than the tip of his thumb, and it was a pathetic, opalescent white color. It gave off almost no heat and wavered as if a slight breeze would extinguish it.
A deep, ancient, and mocking voice suddenly echoed in his mind. "What is this, little host? Has the great leviathan decided to become a firefly? I have seen mosquitoes with a more intimidating presence. Do not embarrass the dignity of the abyss with such parlor tricks."
It was Khaos.
Li Yu sighed, and the tiny flame vanished. Khaos was right. It was pathetic. But it was a start. He had created a flame, an act he would have thought impossible just a day ago. It might not be able to kill a mosquito now, but the Dao of the Universal Sea was a path of all-encompassing power. Today, a firefly. Perhaps tomorrow, a sun. The thought brought a faint smile to his lips as he settled back into his deep, silent cultivation.