Three days slipped away in peace.
Elder Mu kept his promise and moved Chen Fan to a quiet bamboo hut on the edge of the outer sect.
Far from the noise of the main handyman quarters, it was exactly the peaceful life Chen Fan wanted.
His days remained unchanged.
He swept the stone paths at dawn, read old scrolls in the Scripture Pavilion at midday, and rested quietly in his hut as the sun set.
No one disturbed him.
He asked for nothing.
Beneath his calm surface, his strength rose silently.
His hidden Chaos Root drank in spiritual energy day and night.
Without trying, without meditating, he smoothly broke into mid Foundation Establishment.
His Eternal Supreme Insight grew sharper by the hour.
A single glance at a basic movement technique turned it into a supreme skill.
A quick look at a low-level fist art granted him perfect mastery.
He grew stronger every moment, and no one in the sect knew.
On the morning of the third day, Elder Mu arrived with a solemn face.
"The Outer-Inner Exchange Competition is tomorrow," he said directly. "This is a trap set by Elder Lei."
Chen Fan looked up and nodded calmly.
He had already heard the whispers.
"Elder Lei has arranged for his best inner disciple, Zhao Long, to fight you," Elder Mu warned. "Zhao Long is at peak Foundation Establishment. He is cruel and ruthless."
"Elder Lei has ordered him to cripple you on the stage."
Chen Fan's expression did not change.
"I understand, Elder."
Elder Mu sighed.
"I tried to stop this, but Elder Lei hid behind sect rules. All outer sect handymen must join unless they have a valid reason."
"If you refuse, he will expel you for defying sect law."
Chen Fan already knew.
Elder Lei had sent men to deliver the order personally the day before.
There was no way to avoid the fight.
"I will be there," Chen Fan said quietly.
Elder Mu studied him, surprised by his calm. "Aren't you afraid of Zhao Long?"
Even ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators feared Zhao Long's brutality.
Chen Fan smiled faintly.
"Fear changes nothing. If he attacks me, I will defend myself."
His voice was calm, but it carried unshakable confidence.
Elder Mu nodded after a long pause.
"I will be at the competition tomorrow. I will not let them go too far. But be careful."
With that, he left.
Chen Fan returned to his scroll.
He did not panic.
He did not train frantically.
A peak Foundation Establishment disciple meant nothing to someone who had already dodged a Golden Core elder's strike.
The day passed in silence.
Word of the match spread like wildfire through Azure Cloud Sect.
Everyone talked about the upcoming fight.
"That handyman who beat Wang Tao is fighting Zhao Long tomorrow!"
"He's dead! Zhao Long is peak Foundation Establishment!"
"Elder Lei wants him crippled. There's no way he survives."
"He got lucky once. Tomorrow, his luck runs out."
No one believed Chen Fan could win.
Even the outer disciples who had seen him defeat Wang Tao thought he was doomed.
Zhao Long was a true inner sect elite, far beyond Wang Tao's level.
Many waited to see him humiliated.
Some waited to see him crippled.
Night fell.
Chen Fan sat quietly in his hut, sorting through the skills he had comprehended.
He did not plan to kill.
He only wanted to end the fight quickly and return to his quiet life.
But if Zhao Long pushed him too far, he would not hold back.
The next morning, the sun shone brightly over Azure Cloud Sect.
The main sect square was packed full.
Outer disciples, inner disciples, handymen, and several elders filled every corner.
A wide stone stage stood at the center, built for battles and assessments.
Nearly every eye waited for two people.
Zhao Long.
And Chen Fan.
Elder Lei stood in the front row of the elder section, a cold, triumphant smile on his face.
He had already told Zhao Long to show no mercy.
Cripple Chen Fan's dantian on stage, and make it look like an accident.
Zhao Long stood beside him, tall and muscular, with a cruel smirk.
A sharp, oppressive peak Foundation Establishment aura rolled off him.
He could not wait to crush the mortal handyman who had embarrassed Elder Lei.
A murmur ran through the crowd.
Chen Fan walked into the square.
He wore his simple, worn handyman uniform.
He carried nothing.
His face was calm, like he was heading to sweep floors, not a life-or-death battle.
The crowd fell silent, then burst into whispers.
"He doesn't look scared at all!"
"Is he confident, or just stupid?"
"Wait till Zhao Long hits him. He'll break apart in one move."
Chen Fan ignored every stare and murmur.
He walked calmly to the side of the stage.
Elder Lei's cold gaze locked onto him.
He stood up, his voice booming across the square.
"The first match of the Exchange Competition!"
"Zhao Long of the inner sect, versus Chen Fan of the outer handyman quarters!"
"Both fighters, step onto the stage!"
Zhao Long moved first.
He leaped onto the stage with an arrogant flourish, landing lightly.
His spiritual energy flared, drawing loud cheers from the inner sect disciples.
He looked down at Chen Fan, full of contempt.
"Come up, mortal trash. I'll make this quick so you don't suffer."
The crowd roared in excitement.
Chen Fan took a quiet breath and stepped forward.
He walked slowly up the stone steps and stood on the stage, facing Zhao Long.
The entire square fell completely silent.
Every eye was fixed on the two figures on the stage.
Elder Lei leaned forward, eyes shining with anticipation.
Elder Mu tensed, ready to intervene at any moment.
Zhao Long raised his fists, wrapped in violent spiritual energy.
"Say your last words, handyman."
Chen Fan lifted his head.
His calm eyes finally carried a faint, cold glint.
The battle had not begun.
But everyone in the square was about to witness something they would never forget.