~~~


    Seventh Level of the Inner Realm.


    That is the level of the Qi emanating from Liu Jin right now. That is the level he has reached after Nine-Headed Snake God’s venom was removed from his body. In only one month, Liu Jin went all the way from the First Level of the Inner Realm to where he is at now.


    It is, without a doubt, a tremendous transformation.


    For a moment, Liu Jin wants to look at Xiao Nan’s face. He wants to see how his Elder Brother is reacting to his improved condition. He also wants to see Elder Hui’s face, though for vastly different reasons. However, Liu Jin finds the strength of will to abstain from doing such things. He is still in the middle of a match. His gaze must not leave his opponent.


    That is why the only thing Liu Jin has eyes for is the shock on Xiao Fang’s face.


    “How!”


    The question he has been thinking for the last several seconds is finally voiced. The Young Master of the Xiao Sect cannot comprehend what is right in front of him.


    “Impossible! It’s impossible!”


    Even as Xiao Fang’s arm cuts through the air in anger, he still does not move from his place. Xiao Fang knows better than to attack while his mind is so disorganized.


    In the grand scheme of things, the Seventh Level of the Inner Realm is not worth speaking about. It is a level most people will eventually reach throughout their lifetimes. That is especially true for people who live in Eastern Port City. Most enter the Nascent Realm at some point during their adulthood.


    However, Liu Jin is twelve.


    Liu Jin is merely a twelve-year-old boy. He has not even reached adolescence. To be so few steps away from the Nascent Realm at such a young age is a sign of talent in Eastern Port City. Even in the Xiao Sect, reaching those heights so early is worthy of praise.


    In fact, it is fair to say Liu Jin‘s level has now surpassed that of a mere Outer Disciple.


    At the same time, that is all it means.


    “No matter!” Xiao Fang’s voice rings through the room. He’s still angry, yet the initial shock has faded.


    It is a pity, but Liu Jin was in no position to take advantage of that momentary shock. He must endure three of Xiao Fang’s attacks. Those are the conditions for Liu Jin’s victory. Even if he tried to attack while Xiao Fang was shocked, there is no guarantee the attack would have worked.


    In the worst-case scenario, a sudden attack would have made Xiao Fang regain his senses sooner than expected.


    It is better for Liu Jin to use the pause Xiao Fang gave him to plan his next course of action and quietly recover. Getting the timing of their exchange right was not as easy as he made it seem. Xiao Nan and Elder Hui probably realize what happened, but that is fine.


    What is important is Xiao Fang hasn’t.


    “Seventh Level of the Inner Realm may seem impressive to some. Indeed, I’ll congratulate you on finally not being such an embarrassment!”


    Xiao Fang’s bold words are there to attack him as well as to give himself confidence. Liu Jin understands this, but…


    Hearing him talk is annoying.


    “However, the Seventh Level of the Inner Realm is still just the Seventh Level of the Inner Realm!”


    Xiao Fang jabs a finger at his chest.


    “It means absolutely nothing to me!”


    Xiao Fang’s Qi flares up then. He is someone who came into this fight with the intention of holding back. In his first attack, Xiao Fang only used enough strength to easily defeat someone in the First Level of the Inner Realm, that and nothing more. However, Xiao Fang knows the truth now.


    There is no reason for him to hold back now.


    Liu Jin’s muscles unconsciously tighten as he feels the full might of Xiao Fang’s Qi.


    Nascent Realm, Fifth Level.


    What a monster. Liu Jin almost wants to laugh. Isn’t this guy supposed to be only one year older than him? No, he reckons it is only to be expected. As Xiao Zheng’s heir, Xiao Fang is someone who has received the best instruction and resources the Xiao Sect has to offer. It is only natural for him to be this strong.


    If anything, Liu Jin should be thankful he isn’t even more of a monster. He can distantly recall hearing that Xiao Nan left the Nascent Realm before turning fifteen. Facing someone like that would have been impossible.


    This, meanwhile, only reaches the level of troublesome.


    Liu Jin readies himself in preparation for Xiao Fang’s attack. He pushes his eyes to their limit, taking in every part of Xiao Fang’s body, every twitch of his muscles, every breath he takes.


    His right foot shifts two millimeters.


    That is Liu Jin’s cue. The moment Xiao Fang vanishes from his sight, Liu Jin is already focusing his Qi. Considering the length of the room and Xiao Fang’s expected angle of attack, the best move for him right now is…


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    Ground Contraction.


    Xiao Fang appears mere inches in front of Liu Jin. However, Liu Jin is not there anymore. The moment Xiao Fang vanished, Liu Jin used Ground Contraction as well, leaving Xiao Fang to attack nothing but empty space.


    Xiao Fang’s right fist hits nothing. Once again, his eyes widen in shock.


    Had Xiao Fang not used Ground Contraction, Liu Jin’s tactic wouldn’t have worked. The sudden acceleration of the technique is a weakness in its own right. This is something Su An tried her hardest to impress upon Liu Jin during their training. Using Ground Contraction means committing oneself to an attack.


    In other words, Xiao Fang took it for granted that Liu Jin wouldn’t be able to move out of the way in time.


    He never considered that Liu Jin could also use Ground Contraction, let alone that he’d be able to use it with such precise timing. Still, Xiao Fang does not allow his shock to last for more than a thousandth of a second. His eyes narrow as his Qi focuses.


    Even though Liu Jin is ten yards away, Xiao Fang punches.


    The air around Liu Jin starts rippling. The young child understands what is happening at once.


    Void Fist.


    It is a technique Liu Jin has only heard about in whispers, something taught only to those who are Core Disciples. Had he asked Xiao Nan, Liu Jin would have probably been able to get an accurate description of it, yet he did not do so. Instead, what he knows about the technique came from Su An.


    As an Inner Disciple, she has seen it used a few times in spars between Core Disciples.


    Void Fist is a ranged technique in which the user punches the air in front of him. The technique creates a distortion in the space around the opponent and causes damage. It is an invisible attack that does not need to travel any distance. It just suddenly appears where the opponent is.


    That is the Xiao Sect’s Void Fist.


    Liu Jin cries in pain as the distortion engulfs him. All he can do is bring forth his Qi to protect himself. The wooden floor beneath him breaks from the force of Xiao Fang’s Void Fist, sending splinters everywhere.


    “No way…”


    The one who speaks is not Liu Jin.


    It is Xiao Fang.


    Though wounded, Liu Jin is still standing.


    “Young Master,” Liu Jin says, smiling through the pain. “I believe that’s the second move.”


    Xiao Fang does not answer. He’s simply stunned. Even if Liu Jin is in the Seventh Level of the Inner Realm, the attack he took just now came from someone in the middle stages of the Nascent Realm. The difference between Liu Jin and Xiao Fang is almost that of an entire Cultivation Realm. In fact, if one were to compare the difference between the First and Ninth Levels of the Inner Realm with the difference between Liu Jin and Xiao Fang, the difference between Liu Jin and Xiao Fang would undoubtedly be bigger!


    Xiao Fang cannot accept this.


    The reality in front of him does not make sense. It’d be easier to accept that Heaven and Earth have switched places.


    That is why he rushes at Liu Jin.


    No movement technique is used this time. Even through his anger, Xiao Fang makes a good choice. He keeps his eyes on Liu Jin the entire time. There would be no surprises now. His attack is simple, straightforward, and uses all his power. Even if Liu Jin were to use Ground Contraction, Xiao Fang would be able to adjust accordingly and strike with full force.


    If he gets hit, Liu Jin will lose.


    That’s fine. At least this much, he has planned for. No, rather than say he has planned for this, it is more accurate to say that Liu Jin knew this was his only shot at winning right from the start.


    Art of the Roaming Thief.


    Liu Jin waits until the last thousandth of a second to use the technique. Against Xiao Fang’s superior speed, the move is beyond risky, yet it is the only way.


    Throughout the past three years, Art of the Roaming Thief is a technique that has remained beyond his reach. He has been able to use it a few times but never reliably. His modified Qi flow did not allow him to use a technique as complex as Art of the Roaming Thief.


    However, his Qi flow is not the same as it was before.


    Liu Jin is free from Nine-Headed Snake God’s poison. His Qi now flows through Nine-Headed Snake God’s Veins with impeccable precision, allowing Liu Jin a greater degree of control than ever before. His Qi answers his call and molds to his needs.


    It is over in an instant.


    Once again, Xiao Fang is left hitting nothing but air. However, there is no Liu Jin in front of him this time. Xiao Fang looks around wildly, searching for his opponent.


    “That is three moves, Young Master Xiao Fang.”


    Xiao Fang turns around and sees Liu Jin standing there, on the very edge of the sparring ring. The older boy doesn’t say anything. His brain is still struggling to comprehend what just happened. He refuses to accept it, yet the truth is undeniable.


    Xiao Fang has lost.


    Liu Jin has won.


    Someone claps.


    “Excellent. A most formidable bout between young disciples of our esteemed Xiao Sect,” Xiao Nan says as he steps between them. “Don’t you think so, Elder Hui?”


    Is it then that Liu Jin finally turns his gaze back to Elder Hui. The man’s face is blank, but only for a moment. Soon, a grandfatherly smile is placed on his face. It looks faker than any of the smiles Old Jiang has used for Su An.


    “Quite so. It warms this old man’s heart to see the next generation is so talented.”


    “Indeed. Indeed. Little Brother, you did well enduring against a superior opponent. The timing of your attack was precise, though it must be said you took an attack you shouldn’t have. Hopefully, experience will temper that.”


    “I’ll do my best to meet Elder Brother’s expectations,” Liu Jin says, bowing his head.


    “Good. Now, Dearest Cousin, your mastery of Ground Contraction and Void Fist is to be commended. Your cultivation level cannot be denied. However, you allowed your temper to get the best of you too easily. I hope this fight serves to temper those tendencies. Still, that you were able to use Void Fist under those conditions is commendable.”


    As expected, Xiao Nan noticed it.


    Well, it is only to be expected. Under normal circumstances, there is absolutely no way Liu Jin would endure Xiao Fang’s Void Fist. Perhaps if he had a few more months or even a year, but not so soon after passing Nine-Headed Snake God’s trial.


    “—is certainly a good thing.” Liu Jin blinks. He got distracted while Xiao Nan spoke. “The next Eastern Port City Tournament is bound to be an interesting one. However, there is simply no way we can have an Outer Disciple representing us.”


    Liu Jin blinks.


    ~~~


    Thirty minutes later, Su An’s head rises as Liu Jin finally passes through the checkpoint.


    “Boss!” She immediately stands up and runs up to him. She takes in his ragged clothes and tired state. “What happened? Is everything okay? Did Boss win? Well, of course Boss won, bu—”


    “I was promoted.”


    “Huh?”


    Liu Jin looks up at Su An, thoroughly confused. He holds up an armband for her to see.


    “I am an Inner Disciple now.”


    ~~~